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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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.

For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 001-38431

iQIYI, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

4/F, iQIYI Youth Center, Yoolee Plaza

No. 21, North Road of Workers' Stadium, Chaoyang District

Beijing 100027, People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Jun Wang, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: ir@qiyi.com
4/F, iQIYI Youth Center, Yoolee Plaza
No. 21, North Road of Workers' Stadium, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100027, People’s Republic of China
Telephone:
+86 10-6267-7171
(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

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

American Depositary Shares, each

representing seven Class A ordinary shares

par value US$0.00001 per share

 

IQ

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

(The Nasdaq Global Select Market)

 

 

 

 

 

Class A ordinary shares,

par value US$0.00001 per share*

 

 

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

(The Nasdaq Global Select Market)

(1)
*Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market of our American depositary shares, each representing seven Class A ordinary shares.

 

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.

As of December 31, 2022, there were 6,088,666,178 ordinary shares outstanding, being the sum of 3,047,568,900 Class A ordinary shares (excluding 198,912,543 Class A ordinary shares issued to our depositary bank for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards under our share incentive plans) and 3,041,097,278 Class B ordinary shares.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes No

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

†The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

Other

by the International Accounting Standards Board

If “other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No

(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) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes No

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). Yes No


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INTRODUCTION

1

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

2

 

 

PART I.

3

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

3

ITEM 2.

 

OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

3

ITEM 3.

 

KEY INFORMATION

3

ITEM 4.

 

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

61

ITEM 4.A.

 

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

94

ITEM 5.

 

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

94

ITEM 6.

 

DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

113

ITEM 7.

 

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

123

ITEM 8.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

126

ITEM 9.

 

THE OFFER AND LISTING

128

ITEM 10.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

128

ITEM 11.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

141

ITEM 12.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

142

 

 

PART II.

144

 

 

 

 

ITEM 13.

 

DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

144

ITEM 14.

 

MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

144

ITEM 15.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

144

ITEM 16.A.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

145

ITEM 16.B.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

145

ITEM 16.C.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

146

ITEM 16.D.

 

EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

146

ITEM 16.E.

 

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

146

ITEM 16.F.

 

CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

146

ITEM 16.G.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

146

ITEM 16.H.

 

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

147

ITEM 16.I.

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

147

 

 

PART III.

148

 

 

 

 

ITEM 17.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

148

ITEM 18.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

148

ITEM 19.

 

EXHIBITS

148

 

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INTRODUCTION

Unless otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report to:

“ADSs” refers to our American depositary shares, each of which represents seven Class A ordinary shares;
“AI” refers to artificial intelligence;
“Average daily number of total subscribing members” for a given period is calculated by averaging the number of total subscribing members, including individuals with trial membership, in each day of such period;
“Average daily number of subscribing members excluding individuals with trial memberships” for a given period is calculated by averaging the number of subscribing members excluding individuals with trial memberships in each day of such period;
“Monthly ARM” refers to average revenue per membership during a month. Monthly ARM is calculated by dividing our total revenues from membership services during a given period by the average daily number of total subscribing members and the number of months during such period;
“Baidu” refers to Baidu, Inc., our parent company and controlling shareholder;
“bullet chat” known as Danmu in Chinese, refers to a form of video commentary used on online videos. Bullet chats are comments that appear directly on the video in real-time;
“IP” refers to intellectual property;
“IT” refers to information technology;
“RMB” and “Renminbi” refer to the legal currency of mainland China;
“shares” or “ordinary shares” refers to our Class A and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per share;
“subscribing members,” refers to the individuals who subscribed for our membership packages during a given period, including individuals with trial membership, and excluding individuals who pay for video on-demand services or stand-alone packages for sports paid content, online literature or online games; subscribing members are calculated using the number of unique iQIYI user accounts that have subscribed for the relevant services;
“U.S. GAAP” refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States;
“US$,” “U.S. dollars,” “$,” and “dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States;
“video views” refers to the number of times a video is launched on our platform, regardless of time spent viewing the video;
“WAP” refers to wireless application protocol; and
“we,” “us,” “our company” and “our” refer to iQIYI, Inc., a Cayman Islands company, and its subsidiaries, and, in the context of describing our operations and combined and consolidated financial information, also include the variable interest entities, including Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing iQIYI”), Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai iQIYI”), Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Zhong Yuan”), iQIYI Pictures (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“iQIYI Pictures”) and Beijing iQIYI Intelligent Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd., (“Intelligent Entertainment”). All of the variable interest entities are domestic companies incorporated in mainland China in which we do not have any equity ownership but whose financial results have been consolidated into our consolidated financial statements based solely on contractual arrangements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure” for an illustrative diagram of our corporate structure.

We present our financial results in RMB. 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, or at all. The mainland China government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. This annual report contains translations of certain foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations of Renminbi into U.S. dollars were made at the rate at RMB6.8972 to US$1.00, the exchange rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in effect as of December 30, 2022.

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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This annual report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995.

You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

our goals and strategies;
our ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, and expand our service offerings;
our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;
expected changes in our revenues, costs or expenditures;
competition in our industry;
relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry;
general economic and business conditions globally and in mainland China; and
assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing.

You should read this annual report and the documents that we refer to in this annual report and have filed as exhibits to this annual report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Other sections of this annual report discuss factors which could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible 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 factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements made in this annual report relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this annual report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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PART I.

 

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. Key Information

Our Holding Company Structure and Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities

iQIYI, Inc. is not a Chinese operating company, but rather a Cayman Islands holding company with no equity ownership in the variable interest entities. Our Cayman Islands holding company does not conduct business operations directly. We conduct our operations in mainland China through (i) our mainland China subsidiaries and (ii) the variable interest entities with which we have maintained contractual arrangements, and their subsidiaries in mainland China. PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in certain value-added telecommunication services, internet audio-video program services and certain other businesses. Accordingly, we operate these businesses in mainland China through the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries, and rely on contractual arrangements among our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their nominee shareholders to control the business operations of the variable interest entities. The variable interest entities are consolidated for accounting purposes, but are not entities in which our Cayman Islands holding company, or our investors, own equity. Revenues contributed by the variable interest entities accounted for 92%, 94% and92% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. As used in this annual report, “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our,” or “iQIYI” refers to iQIYI, Inc., its subsidiaries, and, in the context of describing our operations and consolidated financial information, the variable interest entities in mainland China, including Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing iQIYI”), Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai iQIYI”), Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Zhong Yuan”), iQIYI Pictures (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“iQIYI Pictures”) and Beijing iQIYI Intelligent Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd., (“Intelligent Entertainment”). Investors in our ADSs are not purchasing equity interest in the variable interest entities in mainland China, but instead are purchasing equity interest in a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

A series of contractual agreements, including loan agreement, share pledge agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, business operation agreement, business cooperation agreement, commitment letter, shareholder voting rights trust agreement, exclusive technology consulting and services agreement, trademark license agreement, software usage license agreement, power of attorney and spousal consent letter, have been entered into by and among our subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their respective shareholders. Terms contained in each set of contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their respective shareholders are substantially similar. Despite the lack of legal majority ownership, our Cayman Island holding company is considered the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities and consolidates the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries as required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 810, Consolidation. Accordingly, we treat the variable interest entities as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP and we consolidate the financial results of the variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more details of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders.”

However, the contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over the variable interest entities and we may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of the arrangements. As such, the variable interest entity structure involves unique risks to investors of our Cayman Islands holding company. In addition, the legality and enforceability of the contractual agreements among our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities, and their nominee shareholders, as a whole, have not been tested in a court of law in mainland China. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to impose control over the variable interest entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be materially adversely affected. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—We rely on contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their shareholders for our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—The shareholders of the variable interest entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.”

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There are also substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules regarding the status of the rights of our Cayman Islands holding company with respect to its contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their nominee shareholders. Though the Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, the definition of “foreign investment” thereunder is relatively wide and contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, there is no assurance that foreign investment via contractual arrangement would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activities in the future. If any of the variable interest entities were deemed as a foreign-invested enterprise under any such future laws, administrative regulations or provisions, we may be subject to restrictions, ratification requirements and may need to take further actions to comply with such future laws, administrative regulations or provisions. Such actions may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition, result of operations and prospects. In addition, it is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If we or any of the variable interest entities is 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 accordance with the applicable laws and regulations to take action in dealing with such violations or failures. If the PRC government deems that our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations. Our Cayman Islands holding company, our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities, and investors of our company face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and, consequently, significantly affect the financial performance of the variable interest entities and our company as a whole. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating certain of our operations in mainland China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations” and “—Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.”

We face various risks and uncertainties related to doing business in mainland China. Our business operations are primarily conducted in mainland China, and we are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations. For example, we face risks associated with regulatory approvals on offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, which may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments or financing, or list on a United States or other foreign exchange. In addition, our ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, in the future, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, including our auditor. In April 2022, the SEC conclusively listed us as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA after we file this annual report on Form 20-F. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we continue to use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections in the past has deprived our investors with the benefits of such inspections. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For a detailed description of risks related to doing business in mainland China, “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China.”

PRC government’s significant authority in regulating our operations and its oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Implementation of industry-wide regulations in this nature may cause the value of such

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securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—The PRC government’s significant oversight and discretion over our business operation could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs.”

Risks and uncertainties arising from the legal system in mainland China, including risks and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and quickly evolving rules and regulations in mainland China, could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

Cash Flows through Our Organization

iQIYI, Inc. is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries in mainland China. As a result, iQIYI, Inc.’s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our mainland China subsidiaries. If our existing mainland China subsidiaries or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, current PRC regulations permit our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Furthermore, each of our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entities in mainland China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. For more details, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Holding Company Structure.” Our subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings.

We have established stringent controls and procedures for cash flows within our organization. Each transfer of cash between our Cayman Islands holding company and a subsidiary, the variable interest entities or the subsidiaries of the variable interest entities is subject to internal approval. The cash inflows of the Cayman Islands holding company were primarily generated from the proceeds we received from our public offerings of ordinary shares, our offerings of convertible senior notes and other financing activities. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Cayman Islands holding company provided capital contributions of RMB5,074.0 million, RMB3,573.0 million and RMB2,314.5 million (US$335.6 million), respectively, to our subsidiaries. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Cayman Islands holding company provided loans of RMB9,556.6 million, RMB7,395.4 million and RMB3,577.6 million (US$518.7 million), respectively, to our subsidiaries, and received repayments of RMB6,409.4 million, RMB11,175.5 million and RMB3,398.5 million (US$492.7 million), respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the variable interest entities received nil, nil and nil as loans provided by the Cayman Islands holding company, respectively, and repaid RMB90.5 million, nil and nil, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no assets other than cash were transferred between the Cayman Islands holding company and a subsidiary, a variable interest entity or its subsidiary, no subsidiaries paid dividends or made other distributions to the holding company, and no dividends or distributions were paid or made to U.S. investors. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, our subsidiaries provided capital contributions of nil, nil and nil, respectively, to the variable interest entities. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no assets other than the above cash transactions were transferred between our subsidiaries and the variable interest entities. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy.” However, if our mainland China subsidiaries declare and distribute profits to us, such payments will be subject to withholding tax, which will increase our tax liability and reduce the amount of cash available to our company. For example, IQIYI Film Group HK Limited, which directly owns our mainland China subsidiaries, Beijing iQIYI New Media Science and Technology Co., Ltd., or iQIYI New Media, is incorporated in Hong Kong. For the potential distributable profits to be distributed to IQIYI Film Group HK Limited, the deferred tax liabilities will be accrued at a 5% withholding tax rate. However, if IQIYI Film Group HK Limited is not considered to be the beneficial owner of the dividends paid to it by iQIYI New Media under the tax circulars promulgated in February and October 2009, such dividends would be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%. For more information on related risks, please see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our mainland China subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to make payments to us and any tax we are required to pay could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” For mainland China and United States federal income tax considerations in connection with an investment in our ADSs, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”

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For details of the financial position, cash flows and results of operations of the variable interest entities, see “Item 3. Key Information—Financial Information Related to the Variable Interest Entities.” We plan to continue to determine the amount of service fee and payment method with the variable interest entities and their shareholders based on the working capital needs of the variable interest entities, and settle fees under the contractual arrangements accordingly in the future.

In addition, our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries generate their revenue primarily in Renminbi, which is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in mainland China entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.”

Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for Our Operations

We conduct our business primarily through our subsidiaries and the variable interest entities in mainland China. Our operations in mainland China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. As of the date of this annual report, our mainland China subsidiaries, variable interest entities and their subsidiaries have obtained the requisite licenses and permits from the PRC government authorities that are material for the business operations of our holding company, the variable interest entities in mainland China, including, among others, the Value-added Telecommunications Business Operation License for information services via internet, or ICP License, the Permit for Internet Audio-video Program Service, the Network Culture Business Permit, the Permit to Produce or Operate Radio and Television Programs, and the Permit for Internet Drug Information Service. Given the uncertainties of interpretation and implementation of relevant laws and regulations and the enforcement practice by relevant government authorities, we may be required to obtain additional licenses, permits, filings or approvals for the functions and services of our platform in the future, and may not be able to maintain or renew our current licenses, permits, filings or approvals. For more detailed information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Any lack of requisite permits for any of our internet video and other content or any of our business may expose us to regulatory sanctions.”

Furthermore, under current PRC laws, regulations and regulatory rules, we, our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities may be required to obtain permissions from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, and may be required to go through cybersecurity review by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, in connection with any future offering and listing in an overseas market. As of the date of this annual report, we have not been subject to any cybersecurity review made by the CAC.

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Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for Overseas Financing Activities

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC published the Interim Administrative Measures on Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by the Domestic Enterprises, or the Overseas Listing Measures, which will become effective on March 31, 2023. Under the Overseas Listing Measures, a filing-based regulatory system will be applied to “indirect overseas offerings and listings” of PRC domestic companies, which refers to securities offerings and listings in an overseas market made under the name of an offshore entity but based on the underlying equity, assets, earnings or other similar rights of a domestic company that operates its main business domestically in the PRC. The Overseas Listing Measures state that, any overseas offering of securities, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, by a PRC domestic company, and listing by a PRC domestic company in an overseas market, shall be subject to filing requirement within three business days after the completion of such offering or listing. In connection with the Overseas Listing Measures, on February 17, 2023 the CSRC also published the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by the Domestic Enterprises, or the Notice on Overseas Listing Measures. According to the Notice on Overseas Listing Measures, issuers that have already been listed in an overseas market by March 31, 2023, the date on which the Overseas Listing Measures will become effective, such as our company, are not required to make any immediate filing. However, such issuers will be required to comply with the filing requirements under Overseas Listing Measures if and when they pursue any future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland china, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions. If we fail to obtain required approval or complete other review or filing procedures, under the Overseas Listing Measures or otherwise, for any future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland China, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which may include fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, limitations on our operating privileges in mainland China, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our subsidiaries in mainland China, restrictions on or delays to our future financing transactions offshore, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs.

For more detailed information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—The approval of or the filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore listings and capital raising activities under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or filing” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our business is subject to complex and evolving Chinese and international laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in claims, changes to our business practices, negative publicity, legal proceedings, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.”

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 and selected consolidated cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report beginning on page F-2. The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and selected consolidated cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report. Our historical results for any period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.

The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Despite the lack of equity ownership, our Cayman Island holding company is considered the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities and consolidates the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries as required by ASC topic 810,Consolidation. Accordingly, we treat the variable

7


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interest entities as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP and we consolidate the financial results of the variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

 

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

Selected Consolidated Statements of

   Comprehensive Loss Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

24,989,116

 

28,993,658

 

29,707,215

 

30,554,359

 

28,997,548

 

4,204,249

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues(2)

 

(27,132,811)

 

(30,348,342)

 

(27,884,395)

 

(27,513,497)

 

(22,319,315)

 

(3,235,996)

Selling, general and administrative(2)

 

(4,167,889)

 

(5,236,007)

 

(5,187,835)

 

(4,725,142)

 

(3,466,579)

 

(502,607)

Research and development(2)

 

(1,994,652)

 

(2,667,146)

 

(2,675,494)

 

(2,794,927)

 

(1,899,233)

 

(275,363)

Total operating costs and expenses

 

(33,295,352)

 

(38,251,495)

 

(35,747,724)

 

(35,033,566)

 

(27,685,127)

 

(4,013,966)

Operating (loss)/income

 

(8,306,236)

 

(9,257,837)

 

(6,040,509)

 

(4,479,207)

 

1,312,421

 

190,283

Total other expense, net

 

(676,194)

 

(967,050)

 

(943,368)

 

(1,532,781)

 

(1,346,197)

 

(195,180)

Loss before income taxes

 

(8,982,430)

 

(10,224,887)

 

(6,983,877)

 

(6,011,988)

 

(33,776)

 

(4,897)

Income tax expense

 

(78,801)

 

(51,852)

 

(23,276)

 

(96,545)

 

(84,000)

 

(12,179)

Net loss

 

(9,061,231)

 

(10,276,739)

 

(7,007,153)

 

(6,108,533)

 

(117,776)

 

(17,076)

Less: Net income attributed to non-controlling

   interests

 

48,545

 

46,590

 

31,208

 

61,051

 

 18,436

 

 2,673

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred

   shares

 

(298,990)

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling

   interests

 

 

(1,542)

 

(7,087)

 

(20,336)

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary

   shareholders

 

(9,408,766)

 

(10,324,871)

 

(7,045,448)

 

(6,189,920)

 

(136,212)

 

(19,749)

Net loss per Class A and Class B ordinary

   share(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

(2.43)

 

(2.02)

 

(1.36)

 

(1.11)

 

(0.02)

 

(0.00)

Diluted

 

(2.43)

 

(2.02)

 

(1.36)

 

(1.11)

 

(0.02)

 

(0.00)

Net loss per ADS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

(17.01)

 

(14.14)

 

(9.52)

 

(7.77)

 

(0.16)

 

(0.02)

Diluted

 

(17.01)

 

(14.14)

 

(9.52)

 

(7.77)

 

(0.16)

 

(0.02)

Shares used in net loss per Class A and

   Class B ordinary share computation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

3,867,931,786

 

5,104,882,400

 

5,176,180,057

 

5,570,736,706

 

5,988,021,425

 

5,988,021,425

Diluted

 

3,867,931,786

 

5,104,882,400

 

5,176,180,057

 

5,570,736,706

 

5,988,021,425

 

5,988,021,425

 

(1)
Our ordinary shares are comprised of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share and each holder of Class B ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. Class B ordinary shares are convertible at any time by the holder thereof into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis. As holders of Class A and Class B ordinary shares have the same dividend rights and the same participation rights in our undistributed earnings, the basic and diluted loss per Class A ordinary share and Class B ordinary share are the same for all the periods presented during which there were two classes of ordinary shares.
(2)
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated in operating costs and expenses as follows:

 

 

 

 For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Selected Consolidated Statements of

   Comprehensive Loss Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

83,351

 

171,053

 

201,970

 

173,263

 

147,045

 

21,320

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

368,598

 

675,278

 

851,416

 

718,377

 

425,209

 

61,650

 

Research and development

 

104,262

 

238,189

 

316,709

 

327,523

 

239,187

 

34,679

 

Total

 

556,211

 

1,084,520

 

1,370,095

 

1,219,163

 

811,441

 

117,649

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

4,586,405

 

5,934,742

 

10,915,282

 

2,997,212

 

7,097,938

 

1,029,104

 

Restricted cash

 

2,174,042

 

974,932

 

25,230

 

77,652

 

13,618

 

1,974

 

Short-term investments

 

6,061,832

 

4,579,313

 

3,358,174

 

1,348,255

 

818,265

 

118,637

 

Total current assets

 

19,853,443

 

20,272,838

 

22,290,424

 

11,524,117

 

13,785,635

 

1,998,729

 

Total assets(1)

 

44,759,698

 

44,792,550

 

48,185,429

 

42,472,165

 

46,048,349

 

6,676,383

 

Total current liabilities(1)(2)

 

19,812,356

 

20,173,166

 

24,854,578

 

22,476,470

 

28,130,018

 

4,078,469

 

Total liabilities(1)

 

26,604,135

 

35,077,618

 

38,741,131

 

36,799,052

 

39,704,910

 

5,756,671

 

Total mezzanine equity

 

 

101,542

 

108,629

 

397,385

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity(2)

 

18,155,563

 

9,613,390

 

9,335,669

 

5,275,728

 

6,343,439

 

919,712

 

 

Note:

(1)
We adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02: Leases on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method. Right-of-use assets (“ROU assets”) and lease liabilities (including current and non-current) for operating leases are presented on the face of the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, while the consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2018 has been prepared in accordance with ASC topic 840, Accounting for Leases (“ASC 840”). For further information, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

We adopted ASU 2019-02, Improvements to Accounting for Costs of Films and License Agreements for Program Materials (“ASU 2019-02”) on January 1, 2020, using a prospective transition method, which includes the following major changes from previous legacy GAAP that are applicable to us:

The content distinction for capitalization of production costs of an episodic television series and production costs of films is removed;
We are required to test films and license agreements for program material for impairment at a film group level when the film or license agreements are predominantly monetized with other films and license agreements;
We shall assess estimates of the use of a film in a film group and account for such changes prospectively; and
Cash outflows for the costs incurred to obtain rights for both produced and licensed content are required to be reported as operating cash outflows in the statement of cash flows.

For further information, see Notes 2, 7 and 9 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

(2)
We adopted ASU 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”) on January 1, 2022, using a modified retrospective transition method. Upon the adoption of ASU 2020-06, all of the proceeds received from the issuance of the existing notes should be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet in accordance with ASC 470-20. The difference between the principal amount of each of the existing notes and net proceeds from the issuance is considered debt discount and is amortized at their respective effective interest rates to accrete the carrying value of the existing notes to its face value on the respective put dates of the existing notes. For further information, see Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

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Table of Contents

The following table presents our selected consolidated cash flows data for the years indicated.

 

 

 

 For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Selected Consolidated Cash Flows Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by/(used for) operating

   activities

 

2,884,186

 

3,906,227

 

(5,411,071)

 

(5,951,847)

 

(70,569)

 

(10,232)

 

Net cash (used for)/provided by investing

   activities

 

(20,949,094)

 

(11,749,571)

 

159,296

 

1,262,350

 

265,980

 

38,564

 

Net cash provided by/(used for) financing

   activities

 

23,474,959

 

7,880,306

 

9,373,906

 

(2,959,455)

 

4,468,863

 

647,925

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash

   equivalents and restricted cash

 

617,386

 

112,265

 

(91,293)

 

(216,696)

 

122,418

 

17,748

 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash

   equivalents and restricted cash

 

6,027,437

 

149,227

 

4,030,838

 

(7,865,648)

 

4,786,692

 

694,005

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the

   beginning of the year

 

733,010

 

6,760,447

 

6,909,674

 

10,940,512

 

3,074,864

 

445,813

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the

   end of the year

 

6,760,447

 

6,909,674

 

10,940,512

 

3,074,864

 

7,861,556

 

1,139,818

 

 

Financial Information Related to the Variable Interest Entities

The following tables present the condensed consolidating schedule of financial information for iQIYI, Inc., the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP, the variable interest entities and other entities as of the dates presented.

“iQIYI, Inc.” is our holding company in the Cayman Islands, and the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities including, but not limited to, Beijing iQIYI, Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan;
“Variable interest entities and their subsidiaries” refer to the sum of Beijing iQIYI, Shanghai iQIYI, Shanghai Zhong Yuan, iQIYI Pictures, Intelligent Entertainment and their respective subsidiaries;
“Subsidiaries” refer to the sum of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, which mainly include but not limited to Beijing QIYI Century, iQIYI New Media, Tianjin iQIYI Network & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai iQIYI Network & Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing iQIYI Interactive Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai iQIYI New Media Science & Technology Co., Ltd., and Hainan iQIYI Information Technology Co., Ltd.

10


Table of Contents

Selected Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss Information

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and
their
subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated
totals

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and
their
subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated totals

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and
their
subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating
adjustments

 

Consolidated
totals

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

 

(in thousands)

Total revenues

 

 

27,412,800

 

9,640,759

 

(7,346,344)

 

29,707,215

 

 

28,947,480

 

10,721,956

 

(9,115,077)

 

30,554,359

 

 

26,966,013

 

9,948,967

 

(7,917,432)

 

28,997,548

Share of losses of variable

   interest entities and their

   subsidiaries

 

 (1,388,260)

 

                           —

 

                         —

 

1,388,260

 

                   —

 

 

(1,733,264)

 

 

 

1,733,264

 

 

        329,881

 

 

 

(329,881)

 

Net loss

 

(7,038,361)

 

(1,360,562)

 

(4,710,321)

 

6,102,091

 

(7,007,153)

 

(6,169,584)

 

(1,688,711)

 

(3,520,528)

 

5,270,290

 

(6,108,533)

 

(136,212)

 

334,414

 

(294,116)

 

(21,862)

 

(117,776)

 

11


Table of Contents

Selected Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets Information

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and their subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated totals

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and their subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated totals

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

1,615,953

 

950,267

 

430,992

 

 

2,997,212

 

4,334,968

 

1,882,877

 

880,093

 

 

7,097,938

 

Short-term investments

 

 

595,754

 

752,501

 

 

1,348,255

 

 

529,411

 

288,854

 

 

818,265

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

2,613,546

 

134,228

 

 

2,747,774

 

 

2,316,961

 

85,714

 

 

2,402,675

 

Licensed copyrights, net

 

 

669,672

 

261,517

 

 

931,189

 

 

527,792

 

218,266

 

 

746,058

 

Prepayments and other assets

 

12,350

 

3,027,691

 

459,646

 

 

3,499,687

 

20,751

 

2,366,445

 

333,503

 

 

2,720,699

 

Total current assets

 

1,628,303

 

7,856,930

 

2,038,884

 

 

11,524,117

 

4,355,719

 

7,623,486

 

1,806,430

 

 

 

13,785,635

 

Non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets, net

 

 

726,115

 

618,669

 

 

1,344,784

 

 

649,690

 

455,031

 

 

1,104,721

 

Long-term investments

 

 

1,987,678

 

1,047,477

 

 

3,035,155

 

 

1,941,014

 

512,630

 

 

2,453,644

 

Licensed copyrights, net

 

 

2,288,848

 

4,969,194

 

 

7,258,042

 

 

1,952,497

 

4,888,132

 

 

6,840,629

 

Produced content, net

 

 

10,425,514

 

525,564

 

 

10,951,078

 

 

12,534,227

 

467,677

 

 

13,001,904

 

Operating lease assets

 

 

697,965

 

209,332

 

 

907,297

 

 

578,937

 

95,034

 

 

673,971

 

Goodwill

 

 

2,412,989

 

1,475,357

 

 

3,888,346

 

 

2,350,790

 

1,475,357

 

 

3,826,147

 

Others

 

 

919,713

 

2,643,633

 

 

3,563,346

 

 

712,697

 

3,649,001

 

 

4,361,698

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

19,458,822

 

11,489,226

 

 

30,948,048

 

 

20,719,852

 

11,542,862

 

 

32,262,714

 

Amounts due from the entities within our company(1)

 

16,285,294

 

 

 

(16,285,294)

 

 

19,925,446

 

 

 

(19,925,446)

 

 

Total assets

 

17,913,597

 

27,315,752

 

13,528,110

 

(16,285,294)

 

42,472,165

 

24,281,165

 

28,343,338

 

13,349,292

 

(19,925,446)

 

46,048,349

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third-party liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes payable

 

 

5,068,907

 

3,827,553

 

 

8,896,460

 

 

3,315,976

 

2,677,440

 

 

5,993,416

 

Customer advances and deferred revenue

 

 

3,370,582

 

113,927

 

 

3,484,509

 

 

4,125,789

 

106,321

 

 

4,232,110

 

Short-term loans

 

 

2,292,899

 

1,824,875

 

 

4,117,774

 

 

2,381,846

 

965,792

 

 

3,347,638

 

Convertible senior notes, current portion

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,305,447

 

 

 

 

8,305,447

 

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

 

 

108,059

 

63,482

 

 

171,541

 

 

95,603

 

7,914

 

 

103,517

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

70,823

 

3,101,273

 

2,634,090

 

 

5,806,186

 

156,807

 

2,315,572

 

3,675,511

 

 

6,147,890

 

Total current liabilities

 

70,823

 

13,941,720

 

8,463,927

 

 

22,476,470

 

8,462,254

 

12,234,786

 

7,432,978

 

 

28,130,018

 

Non-current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes

 

12,652,172

 

 

 

 

12,652,172

 

9,568,279

 

 

 

 

9,568,279

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

579,844

 

45,893

 

 

625,737

 

 

502,687

 

5,884

 

 

508,571

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

3,003

 

339,238

 

702,432

 

 

1,044,673

 

 

1,247,571

 

250,471

 

 

1,498,042

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

12,655,175

 

919,082

 

748,325

 

 

14,322,582

 

9,568,279

 

1,750,258

 

256,355

 

 

11,574,892

 

Amounts due to the entities within the Company(1)

 

 

20,835,196

 

10,591,824

 

(31,427,020)

 

 

 

22,808,971

 

11,963,474

 

(34,772,445)

 

 

Total liabilities

 

12,725,998

 

35,695,998

 

19,804,076

 

(31,427,020)

 

36,799,052

 

18,030,533

 

36,794,015

 

19,652,807

 

(34,772,445)

 

39,704,910

 

 Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

397,385

 

 

 

397,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Shareholders’ equity/(deficit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Noncontrolling interests

 

 

113,334

 

(25,205)

 

 

88,129

 

 

125,135

 

(32,383)

 

 

92,807

 

 Total shareholders’ equity/(deficit) (2)

 

5,187,599

 

(8,890,965)

 

(6,250,761)

 

15,141,726

 

5,187,599

 

6,250,632

 

(8,575,812)

 

(6,271,187)

 

14,846,999

 

6,250,632

 

 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and

   shareholders’ equity/(deficit)

 

5,187,599

 

(8,380,246)

 

(6,275,966)

 

15,141,726

 

5,673,113

 

6,250,632

 

(8,450,677)

 

(6,303,515)

 

14,846,999

 

6,343,439

 

 

Note:

(1)
Represents the elimination of intercompany balances among iQIYI, Inc., our subsidiaries, and the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries. The short-term loans and long-term loans provided to the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries were RMB7,000.0 million and RMB1,274.5 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021, and RMB7,000.0 million (US$1,014.9 million) and RMB1,381.8
million (US$200.3 million), respectively, as of December 31, 2022.
(2)
The loans provided to the nominee shareholders were RMB177.0 million and RMB177.0 million (US$25.7 million) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively, which will mature from 2027 to 2034. The loans provided to the nominee shareholders were to fund the capitalization of the VIEs for which the Company does not intend to seek repayment. The term of all such loans provided to the nominee shareholders has historically been extended prior to their respective original maturity dates, and we will continue to extend the term of all outstanding loans before they become due.

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Selected Condensed Consolidating Cash Flows Information

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and their subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated totals

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and their subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated totals

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

Variable interest entities and their subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminating adjustments

 

Consolidated totals

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

 

(in thousands)

Net cash (used

   for)/provided by

   operating activities

 

(281,636)

 

980,975

 

(6,110,410)

 

 

(5,411,071)

 

(360,187)

 

160,904

 

(5,752,564)

 

 

(5,951,847)

 

(157,273)

 

275,422

 

(188,718)

 

 

(70,569)

Net cash (used

   for)/provided by

   investing activities(1)

 

(7,189,640)

 

(625,675)

 

267,913

 

7,706,698

 

159,296

 

483,685

 

(540,018)

 

1,344,550

 

(25,867)

 

1,262,350

 

(2,462,807)

 

547,231

 

396,174

 

1,785,382

 

265,980

Net cash provided

   by/(used for)

   financing activities(1)

 

9,804,491

 

(380,298)

 

7,656,411

 

(7,706,698)

 

9,373,906

 

(3,441,602)

 

515,423

 

(59,143)

 

25,867

 

(2,959,455)

 

5,307,603

 

79,733

 

866,909

 

(1,785,382)

 

4,468,863

 

Note:

(1)
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the variable interest entities received nil, nil and nil as loans provided by iQIYI, Inc., respectively, and repaid RMB90.5 million, nil and nil, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no assets other than cash were transferred between iQIYI, Inc. and variable interest entities or their subsidiaries. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, subsidiaries provided capital contributions of nil, nil and nil, respectively, to the variable interest entities. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no assets other than the above cash transactions were transferred between subsidiaries and the variable interest entities.

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A.
[RESERVED]
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not Applicable.

C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not Applicable.

D.
Risk Factors
Summary of Risk Factors

An investment in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares involves significant risks. Below is a summary of material risks we face, organized under relevant headings. These risks are discussed more fully in Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have incurred net losses since our inception and may continue to incur losses in the future;
If we fail to anticipate user preferences and provide high-quality content, especially popular original content, in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to attract and retain users to remain competitive;
If we fail to procure content from content providers upon terms acceptable to us, our business may be materially and adversely affected;
If our efforts to retain members and attract new members are not successful, our business and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected;
If we fail to retain existing or attract new advertising customers to advertise on our platform, maintain and increase their wallet share of advertising budget or if we are unable to collect accounts receivable in a timely manner, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected;
Our business is subject to complex and evolving Chinese and international laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in claims, changes to our business practices, negative publicity, legal proceedings, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business;
We operate in a capital intensive industry and require a significant amount of cash to fund our operations, content acquisitions and technology investments. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital, our business, financial condition and prospects may be materially and adversely affected;
We have substantial indebtedness and we may continue to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, which could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to generate sufficient cash to satisfy our outstanding and future debt obligations on a timely manner. Deterioration of our cash flow position could materially and adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness and continue our operations;
We have significant working capital requirements and have in the past experienced working capital deficits. If we experience such working capital deficits in the future, our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected; and
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle redemption of our existing notes, or to repurchase such notes upon a fundamental change or on certain specific dates, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or to repurchase the notes.

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Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
We are a Cayman Islands holding company with no equity ownership in the variable interest entities and we conduct our operations in mainland China through (i) our mainland China subsidiaries and (ii) the variable interest entities with which we have maintained contractual arrangements and their subsidiaries. Investors in our Class A ordinary shares or the ADSs thus are not purchasing equity interest in the variable interest entities in mainland China but instead are purchasing equity interest in a Cayman Islands holding company. If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating certain of our operations in mainland China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations. Our holding company in the Cayman Islands, the variable interest entities, and investors of our company face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and, consequently, significantly affect the financial performance of the variable interest entities and our company as a group;
We rely on contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their shareholders for our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control; and
Any failure by the variable interest entities or their shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business.
Risks Related to Our Relationship with Baidu
We have limited experience operating as a stand-alone public company;
We may have conflicts of interest with Baidu and, because of Baidu’s controlling ownership interest in our company, we may not be able to resolve such conflicts on terms favorable to us; and
Our agreements with Baidu may be less favorable to us than similar agreements negotiated with unaffiliated third parties. In particular, our master business cooperation agreement with Baidu limits the scope of business that we are allowed to conduct.
Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China
The PCAOB had historically been unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work performed for our financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of our auditor in the past has deprived our investors with the benefits of such inspections;
Our ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment;
The approval of or the filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore listings and capital raising activities under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or filing;
Changes in mainland China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations;
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us; and
The PRC government’s significant oversight and discretion over our business operation could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs.
Risks Related to our ADSs
The trading price of our ADSs has been and is likely to continue to be volatile regardless of our operating performance;
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline; and
Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of our ADSs.

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Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have incurred net losses since our inception and may continue to incur losses in the future.

We have incurred net losses since our inception, including net losses in the amount of RMB7,007.2 million, RMB6,108.5 million and RMB117.8 million (US$17.1 million) in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Our ability to achieve profitability is affected by various factors, many of which are beyond our control. For example, our revenues depend on the number of subscribing members, ARM and advertising customers’ allocation of more budget to internet video streaming platforms. In addition, our users’ willingness to pay and subscribe to our content depends on the quality and breadth of our content offerings and availability of alternative entertainment content offerings. Producing high-quality, popular original content is costly and time-consuming and it will typically take a long period of time to realize returns on investment, if at all. The quality and breadth of our content offerings may be compromised if inadequate spending is allocated to the content production due to our cost control initiatives. As a result, we may not be able to continuously grow our subscribing member base, and our business and results of operations may be negatively affected. The market prices for professionally produced content, especially popular TV series and movies, have increased significantly in mainland China during the past few years. The production and procurement of content have historically accounted for the majority of our cost of revenues. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, we incurred RMB27.9 billion, RMB27.5 billion and RMB22.3 billion (US$3.2 billion) in cost of revenues, respectively. We expect that our cost of revenues, as a percentage of our total revenue, will continue to improve going forward benefiting from the improvement in operating efficiency, the content production infrastructure we have developed, and the better supply and demand dynamic. However, in absolute amounts, our cost of revenues may increase in the foreseeable future as we are committed to enhancing and diversifying our original content offerings and to supporting our overseas expansion. If we cannot successfully realize satisfactory returns on our content investment and generate sufficient revenues, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We may again incur net losses in the future as a result of our continued investments in content and technology. We may also incur net losses in the future due to changes in the macroeconomic and regulatory environment, competitive dynamics and in the event of our inability to respond to these changes in a timely and effective manner.

We had an accumulated deficit of RMB46.5 billion (US$6.7 billion) as of December 31, 2022 and negative cash flow from operations of RMB70.6 million (US$10.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion), unused credit lines of RMB1.6 billion (US$0.2 billion) and a working capital deficit (defined as total current assets deducted by total current liabilities) of RMB14.3 billion (US$2.1 billion).

As disclosed in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021, there was substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern as we did not have sufficient funds to repurchase all or a significant portion of the outstanding 2025 Notes if redeemed by noteholders on April 1, 2023 without securing additional financing.

We have implemented plans and improved our financial position by reducing discretionary capital expenditures and operational expenses (the “Plans”) and secured additional financing. In March 2022, we issued ordinary shares for a total cash purchase price of US$285 million in a private placement transaction. In December 2022, we issued US$500 million convertible senior notes due January 2028, or the PAG Notes, to PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, PAG Pegasus Fund LP and/or their affiliates, collectively referred to as PAG in this annual report. In February 2023, we issued to PAG an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes upon its exercise to subscribe for additional notes in full. In January 2023, we completed a registered follow-on public offering and received net proceeds of US$500 million in aggregate. In March 2023, we completed an offering of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due March 2028, or the 2028 Notes. Concurrently with and shortly after the offering of the 2028 Notes, we entered into separate individually and privately negotiated agreements with certain holders of the 2026 Notes to repurchase US$340 million principal amount of such notes for cash. We generated positive operating cash flow in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2022. As a result of the cash generated from operations, coupled with the Plans and fund raised from the above actions, the substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern has been resolved as of the date of this annual report. We intend to further strengthen our financial position and generate cash from our operations by continuing to focus on improving operational efficiency.

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If we fail to anticipate user preferences and provide high-quality content, especially popular original content, in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to attract and retain users to remain competitive.

Our success depends on our ability to engage users on our platform. To attract and retain users and compete against our competitors, we must continue to offer high-quality content, especially popular original content, in a cost-effective manner, to provide our users with a superior streaming entertainment experience. To this end, we must continue to produce new original content and source new professionally produced or other video content in a cost-effective manner. Given that we operate in a rapidly evolving industry, we need to anticipate user preferences and industry changes and respond to such changes in a timely and effective manner. If we fail to cater to the needs and preferences of our users, control our costs in doing so or fail to deliver superior user experience, we may suffer from reduced user traffic, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Various phases of our original content production are outsourced to our content production partners. If they fail to generate quality content satisfactory to our demands or provide services upon terms commercially acceptable to us, we may be unable to provide high-quality original content offerings to our users.

We rely on our in-house team to generate creative ideas for original content and to supervise the original content origination and production process, and we intend to continue to invest resources in content production. We face fierce competition for qualified personnel in a limited pool of high-quality creative talent. Our competitors include well-capitalized companies that are capable of offering compensation packages more attractive to talents. If we are not able to compete effectively for talents or attract and retain top talents at reasonable costs, our original content production capabilities would be negatively impacted. Any deterioration in our in-house content production capability, inability to attract creative talents at reasonable costs or losses in personnel may materially and adversely affect our business and operating results. If we are unable to offer popular original content that meets user tastes and preferences in a cost-effective manner, our user experience may be adversely affected, we may suffer from reduced user traffic and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

If we fail to procure content from content providers upon terms acceptable to us, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

Our ability to provide our users with high-quality, popular content depends in part on our ability to procure content from studios and other content providers, as well as distributors and other licensors of content. We typically enter into license and sub-license agreements with third-party content providers and other IP holders on various terms and conditions. If content providers and other rights holders are no longer willing or able to license content to us upon terms acceptable to us, or, in the case where we obtained the right to distribute content through sub-license agreements, and subsequently the licensors lose their right to sub-license such content to us, our ability to offer content to our users will be adversely affected and we may have to incur additional costs. For content sub-licensed and currently being showcased on our platform, we may be forced to remove such content as a result of our licensor’s disputes with the original content provider, which may result in loss of user traffic and revenues. If we fail to remove such content in a timely manner, we may become the subject of adverse legal actions from the original content provider. As competition intensifies, we may see the cost of licensed content increase. As we seek to differentiate our service, we are increasingly focused on securing a broader range of rights other than merely distribution and online streaming rights. We also acquire other forms of copyright such as rights to adapt the original content into online games, films, drama series, animation and other entertainment formats. We focus on offering an overall mix of content that appeals to our users in a cost-efficient manner. If we do not maintain a compelling mix of content, our user acquisition and retention may be adversely affected.

If our efforts to retain members and attract new members are not successful, our business and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected.

Our ability to continue to retain members and attract new members will depend in part on our ability to consistently provide our members with compelling content choices, user experience, as well as a quality experience for selecting and viewing video content. Furthermore, the relative service levels, content offerings, pricing and related features of competitors may adversely impact our ability to attract and retain members. If we introduce new or adjust existing features, adjust pricing or service offerings, or change the mix of content in a manner that is not favorably received by our members, we may not be able to attract and retain members. Many of our members originate from organic growth. If our efforts to satisfy our existing members are not successful, we may not be able to attract new members, and as a result, our ability to maintain and grow our membership revenues will be adversely affected. Members may cancel or decide not to renew our service for many reasons, including a perception that they do not use the service sufficiently, payment inconveniences, the need to cut household expenses, availability of content is unsatisfactory, competitive services provide a better value or experience and customer service issues are not satisfactorily resolved. In addition, we use various marketing and sales strategies to enroll members, including but not limited to discounts and bundled sales, we may not be able to retain those members if our promotion strategy fails or discontinue. We are also exploring various opportunities and marketing strategies to better monetize our membership base, including launching movies exclusively on our platform in premium video-on-demand (PVOD) mode. Such initiatives may not be well received by our members and may have a negative impact on our reputation and results of operations. Additionally, if we are unable to successfully compete with current and new competitors in both retaining our existing members and

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attracting new members, our business will be adversely affected. Further, if an excessive number of members cancel or opt not to renew our service, we may be required to incur significantly higher marketing expenditures to attract new members than we currently anticipate. In addition, due to COVID-19’s restraining effect on content production, which resulted in an industry-wide weaker supply of high-quality content, particularly in the vertical of cinema movies, we experienced fluctuations in our subscribing member base in 2021 and 2022. To the extent quarantine restrictions are re-imposed in the future in areas in which we, our content partners or other content sources are operating, our content release schedules may be impacted again and our membership services could be negatively affected as a result. Further, content production is heavily regulated in mainland China. If the regulatory or administrative authorities impose new requirements relating to, among other things, content supervision and approval, we may not be able to offer a variety of content offerings in time, or at all, and we cannot assure you that we will continue to maintain our membership base in the future.

If we fail to retain existing or attract new advertising customers to advertise on our platform, maintain and increase their wallet share of advertising budget or if we are unable to collect accounts receivable in a timely manner, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We generated a substantial part of our revenues from online advertising. If our advertising customers find that they can generate better returns elsewhere, or if our competitors provide better online advertising services to suit our advertising customers’ goals, we may lose our advertising customers. In addition, third parties may develop and use certain technologies to block the display, and our members are able to skip the viewing, of our advertising customers’ advertisements on our platform, which may in turn cause us to lose advertising customers and adversely affect our results of operations. If our advertising customers determine that their marketing expenditures on internet video streaming platforms do not generate expected returns, they may allocate a portion or all of their advertising budgets to other advertising channels such as television, newspapers and magazines or other internet channels such as search engines, news aggregation platforms, short-form video platforms, e-commerce platforms and social media platforms, and reduce or discontinue business with us. Since most of our advertising customers are not bound by long-term contracts, they may lessen or discontinue advertising arrangements with us easily without incurring material liabilities. Failure to retain existing advertising customers, or maintain their level of budget allocated to us, or attract new advertising customers to our platform may materially and adversely affect our financial conditions and results of operations. Our online advertising revenue witnessed year-on-year deceases of 17.5% in 2020, increases of 3.6% in 2021, and decreases of 24.6% in 2022, respectively. The declines primarily resulted from challenging macroeconomic environment, tightened advertising budget of advertisers, intensified competition in the advertising industry, as well as heightened regulatory scrutiny in mainland China. We cannot assure you that our online advertising business will not experience growth deceleration or witness declines again in the future.

Our brand advertising customers typically enter into online advertising agreements with us through various third-party advertising agencies. In mainland China’s advertising industry, advertising agencies typically have good relationships and maintain longer periods of cooperation with the brand advertising customers they represent. Therefore, even if we have direct contact with advertising customers, we typically enter into advertising contracts with third-party advertising agencies, which represent advertising customers. As a result, we rely on third-party advertising agencies for sales to, and collection of payment from, our brand advertisers. In consideration for the third-party advertising agencies’ services, we offer them rebates based on the volume of business they bring to us. The financial soundness of our advertising customers and advertising agencies may affect our collection of accounts receivable. We make a credit assessment of our advertising customers and advertising agencies to evaluate the collectability of the advertising service fees before entering into an advertising contract. However, we cannot assure you that we are or will be able to accurately assess the creditworthiness of each advertising customer or advertising agency, and any inability of advertising customers or advertising agencies to pay us in a timely manner may adversely affect our liquidity and cash flows. In addition, there has been some consolidation among mainland China’s advertising agencies. If this trend continues, a small number of large advertising agencies may have stronger bargaining power to demand higher rebate for advertising agency services, which could reduce our online advertising revenue.

In addition, we do not have long-term cooperation agreements or exclusive arrangements with third-party advertising agencies and they may elect to direct business opportunities to other advertising service providers, including our competitors. If we fail to retain and enhance the business relationships with third-party advertising agencies, we may suffer from a loss of advertising customers and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

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Our business is subject to complex and evolving Chinese and international laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in claims, changes to our business practices, negative publicity, legal proceedings, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.

We are subject to complex and evolving statutory and regulatory requirements relating to cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection. Regulatory authorities in mainland China have enhanced data protection and cybersecurity regulatory requirements. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.

The PRC Cybersecurity Law, which became effective in June 2017, created China’s first national-level data protection framework for “network operators.” It is relatively new and subject to interpretations by the regulator. It requires, among others, that network operators take security measures to protect the network from unauthorized interference, damage and unauthorized access and prevent data from being divulged, stolen or tampered with. Network operators are also required to collect and use personal information in compliance with the principles of legitimacy, properness and necessity, and strictly within the scope of authorization by the subject of personal information unless otherwise prescribed by laws or regulations. Significant capital, managerial and human resources are required to comply with legal requirements, enhance information security and address any issues caused by security failures.

In addition, numerous regulations, guidelines and other measures have been and are expected to be adopted under the PRC Cybersecurity Law. For example, the PRC government promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review in April 2020, which became effective in June 2020. Under these measures, critical information infrastructure operators must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, together with certain other PRC governmental authorities, jointly released the Revised Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the Revised Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure that intend to purchase network products and services that affect or may affect national security must apply for a cybersecurity review. The cybersecurity review will evaluate, among others, the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data, or the risk of a large amount of personal information being influenced, controlled or maliciously used by foreign governments after going public, and cyber information security risk. The Revised Cybersecurity Review Measures set out certain general factors which would be the focus in assessing the national security risk during a cybersecurity review. However, as advised by our PRC counsel, the scope of network product or service or data processing activities that will or may affect national security is still unclear, and the PRC government authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations. As of the date of this annual report, we have not been involved in any investigations or become subject to a cybersecurity review initiated by the CAC, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions in such respect or any regulatory objections to our listing status from the CAC.

On August 17, 2021, the PRC State Council promulgated the Regulations on Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, which became effective on September 1, 2021. Pursuant to such regulations, “critical information infrastructure” shall mean any important network facilities or information systems of important industries or fields such as public communication and information service, energy, communications, water conservation, finance, public services, e-government affairs and national defense science, and any other important network facilities or information systems which may endanger national security, people’s livelihood and public interest in case of damage, function loss or data leakage. In addition, relevant administration departments of each critical industry and sector, or Protection Departments, shall be responsible to formulate eligibility criteria and determine the critical information infrastructure operator in the respective industry or field. The operators shall be informed about the final determination as to whether they are categorized as critical information infrastructure operators. As of the date hereof, no detailed rules or implementation has been issued by any Protection Departments, and we have not been informed as a critical information infrastructure operator by any governmental authorities. As this regulation is newly issued and the governmental authorities, including Protection Departments, may further formulate detailed rules or explanations with respect to the interpretation and implementation of this regulation, the exact scope of “critical information infrastructure operators” under the current regulatory regime remains unclear, and the PRC governmental authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of these laws. Therefore, it is uncertain whether we would be deemed as a critical information infrastructure operator under PRC law. It also remains uncertain whether the future regulatory changes would impose additional restrictions on companies like us. If we are not able to comply with the cybersecurity and data privacy requirements in a timely manner, or at all, we may be subject to government enforcement actions and investigations, fines, penalties, suspension of our non-compliant operations, or removal of our app, including mobile and smart TV apps, from the relevant application stores, among other sanctions, which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. As of the date of this annual report, we have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review made by the Cyberspace Administration of China on such basis, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions in such respect.

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The PRC Personal Information Protection Law, or the PIPL, took effect in November 2021. The PIPL sets forth detailed rules on processing personal information, clarifies the relevant rights of the individuals and the obligations of the personal information processors, and further strengthens the liabilities for illegal process of personal information. In addition to other rules and principles of personal information processing, the PIPL specifically provides rules for processing sensitive personal information. Sensitive personal information refers to personal information that, once leaked or illegally used, could easily lead to the infringement of human dignity or harm to the personal or property safety of an individual, including biometric recognition, religious belief, specific identity, medical and health, financial account, personal whereabouts and other information of an individual, as well as any personal information of a minor under the age of 14. Only where there is a specific purpose and sufficient necessity, and under circumstances where strict protection measures are taken, may personal information processors process sensitive personal information. A personal information processor shall inform the individual of the necessity of processing such sensitive personal information and the impact thereof on the individual’s rights and interests. Some information we collect, such as location and mobile numbers, may be deemed to be sensitive personal information under the PIPL. The PIPL also strengthens the supervision of automatic decision making to protect the rights of individuals to obtain fair transaction terms and the supervision of mobile applications. As uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation and implementation of the PIPL, we cannot assure you that we will comply with the PIPL in all respects, or that regulatory authorities will not order us to rectify or terminate our current practice of collecting and processing sensitive personal information. We may also become subject to fines and other penalties which may have material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.

On November 14, 2021, the CAC published a discussion draft of Regulations on the Administration of Cyber Data Security, or the Draft Measures for Internet Data Security, for public comments, which provides that data processors conducting the following activities shall apply for cybersecurity review: (i) merger, reorganization or division of internet platform operators that have acquired a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests affects or may affect national security; (ii) listing abroad of data processors processing over one million users’ personal information; (iii) listing in Hong Kong which affects or may affect national security; or (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. The Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations also provide that operators of large internet platforms that set up headquarters, operation centers or R&D centers overseas shall report to the national cyberspace administration and competent authorities. In addition, the Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations also require that data processors processing important data or going public overseas shall conduct an annual data security self-assessment or entrust a data security service institution to do so, and submit the data security assessment report of the previous year to the local branch of the CAC before January 31 each year. As of the date of this annual report, this draft has not been formally adopted. Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, final content, interpretation and implementation.

The PRC government authorities also further enhanced the supervision and regulation of cross-border data transmission. On July 7, 2022, the CAC promulgated the Measures for the Security Assessment of Cross-border Data Transfer, which became effective on September 1, 2022. In accordance with such measures, data processors will be subject to security assessment conducted by the CAC prior to any cross-border transfer of data if the transfer involves (i) important data; (ii) personal information transferred overseas by operators of critical information infrastructure or a data processor that has processed personal data of more than one million persons; (iii) personal information transferred overseas by a data processor which has already provided personal data of 100,000 persons or sensitive personal data of 10,000 persons overseas since January 1 of the preceding year; or (iv) other circumstances as required by the CAC. In addition, any cross-border data transfer activities conducted in violation of the Measures for the Security Assessment of Cross-border Data Transfer before the effectiveness of such measures are required to be rectified within six months of the effectiveness date thereof. Since these measures are relatively new, there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these measures in practice and how they will affect our business operation.

In addition, internet information in mainland China is regulated from a national security standpoint. According to the PRC National Security Law, institutions and mechanisms for national security review and administration will be established to conduct national security review on key technologies and IT products and services that affect or may affect national security. The PRC Data Security Law took effect in September 2021 and provides for a security review procedure for the data activities that may affect national security. It also introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, as well as the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, or illegally acquired or used. The appropriate level of protection measures is required to be taken for each respective category of data. It is not clear under the Data Security Law what constitutes “important data” or “state critical data.” If we are deemed to collect “important data” or “state critical data,” we may need to adopt internal reforms in order to comply with the Data Security Law.

While we take measures to comply with applicable data privacy and protection laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee the effectiveness of the measures undertaken by us and business partners. The activities of third parties such as our customers and business partners are beyond our control. If our business partners violate the PRC Cybersecurity Law and related laws and regulations,

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or fail to fully comply with the service agreements with us, or if any of our employees fails to comply with our internal control measures and misuses the information, we may be subject to penalties. As part of the efforts by the Cyber Administration of China, MIIT and other regulators to enhance data protection, a wide number of apps and companies have been notified to enhance data privacy protection as of the date of this annual report, including certain iQIYI apps. Although we have updated the apps to comply with the requirements of the regulators to the best we can, we cannot guarantee you that we will not be subject to more similar rectification requests from the governmental authorities or that we will fully comply with all applicable rules and regulations at all times. Any failure or perceived failure to comply with all applicable data privacy and protection laws and regulations, or any failure or perceived failure of our business partners to do so, or any failure or perceived failure of our employees to comply with our internal control measures, may prevent us from using or providing certain network products and services, result in fines and other penalties such as suspension of our related business, closure of our website, mobile apps and smart TV apps and suspension of new downloads of our apps, as well as subjecting us to negative publicity and legal proceedings or regulatory actions and discouraging current and potential users and customers from using our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

As we gradually expand into overseas markets, we may be subject to laws and regulations of other countries regarding cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection. We strive to comply with local laws and regulations in markets where we have operations. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR, of the European Union imposes obligations on companies regarding the handling of personal data and provides certain individual privacy rights to persons whose data is stored. The GDPR requires companies to submit personal data breach notifications to designated European privacy regulator in each country they have business operations, and includes significant penalties for non-compliance with the notification obligation as well as other requirements of the regulation. For another instance, some countries are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements, which, if adopted and implemented, could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services. In addition, wherever we operate, we could be subject to new laws or regulations or the interpretation and application of existing consumer and data protection laws or regulations. These new laws, regulations and interpretations are often uncertain and in flux and may be inconsistent with our practices. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to maintain compliance at all times, especially in light of the fact that laws and regulations on cybersecurity and data protection are evolving. Our launch of new products or services or other actions that we may take may also subject us to additional laws, regulations, or other government scrutiny. Complying with these new or additional laws, regulations and requirements could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner materially adverse to our business.

We operate in a capital intensive industry and require a significant amount of cash to fund our operations, content acquisitions and technology investments. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital, our business, financial condition and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

The operation of an internet video streaming platform requires significant and continuous investment in content and technology. Producing high-quality original content is costly and time-consuming and it will typically take a long period of time to realize returns on investment, if at all. To date, we have financed our operations primarily with net cash generated from financing activities such as placements of shares, convertible senior notes and asset-based securities, bank loans, the financial support from Baidu, and the proceeds from our initial public offering and follow-on offering of our securities. In order to implement our growth strategies, we will incur additional capital in the future to cover, among others, costs to produce and license content. We may need to obtain additional financing, including equity offerings or debt financing, to fund the operation and expansion of business. Our ability to obtain additional financing in the future, however, is subject to a number of uncertainties, including those relating to:

our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;
general market conditions for financing activities by companies in our industry;
macro-economic and other conditions in mainland China and elsewhere; and
our relationship with Baidu.

As a public company with a growing business, we expect to increasingly rely on net cash provided by operating activities, financing through capital markets and commercial banks for our liquidity needs. If we fail to diversify our funding sources and obtain sufficient capital to meet our capital needs, we may not be able to execute our growth strategies and our business, financial condition and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

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We have substantial indebtedness and we may continue to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, which could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to generate sufficient cash to satisfy our outstanding and future debt obligations on a timely manner. Deterioration of our cash flow position could materially and adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness and continue our operations.

We maintain a considerable level of indebtedness to finance our operations and business expansion. Historically, we have issued the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes and 2026 Notes, which are senior, unsecured obligations of our company. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of these Notes, we are contractually obliged to repay principal amounts of US$3.2 million, US$1,200.0 million and US$900.0 million to redeem the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes and 2026 Notes upon their scheduled maturities in 2023, 2025 and 2026, respectively, assuming there is no conversion or early redemption of the Notes, the convertible senior note bondholders hold the Notes until their respective maturity dates and our company elects to settle the Notes in full by cash, among others. If the 2025 Notes and 2026 Notes are redeemed early, we will need to repay such principal amounts earlier than their respective scheduled maturities. Additionally, holders of the Notes may require us to repurchase all or portion for cash earlier to their respective maturity date on certain dates or in certain events, including upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In November 2021, we completed the repurchase right offer relating to the 2023 Notes. US$746.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes were validly surrendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the repurchase right offer.

In addition, in December 2022, we issued an aggregate amount of US$500 million PAG Notes to PAG. In February 2023, we issued to PAG an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes upon its exercise to subscribe for additional notes in full. PAG Notes are secured by certain collateral arrangements. Holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require us to repurchase or repay for cash all or part of their notes, at a price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively. They also have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes in the event of certain fundamental changes and events of default. In March 2023, we completed an offering of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due March 2028, or the 2028 Notes. Holders of the 2028 Notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash on March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Our current and future debt requires us to dedicate a portion of our cash flow to service interest and principal payments and may limit our ability to engage in other transactions.

As a result, we are subject to refinancing risks against such indebtedness. There can be no assurance that we would be able to repay and refinance the notes or other indebtedness in a timely manner on acceptable terms or at all. The agreements of certain of our outstanding indebtedness contain financial covenants that depend on the financial position and performance of our company and our subsidiaries, variable interest entities and their subsidiaries; and certain agreements contain other covenants, including those relating to our solvency or listing status. If we fail to comply with these covenants, or there is an event of default under any of the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately, which may further trigger early repayments of our other debts. In particular, as of December 31, 2022, one of our variable interest entities failed to satisfy certain financial covenants under its existing loan facility, which, pursuant to the loan facility agreement, would allow the lender to cancel the credit line and/or cause all or part of the outstanding amount of the loans totaling RMB600.0 million (US$87.0 million) that would originally mature in 2023 to accelerate and become repayable immediately. As of the date of this annual report, the lender has waived its right to demand immediate repayment. Therefore, we believe this would not result in an event of default with respect to our convertible senior notes. However, we cannot assure you that breaches of these covenants of our company, our subsidiaries, the variable interest entities or their subsidiaries will not occur again in the future.

In addition, we may from time to time incur additional indebtedness and other liabilities in the future. Our current and future debt may also require us to dedicate a portion of our cash flow to service interest and principal payments and may limit our ability to engage in other transactions. Our ability to generate sufficient cash from our operations or find alternative funding sources to satisfy our outstanding and future debt obligations and other liabilities will depend upon our future operating and financial performance, economic conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. There is no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows or obtain additional funding to service our debt obligations. As of December 31, 2022, our total consolidated indebtedness, including short-term loans and net carrying amount of the existing notes, was RMB21,221.4 million (US$3,076.8 million), including US$3.2 million principal amount of the 2023 notes, US$1,200 million principal amount of the 2025 Notes, US$900 million principal amount of 2026 Notes and US$500 million principal amount of the PAG Notes. As of the same date, the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries had RMB36,794.0 million (US$5,334.6 million) of total liabilities (including amounts due to us and our subsidiaries that are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements) to which the notes would have been structurally subordinated. We have only recently been able to generate operating income, and have only started to generate positive operating cash flows since the second quarter of 2022. Any deterioration of our cash flow position could materially and adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness. If we foresee we are unable to service our indebtedness, we will be forced to adopt an

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alternative strategy that may include actions such as significantly reducing or delaying our investment in content and technologies, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness, and, in the event of defaults, our lenders and other creditors could, among other things, declare outstanding amounts due and payable and take actions to enforce us to repay our debts; we may have to renegotiate, repay or refinance these obligations, and may not have sufficient funds available to repay them. These may materially and adversely impact our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations.

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

As a result of changes in our funding position and operating assets and liabilities, we had a working capital deficit (defined as total current assets deducted by total current liabilities) of RMB14.3 billion (US$2.1 billion) as of December 31, 2022. In November 2021, we completed the repurchase relating to the 2023 Notes. US$746.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes were validly surrendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the repurchase right offer. As of December 31, 2022, RMB22.1 million (US$3.2 million) of the net carrying amount of the 2023 Notes was included in the current liabilities. In addition, holders of the 2025 Notes may require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes on April 1, 2023 or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In February, 2023, we notified holders of the 2025 Notes that each holder has the right to, between March 3, 2023 and March 30, 2023, require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their 2025 Notes on April 1, 2023. The repurchase price for the 2025 Notes shall be an amount in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2025 notes to be so repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, April 1, 2023. Any such accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid, on April 3, 2023, to the holder of the 2025 Notes at the close of business on March 15, 2023, regardless of whether such 2025 Notes have been surrendered for repurchase as of March 15, 2023. Holders of the 2026 Notes also have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes on August 1, 2024 or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of an event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of these convertible senior notes may declare the whole principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain exceptions and conditions under the respective indenture. Holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require us to repurchase or repay for cash all or part of their notes, at a price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively. They also have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes in the event of certain fundamental changes and events of default. In addition, holders of the 2028 Notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash on March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. These repurchase obligations under the terms of our notes or the occurrence of any fundamental changes or event of default, as the case may be, may impact our future working capital position and our ability to continue as a going concern. For actions that we plan to take in order to manage our working capital, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.” There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to prudently manage our working capital, or raise additional equity or debt financing on terms that are acceptable to us. Our failure to properly manage our working capital as planned and when necessary could materially and adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations, financial condition and ability to operate.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle redemption of our existing notes, or to repurchase such notes upon a fundamental change or on certain specific dates, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or to repurchase the notes.

Our existing notes contain protections concerning the holders’ rights to require us to repurchase their notes and to pay cash to settle redemption of their notes. For example, holders of the 2026 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes on August 1, 2024 or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest; holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require us to repurchase or repay for cash all or part of their notes, at a price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively; and holders of the 2028 Notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash on March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flow from our operations or secure additional financing to support the repayment of our existing notes when our payments become due. Furthermore, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of our existing notes surrendered therefor or our existing notes being converted. Our failure to repurchase notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture or to pay any cash payable on future conversions of the notes as required by the indenture would constitute a default under the indenture. A default under the indenture or a fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements or indentures governing any outstanding future indebtedness. If the repayment of our existing notes or

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any outstanding future indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the notes or make cash payments to the holders upon conversions of the notes.

We have been and may again be subject to legal proceedings, claims and investigations in the ordinary course of business. If the outcomes of these proceedings are adverse to us, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims and government investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of business and have not yet been fully resolved. New legal proceedings, claims and investigations may arise in the future. The existence of litigation, claims, investigations and proceedings may harm our reputation, business and adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.

Starting in April 2020, we and certain of our current and former officers and directors were named as defendants in several putative securities class actions filed in federal court, which were purportedly brought on behalf of a class of persons who allegedly suffered damages as a result of alleged misstatements and omissions in our company’s public disclosure documents. In May 2021, these actions were consolidated under the caption In re iQIYI, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 1:20-CV-01830 (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York). In June 2021, lead plaintiffs filed the operative amended complaint. In July 2021, defendants filed motion to dismiss the case. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on September 29, 2021. However, in light of the common questions of law and fact at issue in this case and a related action under the caption In re Baidu Inc. Securities Litigation, 20-cv-03794 (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York), the Court terminated the motion to dismiss without prejudice and ordered motion-to-dismiss briefing for the two cases to be completed by March 3, 2023 under a new briefing schedule. The coordinated motion-to-dismiss briefing has now been completed under the new schedule, and we await a decision from the court on these motions. Regardless of the merit of particular claims, legal proceedings and investigations may result in reputational harm, be expensive, time consuming, disruptive to our operations and distracting to management. In the event we do not prevail or we enter into settlement arrangements in any of these proceedings or investigations, we may incur significant expenses which may materially adversely affect our results of operations.

Following the publication in April 2020 of a short seller report by Wolfpack Research, or the Wolfpack Report, the SEC asked us to produce certain financial, operating, and other documents and records. We provided the SEC with requested documents and information. Although no further information has been requested by the SEC since early 2021, we cannot predict if there will be further requests or the duration, outcome, or impact of the SEC investigation.

In addition, we are subject to legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. We have been involved in litigation based on allegations of infringement of third-party copyright, including information network dissemination rights, and other rights, due to the content available on our platform. We have been subject to lawsuits in mainland China for alleged unfair competition in connection with our platform. We may also face litigation or administrative actions for defamation, negligence, copyright and trademark infringement, or other purported injuries resulting from the content we provide or the nature of our services.

We were subject to a total of 1,846 lawsuits in mainland China for alleged copyright infringement between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022, in connection with our platform. Approximately 85.0% of the lawsuits filed from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022 in connection with the iQIYI platform were rejected by relevant PRC courts, withdrawn by the plaintiffs or settled by the parties. As of December 31, 2022, a total of 138 lawsuits against us in connection with our platform were pending in mainland China, with the aggregate amount of damages sought under these pending cases being RMB350.9 million (US$50.9 million).

The outcome of legal proceedings and investigations is inherently uncertain. If one or more legal matters were resolved against us or an indemnified third-party in a reporting period for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, our financial condition and operating results for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected. Further, such an outcome could result in significant compensatory, punitive or trebled monetary damages, disgorgement of revenue or profits, remedial corporate measures or injunctive relief against us that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

The success of our business depends on our ability to maintain and enhance our brand.

We believe that maintaining and enhancing our iQIYI brand is of significant importance to the success of our business. Our well-recognized brand is critical to increasing our user base and, in turn, expanding our membership base and attractiveness to advertising customers and content providers. Since the streaming entertainment industry is highly competitive, maintaining and enhancing our brand depends largely on our ability to remain the market leader in mainland China, which may be difficult and expensive. To the extent our content, in particular, our original content, is perceived as low quality or otherwise not appealing to users, our ability to maintain and enhance our brand may be adversely impacted.

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Our overseas operations may not be successful and may be adversely affected by legal, regulatory, political and economic risks.

We began to expand our overseas business operations in late 2019. We have launched our multilingual iQIYI app, which currently supports more than ten languages and can be downloaded globally from major app stores. We also cooperate with local partners to promote our app and expand our user base. We are subject to PRC law in addition to the laws of the foreign countries and regions in which we operate. If any of our overseas investments or operations violate such laws, we could become subject to sanctions or other penalties, which could negatively affect our reputation, business and operating results.

Our overseas expansion may not be successful and may expose us to a number of risks inherent in doing business internationally, including:
difficulties with staffing and managing foreign operations, which may be exacerbated as a result of distance, time zone, language and cultural differences;
challenges in formulating effective local sales and marketing strategies targeting users from various jurisdictions and cultures, who have a diverse range of preferences and demands;
challenges in identifying appropriate local business partners and establishing and maintaining good working relationships with them;
challenges in producing and acquiring content that is appealing to local population and catering to local cultural environment, and screening out content that may be inappropriate, offensive or unwelcoming in certain countries or regions;
challenges in recruiting quality local content creators to attract and engage local users;
challenges in effectively managing overseas operations from our headquarters or new regional headquarters and establishing overseas IT systems and infrastructure;
competitions from other participants in the market, including international leading companies;
challenges in selecting suitable geographical regions for overseas expansion;
currency exchange rate fluctuations and foreign exchange control risks;
exposure to changes in macroeconomic conditions in foreign jurisdictions;
political or social unrest or economic instability;
difficulties and costs relating to compliance with applicable foreign laws and regulations and unexpected changes in laws or regulations;
challenges in investing in countries and regions that restrict or may restrict foreign investment in the internet service provider, online video, entertainment, advertising or culture related industry, and unexpected changes in such restrictions;
difficulties in and costs relating to the obtaining and keeping valid licenses, permits or other applicable governmental authorizations, content control from local authorities;
complexity of intellectual property protection and enforcement regime overseas and the potential exposure of claims relating to intellectual property infringement;
exposure to different tax jurisdictions that may subject us to greater fluctuations in our effective tax rate and potentially adverse tax consequences;
exposure to different labor protection requirements and potential labor-related claims and disputes; and
increased costs associated with doing business in foreign jurisdictions.

One or more of these factors could harm our overseas operations and consequently, could harm our overall business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the regulatory framework for online video content or other services we provide is still developing and remains uncertain in certain countries where we are exploring overseas operations. As we continue to expand our business overseas, we cannot assure you that we will be able to fully comply with the legal requirements of each foreign jurisdiction and successfully adapt our business model to local market conditions.

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We may be the subject of detrimental conduct by third parties, including complaints to regulatory agencies and the public dissemination of malicious assessments of our business, which could have a negative impact on our reputation and cause us to lose market share, users, advertising customers and revenues, and adversely affect the price of our ADSs.

We have been, and in the future may be, the target of anti-competitive, harassing or other detrimental conduct by third parties. Such conduct may include complaints, anonymous or otherwise, to regulatory agencies regarding our operations, accounting, revenues, business relationships, business prospects and business ethics. Additionally, allegations and other negative publicity, directly or indirectly against us, may be posted online or otherwise generally disseminated by anyone, whether or not related to us. We may be subject to regulatory investigations, lawsuits or public perception backlash as a result of such third-party conduct and may be required to expend significant time and incur substantial costs to address such third-party conduct, and there is no assurance that we will be able to conclusively refute each of the allegations within a reasonable period of time, or at all. Our reputation may also be negatively affected as a result of the public dissemination of anonymous allegations or malicious statements about our business, which in turn may cause us to lose market share, users, advertising customers and revenues, and adversely affect the price of our ADSs.

Increases in market price of professionally produced content, or PPC, may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

PPC constitutes a significant part of our content offerings. The market prices for PPC, especially TV series and movies, have increased significantly in mainland China during the past few years. Due to the improving monetization prospects, internet video streaming platforms are generating more revenues and are competing aggressively to license popular content titles, which have in turn led to increases in licensing fees of PPC in general. As the market further grows, the expectations of copyright owners, distributors and industry participants may continue to rise, and as such they may demand higher licensing fees for PPC. Furthermore, with the expansion of our content library, the costs for PPC may continue to increase. If we are unable to generate sufficient revenues to outpace the increase in market prices for PPC, we may incur more losses and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

We operate in a highly competitive market and we may not be able to compete effectively.

We face competition for content sourcing, user traffic and advertising customers from other streaming entertainment platforms in mainland China, primarily including Tencent Video, Youku, Mango TV and Bilibili. We compete for users, usage time and advertising customers. In addition, we also face competition from other forms of entertainment content, including short videos and online games. Some of our competitors have a longer operating history and significantly greater financial resources than we do, and, in turn, may be able to attract and retain more users, usage time and advertising customers. Our competitors may compete with us in a variety of ways, including by obtaining IP rights to popular content, conducting brand promotions and other marketing activities, and making investments in and acquisitions of our business partners. In addition, certain internet video streaming platforms may continue to derive their revenues from providing content that infringes third-party copyright and may not monitor their platforms for any such infringing content. As a result, we may be placed at a disadvantage to some of these companies that do not incur similar costs as we do with respect to content production, acquisition and moderation. If any of our competitors achieves greater market acceptance than we do or is able to offer more attractive internet video content, our user traffic and our market share may decrease, which may result in a loss of advertising customers and members, as well as have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We face competition from traditional media such as major TV stations, which also provide and may increase their internet and on-demand video offerings. Most large companies in mainland China allocate, and will likely continue to allocate, a significant portion of their advertising budgets to traditional media, particularly major TV stations. We also face increasing competition for users, user time and advertising budgets from other internet media and entertainment services, such as internet and social media platforms and short-form video platforms.

The continued and collaborative efforts of our senior management and key employees are crucial to our success, and our business may be harmed if we lose their services.

Our success depends on the continued and collaborative efforts of our senior management, especially our executive officers, including our founder, Dr. Yu Gong. If, however, one or more of our executives or other key personnel are unable or unwilling to continue to provide services to us, we may not be able to find suitable replacements easily or at all. Competition for management and key personnel is intense and the pool of qualified candidates is limited. We may not be able to retain the services of our executives or key personnel, or attract and retain experienced executives or key personnel in the future. If any of our executive officers or key employees joins a competitor or forms a competing business, we may lose crucial business secrets, technological know-how, advertiser customers and other valuable resources. Each of our executive officers and key employees has entered into an employment

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agreement with us, which contains non-compete provisions. However, we cannot assure you that they will abide by the employment agreements or our efforts to enforce these agreements will be effective enough to protect our interests.

Our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our business and prospects.

We launched our platform and internet video streaming services in 2010 and have grown rapidly since then. However, due to our limited operating history, our historical growth rate may not be indicative of our future performance. We cannot assure you that our growth rate will be the same as in the past. In addition, we may in the future introduce new services or significantly expand our existing services, including those that currently are of relatively small scale or with which we have little or no prior development or operating experience. If these new or enhanced services fail to engage users and customers, our business and operating results may suffer as a result. We cannot assure you that we will be able to recoup our investments in introducing these new services or enhancing existing smaller business lines, and we may experience significant loss and impairment of asset value due to such efforts. Furthermore, as a technology-based entertainment company, we frequently introduce innovative products and services to our users and advertising customers in order to capture new market opportunities. However, we cannot assure you that our products and services will be well received by our users and advertising customers. In addition, it is possible that our users and advertising customers may find our products and services objectionable. If our existing or new products and services are not well received by our users and customers, we may suffer damages to our brand image and may not be able to maintain or expand our user and customer base, which in turn may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. You should consider our prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties fast-growing companies with limited operating histories in a fast-evolving industry may encounter.

We may not be able to manage our growth effectively or expand our offerings successfully.

To manage the further expansion of our business, products and offerings and the growth of our operations and personnel, we need to continually expand and enhance our infrastructure and technology, and improve our operational and financial systems, procedures, compliance and controls. We also need to expand, train and manage our growing employee base. In addition, our management will be required to maintain and expand our relationships with talents, content providers, distributors, advertising customers, advertising agencies and other third parties. We cannot assure you that our current infrastructure, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support our expanding operations. If we fail to manage our expansion effectively, our business, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We have been constantly endeavoring to develop new products and offerings that provide other contents, content formats or services such as, short-form videos, live streaming, online literatures and comics. However, our expansion of new products and offerings may result in unseen risks, challenges and uncertainties. We may incur additional expenditure to support our expansion and it may strain our managerial, financial, operational and other resources. Any failure in managing expenditures and evaluating user demands for new products and offerings could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot guarantee our monetization strategies will be successfully implemented or generate sustainable revenues and profit.

Our monetization model is evolving. We currently generate a substantial majority of our revenues from membership services and online advertising. We plan to strengthen revenue contribution from our other monetization methods, such as online games and IP licensing. We have no proven track record of or experience in generating substantial revenues from other monetization methods. If our strategic initiatives do not enhance our monetization ability or enable us to develop new approaches to monetization, we may not be able to maintain or increase our revenues or recover any associated costs. In addition, we may in the future introduce new services to further diversify our revenue streams, including services with which we have little or no prior development or operating experience. If these new or enhanced services fail to engage users, customers or content partners, we may fail to attract or retain users or to generate sufficient revenues to justify our investments, and our business and operating results may suffer as a result.

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Our business, prospects and financial results may be impacted by our relationship with third-party platforms.

In addition to our iQIYI platform, we also distribute video content through third-party platforms. We generate membership service and online advertising service revenues through revenue-sharing arrangements with such third-party platforms, which include leading internet companies in mainland China. However, there can be no assurance that our arrangements with those platforms will be extended or renewed after their respective expiration or that we will be able to extend or renew such arrangements on terms and conditions favorable to us. In addition, if any of such third-party platforms breaches its obligations under any of the agreements entered into with us or refuses to extend or renew it when the term expires, and we cannot find suitable replacement on a timely basis, or at all, we may suffer significant loss to our user base and revenue streams we have developed therefrom, or lose the opportunity to expand our business through such platform. We may be involved with legal or other disputes with third-party platforms that may affect our relationship with such platforms or have an adverse effect on our business.

We face risks, such as unforeseen costs and potential liability in connection with content we produce, license or distribute through our platform.

As a producer, licensor and distributor of content, we face potential liability for negligence, copyright and trademark infringement, or other claims based on the content that we produce, license, provide or distribute. We also may face potential liability for content used in promoting our service, including marketing materials and features on our platform such as user reviews. We are responsible for the production costs and other expenses of our original content. We also take on risks associated with production, such as completion and key talent risk. To the extent we do not accurately anticipate costs or mitigate risks, including for content that we obtain but ultimately does not appear on our platform, or if we become liable for content we produce, license or distribute, our business may suffer. Litigation to defend these claims could be costly and the expenses and damages arising from any liability or unforeseen production risks could harm our results of operations. We may not be indemnified against claims or costs of these types and we may not have insurance coverage for these types of claims.

Videos and other content displayed on our platform may be found objectionable by PRC regulatory authorities and may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.

We are subject to PRC regulations governing internet access and the distribution of videos and other forms of information over the internet. Under these regulations, internet content providers and internet publishers are prohibited from posting or displaying over the internet any content that, among other things, violates PRC laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of China or the public interest, or is obscene, superstitious, frightening, gruesome, offensive, fraudulent or defamatory. Furthermore, as an internet video streaming platform, we are not allowed to (i) produce or disseminate programs that distort, parody or vilify classic literary works; (ii) re-edit, re-dub or re-caption the subtitles of classic literary works, radio and television programs, and network-based original audio-video programs, (iii) intercept program segments and splice them into new programs; or (iv) disseminate edited pieces of works that distort the originals. We shall strictly supervise our self-made content and the reprogramed videos uploaded by our users and shall not facilitate the dissemination of defective audio-video programs. New laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to prohibit or restrict internet platforms from distribution of certain types of videos and information. For example, On September 2, 2021, the National Radio and Television Administration, or the NRTA (previously known as the State Administration of Press Publication, Radio, Film and Television, or the SAPPRFT) issued the Circular of the General Office of the National Radio and Television Administration on Further Strengthening the Management of Cultural Programs and Their Personnel, pursuant to which online audio-video platforms shall not broadcast idol training shows, as well as variety entertainment shows and reality shows participated by celebrities’ children. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in monetary penalties, revocation of licenses to provide internet content or other licenses, suspension of the concerned programs or platforms, delay of content air time and reputational harm. In addition, these laws and regulations are subject to interpretation by the relevant authorities, which may change in a manner that could render our current content moderation efforts insufficient. As a result, it may not be possible to determine in all cases the types of content that could cause us to be held liable as an internet content provider. Furthermore, as we continue to diversify our content offerings, we are subject to increased uncertainties and extended period of time needed for the review of our content. For a detailed discussion, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Internet Content Providers,” “—Regulations on Internet Audio-video Program Services” and “—Regulations on Internet Information Security, Censorship and Privacy Protection.”

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Internet platform operators may also be held liable for the content displayed on or linked to its platform that is subject to certain restrictions. In addition to professionally produced content, we allow our users to upload other video content, such as internet movies, internet drama series, interactive videos, vertical or horizontal videos, short-form videos, micro-videos, and video blogs, or Vlogs, among others. Although we have adopted internal procedures to monitor the content displayed on our platform, due to the significant amount of content uploaded by our users, we may not be able to identify all videos or other content that may be illegal or otherwise objectionable. In addition, we may not be able to always keep these internal procedures abreast of changes in the PRC government’s requirements for content display. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Content Moderation” for more details relating to our content moderation procedures. Failure to identify and prevent illegal or inappropriate content from being displayed on our platform may subject us to liability, government sanctions or loss of licenses and permits.

To the extent that PRC regulatory authorities, such as Cyberspace Administration of China, which has promulgated the Provisions on the Governance of Network Information Content Ecology with effect from March 1, 2020, find any content displayed on our platform objectionable, they may require us to limit or eliminate the dissemination of such content on our platform in the form of take-down orders or otherwise. In the past, we have from time to time received phone calls and written notices from the relevant PRC regulatory authorities requesting us to delete or restrict certain content that the government deemed inappropriate or sensitive. The NRTA, publishes from time to time lists of content that is objectionable, and we monitor content uploaded on to our platform and remove those referenced in the list. In addition, regulatory authorities may impose penalties on us for content displayed on or linked to our platform in cases of material violations or lacking proper license, including a revocation of our operating licenses or a suspension or shutdown of our online operations. Although we have not been materially penalized for our content so far, in the event that the PRC regulatory authorities find the video and other content on our platform objectionable and impose penalties on us or take other actions against us in the future, our business, results of operations and reputation may be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, the costs of compliance with these regulations may continue to increase as a result of more content uploaded by our users.

Our business is significantly impacted by the reputation of artists featured in videos produced by us or presented on our platform.

Audience are drawn to videos we presented based on factors such as the artists reputation and popularity, the content themes and the overall production value of the videos. Any negative news about these artists, such as inappropriate conduct in their private life, scandals or criminal allegations, will pose a negative impact on the videos or TV series featuring these artists. Negative publicity of or media coverage about our artists or the content we provide will cause a negative impact on the image of the artists and ourselves, which could have a negative impact on our brand image in the online entertainment industry and our relationships with the agencies we work with.

Furthermore, the popularity and audience acceptance of artists featured in videos produced by us or provided on our platform cannot be predicted accurately, and we may not be able to timely respond to the changes in the market trends. There is no guarantee that we will be able to accommodate the audiences’ preferences on the type of videos and the selection of artists catering to the changing market trends. The failure to achieve any of the foregoing or the sudden changes in the audiences’ preferences will adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We operate in a rapidly evolving industry that is subject to continuous technology developments. Adjusting our services in response to developments in the industry and technology and the resulting changes in users’ demands and preferences could result in our incurrence of additional costs and expenses, and if we fail to keep up with such changes, our business, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

The streaming entertainment industry is rapidly evolving and subject to continuous technology developments. Our success depends on our ability to capture the trends in technology developments and offer services and products catering to the resulting changes in users’ demands preferences. We have been innovating on our content formats and viewing features and enabling the availability of our content on more viewing terminals to serve users’ evolving demands and preferences along with technological developments. We have expanded our content reach from personal computers and mobile devices to connected TV devices, capturing the evolution of users’ preference from viewing videos on personal computers to mobile devices and from small screens to connected TV devices. We have also directed research and development efforts to the area of virtual reality technologies, based on which we launched our VR devices and VR movies in response to users’ demand for more personalized and immersive viewing experience. Nonetheless, we cannot assure you that we will always be able to accurately predict or capture the trends in technology developments that could result in users’ behavior changes and guide our operations accordingly. In addition, we may incur substantial, extra costs and capital expenditures as we develop and modify products, services, systems or infrastructure in response to changes in users’ demands and preferences resulting from technology developments. For example, the expansion of our content reach from personal computers and mobile devices to connected TV devices resulted in increase in bandwidth costs and operating expenses historically. There could be further adaptations needed in the future as the industry and technology continue to evolve, which could impose additional challenges and result in rise in cost. While we have been improving bandwidth and operation efficiency through technology innovations, we cannot assure you that our technology innovations will always be developed fast enough to offset potential negative impacts on our operation efficiency associated with such adaptions.

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Further, as we make our services available across content terminals from personal computers and mobile devices operating on different systems to connected TV devices, we are dependent on the interoperability of our services with such terminals, whose systems and the functionality, compatibility and performance thereof, such as those of set up boxes operated by cable TV networks as well as Android and iOS mobile operating systems, are beyond our control. Any changes in the functions and features of such systems or devices that degrade the functionality of our services or give preferential treatment to our competitive services could adversely affect usage of our services. Meanwhile, if the number of platforms for which we develop our services increases, which is typically seen in a dynamic and fragmented market such as China, it will result in an increase in our costs and expenses.

If we fail to adapt our products and services to trends and changes in technology and to the resulting evolution of users’ demands and preferences in an effective and timely manner, users’ experience on our platform may deteriorate, our products and services may become less attractive and we may miss potential growth opportunities and suffer from decrease in user traffic and shrinkage in subscribing member base and number of advertising customers. If we cannot effectively address the cost and efficiency impediments associated with related service and operation adaptations and strategy adjustments, our ability to achieve profitability will be hindered. Each of these occurrences could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial conditions and prospects.

We have been, and may continue to be, subject to liabilities for infringement, misappropriation or other violation of third-party intellectual property rights or other allegations based on the content available on our platform or services we provide.

Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to operate our business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating third-party rights, including third-party intellectual property rights. Companies in the internet, technology and media industries own, and are seeking to obtain, a large number of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, and they are frequently involved in litigation based on allegations of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of intellectual property rights or other related legal rights. There may be patents issued or pending that are held by others that cover significant aspects of our technologies, products, or services, and such third parties may attempt to enforce such rights against us. In addition, we may not have obtained licenses for all content we offer and the scope, type and term of the licenses we obtained for certain content may not be broad enough to cover all fashions we currently employ or may employ in the future. In addition, if any purported licensor does not actually have sufficient authorization relating to the content or right to license a content to us, or if such purported licensor had lost its authorization to sub-license content that we are distributing on our platform, and do not timely inform us of such loss of authorization, we may be subject to claims of intellectual property infringement from third parties.

Although we have set up procedures to enable copyright owners to provide us with notice of alleged infringement, given the volume of content available on our platform, it is not possible, and we do not attempt to, identify and remove or disable all potentially infringing content that may exist. Similarly, although we have set up screening processes to try to filter out or disable access to content that we have previously been informed is subject to claims of copyright or other intellectual property protection, we do not attempt to filter out or disable access to all potentially infringing content available through our services. As a result, third parties may take action and file claims against us if they believe that certain content available on our platform violates their copyrights or other intellectual property rights. We have been, and may in the future be, subject to such claims filed in mainland China and other jurisdictions. We have been involved in litigation based on allegations of infringement of third-party copyright, including information network dissemination rights, and other rights, due to the content available on our platform.

Our platform allows users to search the internet for content that resides on certain third parties’ servers and online platforms. While uncertainties still exist with respect to the legal standards as well as the judicial interpretation of such standards for determining liabilities for our providing links and access to content on third-party servers and websites that infringes others’ copyrights and other intellectual property rights under PRC laws and the laws of other jurisdictions, third parties may take action and file claims against us if they believe that certain content we provide links or access to through our platform violates their copyrights or other intellectual property rights.

We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to copyright laws or legal proceedings initiated by third parties in other jurisdictions, such as the United States, as a result of the ability of users to access our videos and other content in the United States and other jurisdictions, the ownership of our ADSs by investors in the United States and other jurisdictions, the extraterritorial application of foreign law by foreign courts, the fact that we sub-licensed content from licensors who in turn obtained their authorizations from content providers in the United States and other jurisdictions or otherwise. In addition, as a publicly listed company, we may be exposed to increased risk of litigation. If a claim of infringement brought against us in the United States or other jurisdictions is successful, we may be required to, upon enforcement, (i) pay substantial statutory or other damages and fines, (ii) remove relevant content from our platform or (iii) enter into royalty or license agreements which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Moreover, although U.S. copyright laws, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512), or the DMCA, provide safeguards or “safe harbors” from claims in the U.S. for monetary relief for copyright infringement for certain entities that

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host user-uploaded content or provide information location tools that may link to infringing content, these safe harbors only apply to companies that comply with specified statutory requirements. While we seek to voluntarily comply with DMCA safe harbor requirements, we cannot ensure that we satisfy all of the requirements of any DMCA safe harbor. It is possible that we could be subject to claims of copyright infringement or other violation of intellectual property rights in the U.S. and be required to pay substantial damages or prevented from offering all or part of our services in the U.S.

We have been subject to lawsuits in mainland China for alleged unfair competition in connection with our platform. We may also face litigation or administrative actions for defamation, negligence, copyright and trademark infringement, or other purported injuries resulting from the content we provide or the nature of our services. Such litigation and administrative actions, with or without merits, may be expensive and time-consuming to defend and may result in significant diversion of resources and management attention from our business operations. Furthermore, such litigation or administrative actions may adversely affect our brand image and reputation.

In addition, we operate our platform primarily through the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries, and our ability to monitor content as described above depends in large part on the experience and skills of the management of, and our control over, those variable interest entities. Our control over the management and operations of the variable interest entities through contractual arrangements may not be as effective as that through direct ownership. See “—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—We rely on contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their shareholders for our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.”

We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, and any failure to protect our intellectual property rights could adversely affect our revenues and competitive position.

We believe that trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, and other intellectual property we use are critical to our business. We rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret protection laws in mainland China and other jurisdictions, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property and our brand. Protection of intellectual property rights in mainland China may not be as effective as in the United States or other jurisdictions, and as a result, we may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, which could adversely affect our revenues and competitive position. In addition, any unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may adversely affect our revenues and our reputation. In particular, our members may abuse their membership privilege and illegally distribute paid content exclusively available to paid members, which could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Further, we may have difficulty addressing the threats to our business associated with piracy of our copyrighted content, particularly our original content. Our content and streaming services may be potentially subject to unauthorized consumer copying and illegal digital dissemination without an economic return to us. We adopt a variety of measures to mitigate risks associated with piracy, including by litigation and through technology measures. We cannot assure that such measures will be effective.

In addition, while we typically require our employees, consultants and contractors who may be involved in the development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who in fact develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. In addition, such agreements may not be self-executing such that the intellectual property subject to such agreements may not be assigned to us without additional assignments being executed, and we may fail to obtain such assignments. In addition, such agreements may be breached. Accordingly, we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us related to the ownership of such intellectual property.

Furthermore, policing unauthorized use of copyrights, proprietary technology and other intellectual properties is difficult and expensive, and we may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend intellectual property or to determine the enforceability, scope and validity of our proprietary rights or those of others. Historically and up to the date hereof, we have commenced multiple actions, some of which are at their preliminary stages, to protect our copyrighted content from being streamed on other streaming entertainment platforms without authorization. Such litigations and an adverse determination in any such litigations could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. While we obtained favorable rulings in some of these cases, we cannot guarantee success in others or any future ones, neither can we assure you that we are able to recover our loss resulting from the infringements or the cost incurred in enforcing our rights.

If our security measures are breached, or if our products and services are subject to attacks that degrade or deny the ability of users to access our products and services, our products and services may be perceived as insecure, users and advertising customers may curtail or stop using our products and services and our business and operating results may be harmed.

Our products and services involve the storage and transmission of users’ and advertising customers’ information, particularly billing data, as well as original content, and security breaches expose us to a risk of loss of this information, loss of users, litigation and potential liability. We experience cyber-attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis, including hacking into our user accounts

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and redirecting our user traffic to other internet platforms, and we have been able to rectify attacks without significant impact to our operations in the past. Functions that facilitate interactivity with other internet platforms could increase the scope of access of hackers to user accounts. We take measures to protect against unauthorized intrusion into our users’ data. Nevertheless, our payment processing services or other third-party services we use could experience an unauthorized intrusion into our users’ data. In the event of such a breach, current and potential users may become unwilling to provide to us the information that is necessary for them to use our services or become our members. Additionally, we could face legal claims or regulatory fines or penalties for such a breach. The costs relating to any data breach could be material, and we currently do not carry insurance against the risk of a data breach. For these reasons, should an unauthorized intrusion into our users’ data occur, our business could be adversely affected.

Our security measures may also be breached due to employee error, malfeasance or otherwise. For example, we face risks of users bypassing the membership verification process on our platform with illegal technology and manipulating our system into recognizing them as paid members. As a result, such users may illegally gain access to premium content without purchasing our membership. Additionally, external parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees, users or customers to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our data or our users’ or customers’ data or accounts, or may otherwise obtain access to such data or accounts. Since our users and customers may use their accounts to establish and maintain online identities, unauthorized communications from accounts that have been compromised may damage their reputations and brands as well as ours. Furthermore, we face the risk of hackers gaining illegal access to and illegally distributing our original content that has not been released. While such incidents have not occurred in the past, we cannot assure you that they will not happen in the future. Any such breach or unauthorized access could result in significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation and a loss of confidence in the security of our products and services that could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. If an actual or perceived breach of our security occurs, the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures and our reputation and relationships with users could be harmed, we may lose users and customers and we may be exposed to significant legal and financial risks, including legal claims and regulatory fines and penalties. Any of these actions could have a material and adverse effect on our business, reputation and operating results.

We rely upon our partner to make our service available through smart TV.

In smart TV video streaming market, only a small number of qualified license holders can provide internet audio and visual program service to the TV terminal users via smart TVs, set-top boxes and other electronic products. Most of those license holders are radio or TV stations. Private companies that wish to operate such business need to cooperate with those license holders to legally provide relevant services. We entered into a cooperation arrangement with Galaxy Internet Television Co., Ltd., our license partner, and our license partner currently offers certain of our members the ability to receive streaming content through smart TV. If we are not successful in maintaining existing or creating new relationships, or if we encounter technological, content licensing, regulatory or other impediments to delivering our streaming content to our members via these devices, our ability to grow our business may be adversely impacted.

Advertisements shown on our platform may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.

Under PRC advertising laws and regulations, we are obligated to monitor the advertising content shown on our platform to ensure that such content is true, accurate and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, where a special government review is required for specific types of advertisements prior to posting, such as advertisements relating to pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, agrochemicals and veterinary pharmaceuticals, we are obligated to confirm that such review has been performed and approval has been obtained from competent governmental authority. To fulfill these monitoring functions, we include clauses in all of our advertising contracts requiring that all advertising content provided by advertising agencies and advertisers must comply with relevant laws and regulations. Under PRC law, we may have claims against advertising agencies and advertisers for all damages to us caused by their breach of such representations. Violation of these laws and regulations may subject us to penalties, including fines, confiscation of our advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an announcement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, such as posting a pharmaceutical product advertisement without approval, or posting an advertisement for any fake pharmaceutical product, PRC governmental authorities may force us to terminate our advertising operation or revoke our licenses.

A majority of the advertisements shown on our platform are provided to us by third parties. Although we have implemented automated and manual content moderation systems and significant efforts have been made to ensure that the advertisements shown on our platform are in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that all the content contained in such advertisements is true and accurate as required by the advertising laws and regulations, especially given the large volume of in-feed ads and the uncertainty in the application of these laws and regulations. In addition, advertisers, especially in-feed advertisers, may, through illegal technology, evade our content moderation procedures to display advertisements that do not comply with applicable

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laws and regulations on our platform. The inability of our systems and procedures to adequately and timely discover such evasions may subject us to regulatory penalties or administrative sanctions. Although we have not been subject to material penalties or administrative sanctions in the past for the advertisements shown on our platform, if we are found to be in violation of applicable PRC advertising laws and regulations in the future, we may be subject to penalties and our reputation may be harmed, which may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If we cannot maintain our corporate culture as we grow, we could lose the innovation, collaboration and focus that contribute to our business.

We believe that a critical component of our success is our corporate culture, which fosters innovation and cultivates creativity. As we continue to expand and grow our business, we may find it difficult to maintain these valuable aspects of our corporate culture. Any failure to preserve our culture could undermine our reputation and negatively impact our ability to attract and retain employees, which would in turn jeopardize our future success.

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

Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate depending upon a number of factors, many of which are out of our control. Our operating results tend to be seasonal. For instance, we have experienced lower online advertising services revenue in the first quarter of each year in connection with the Chinese New Year holiday as advertisers limit their budget for online platforms and less blockbuster content is released during that period. Furthermore, our content distribution revenue may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter as a result of the varying availability of popular content titles for distribution and adjustments to our market strategies. For these reasons, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful, and you should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance. Our quarterly and annual revenues and costs and expenses as a percentage of our revenues in a given period may be significantly different from our historical or projected rates and our operating results in future quarters may fall below expectations.

Disruption or failure of our IT systems, cybersecurity related threats or our failure to timely and effectively scale and adapt our existing technology and infrastructure could impair our users’ streaming entertainment experience and adversely affect our reputation, business and operating results.

Our ability to provide users with a high-quality streaming entertainment experience depends on the continuous and reliable operation of our IT systems. We cannot assure you that we will be able to procure sufficient bandwidth in a timely manner or on acceptable terms or at all. Failure to do so may significantly impair user experience on our platform and decrease the overall effectiveness of our platform to both users and advertisers. Disruptions, failures, unscheduled service interruptions or a decrease in connection speeds could hurt our reputation and cause our users and advertising customers to switch to our competitors’ platforms. Our IT systems and proprietary content delivery network, or CDN, are vulnerable to damage or interruption as a result of fires, floods, earthquakes, power losses, telecommunications failures, undetected errors in software, computer viruses, hacking and other attempts to harm our systems. These interruptions may be due to unforeseen events that are beyond our control or the control of our third-party service providers. For example, we have experienced intermittent interruptions for up to 48 hours of viewer access to one popular drama title in the past. In addition, in February 2020, we have experienced intermittent interruption for approximately two hours of user access to our platform. Such interruption was caused by a malfunction at an internet data center, combined with slow response from our backup server supplier caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and a peak of user traffic on our platform. The interruption was fixed within approximately two hours and we have expanded the capacity of our servers hosted at internet data centers. Our platform has also experienced general intermittent interruptions in the past. These interruptions were caused by (i) overload of our servers; (ii) unexpected overflow of user traffic; (iii) service malfunction of payment gateway; and (iv) service malfunction of the telecommunications operators, such as power outage of internet data centers or network transmission congestion. We may continue to experience similar interruptions in the future despite our continuous efforts to improve our IT systems. Since we host our servers at third-party internet data centers, any natural disaster or unexpected closure of internet data centers operated by third-party providers may result in lengthy service interruptions. Furthermore, in the future experience, service disruptions, outages and other performance problems due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes and cybersecurity related threats as follows:

our technology, system, networks and our users’ devices have been subject to, and may continue to be the target of, cyber-attacks, computer viruses, malicious code, phishing attacks or information security breaches that could result in an unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of confidential, proprietary and other information of ours, our employees or sensitive information provided by our users, or otherwise disrupt our, our users’ or other third parties’ business operations;

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we periodically encounter attempts to create false accounts or use our platform to send targeted and untargeted spam messages to our users, or take other actions on our platform for purposes such as spamming or spreading misinformation, and we may not be able to repel spamming attacks;
the use of encryption and other security measures intended to protect our systems and confidential data may not provide absolute security, and losses or unauthorized access to or releases of confidential information may still occur;
our security measures may be breached due to employee error, malfeasance or unauthorized access to sensitive information by our employees, who may be induced by outside third parties, and we may not be able to anticipate any breach of our security or to implement adequate preventative measures; and
we may be subject to IT system failures or network disruptions caused by natural disasters, accidents, power disruptions, telecommunications failures, acts of terrorism or war, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, or other events or disruptions.

If we experience frequent or persistent service disruptions, whether caused by failures of our own systems or those of third-party service providers, our users’ experience with us may be negatively affected, which in turn, may have a material and adverse effect on our reputation. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in minimizing the frequency or duration of service interruptions.

As the number of our users increases and our users generate more content on our platform, we may be required to expand and adapt our technology and infrastructure to continue to reliably store and analyze this content. It may become increasingly difficult to maintain and improve the performance of our services, especially during peak usage times, as our services become more complex and our user traffic increases. If our users are unable to access our online application in a timely fashion, or at all, our user experience may be compromised and the users may seek other platforms to meet their needs, and may not return to iQIYI or use iQIYI as often in the future, or at all. This would negatively impact our ability to attract users and maintain the level of user engagement.

If the technologies we use in operating our business fails, becomes unavailable, or does not operate to meet expectations, our business and results of operation may be adversely impacted.

We utilize a combination of proprietary and third-party technologies to operate our business. These include the technologies that we have developed to recommend and monetize content to our users as well as enable fast and efficient delivery of content to our users and their various internet connected devices. For example, we use our own CDN, and third-party CDN services to support our operation. To the extent internet service providers do not interconnect with the CDN services we use, or if we experience difficulties in its operation, our ability to efficiently and effectively deliver our streaming content to our users could be adversely impacted and our business and results of operation could be adversely affected. Likewise, if our recommendation and monetization technology does not enable us to predict and recommend content that our users will enjoy, our ability to attract and retain users may be adversely affected. We also utilize third-party technology to help market our service, process payments, and otherwise manage the daily operations of our business. If our technology or that of third parties we utilize in our operations fails or otherwise operates improperly, our ability to operate our service, retain existing users and add new users may be impaired. Also, any harm to our users’ electronic devices caused by software used in our operations could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Any lack of requisite permits for any of our internet video and other content or any of our business may expose us to regulatory sanctions.

All films and television shows in mainland China, whether produced in mainland China or overseas, must be pre-approved by SARFT, the authority of which is currently exercised by the NRTA and the State Film Bureau, or the SFB, and distributors of these films and television shows must obtain an applicable permit before releasing them. In addition, online games are also subject to approval by the SAPPRFT, the authority of which is currently exercised by the National Press and Publication Administration, or the NPPA.

In terms of licensed third-party content published or online games we distribute, we obtain and rely on written representations from content providers and third-party operators regarding the NRTA, SFB, NPPA and other approval and filing status of these content and online games, and, to a lesser extent, require content providers and third-party operators to produce evidence demonstrating that they and the licensed content or the online games have received all requisite permits and approvals. We also import some foreign TV dramas and films and apply for the permits for and register such contents with the competent authorities by ourselves. However, we cannot assure you that our monitoring procedures with respect to licensed content and online games are fully adequate, and we cannot guarantee that the remedies provided by these content providers, if any, will be sufficient to compensate us for potential regulatory sanctions imposed by the NRTA, SFB or NPPA due to violations of the approval and permit requirements and for the foreign TV dramas and movies imported by us, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the permits for or register such contents with the competent authorities in a timely manner or at all. Nor can we ensure that any such sanctions will not adversely

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affect either the general availability of video, online games or other content on our platform or our reputation. In addition, such risks may persist due to ambiguities and uncertainties relating to the implementation and enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations. Although we have internal content moderation procedures in place to review our procured content, we face risks of termination or revocation of permits and approvals, contractual misrepresentations and failure to honor representations or indemnify us against any claims or costs by content providers.

We have obtained the Value-added Telecommunications Business Operation License for information services via internet, or ICP License, the Internet Audio-video Program Transmission License, the Network Culture Business Permit, Permit to Produce or Operate Radio and Television Programs, the Permit for Internet Drug Information Service, and other relevant permits required for operating our main business. However, we have not obtained certain approvals or permits which are required or may be required for our operation of certain businesses. For example, we have not obtained the Permit for Internet News Information Service to publish current political news on our platform or disseminate such news through the internet. Beijing iQIYI has not obtained the Internet Publishing Service License in relation to our online comics and online literature operation. We also have not obtained certain service items for our Permit for Internet Audio-video Program Service, such as displaying and forwarding current political audio-video news programs. Although we plan to apply for such licenses to the extent practical and we maintain regular oral communication with relevant regulatory authorities, which have not objected to the operations of our business in question, if we fail to obtain, maintain or renew such licenses, or obtain any additional licenses and permits or make any records or filings required by new laws, regulations or executive orders required for our new business in a timely manner or at all, we could be subject to liabilities or penalties, and our operations could be adversely affected.

In addition, new laws and regulations, and the evolving practice in the implementation of the existing laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to address new issues that come to the authorities’ attention, which may require us to obtain new license and permits, or take certain actions that may adversely affect our business operations. For example, we have voluntarily taken down certain online advertisements on our platform due to tightened regulations on online advertisements. We have also taken down or cut down contents on our platform due to sanctions put on their cast or other limitations imposed by relevant governmental authorities from time to time.

As the industry that we operate in is still evolving in mainland 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 to address new issues that arise from time to time. We may not timely obtain or maintain all the required licenses or approvals or make all the necessary filings in the future. Nor can we assure you that we will be able to timely address all the change in policy, failure of which may subject us to liabilities or penalties, and our operations could be adversely affected.

Undetected programming errors could adversely affect our user experience and market acceptance of our video content, which may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Video content on our platform may contain programming errors that may only become apparent after their release. We receive user feedbacks in connection with programming errors affecting the user experience from time to time, and such errors may also come to our attention during our monitoring process. We generally have been able to resolve such programming errors in a timely manner. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to detect and resolve all these programming errors effectively. Undetected audio or video programming errors or defects may adversely affect user experience, cause users to refrain from becoming our paid members or to cancel their membership subscriptions, and cause our advertising customers to reduce their use of our services, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We have invested in or acquired complementary assets, technologies and businesses in the future, and such efforts may fail, may cause risks of non-compliance and may result in equity or earnings dilution.

We have invested in and acquired, and may continue to invest in and acquire, assets, technologies and businesses that are complementary to our business in the future. For example, in July 2018, we acquired 100% equity stake in Skymoons. Acquired businesses or assets may not yield the results we expect. In addition, investments and acquisitions involve uncertainties and risks, including:

potential ongoing financial obligations and unforeseen or hidden liabilities, including liability for infringement of third-party copyrights or other intellectual property;
costs and difficulties of integrating acquired businesses and managing a larger business;
in the case of investments where we do not obtain management and operational control, lack of influence over the controlling partner or shareholder, which may prevent us from achieving our strategic goals in the investments;
possible loss of key employees of a target business;

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potential claims or litigation regarding our board’s exercise of its duty of care and other duties required under applicable law in connection with any of our significant acquisitions or investments approved by the board;
diversion of resources and management attention;
regulatory hurdles and compliance risks, including the anti-monopoly and competition laws, rules and regulations of mainland China and other jurisdictions; and
enhanced compliance requirements for outbound acquisitions and investment under the laws and regulations of mainland China.

Any failure to address these risks successfully may have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Investments and acquisitions may require a significant amount of capital, which would decrease the amount of cash available for working capital or capital expenditures. In addition, if we use our equity securities to pay for investments and acquisitions, we may dilute the value of our ADSs and the underlying ordinary shares. If we borrow funds to finance investments and acquisitions, such debt instruments may contain restrictive covenants that could, among other things, restrict us from distributing dividends. Moreover, acquisitions may also generate significant amortization expenses related to intangible assets. We may also incur impairment charges to earnings for investments and acquired businesses and assets.

We are subject to payment processing risk.

Our members pay for our service using a variety of different online payment methods. We rely on third parties to process such payment. Acceptance and processing of these payment methods are subject to certain rules and regulations and require payment of interchange and other fees. To the extent there are increases in payment processing fees, material changes in the payment ecosystem, such as delays in receiving payments from payment processors and changes to rules or regulations concerning payment processing, our revenue, operating expenses and results of operation could be adversely impacted.

Negative media coverage could adversely affect our business.

Negative publicity about us or our business, shareholders, affiliates, directors, officers or other employees, as well as the industry in which we operate or the talents on our platform, can harm our operations. Such negative publicity could be related to a variety of matters, including:

alleged misconduct or other improper activities committed by our shareholders, affiliates, directors, officers, other employees, talents on our platform, or by third-party suppliers;
false or malicious allegations or rumors about us or our shareholders, affiliates, directors, officers, other employees, talents on our platform, or by third-party suppliers;
user complaints about the quality of our products and services;
copyright infringements involving us and content offered on our platform;
security breaches of confidential user information;
improper actions by fans; and
governmental and regulatory investigations or penalties resulting from our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Furthermore, negative publicity about talents on our platform could occur in many circumstances that are beyond our control. For instance, they may post unlawful, false, offensive or controversial content on their social media pages, notwithstanding any terms of use of the social media platforms and our guidelines, which may thus receive negative comments and complaints or even cause their accounts to be closed by social media platforms. In addition, they may also receive negative publicity if they are involved in any illegal activities, scandals or rumors. Any negative publicity of or media coverage about the talents on our platform, regardless of its veracity, could harm our reputation and have a negative impact on our business.

In addition, we are exploring various opportunities and marketing strategies to better monetize our membership base, including offering early access privilege to certain drama series for an additional fee. We may receive negative news reports, or negative publicity on influential TV shows, on such initiatives, which may negatively impact our reputation and results of operations. We may also be affected by publicity relating to third-party service providers. In addition to traditional media, there has been an increasing use of social media platforms and similar devices in mainland China, including instant messaging applications, such as Weixin/WeChat,

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

The COVID-19 epidemic had and could continue to have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.

The COVID-19 pandemic created unique global and industry-wide challenges, including challenges to many aspects of our business. Substantially all of our revenues and workforce are concentrated in mainland China. The spread of the disease and the preventive actions taken imposed a strong restraining effect on content production and title release in the entire online entertainment industry, causing an undersupply of content, especially cinema movies, throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022. The decrease in the quantity of content offerings in turn negatively affected our ability to retain existing subscribing members and attract new ones during the past three years.

China began to modify its zero-COVID policy at the end of 2022, and most of the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements were lifted in December 2022. There remains uncertainty as to the future impact of the virus, especially in light of this change in policy. The extent to which the pandemic impacts our results of operations going forward will depend on future developments which are highly uncertain and unpredictable, including the frequency, duration and extent of outbreaks of COVID-19, the appearance of new variants with different characteristics, the effectiveness of efforts to contain or treat cases, and future actions that may be taken in response to these developments. In light of the uncertainties in the global market and economic conditions attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the nature and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our financial condition and liquidity. If there is not a material recovery in the COVID-19 situation, or the situation further deteriorates in mainland China, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

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

COVID-19 had a severe and negative impact on the Chinese and the global economy in 2022. Whether this will lead to a prolonged downturn in the economy is still unknown. Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, global macroeconomic environment was facing numerous challenges. The growth rate of the Chinese economy has gradually slowed in recent years and the trend may continue. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. The conflict in Ukraine and the imposition of broad economic sanctions on Russia could raise energy prices and disrupt global markets. Unrest, terrorist threats and the potential for war may increase market volatility across the globe. There have also been concerns on the relationship among China and other countries, including the surrounding Asian countries, which may potentially have economic effects. In particular, there is significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs, as well as sanctions and anti-sanction actions implemented by both sides. Economic conditions in mainland China are sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic and political policies and the expected or perceived overall economic growth rate in mainland China. Any severe or prolonged slowdown in the global or mainland China economy may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our ability to access capital markets to meet liquidity needs.

Furthermore, in the wake of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union on January 31, 2020 (“Brexit”), there remains uncertainty about the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. It remains unclear how Brexit would affect the fiscal, monetary and regulatory landscape within the United Kingdom, the European Union and globally, which may have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.

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

The successful operation of our business depends on the performance of the internet infrastructure and telecommunications networks in mainland China. Almost all access to the internet is maintained through state-owned telecommunications operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of the MIIT. Moreover, we have entered into contracts with various subsidiaries of a limited number of telecommunications service providers at provincial level and rely on them to provide us with data communications capacity through local telecommunications lines. We have limited access to alternative networks or services in the

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event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s internet infrastructure or the telecommunications networks provided by telecommunications service providers. Our platform regularly serves a large number of users and advertisers. With the expansion of our business, we may be required to upgrade our technology and infrastructure to keep up with the increasing traffic on our platform. However, we have no control over the costs of the services provided by telecommunications service providers. If the prices we pay for telecommunications and internet services rise significantly, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. If internet access fees or other charges to internet users increase, our user traffic may decline and our business may be harmed.

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

We adopted the 2010 Equity Incentive plan on October 18, 2010, or the 2010 Plan, which was amended and restated on November 3, 2014 and August 6, 2016, the 2017 Share Incentive Plan on November 30, 2017, or the 2017 Plan, and the 2021 Share Incentive Plan on December 2, 2021, or the 2021 Plan, which was amended and restated on November 2, 2022. We account for compensation costs for all share-based awards using a fair-value based method and recognize expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive loss in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Under the 2010 Plan, we are authorized to grant options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other types of awards that the administrator of the 2010 Plan decides. Under the 2017 Plan, we are authorized to grant options, restricted shares and restricted share units. Under the 2021 Plan, we are authorized to grant options and restricted share units. Under the 2010 Plan, as amended, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is 589,729,714 shares. Under the 2017 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is 720,000 shares. Under the 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is 364,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, or the 2021 Plan Award Pool, provided that if restricted share units are granted, each restricted share unit (that entitles the holder to one share) granted shall reduce the number of shares in the 2021 Plan Award Pool available for future grants by 1.3 shares; any option with nil exercise price have the same effect of reducing the number of shares in the 2021 Plan Award Pool as the restricted share units. As of February 28, 2023, options to purchase a total of 340,864,386 ordinary shares were outstanding under the 2010 Plan, and options with nil exercise price to purchase a total of 127,127,798 ordinary shares were outstanding under the 2021 Plan. No awards were outstanding under the 2017 Plan. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021, and 2022, we recorded RMB1,370.1 million, RMB1,219.2 million and RMB811.4 million (US$117.6 million), respectively, in share-based compensation expenses. We believe the granting of share-based awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain key personnel and employees, and we will continue to grant share-based awards in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

We are subject to changing law and regulations regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that have increased both our costs and the risk of non-compliance.

We are subject to rules and regulations by various governing bodies, including, for example, the SEC, which is charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and the various regulatory authorities in mainland China and the Cayman Islands, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law. Our efforts to comply with new and changing laws and regulations have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.

Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance becomes available. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. If we fail to address and comply with these regulations and any subsequent changes, we may be subject to penalty and our business may be harmed.

We have limited business insurance coverage.

Insurance companies in mainland China offer limited business insurance products. We do not have any business liability or disruption insurance coverage for our operations in mainland China. Any business disruption may result in our incurring substantial costs and the diversion of our resources, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material and adverse effect on the trading price of our ADSs.

We are subject to the reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The SEC, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, adopted rules requiring every public company to include a report from management on the effectiveness of such company’s internal control over financial reporting in its annual report on Form 20-F. In addition, the independent registered public accounting firm must report on the effectiveness of such company’s internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we will not be able to conclude and our independent registered public accounting firm will not be able to report that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley

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Act of 2002 in our future annual report on Form 20-F covering the fiscal year in which this failure occurs. Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports. Any failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn could have a material and adverse effect on the trading price of our ADSs. Furthermore, we may need to incur additional costs and use additional management and other resources as our business and operations further expand or in an effort to remediate any significant control deficiencies that may be identified in the future.

We face risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks, as well as natural disasters, which could significantly disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operation.

In addition to the impact of COVID-19, our business could be materially and adversely affected by natural disasters, such as snowstorms, earthquakes, fires or floods, the outbreak of other widespread health epidemic, such as swine flu, avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, Ebola, Zika or other events, such as wars, acts of terrorism, environmental accidents, power shortage or communication interruptions. Our business operations could be disrupted if any of our employees is suspected of having any transmissible health epidemic, since this may cause our employees to be quarantined and our offices to be temperately shut down. In addition, our results of operations may be adversely affected to the extent that any of these epidemics harms the Chinese economy in general.

We are also vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to provide content and services on our platform.

Increasing focus with respect to environmental, social and governance matters may impose additional costs on us or expose us to additional risks. Failure to adapt to or comply with the evolving expectations and standards on environmental, social and governance matters from investors and the PRC government may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.

The PRC government and public advocacy groups have been increasingly focused on environment, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in recent years, making our business more sensitive to ESG issues and changes in governmental policies and laws and regulations associated with environment protection and other ESG-related matters. Investor advocacy groups, certain institutional investors, investment funds, and other influential investors are also increasingly focused on ESG practices and in recent years have placed increasing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments. Regardless of the industry, increased focus from investors and the PRC government on ESG and similar matters may hinder access to capital, as investors may decide to reallocate capital or to not commit capital as a result of their assessment of a company’s ESG practices. Any ESG concern or issue could increase our regulatory compliance costs. If we do not adapt to or comply with the evolving expectations and standards on ESG matters from investors and the PRC government or are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, we may suffer from reputational damage and the business, financial condition, and the price of our ADSs could be materially and adversely effected.

Risks Related to Our Relationship with Baidu
We have limited experience operating as a stand-alone public company.

We have limited experience conducting our operations as a stand-alone public company. Since we became a stand-alone public company in March 2018, we have faced and will continue to face enhanced administrative and compliance requirements, which may result in substantial costs.

In addition, as we are a public company, our management team needs to develop the expertise necessary to comply with the regulatory and other requirements applicable to public companies, including requirements relating to corporate governance, listing standards and securities and investor relations issues. While we were a private subsidiary of Baidu, we were indirectly subject to requirements to maintain an effective internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. However, as a stand-alone public company, our management has to evaluate our internal control system independently with new thresholds of materiality, and to implement necessary changes to our internal control system. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so continuously in an effective manner.

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

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

Our board members may have conflicts of interest. Our directors Mr. Junjie He, Dr. Dou Shen, Mr. Fei Qi and Ms. Luyao Han are also employees of Baidu. These relationships could create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest when these persons are faced with decisions with potentially different implications for Baidu and us.
Sale of shares in our company. Baidu may decide to sell all or a portion of our shares that it holds to a third-party, including to one of our competitors, thereby giving that third-party substantial influence over our business and our affairs. Such a sale could be in conflict with the interests of our employees or our other shareholders.
Developing business relationships with Baidu’s competitors. So long as Baidu remains our controlling shareholder, we may be limited in our ability to do business with its competitors. This may limit our ability to market our services for the best interests of our company and our other shareholders.
Allocation of business opportunities. Business opportunities may arise that both we and Baidu find attractive, and which would complement our businesses. We may be prevented from taking advantage of new business opportunities that Baidu has entered into.

Although our company became a stand-alone public company in March 2018, we expect to operate, for as long as Baidu is our controlling shareholder, as a subsidiary of Baidu. Baidu may from time to time make strategic decisions that it believes are in the best interests of its business as a whole, including our company. These decisions may be different from the decisions that we would have made on our own. Baidu’s decisions with respect to us or our business, including any related party transactions between Baidu and us, may be resolved in ways that favor Baidu and therefore Baidu’s own shareholders, which may not coincide with the interests of our other shareholders. If Baidu were to compete with us, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

Our agreements with Baidu may be less favorable to us than similar agreements negotiated with unaffiliated third parties. In particular, our master business cooperation agreement with Baidu limits the scope of business that we are allowed to conduct.

We have entered into a master business cooperation agreement with Baidu and may enter into additional agreements with Baidu in the future. Under our master business cooperation agreement with Baidu, we agree during the non-competition period, which will end on the eighth anniversary of the date of execution of the agreement unless otherwise terminated earlier pursuant to the agreement, not to compete with Baidu in its core businesses. Such contractual limitations may affect our ability to expand our business and may adversely impact our growth and prospects. Furthermore, while Baidu has agreed not to compete with us in our long-form video businesses, existing business activities conducted by Baidu and its affiliates are not subject to such non-compete limitation. Potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute between Baidu and us, regarding the terms of the arrangements governing our agreements with Baidu including the master business cooperation agreement. For example, so long as Baidu continues to control us, we may not be able to bring a legal claim against Baidu in the event of contractual breach, notwithstanding our contractual rights under the master business cooperation agreement and other inter-company agreements to be entered into by Baidu and us from time to time.

If our collaboration with Baidu is terminated or curtailed, or if we are no longer able to benefit from the synergies of our business cooperation with Baidu, our business may be adversely affected.

Our controlling shareholder and strategic partner, Baidu, is one of the largest internet companies in mainland China. Our business has benefited significantly from Baidu’s advanced technological capabilities and strong market position in mainland China. In addition, we have benefited from Baidu’s financial support in the past. We cooperate with Baidu in a number of areas, including AI technology, cloud services and traffic. However, we cannot assure you that we will continue to maintain our cooperative relationships with Baidu and its affiliates in the future. To the extent we cannot maintain our cooperative relationships with Baidu at reasonable prices or at all, we will need to source other business partners to provide services, which could result in material and adverse effects to our business and results of operations. We may also need to obtain financing through other means if Baidu ceases to provide financial support to us. In addition, our current customers and content partners may react negatively to our carve-out from Baidu. Our inability to maintain a cooperative relationship with Baidu could materially and adversely affect our business, growth and prospects.

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Baidu will control the outcome of shareholder actions in our company.

As of February 28, 2023, Baidu held 45.5% of our outstanding ordinary shares, representing 89.3% of our total voting power. Baidu has advised us that it does not anticipate disposing of its voting control in us in the near future. Baidu’s voting power gives it the power to control certain actions that require shareholder approval under Cayman Islands law, our memorandum and articles of association and the Nasdaq Stock Market requirements, including approval of mergers and other business combinations, changes to our memorandum and articles of association, the number of shares available for issuance under any share incentive plans, and the issuance of significant amounts of our ordinary shares in private placements.

Baidu’s voting control may cause transactions to occur that might not be beneficial to you as a holder of ADSs and may prevent transactions that could have been beneficial to you. For example, Baidu’s voting control may prevent a transaction involving a change of control of us, including transactions in which you as a holder of our ADSs might otherwise receive a premium for your securities over the then-current market price. In addition, Baidu is not prohibited from selling a controlling interest in us to a third-party and may do so without your approval and without providing for a purchase of your ADSs. In addition, the significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs due to investors’ perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and, as a result, will rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.

We are a “controlled company” as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Baidu beneficially owns more than 50% of our total voting power. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely, and will rely, on certain exemptions from corporate governance rules, including:

an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors;
an exemption from the rule that the compensation of our chief executive officer must be determined or recommended solely by independent directors; and
an exemption from the rule that our director nominees must be selected or recommended solely by independent directors.

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

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

Foreign ownership of telecommunication businesses and certain other businesses, such as provision of internet video and online game services, is subject to restrictions under current PRC laws and regulations. For example, foreign investors are generally not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a commercial internet content provider or other value-added telecommunication service provider (other than operating e-commerce, domestic multi-party communication, store-and-forward, and call center) and the major foreign investor in a value-added telecommunication service provider in mainland China must have experience in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record in accordance with the Negative List, and other applicable laws and regulations.

In addition, foreign investors are prohibited from investing in companies engaged in internet video, culture and publishing business and film/drama production and operation (including importation) business. We are a Cayman Islands company and our mainland China subsidiaries are considered foreign-invested enterprises. As such, none of our mainland China subsidiaries are eligible to operate internet video and other businesses which foreign-owned companies are prohibited or restricted from conducting in mainland China. Accordingly, we conduct such business activities through the variable interest entities in mainland China, Beijing iQIYI, Shanghai iQIYI, Shanghai Zhong Yuan, iQIYI Pictures and Intelligent Entertainment, and their subsidiaries. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Beijing QIYI Century and iQIYI New Media, have entered into contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their respective shareholders, and such contractual arrangements enable us to impose control over, receive the economic benefits of, and have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interest and assets in the variable interest entities when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. Because of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities in mainland China and hence consolidate their financial results as our variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP. We conduct our operations in mainland China through (i) our mainland China subsidiaries and (ii) the variable interest entities

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with which we maintained these contractual arrangements and their subsidiaries in mainland China. Investors in our ADSs thus are not purchasing equity interest in the variable interest entities in mainland China but instead are purchasing equity interest in a Cayman Islands holding company with no equity ownership in the variable interest entities.

Our holding company in the Cayman Islands, the variable interest entities, and investments in our Company face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and, consequently, the business, financial condition, and results of operations of the variable interest entities and our Company as a group. In addition, our ADSs may decline in value or become worthless if we are unable to assert our contractual control rights over the assets of the variable interest entities which contributed 92% of our revenues in 2022. If the PRC government finds that our contractual arrangements do not comply with its restrictions on foreign investment in online video and other foreign-restricted services, or if the PRC government otherwise finds that we, the variable interest entities, or any of their subsidiaries are in violation of PRC laws or regulations or lack the necessary permits or licenses to operate our business, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities, including the MIIT, NRTA, the SFB, the NPPA, the Ministry of Culture and the MOFCOM, would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations or failures, including, without limitation:

revoking the business licenses and operating licenses of such entities;
discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operation through any transactions between our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities;
imposing fines, confiscating the income from our mainland China subsidiaries or the variable interest entities, or imposing other requirements with which we or the variable interest entities may not be able to comply;
requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and deregistering the equity pledges of the variable interest entities, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or impose control over the variable interest entities; or
restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds of any of our offshore financings to finance our business and operations in mainland China.

In addition, in September 2009, the General Administration of Press and Publication, or the GAPP, together with several other government agencies issued a notice, or the Circular 13, prohibiting foreign investors from participating in online game operating businesses through wholly-owned enterprises, equity joint ventures or cooperative joint ventures in mainland China. Circular 13 expressly prohibits foreign investors from gaining control over or participating in PRC operating companies’ online game operations through indirect means, such as establishing joint venture companies, entering into contractual arrangements with or providing technical support to the operating companies, or through a disguised form, such as incorporating user registration, user account management or payment through game cards into online game platforms that are ultimately controlled or owned by foreign investors. Other government agencies that also had the authority to regulate online game operations in mainland China when the Circular 13 was issued, such as the Ministry of Culture and the MIIT, did not join the GAPP in issuing the Circular 13. The GAPP was replaced by the SAPPRFT and later by the NPPA. To date, none of the GAPP, the SAPPRFT and the NPPA has issued any interpretation of the Circular 13. Due to the ambiguity among various regulations on online games and a lack of interpretations from the relevant PRC authorities governing online game operations, there are uncertainties regarding whether PRC authorities would consider our relevant contractual arrangements to be foreign investment in online game operation businesses. While we are not aware of any online game companies which use the same or similar contractual arrangements as ours having been penalized or ordered to terminate operation by PRC authorities claiming that the contractual arrangements constitute control over, or participation in, the operation of online game operations through indirect means, it is unclear whether and how the various regulations of the PRC authorities might be interpreted or implemented in the future. If our relevant contractual arrangements were deemed to be “indirect means” or “disguised form” under the Circular 13, the relevant contractual arrangements may be challenged by the NPPA or other governmental authorities. If we were found to be in violation of the Circular 13 to operate our mobile game business, the NPPA, in conjunction with relevant regulatory authorities, would have the power to investigate and deal with such violations, including in the most serious cases, suspending or revoking the relevant licenses and registrations. If we were found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, including the MIIT notice and the Circular 13, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations.

Furthermore, it is uncertain whether any new PRC laws, rules or regulations relating to contractual arrangements will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. For example, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law on March 15, 2019 and the State Council approved the Regulation on Implementing the Foreign Investment Law (the “Implementation Regulations”) on December 12, 2019, effective from January 1, 2020. The Supreme People’s Court of China issued a judicial interpretation on the Foreign Investment Law on December 27, 2019, effective from January 1, 2020. The Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Regulations do not touch upon the relevant concepts and regulatory regimes that were historically suggested

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for the regulation of the variable interest entity structures, and thus this regulatory topic remains unclear under the Foreign Investment Law. Since the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Regulations are new, there are substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its implementation and interpretation and it is also possible that variable interest entities will be deemed as foreign invested enterprises and be subject to restrictions in the future. Such restrictions may cause interruptions to our operations, products and services and may incur additional compliance cost, which may in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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

We rely on contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their shareholders for our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.

We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with variable interest entities and their shareholders to operate our business in mainland China. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders.” These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over the variable interest entities. For example, the variable interest entities and their shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct its operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests.

If we had direct ownership of the variable interest entities in mainland China, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of the variable interest entities, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by the variable interest entities and their shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to impose control over the variable interest entities. The shareholders of the variable interest entities may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate a certain portion of our business through the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities. If any dispute relating to these contracts remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through the operations of PRC law and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. In addition, the legality and enforceability of the contractual agreements between our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities, and their nominee shareholders, as a whole, have not been tested in a court of law in mainland China. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to impose control over the variable interest entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be materially adversely affected. Therefore, our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be.

Any failure by the variable interest entities or their shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business.

If the variable interest entities or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure you will be effective under PRC law. For example, if the shareholders of the variable interest entities were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in the variable interest entities to us or our designee if we exercise the purchase option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations.

All the agreements under our contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in mainland China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. We face uncertainties in the enforcement of these contractual arrangements. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and if the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would require additional expenses and

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delay. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to impose control over the variable interest entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

The shareholders of the variable interest entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

The shareholders of the variable interest entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us. These shareholders may breach, or cause the variable interest entities to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and the variable interest entities, which would have a material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively direct the business operations of the variable interest entities and receive economic benefits from it. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with the variable interest entities to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. In particular, none of Mr. Ning Ya, who currently holds 50% of equity interest in iQIYI Pictures, nor Mr. Xiaohua Geng, who currently holds 50% of the equity interests in Shanghai iQIYI and 100% of the equity interests in Beijing iQIYI, is our director or executive officer, and we cannot assure you that their interests will be aligned with ours. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and these shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.

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

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

We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by the variable interest entities that are material to the operation of certain portion of our business if the entity goes bankrupt or becomes subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.

As part of our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities, the entities hold certain assets that are material to the operation of certain portion of our business, including permits, domain names and most of our IP rights. If the variable interest entities go bankrupt and all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Under the contractual arrangements, the variable interest entities may not, in any manner, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of their assets or legal or beneficial interests in the business without our prior consent. If the variable interest entities undergo a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, the independent third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.

The National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law on March 15, 2019 and the State Council approved the Regulation on Implementing the Foreign Investment Law (the “Implementation Regulations”) on December 12, 2019, effective from January 1, 2020, to replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in mainland China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise

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Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. For instance, under the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to the investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by foreign individuals, enterprises or other entities in mainland China. Though it does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, there is no assurance that foreign investment via contractual arrangement would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activities under the definition in the future. In addition, the definition contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. In any of these cases, it will be uncertain whether our contractual arrangements will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment under the PRC laws and regulations. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.

Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China
The PCAOB had historically been unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work performed for our financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of our auditor in the past has deprived our investors with the benefits of such inspections.

Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this annual report, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. The auditor is located in mainland China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB was historically unable to conduct inspections and investigations completely before 2022. As a result, we and investors in our ADSs were deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in mainland China in the past has made it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. However, if the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we and investors in our ADSs would be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections again, which could cause investors and potential investors in the ADSs to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.

Our ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.

Pursuant to the HFCAA, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and our auditor was subject to that determination. In April 2022, the SEC conclusively listed us as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA after we file this annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. In accordance with the HFCAA,

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our securities would be prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States if we are identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years in the future. If our shares and ADSs are prohibited from trading in the United States, there is no certainty that we will be able to list on a non-U.S. exchange or that a market for our shares will develop outside of the United States. A prohibition of being able to trade in the United States would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our ADSs when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our ADSs. Also, such a prohibition would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and prospects.

The approval of or the filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore listings and capital raising activities under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or filing.

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC persons or entities to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear and uncertain. If the CSRC approval is required for any of our offshore listings and capital raising activities, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore listings and capital raising activities if such approval is required, or a rescission of such CSRC approval obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, restrictions or limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law, which called for the enhanced administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision of overseas-listed China-based companies and proposed to revise the relevant regulation governing the overseas issuance and listing of shares by such companies and clarified the responsibilities of competent domestic industry regulators and government authorities.

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC published the Interim Administrative Measures on Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by the Domestic Enterprises (CSRC Announcement [2022] No. 43), or the Overseas Listing Measures, which will become effective on March 31, 2023. Under the Overseas Listing Measures, a filing-based regulatory system will be applied to “indirect overseas offerings and listings” of PRC domestic companies, which refers to securities offerings and listings in an overseas market made under the name of an offshore entity but based on the underlying equity, assets, earnings or other similar rights of a domestic company that operates its main business domestically. The Overseas Listing Measures state that, any overseas offering of securities, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, by a PRC domestic company, and listing by a PRC domestic company in an overseas market, shall be subject to filing requirement within three business days after the completion of such offering or listing. In addition, According to the Notice on Overseas Listing Measures, issuers that have already been listed in an overseas market by March 31, 2023, the date on which the Overseas Listing Measures will become effective, such as company, are not required to make any immediate filing. However, such issuers will be required to comply with the filing requirements under Overseas Listing Measures if and when they pursue any future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland China, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions. If we fail to obtain required approval or complete other review or filing procedures, under the Overseas Listing Measures or otherwise, for any future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland China, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which may include fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, limitations on our operating privileges in mainland China, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our subsidiaries in mainland China, restrictions on or delays to our future financing transactions offshore, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs.

In addition, according to the Negative List promulgated by the MOFCOM and the NDRC that became effective on January 1, 2022, domestic enterprises engaged in activities in any field prohibited from foreign investment under the Negative List shall be subject to review and approval by the relevant authorities of the State when listing and trading overseas. Furthermore, the Enterprise Mid- and Long-Term Foreign Debt Registration Administrative Measures that became effective on February 10, 2023 established a foreign debt approval registration system that replaced the foreign debt filing registration system under the NDRC Circular on Promoting the Reform of the Filing and Registration System on the Issuance by Enterprises of Foreign Debt. As a result, a new foreign debt approval registration system that replaced the foreign debt filing registration system under the NDRC Circular on

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Promoting the Reform of the Filing and Registration System on the Issuance by Enterprises of Foreign Debt (the “Circular 2044”). We obtained a certificate for the registration of issuances of foreign debt in December 2022 pursuant to Circular 2044, such registration certificate remains valid and in full force under the New NDRC Measures and were used for our PAG Notes and 2028 Notes. However, given the uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of the newly promulgated Enterprise Mid- and Long-Term Foreign Debt Registration Administrative Measure, there is no assurance that we can register future foreign debt offerings or accomplish the required filings or other regulatory procedures in a timely manner, or at all.

If it is determined that any approval, filing or other administrative procedure from the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities is required for any future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland China, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions, we cannot assure that we can obtain the required approval or accomplish the required filings or other regulatory procedures in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to obtain the relevant approval or complete the filings and other relevant regulatory procedures may negatively impact our ability to further raise capital from the market or pursue restructuring or refinancing of our indebtedness. We may also face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies, which may include fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, limitations on our operating privileges in mainland China, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our subsidiaries in mainland China, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price and listing status of our ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland China, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur.

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

Substantially all of our operations are located in mainland China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic, social conditions and government policies in mainland China generally. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange. In recent decades, the Chinese government has implemented a series of reform measures, including among others, emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises. Meanwhile, a considerable portion of productive assets in mainland China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government also plays a significant role in regulating industry development and has extensive influence over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, foreign exchange control, and setting monetary and fiscal policy.

While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the rate of growth has been slowing since 2012. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in mainland China, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in mainland China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations.

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

The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations and the enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.

The laws and regulations of mainland China have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in mainland China for the past decades. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in mainland China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties.

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published or not on a timely basis. As a result, we may not be aware of our potential violation of these policies and rules. In addition, certain

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administrative and court proceedings in mainland China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

The PRC government’s significant oversight and discretion over our business operation could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs.

We conduct our business primarily in mainland China. Our operations in mainland China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business, and it may intervene or influence our operations as the government deems appropriate to advance regulatory and societal goals and policy positions, which could result in a material adverse change in our operation, and our ordinary shares and ADSs may decline in value or become worthless. Also, the PRC government has recently promulgated certain regulations and rules to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in mainland China-based issuers. Any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. In addition, implementation of industry-wide regulations directly targeting our operations and enhanced supervision over large internet platforms may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline. Therefore, investors of our company and our business face potential uncertainty from actions taken by the PRC government affecting our business.

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

We are a Cayman Islands holding company and we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our mainland China subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and for services of any debt we may incur. Our subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entities in mainland China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. If our mainland China subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to their respective shareholders could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

In response to the persistent capital outflow and RMB’s depreciation against U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, have implemented a series of capital control measures over recent months, including stricter vetting procedures for China-based companies to remit foreign currency for overseas acquisitions, dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. For instance, the People’s Bank of China issued the Circular on Further Clarification of Relevant Matters Relating to Offshore RMB Loans Provided by Domestic Enterprises, or the PBOC Circular 306, on November 22, 2016, which provides that offshore RMB loans provided by a domestic enterprise to offshore enterprises that it holds equity interests in shall not exceed 30% of the domestic enterprise’s ownership interest in the offshore enterprise. The PBOC Circular 306 may constrain our mainland China subsidiaries’ ability to provide offshore loans to us. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our mainland China subsidiaries’ dividends and other distributions may be subjected to tighter scrutiny in the future. Any limitation on the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

Under the EIT Law and related regulations, dividends, interests, rent or royalties payable by a foreign-invested enterprise, such as our mainland China subsidiaries, to any of its foreign non-resident enterprise investors, and proceeds from any such foreign enterprise investor’s disposition of assets (after deducting the net value of such assets) are subject to a 10% withholding tax, unless the foreign enterprise investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a reduced rate of withholding tax.

Undistributed profits earned by foreign-invested enterprises prior to January 1, 2008 are exempted from any withholding tax. The Cayman Islands, where iQIYI, Inc., the direct parent company of our mainland China subsidiaries Beijing QIYI Century, and Chongqing QIYI Tianxia Science & Technology Co., Ltd., is incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. Hong Kong has a tax arrangement with China that provides for a 5% withholding tax on dividends subject to certain conditions and requirements,

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such as the requirement that the Hong Kong resident enterprise own at least 25% of the PRC enterprise distributing the dividend at all times within the 12-month period immediately preceding the distribution of dividends and be a “beneficial owner” of the dividends. For example, IQIYI Film Group HK Limited, which directly owns our mainland China subsidiaries iQIYI New Media, is incorporated in Hong Kong. However, if IQIYI Film Group HK Limited is not considered to be the beneficial owner of the dividends paid to it by iQIYI New Media under the tax circulars promulgated in February and October 2009, such dividends would be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%. If our mainland China subsidiaries declare and distribute profits to us, such payments will be subject to withholding tax, which will increase our tax liability and reduce the amount of cash available to our company.

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in mainland China entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

Any funds we transfer to our mainland China subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, are subject to approval by or registration or filing with relevant governmental authorities in mainland China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises, or FIEs, in mainland China, capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries are subject to registration with the SAMR or its local branches, the information reporting in the online enterprise registration system, and foreign exchange registration with qualified banks. In addition, (a) any foreign loan procured by our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities is required to be registered with the SAFE or its local branches or filed with SAFE in its information system, and (b) each of our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities may not procure loans which exceed the difference between its registered capital and its total investment amount as recorded in the foreign investment comprehensive management information system or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the Risk-Weighted Approach and the Net Asset Limits (as defined below). See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Foreign Exchange.” Any loan to be provided by us to our mainland China subsidiaries, variable interest entities and their subsidiaries with a term of more than one year must be recorded and registered by the NDRC or its local branches. We may not obtain these government approvals or complete such registrations on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions or foreign loans by us to our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities. If we fail to receive such approvals or complete such registration or filing, our ability to capitalize our mainland China operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. There is, in effect, no statutory limit on the amount of capital contribution that we can make to our mainland China subsidiaries. This is because there is no statutory limit on the amount of registered capital for our mainland China subsidiaries, and we are allowed to make capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries by subscribing for their initial registered capital and increased registered capital, provided that the mainland China subsidiaries complete the relevant filing and registration procedures. With respect to loans to the mainland China subsidiaries by us, (i) if the relevant mainland China subsidiaries adopt the traditional foreign exchange administration mechanism, or the Current Foreign Debt mechanism, the outstanding amount of the loans shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the mainland China subsidiaries and there is, in effect, no statutory limit on the amount of loans that we can make to our mainland China subsidiaries under this circumstance because we can increase the registered capital of our mainland China subsidiaries by making capital contributions to them, subject to the completion of the required registrations, and the difference between the total investment and the registered capital will increase accordingly; and (ii) if the relevant mainland China subsidiaries adopt the foreign exchange administration mechanism as provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, or the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt mechanism, the risk-weighted outstanding amount of the loans, which shall be calculated based on the formula provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, shall not exceed 200% of the net asset of the relevant mainland China subsidiary (the “Risk-Weighted Approach and the Net Asset Limits”). According to the PBOC Notice No. 9, after a transition period of one year since the promulgation of the PBOC Notice No. 9, the PBOC and SAFE will determine the cross-border financing administration mechanism for the foreign-invested enterprises after evaluating the overall implementation of the PBOC Notice No. 9. As of the date hereof, neither PBOC nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices or circulars in this regard. It is uncertain which mechanism will be adopted by PBOC and SAFE in the future and what statutory limits will be imposed on us when providing loans to our mainland China subsidiaries. Currently, our mainland China subsidiaries have the flexibility to choose between the Current Foreign Debt mechanism and the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt mechanism. However, if the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism, or a more stringent foreign debt mechanism becomes mandatory and our mainland China subsidiaries are no longer able to choose the Current Foreign Debt mechanism, our ability to provide loans to our mainland China subsidiaries or the variable interest entities may be significantly limited, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In 2008, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142. SAFE Circular 142 regulates the conversion by FIEs of foreign currency into Renminbi by restricting the usage of converted Renminbi. SAFE Circular 142 provides that any Renminbi capital converted from registered capitals in foreign currency of FIEs may only be used for purposes within the business scopes approved by PRC governmental authority and such Renminbi capital may not be

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used for equity investments within mainland China unless otherwise permitted by the PRC law. In addition, the SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the Renminbi capital converted from registered capital in foreign currency of FIEs. The use of such Renminbi capital may not be changed without SAFE approval, and such Renminbi capital may not in any case be used to repay Renminbi loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been utilized. On April 8, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming the Management Approach Regarding the Foreign Exchange Capital Settlement of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19. SAFE Circular 19 took effect as of June 1, 2015 and superseded SAFE Circular 142 on the same date. SAFE further promulgated Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which, among other things, amend certain provisions of Circular 19. SAFE Circulars 19 and 16 launched a nationwide reform of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of FIEs and allows FIEs to settle their foreign exchange capital at their discretion, but continues to prohibit FIEs from using the Renminbi fund converted from their foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond their business scopes, and also prohibit FIEs from using such Renminbi fund to provide loans to persons other than affiliates unless otherwise permitted under its business scope. As a result, we are required to apply Renminbi funds converted from the net proceeds we received from our financing activities within the business scopes of our mainland China subsidiaries. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE issued the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Facilitating Cross-border Trade and Investment, which, among other things, expanded the use of foreign exchange capital to domestic equity investment area. SAFE Circular 19, SAFE Circular 16 and other relevant rules and regulations may significantly limit our ability to transfer to and use in mainland China any foreign currency, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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

The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. The Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions in mainland China and by China’s foreign exchange policies. We cannot assure you that the Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.

Any significant appreciation or depreciation of Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.

Very limited hedging options are available in mainland China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any material hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert Renminbi into foreign currency. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.

Our use of some leased properties could be challenged by third parties or governmental authorities, which may cause interruptions to our business operations.

As of the date of this annual report, some of the lessors of our properties leased by us in mainland China have not provided us with their property ownership certificates or any other documentation proving their right to lease those properties to us. If our lessors are not the owners of the properties and they have not obtained consents from the owners or their lessors or permits from the relevant governmental authorities, our leases could be invalidated. If this occurs, we may have to renegotiate the leases with the owners or other parties who have the right to lease the properties, and the terms of the new leases may be less favorable to us. Although we may seek damages from such lessors, such leases may be void and we may be forced to relocate. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to find suitable replacement sites on terms acceptable to us on a timely basis, or at all, or that we will not be subject to material liability resulting from third parties’ challenges on our use of such properties. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

In addition, a substantial portion of our leasehold interests in leased properties have not been registered with the relevant PRC governmental authorities as required by relevant PRC laws. The failure to register leasehold interests may expose us to potential warnings and penalties up to RMB10,000 per unregistered leased property.

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The enforcement of the PRC Labor Contract Law and other labor-related regulations in mainland China may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress enacted the Labor Contract Law in 2008, and amended it on December 28, 2012. The Labor Contract Law introduced specific provisions related to fixed-term employment contracts, part-time employment, probationary periods, consultation with labor unions and employee assemblies, employment without a written contract, dismissal of employees, severance, and collective bargaining to enhance previous PRC labor laws. Under the Labor Contract Law, an employer is obligated to sign an unlimited-term labor contract with any employee who has worked for the employer for ten consecutive years. Further, if an employee requests or agrees to renew a fixed-term labor contract that has already been entered into twice consecutively, the resulting contract, with certain exceptions, must have an unlimited term, subject to certain exceptions. With certain exceptions, an employer must pay severance to an employee where a labor contract is terminated or expires. In addition, the PRC governmental authorities have continued to introduce various new labor-related regulations since the effectiveness of the Labor Contract Law.

Under the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Administrative Measures on Housing Fund, employees are required to participate in pension insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, and housing funds and employers are required, together with their employees or separately, to pay the social insurance premiums and housing funds for their employees. If we fail to make adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions, we may be subject to fines and legal sanctions, and our business, financial conditions and results of operations may be adversely affected.

These laws designed to enhance labor protection tend to increase our labor costs. In addition, as the interpretation and implementation of these regulations are still evolving, our employment practices may not be at all times be deemed in compliance with the regulations. As a result, we could be subject to penalties or incur significant liabilities in connection with labor disputes or investigations.

The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in mainland China.

The M&A Rules and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time consuming and complex, including requirements that the approval from MOFCOM be obtained in circumstances where overseas companies established or controlled by mainland China enterprises or natural persons acquire an affiliated mainland China domestic enterprise. After the Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Regulations became effective on January 1, 2020, the provisions of the M&A Rules remain effective to the extent they are not inconsistent with the PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Regulations. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the SAMR (or MOFCOM before March 2018) shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the Rules of Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System of Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors issued by the MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 and the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment promulgated by the NDRC and the MOFCOM in December 2020 have established procedures and requirements that are expected to make merger and acquisition activities in mainland China by foreign investors increasingly time-consuming and complex. These rules specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the competent authority, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the competent authority may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

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

The SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing with such PRC residents or entities’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests. In addition, such PRC residents or entities must update their SAFE registrations when the

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offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to any change of basic information (including change of such PRC citizens or residents, name and operation term), increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or exchanges of shares, or mergers or divisions.

SAFE Circular 37 is issued to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents Engaging in Financing and Roundtrip Investments via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75.

If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities do not complete their registration with the local SAFE branches, our mainland China subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to our mainland China subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration described above could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.

We have notified all PRC residents or entities who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands holding company and who are known to us as being PRC residents to complete the foreign exchange registrations. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our mainland China subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our mainland China subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.

If the chops of our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised.

In mainland China, a company chop or seal serves as the legal representation of the company towards third parties even when unaccompanied by a signature. Each legally registered company in mainland China is required to maintain a company chop, which must be registered with the local Public Security Bureau. In addition to this mandatory company chop, companies may have several other chops which can be used for specific purposes. The chops of our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities are generally held securely by personnel designated or approved by us in accordance with our internal control procedures. To the extent those chops are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised and those corporate entities may be bound to abide by the terms of any documents so chopped, even if they were chopped by an individual who lacked the requisite power and authority to do so. In addition, if the chops are misused by unauthorized persons, we could experience disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources to resolve while distracting management from our operations.

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

Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. In the meantime, our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who are non-PRC residents residing in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to limited exceptions, and who have been granted share-based awards by us, may follow the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, promulgated by the SAFE in 2012. Pursuant to the 2012 SAFE notices, PRC citizens and non-PRC citizens who reside in mainland China for a continuous period of not less than one year who participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the mainland China subsidiaries of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures. In addition, an overseas entrusted institution must be retained to handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We, our directors, our executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who have been granted share-based awards are subject to these regulations since we have become an overseas listed company. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines, and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our mainland China subsidiaries and limit our mainland China subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us. We have completed filing with the relevant SAFE branch for our equity incentive plans and are required to update our filing

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periodically or in the event of any material changes. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Employment and Social Welfare—Employee Stock Incentive Plan.”

The State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, our employees working in mainland China who exercise or transfer share options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to mainland China individual income tax. Our mainland China subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes according to relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC governmental authorities. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Employment and Social Welfare—Employee Stock Incentive Plan.”

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

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of mainland China with its “de facto management body” within mainland China is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to mainland China enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, the SAT issued a circular, known as SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a mainland China-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in mainland China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by mainland China enterprises or mainland China enterprise groups, not those controlled by mainland China individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a mainland China enterprise or a mainland China enterprise group will be regarded as a mainland China tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in mainland China and will be subject to mainland China enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in mainland China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in mainland China; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in mainland China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in mainland China.

We believe none of our entities outside of China is a mainland China resident enterprise for mainland China tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the mainland China tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” If the mainland China tax authorities determine that iQIYI, Inc. is a mainland China resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from interest or dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises, including the holders of our ordinary shares or ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to mainland China tax at a rate of 10% on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within mainland China. Furthermore, if mainland China tax authorities determine that we are a mainland China resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, interest or dividends paid to our non-mainland China individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) and any gain realized on the transfer of the ADSs or ordinary shares by such holders may be subject to mainland China tax at a rate of 20% (which, in the case of interest or dividends, may be withheld at source by us), if such gain is deemed to be from mainland China sources. These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty, but it is unclear whether non-mainland China shareholders of iQIYI, Inc. would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and mainland China in the event that iQIYI, Inc. is treated as a mainland China resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the ADSs.

Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with the anti-monopoly, anti-unfair competition, and consumer rights protection laws and regulations may result in governmental investigations or enforcement actions, litigation or claims against us and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The PRC government has adopted a series of anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition laws and regulations and has recently enhanced its enforcement of such laws and regulations. The PRC Anti-monopoly Law and the relevant implementing rules (i) require that where concentration of undertakings reaches the filing threshold stipulated by the State Council, a filing must be made with the

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anti-monopoly authority before the parties implement the concentration, (ii) prohibit a business operator with a dominant market position from abusing such position, such as by selling commodities at unfairly high prices or buying commodities at unfairly low prices, selling products at prices below cost without any justifiable cause, or refusing to trade with a trading party without any justifiable cause, and (iii) prohibit business operators from entering into monopoly agreements, which refer to agreements that eliminate or restrict competition with competing business operators or transaction counterparties, such as by boycotting transactions, fixing or changing the price of commodities, limiting the output of commodities or fixing the price of commodities for resale to third parties, unless the agreements satisfy certain exemptions under the PRC Anti-monopoly Law. Furthermore, in February 2021, the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council officially promulgated the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for the Internet Platform Economy Sector, or the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines. The Anti-Monopoly Guidelines prohibit certain monopolistic acts of internet platforms so as to protect market competition and safeguard the interests of users and undertakings participating in the internet platform economy, including, without limitation, prohibiting platforms with a dominant position from abusing their market dominance (such as discriminating against customers in terms of pricing and other transactional conditions using big data and analytics, coercing counterparties into exclusivity arrangements, using technology to block competitors’ interfaces, favorable positioning in search results of goods displays, using bundle services to sell services or products, compulsory collection of unnecessary user data). In addition, the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines also reinforce antitrust merger review for internet platform related transactions to safeguard market competition. As the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines were newly promulgated, it is still uncertain how they will impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. On August 1, 2022, the Standing Committee further amended the Anti-Monopoly Law, which, among others, (i) emphasized that business operators with a dominant market position shall not engage in any conduct of abusing a dominant market position by utilizing data and algorithm, technology, and platform rules, (ii) increased the fines on business operators for illegal concentration to “no more than ten percent of the preceding year’s sales revenue of the business operators if the concentration of business operators has or may have an effect of excluding or limiting competition; or a fine of up to RMB5 million if the concentration of business operators does not have an effect of excluding or limiting competition,” and (iii) increased the fines on business operators that reaching monopoly agreements to “no less than one percent but no more than ten percent of the preceding year’s sales revenue of the business operators, or a fine of up to RMB5 million if no sales revenue in the preceding year; and if such monopoly agreements have not been implemented, a fine of up to RMB3 million.”

According to the PRC Anti-unfair Competition Law, unfair competition, which refers to the production and operating activities where the operator disrupts the market competition order and damages the legitimate rights and interests of other operators or consumers in violation of the provisions of the PRC Anti-unfair Competition Law, shall be prohibited. Pursuant to the PRC Anti-unfair Competition Law, operators shall abide by the principle of voluntariness, equality, impartiality, integrity and adhere to laws and business ethics during market transactions. Operators in violation of the PRC Anti-unfair Competition Law may be subject to civil, administrative or criminal liabilities depending on the specific circumstances.

In practice, the PRC governmental authority also strengthens the supervision of monopoly and other unfair competition acts, activities infringing consumer rights, and requests to establish a new order of the platform economy. In March 2018, the SAMR was formed as a new governmental agency to take over, among other things, the anti-monopoly enforcement functions from the relevant departments under the MOFCOM, the NDRC, and the former State Administration for Industry and Commerce, respectively. Since its inception, the SAMR has continued to strengthen anti-monopoly enforcement. In December 2018, the SAMR issued the Notice on Anti-monopoly Enforcement Authorization, which grants authorities to its provincial branches to conduct anti-monopoly enforcement within their respective jurisdictions. In September 2020, the SAMR issued Anti-monopoly Compliance Guideline for Operators, which requires operators to establish anti-monopoly compliance management systems to prevent anti-monopoly compliance risks. In particular, the PRC regulators have been increasingly focused on inspection and regulation on potential noncompliance with anti-unfair competition and anti-monopoly related laws recently. For example, in April 2021, the SAMR, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the SAT, held an administrative guidance meeting for internet platform enterprises. During the meeting, it was pointed out that illegal activities including, among others, forcing the implementation of “choose one” among the enterprise and its competitors, abusing dominant market position, “cash burning” to seize the “community group buying” market, making use of big data analysis to the disadvantage of existing customers, etc., shall be prohibited and rectified. In addition, many platforms, including 34 enterprises which attended such administrative guidance meeting as representatives of internet platform enterprises, are required to conduct a comprehensive self-inspection and make necessary rectification accordingly. The competent administration for market regulation will organize and conduct inspections on the platforms’ rectification results. If the platforms are found to conduct illegal activities including forcing the implementation of “choose one” among them and their competitors, abusing dominant market position, infringing consumers rights and interests, etc., they will be imposed with more severe penalties in accordance with the laws. We have conducted necessary self-inspection and rectifications in accordance with such guidance and completed rectification procedures, such as filing of concentration notification for our past investments and M&A deals. In addition, China Consumers’ Associations and other local consumers’ associations, who have the authority to bring civil public interest lawsuit and make complains to relevant governmental authorities, have been targeting large platforms more frequently. Complaints made by consumers’ associations may lead to negative publicity, and increase the risk of governmental investigations and public interest lawsuits.

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We cannot guarantee you that we will not be subject to more similar or even stricter rectification requests from the governmental authorities or that we will fully comply with all applicable rules and regulations at all times. As a result of the regulators’ focus on anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition compliance and consumer rights protection and enhanced regulation of platform enterprises, our business practice and expansion strategy may be subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny. In order to comply with existing laws and regulations and new laws and regulations that may be enacted in the future, we may need to devote significant resources and efforts, including restructuring affected businesses, adjusting investment activities and adjusting our business strategy, which may adversely affect our business operation, growth prospects and reputation. In addition, we cannot assure you that our efforts are sufficient to comply with the all the applicable laws and regulations on anti-monopoly, anti-unfair competition and consumer rights protection, and the authorities’ requirements in all respects. Any anti-monopoly, anti-unfair competition or consumer rights protection related lawsuit, regulatory investigations or administrative proceedings initiated against us could also result in our being subject to regulatory actions, significant fines, and constraints on our investments and acquisitions, which could include forced termination of any agreements or transactions, required divestitures, or limitations on certain pricing and business practices or significant fines. As a result, we may be subject to significant difficulties in operating our current business and pursuing our operation, investment and acquisition strategy.

It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigation or collect evidence within mainland China.

Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in mainland China. For example, in mainland China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in mainland China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or Article 177, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of mainland China and without the consent by the Chinese securities regulatory authorities and the other competent governmental agencies, no entity or individual may provide documents or materials related to securities business overseas. In addition, the Data Security Law and the PIPL provide that no entity or individual within the territory of mainland China shall provide any foreign judicial body and law enforcement body with any data or any personal information stored within the territory of mainland China without the approval of the competent governmental authority of the PRC. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under these laws have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within mainland China, and restrictions on the provision of documents, materials, data and personal information by PRC entities and individuals to an overseas securities regulator, foreign judicial body or foreign law enforcement body may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.

Risks Related to Our ADSs
The trading price of our ADSs has been and is likely to continue to be volatile regardless of our operating performance.

The trading price of our ADSs has been volatile and has ranged from a low of US$2.01 to a high of US$46.23 since our ADSs started to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 29, 2018. The market price for our ADSs may continue to be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including, but not limited to, the following:

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations;
changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
conditions in online entertainment markets;
announcements of new investments, acquisitions by us or our competitors, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
addition or departure of key personnel;
fluctuations of exchange rates between RMB and the U.S. dollar;
litigation, government investigation or other legal or regulatory proceeding; and
general economic or political conditions in mainland China or elsewhere in the world.

In addition, the stock market in general, and the performance and fluctuation of the market prices for internet-related companies and other companies with operations mainly in mainland China in particular, may affect the volatility in the prices of and trading volumes for our ADSs. The securities of some China-based companies that have listed their securities in the United States have

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experienced significant volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies, including, in some cases, substantial declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading performances of these companies’ securities may affect the attitudes of investors towards Chinese companies listed in the United States in general, which consequently may impact the trading performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or other matters of other Chinese companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards Chinese companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have engaged in any inappropriate activities. In particular, the global financial crisis, the ensuing economic recessions and deterioration in the credit market in many countries have contributed and may continue to contribute to extreme volatility in the global stock markets. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our ADSs. Volatility or a lack of positive performance in the price of our ADSs may also adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, most of whom have been granted options or other equity incentives.

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

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If research analysts do not maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our ADSs or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price of or trading volume for our ADSs to decline.

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

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

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

We are currently, and may in the future be, the subject of unfavorable allegations made by short sellers. See “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings” for more information about the Wolfpack short seller report, including the related SEC investigation and class action lawsuits. Any such allegations may be followed by periods of instability in the market price of our ordinary shares and ADSs and negative publicity. If and when we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we could have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and defend ourselves. While we would strongly defend against any such short seller attacks, we may be constrained in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller by principles of freedom of speech, applicable federal or state law or issues of commercial confidentiality. Such a situation could be costly and time-consuming and could distract our management from growing our business. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, allegations against us could severely impact our business operations and shareholder’s equity, and the value of any investment in our ADSs could be greatly diminished.

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

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

Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return to ADS holders will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our ADSs. There is no guarantee that our ADSs will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which ADS holders purchased the ADSs.

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

Holders of our ADSs will only be able to exercise the voting rights with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, ADS holders must vote by giving voting instructions to the depositary. If we ask for instructions of ADS holders, then upon receipt of such voting instructions, the depositary will try to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with these instructions. If we do not instruct the depositary to ask for instructions of ADS holders, the depositary may still vote in accordance with instructions given by holders of ADSs, but it is not required to do so. ADS holders will not be able to directly exercise your right to vote with respect to the underlying shares unless you withdraw the shares. When a general meeting is convened, an ADS holder may not receive sufficient advance notice to withdraw the shares underlying his or her ADSs to allow such holder to vote with respect to any specific matter. If we ask for instructions of holders of ADSs, the depositary will notify ADS holders of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting materials to ADS holders. We have agreed to give the depositary at least 30 days’ prior notice of shareholder meetings. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that ADS holders will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that ADS holders can instruct the depositary to vote their shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out ADS holders’ voting instructions. This means that an ADS holder may not be able to exercise the right to vote and may have no legal remedy if the shares underlying his or her ADSs are not voted as such holder requested.

ADS holders may experience dilution of his or her holdings due to inability to participate in rights offerings.

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

ADS holders may be subject to limitations on transfer of their ADSs

Our ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. The depositary may close its books from time to time for a number of reasons, including in connection with corporate events such as a rights offering, during which time the depositary needs to maintain an exact number of ADS holders on its books for a specified period. The depositary may also close its books in emergencies, and on weekends and public holidays. The depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of our ADSs generally when our share register or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary thinks it is advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.

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

We are a Cayman Islands company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in mainland China, and are all located outside of the Cayman Islands. Service of court

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documents on a Cayman Islands company can be effected by serving the documents at the company’s registered office and it may be possible to enforce foreign judgments in the Cayman Islands against a Cayman Islands company, subject to some exceptions. However, if investors wish to serve documents on and/or enforce foreign judgments against our directors and officers, they will need to ensure that they comply with the rules of the jurisdiction where the directors and officers are located. In addition, most of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers, depending on where our directors and officers are located.

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited (depending on the remedies you are seeking), because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent also governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands (as compared to the United States) as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of the English courts are of highly persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands (except for those decisions handed down from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to the extent that these have been appealed from the Cayman Islands courts). The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are broadly similar to those in other common law jurisdictions, but there may be differences in the statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, if shareholders want to proceed against us outside of the Cayman Islands, they will need to demonstrate that they have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.

Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies with limited liability like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association, the register of mortgages and charges and any special resolutions passed by shareholders) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Under Cayman Islands law, the names of our current directors can be obtained from a search conducted at the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. Our directors have discretion under our articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.

As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.

Since we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, the rights of our shareholders may be more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States.

Under the laws of some jurisdictions in the United States, majority and controlling shareholders generally have certain fiduciary responsibilities to the minority shareholders. Shareholder action must be taken in good faith, and actions by controlling shareholders which are obviously unreasonable may be declared null and void. Cayman Islands law protecting the interests of minority shareholders may not be as protective in all circumstances as the law protecting minority shareholders in some U.S. jurisdictions. In addition, the circumstances in which a shareholder of a Cayman Islands company may sue the company derivatively, and the procedures and defenses that may be available to the company, may result in the rights of shareholders of a Cayman Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States.

Furthermore, our directors have the power to take certain actions without shareholder approval which would require shareholder approval under the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions. The directors of a Cayman Islands company, without shareholder approval, may implement a sale of any assets, property, part of the business, or securities of the company. Our ability to create and issue new classes or series of shares without shareholders’ approval could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control without any further action by our shareholders, including a tender offer to purchase our ordinary shares at a premium over then current market prices.

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Our dual-class voting structure limits your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our ADSs may view as beneficial.

Our authorized and issued ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares (and a further class of authorized but undesignated shares). Holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B ordinary shares are entitled to ten votes per share.

Due to the disparate voting powers attached to these two classes of ordinary shares, Baidu, holder of our Class B ordinary shares, held approximately 45.5% of our total issued and outstanding ordinary shares on an as-converted basis and 89.3% of the voting power of our outstanding shares as of February 28, 2023. Therefore, Baidu has decisive influence over matters requiring shareholders’ approval, including election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or sale of our company or our assets. This concentrated control limits the ability of holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions that holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.

Our memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

Our memorandum and articles of association contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions 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. Subject to our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares, in the form of ADS or otherwise. Preferred shares could 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 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 are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.

Because we are a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including: (i) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC; (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; (iii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; (iv) the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD; and (v) certain audit committee independence requirements in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

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

In addition, as a foreign private issuer whose securities are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of the requirements of the Nasdaq Rules pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5615(a)(3), which provides for such exemption to compliance with the Nasdaq Rule 5600 Series. We rely on the exemption available to foreign private issuers for the requirement under Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(i) that each member of the audit committee must be an independent director as defined under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2). Mr. Weijian Shan and Mr. Fei Qi, who are non-voting members of our audit committee, are not independent directors as defined under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2). In addition, we follow home country practice with respect to annual shareholders meetings and did not hold an annual meeting of shareholders in 2022. Furthermore, Nasdaq Rule 5635(c) requires shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities when a stock option or purchase plan is to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended, pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants. We elected to follow our home country practice and did not obtain shareholder

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approval the amendment to our 2021 Plan. If we continue to rely on these and other exemptions available to foreign private issuers in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Furthermore, as a result of our use of the “controlled company” exemptions, our investors will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements.

We may be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. shareholders.

Generally, a non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be considered a PFIC for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of the value of its assets (generally based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For purposes of these rules, the value of certain of our assets is generally determined by reference to the market price of the ADSs and class A ordinary shares, which may fluctuate considerably.

Based on the market price of our ADSs, the value of our assets and the composition of our assets and income, we believe that we were not a PFIC for our taxable year ended December 31, 2022, and do not presently expect to be a PFIC for the 2023 taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, PFIC status is a fact-intensive determination that generally cannot be determined until after the close of the taxable year in question, and is based on that year’s composition of income and assets (which could change significantly during the course of a taxable year). Fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs, for instance, may cause us to become a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years because the value of certain of our assets for the purpose of the asset test is generally determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs. The composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets. In addition, there are uncertainties in the application of the PFIC rules to our particular circumstances. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, may challenge our classification of certain income and assets or our valuation of our tangible and intangible assets, each of which may result in our becoming a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years. Furthermore, we may also be a PFIC if we were not treated as the owner of the variable interest entities for U.S. tax purposes. Accordingly, no assurance can be given regarding our PFIC status for the current or any taxable year.

If we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. shareholder held an ADS or Class A ordinary share, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to the U.S. shareholder. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.”

Provisions of our convertible senior notes could discourage an acquisition of us by a third-party.

Certain provisions of our outstanding convertible senior notes, including the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes, PAG Notes and 2028 Notes, could make it more difficult or more expensive for a third-party to acquire us. The indentures for our convertible senior notes define a “fundamental change” to include, among other things: (i) any person or group becoming a beneficial owner of our company through gaining more than 50% voting power of our ordinary share capital or more than 50% of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares; (ii) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our ordinary shares or ADSs as a result of which these securities would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets or any share exchange, consolidation or merger or similar transaction pursuant to which our ordinary shares or ADSs will be converted into cash, securities or other property or any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or series of transaction of all or substantially all our consolidated assets, to any person other than one of our subsidiaries or variable interest entities; (iii) the adoption of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of our company; (iv) our ADSs ceasing to be listed or quoted on any of The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) and none of the ADSs, Class A ordinary shares, other common equity and ADSs in respect of reference property is listed or quoted on one of The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) within one trading day of such cessation; or (v) any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations and rules in the PRC that prohibits us from operating substantially all of our business operations and prevents us from continuing to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from our business operations. Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders of these notes will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase all of their notes or any portion of the principal amount of such notes in integral multiples of US$1,000. In the event of a fundamental change, we may also be required to issue additional ADSs upon conversion of our convertible senior notes.

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Conversion of the convertible senior notes may dilute the ownership interest of existing shareholders, including holders who had previously converted their convertible senior notes.

The conversion of some or all of the convertible senior notes will dilute the ownership interests of existing shareholders and existing holders of our ADSs. Any sales in the public market of the ADSs issuable upon such conversion may increase the opportunities to create short positions with respect to the ADSs, which could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our ADSs. In addition, the existence of the convertible senior notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the convertible senior notes could depress the price of our ADSs.

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

Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our ADSs and could materially impair our ability to raise capital in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities held by our significant shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of our ADSs.

iTEM 4. Information on the Company

A.
History and Development of the Company

We launched qiyi.com under the QIYI brand in April 2010 as an internet video streaming service in mainland China. Our holding company, Ding Xin, Inc., was incorporated in November 2009 in the Cayman Islands. Ding Xin, Inc. was subsequently renamed Qiyi.com, Inc. in August 2010 and later iQIYI, Inc. in November 2017. QIYI was rebranded as iQIYI in November 2011.

In March 2010, we established a wholly-owned mainland China subsidiary, Beijing QIYI Century Science and Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing QIYI Century. In November 2011, we obtained control over Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd. and in May 2012 we renamed it Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing iQIYI, to operate our internet video streaming services. In December 2012, Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd., or Shanghai iQIYI, was established as our exclusive advertising agent. In May 2013, we acquired the online video business of PPS. We primarily provide live streaming service through Shanghai Zhong Yuan

Network Co., Ltd., or Shanghai Zhong Yuan, the operating entity of PPS. We have control over and are the primary beneficiary of Beijing iQIYI, Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan through a series of contractual arrangements. Beijing iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan hold our ICP licenses and other licenses and permits necessary for our business operation.

In May 2017, we established a wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary, iQIYI Film Group Limited. Subsequently, we established IQIYI Film Group HK Limited in June 2017, and Beijing iQIYI New Media Science and Technology Co., Ltd., or iQIYI New Media, in July 2017. iQIYI Film Group Limited holds 100% of the equity of IQIYI Film Group HK Limited, which in turn holds 100% of equity in iQIYI New Media. iQIYI Pictures (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or iQIYI Pictures, was established in December 2014, and Beijing iQIYI Intelligent Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd., or Intelligent Entertainment (previously known as Beijing iQIYI Cinema Management Co., Ltd., or Beijing iQIYI Cinema), was established in June 2017. We have control and are the primary beneficiary of iQIYI Pictures and Intelligent Entertainment through a series of contractual arrangements.

Between March 2010 and September 2014, Baidu made substantial investments in our company, and we issued ordinary shares and several series of preferred shares to Baidu Holdings. In our Series F preferred shares financing, which took place in November 2014, we issued 136,749,954 Series F preferred shares to Baidu Holdings, 341,874,885 Series F preferred shares to Xiaomi Ventures Limited and 68,374,978 Series F preferred shares to Prominent TMT Limited, an affiliate of Xiaomi Ventures Limited. In January 2017, we raised US$1.53 billion from the issuance of convertible notes to a group of investors. These notes were converted into Series G preferred shares in October 2017, including 215,484,776 Series G-1 preferred shares issued to Baidu Holdings and another investor, as well as 798,951,243 Series G-2 preferred shares issued to other investors. All preferred shares were converted into ordinary shares upon the completion of our initial public offering. In addition, in April 2018, we issued to Baidu Holdings an aggregate of 36,860,691 Class B ordinary shares, pursuant to a share purchase agreement we entered into with Baidu Holdings in February 2018.

On March 29, 2018, our ADS commenced trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “IQ.” On April 3, 2018, at the closing of our initial public offering, we issued and sold a total of 875,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, represented by ADSs at a public offering price of US$18.00 per ADS. On April 30, 2018, we issued and sold an additional 67,525,675 Class A ordinary shares, represented by ADSs at US$18.00 per ADS, at the closing of the over-allotment option exercised by the underwriters of our initial public offering.

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On July 17, 2018, we completed the acquisition of 100% equity stake in Skymoons Inc. and Chengdu Skymoons Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., (“Chengdu Skymoons,” together with Skymoons Inc., “Skymoons”). The aggregate consideration consists of a fixed payment of RMB1.27 billion, as well as additional consideration valued at RMB730 million as of June 30, 2018 to be delivered in the event the acquiree satisfies the agreed upon performance benchmarks in the next two years.

In December 2018, we completed an offering of US$750 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2023, or the 2023 Notes. The 2023 Notes have been offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The initial conversion rate of the 2023 Notes is 37.1830 ADSs per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$26.89 per ADS and represents a conversion premium of approximately 40% above the closing price of the ADSs on November 29, 2018, which was US$19.21 per ADS). The conversion rate for the 2023 Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. The 2023 Notes will bear interest at a rate of 3.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2019. The 2023 Notes will mature on December 1, 2023, unless previously repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The holders may require us to repurchase all or portion of the Notes for cash on December 1, 2021, or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In connection with the offering of the 2023 Notes, we have entered into capped call transactions with certain counterparties, where we purchased capped call options at the price of US$67.5 million. The cap price of the capped call transactions is initially US$38.42 per ADS and is subject to adjustment under the terms of the capped call transactions.

In March 2019, we completed an offering of US$1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2025, or the 2025 Notes. The 2025 Notes have been offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The initial conversion rate of the 2025 Notes is 33.0003 ADSs per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$30.30 per ADS and represents a conversion premium of 32.5% above the closing price of our ADSs on March 26, 2019, which was US$22.87 per ADS). The conversion rate for the 2025 Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. The 2025 Notes will bear interest at a rate of 2.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2019. The 2025 Notes will mature on April 1, 2025, unless previously repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The holders may require us to repurchase all or portion of the 2025 Notes for cash on April 1, 2023, or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In connection with the offering of the 2025 Notes, we have entered into capped call transactions with certain counterparties, where we purchased capped call options at the price of US$84.5 million. The cap price of the capped call transactions is initially US$40.02 per ADS and is subject to adjustment under the terms of the capped call transactions.

In December 2020, we completed a registered public offering of US$800 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2026, or the 2026 Notes. The underwriters exercised their option in full to purchase an additional US$100 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Notes in January 2021. The initial conversion rate of the 2026 Notes is 44.8179 ADSs per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$22.31 per ADS and represents a conversion premium of approximately 27.5% over the price to public per ADSs in the ADSs offering concurrent with the offering of the 2026 Notes, which was US$17.50 per ADS). The conversion rate for the 2026 Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. The 2026 Notes will bear interest at a rate of 4.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2021. The 2026 Notes will mature on December 15, 2026, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with the terms of the Notes prior to such date. The holders may require us to repurchase all or part of the 2026 Notes for cash on August 1, 2024, or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Concurrently with the issuance of 2026 Notes, we also completed a registered follow-on public offering of 40,000,000 ADSs at a public offering price of US$17.50 per ADS. The underwriters exercised their option to purchase 4,594,756 additional ADSs at the price of US$17.50 per ADS in January 2021.

In November 2021, we completed the repurchase right offer relating to the 2023 Notes. US$746.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes were validly surrendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the repurchase right offer.

In March 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with Baidu and a consortium of financial investors that include Oasis Management Company Ltd., who have agreed to subscribe for and purchase from us, through a private placement, a total of 164,705,882 newly issued Class B ordinary shares and 304,705,874 newly issued Class A ordinary shares of our company, for a total purchase price of US$285 million in cash. In accordance with the subscription agreements, Baidu subscribed for Class B ordinary shares, and the financial investors subscribed for Class A ordinary shares.

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In December 2022, we issued an aggregate amount of US$500 million in secured convertible senior notes due January 2028 to PAG. In February 2023, we issued to PAG an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes upon its exercise to subscribe for additional notes in full. The PAG Notes bear an interest rate of 6% per annum and will mature on the fifth anniversary of the issuance date. The PAG Notes may be convertible into our ADSs at the holder’s option and subject to the terms of the PAG Notes, at an initial conversion rate of 216.9668 ADS per US$1,000 principal amount of the PAG Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$4.61 per ADS). Holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require us to repurchase or repay for cash all or part of their notes, at a price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively. They also have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes in the event of certain fundamental changes and events of defaults.

In January 2023, we completed a registered follow-on public offering of 76,500,000 ADSs at a public offering price of US$5.90 per ADS. The underwriters exercised their option to purchase 9,975,000 additional ADSs at the price of US$5.90 per ADS in January 2023. We received net proceeds of US$500.0 million from the follow-on offering, including the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ADSs, after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions.

In March 2023, we completed an offering of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Notes. Holders of the 2028 Notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash on March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Concurrently with and shortly after the offering of the 2028 Notes, we entered into separate individually and privately negotiated agreements with certain holders of the 2026 Notes to repurchase US$340 million principal amount of such notes for cash.

Our principal executive offices are located at 4/F, iQIYI Youth Center, Yoolee Plaza, No. 21, North Road of Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100027 People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 10 6267-7171. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States in connection with the registration statement on Form F-3 is Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168.

SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC on www.sec.gov. You can also find information on our website http://ir.iqiyi.com. The information contained on our website is not a part of this annual report.

B.
Business Overview

iQIYI is a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China. Since the beginning, we have always put content and users at the center, orienting each of our business strategies around delivering superior content quality and user-friendliness. Artistically crafted and imbued with industry expertise distilled from over a decade of operational experience, many iQIYI original titles have secured their places among the most successful IP franchises in the history of Chinese popular entertainment. Designed and refined by our engineers with a deep understanding of the evolving user preferences, our products continue to offer superior entertainment experience for users.

Our platform features a variety of premium video content, in particular iQIYI original dramas and shows. With in-house studios spearheading our original content production, we are home to many acclaimed original drama series and variety show franchises, and have successfully serialized our original content into blockbuster sequels to accumulate and amplify IP value overtime. Our in-house content production studios, together with our experienced supporting teams, help us industrialize content production, amass creative talents and produce premium content efficiently. With valuable experience gained over the past years, our content studios have produced high-quality content that has been well received by the market and economically viable. We also expand our premium content offering through licenses and collaboration with third-party partners, which supplement our original content. As of December 31, 2022, we had over 40,000 professionally produced content (PPC) titles in our comprehensive and diversified video content library, comprised of drama series, variety shows, films and others.

We have one of the largest subscribing member base among all internet video streaming services in mainland China. In 2022, we achieved an average daily number of total subscribing members of 103.1 million and an average daily number of subscribing members excluding individuals with trial memberships of 102.4 million. The monthly average revenue per membership (“ARM”) in 2022 was RMB14.31, compared to RMB13.71 in 2021, increasing 4.4% year over year. Beyond our core focus on content, we have also crafted new strategies to attract more users to become our subscribing members through additional privileges to enhance the value of our membership. With a strong dedication to offering diversified premium content and membership privileges, we have attracted a massive and loyal paying user base. We have developed diversified monetization models. We generate revenues through membership services, online advertising services and a suite of other monetization methods. Our monetization model fosters an environment for

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high-quality content production and effective content distribution on our platform, which in turn expands our subscriber base and increases user engagement, creating a virtuous cycle.

Our Products and Services

We provide our users with a variety of products and services encompassing online video, online games, online literature, animations and others.

Video

We produce, aggregate and distribute a wide variety of professionally produced content, or PPC, as well as a broad spectrum of other video content in a variety of formats.

Professionally Produced Content (PPC)
iQIYI original content

Driven by our long-term commitment to original content, we have established a unique and effective methodology for both original content production and operations. Powered by a strong team of professionals and supported by a mature and highly efficient operating mechanism, our methodology encompasses from content creation, production to post-broadcasting. We have achieved breakthrough in original content as evidenced by the scores tracked by iQIYI popularity index, which is an influential indicator of content popularity.

Our original content includes content produced in-house and content produced in collaboration with quality third-party partners. Our original content titles include popular drama series, such as Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀), Chasing the Undercurrent (罚罪), New Life Begins (卿卿日常), and Wild Bloom (风吹半夏), all of which were launched in 2022 and broke the landmark 10,000 iQIYI popularity index score; popular variety shows, such as The Big Band (乐队的夏天), Qipa Talk (奇葩说), The Rap of China (中国说唱巅峰对决) and Super Sketch Show(一年一度喜剧大赛); high-quality movies, such as Mirrors and Feathers (北方一片苍茫), Tough Out (棒!少年), Break Through the Darkness(扫黑•决战) and Northeastern Bro (东北恋哥); and popular animations, such as Deer Squad (无敌鹿战队), The World of Fantasy (灵域) and Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀). iQIYI obtains the IP through production, adaptation or purchase from third parties, while the partners, typically established entertainment production companies, are responsible for content development and production. iQIYI maintains a high degree of control during the content development and production process.

We also adapt high-quality video IP into multiple entertainment products, such as online games, animations, online literature, and derivative merchandise.

Licensed content

In addition to original content, we also provide users with a curated selection of high-quality PPC from third parties. Leveraging our expertise in content selection, we have successfully debuted well-received titles such as drama series iPartment (爱情公寓), In the Name of People (人民的名义), Go Go Squid (亲爱的,热爱的), My Heroic Husband (赘婿), A Lifelong Journey (人世间) and variety show Keep Running (奔跑吧). Our licensed content library also features a rich collection of movies, animations, documentaries and other content.

Our licensed video content are typically procured at fixed rates for a specified term. The average term of licenses varies depending on the type of content, with films and drama series having an average term of nine years and thirteen years, respectively. Payments of licensing fees are generally made in installments upon signing of the contacts and during the license period. We also exchange rights to distribute licensed content with other online video streaming services to enrich our content library. In certain cases, we have the right of first refusal to purchase new content produced by the licensor.

We leverage our content procurement team’s insights and our AI-based big data analytics capabilities to optimize content procurement. We have established strong partnerships with content providers to ensure access to high-quality content. These partners include leading domestic drama series production companies, film production companies and TV stations, “Big Six” Hollywood production studios, top TV networks in the U.S., etc.

Other Video Content

In addition to professionally produced content, we also offer a broad base of other video content with all kinds of genres, formats and lengths of duration, such as internet movies and dramas, mini variety shows and animations, vertical or horizontal videos,

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as well as grassroot or influencer uploaded videos, edited video clips, and video blogs, or Vlogs, among others. Our other video content expands our library and allows us to capture a broader user base, drive user engagement and enhance user stickiness.

Our other video content is created and uploaded to our platform by a wide array of content providers. The content providers range from, among others, ordinary registered users, amateurs, semiprofessional partners, to internet influencers, multi-channel networks, self-media, and production studios, which collectively contribute to growing our creative user community. Content providers upload their videos onto their iQIYI partner accounts, an open platform we provide, to share, distribute and monetize their video content. We then evaluate the quality of uploaded videos before final approval. Users can subscribe for and follow their favorite iQIYI partner accounts.

Other Products and Services

Our other products and services include online games, literature, comics and others.

We develop and distribute online games featured in various formats to domestic and overseas users. Following the acquisition of Skymoons in July 2018, we further broadened our game offerings, especially self-developed games that fully leverage the IP value in our content. We provide high-quality online literature and comics works which can be adapted into script for derivative entertainment products. Furthermore, we are developing a video community to build an ecosystem that empowers users to discover video content based on their interests, follow content creators, and interact with other users with the same interests.

iQIYI Lite

In January 2021, we officially released the iQIYI Lite app, which offers users an easy and quick access to the personalized videos based on their user preferences. We offer various free content on iQIYI Lite app with advertisements catered to the preferences of users, and we also offer ad-supported membership services for subscribing members of iQIYI Lite app. iQIYI Lite helps us to expand our total addressable market by penetrating into regions and user cohorts which are not yet covered by our main app.

Overseas Business

We expand our business overseas through our multilingual iQIYI app and website, which offer a curated selection of popular imported and local video content titles. We currently support interfaces in more than ten languages and our app can be downloaded globally from major app stores. We also seek collaboration with local partners to leverage their strong marketing capabilities and know-how in high-quality local contents.

User Experience

We offer entertainment content across our user-friendly and feature-rich interfaces on our website, mobile app, smart TV and other online terminals.

Our home page is a one-stop portal for users to access both trending and recommended content. Leveraging our big data analytics, we analyze user browsing behavior to understand their tastes and preference, and dynamically update the content shown on the home page to offer users with the most desirable content. Our interface offers comprehensive viewing functions designed to enhance user experience. We provide various picture resolution and play options. Other key functions include bullet chat, screenshots, VR viewing, screen mirroring and video caching.

Monetization

We generate revenues primarily through membership services, online advertising and content distribution. We also generate revenues from other monetization methods, including online games, IP licensing, talent agency, online literature and more.

Membership Services

Our membership services generally provide subscribing members with superior entertainment experience that is embodied in various membership privileges. Our current membership program is composed of multiple packages, each offered at a different price and provides subscribing members with access to a large collection of VIP-only content comprised of drama series, movies, animations, cartoons and online literature, earlier access to certain content aired on iQIYI platform and a bundle of viewing functions and features. For example, the members-first model of The Lost Tomb (盗墓笔记) enabled members to gain instant access to the entire season while non-paying users could only follow weekly updates for new episodes; and certain auxiliary content of Folk

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2022(我们民谣2022) was accessible exclusively to our members. Our members primarily include subscribing members and, to a lesser extent, users who gain access to our premium content library through paid video-on-demand service.

We review and evaluate the price of our membership services and adjust the price accordingly, from time to time. In November 2020, we increased the pricing of our monthly, quarterly and annual membership packages on non-iOS channels to the same level of iOS channels. In December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, we further increased the pricing of certain membership packages.

Online Advertising

The prices of our advertising services depend upon various factors, including form and size of the advertising, level of sponsorship, popularity of the content or event in which the advertisements will be placed, and specific targeting requirements. Prices for the brand advertising service purchased by each advertiser or advertising agency are generally fixed under our sales contracts.

In addition to traditional pre-video and pop-up advertisements, we also launched various innovative advertising products and solutions. For example, video-out advertisement appears on the screen when the video is showing content related to the advertised product; soft product placement incorporates the advertised product into the production of our premium original content to facilitate a more natural advertisement viewing experience; content-integrated advertisement integrate brands with content itself, such as theme songs with lyrics embedding brand names of advertisers; and interactive advertisement that facilitates enhanced interaction between brands and users.

We also offer performance-based advertising, the prices of which are competitively priced through an online bidding process.

Content Distribution

We monetize and enrich our content through content distribution. We sub-license content within its authorized scope to TV stations and other internet video streaming services. We also enter into barter agreements to exchange internet broadcasting rights of licensed content with other internet video streaming services. The barter agreement provides the licensee with the right to broadcast the licensed content, and the licensor retains the right to continue broadcasting and/or sub-licensing the exchanged content. We distribute our selected content not only to third-party platforms in China but also to regions outside of China.

Others

Our other monetization models include online games, IP licensing, talent agency, online literature, other licensing and others.

For our online games, we distribute both self-developed and third-party games, and we monetize online games through users’ in-app purchases of virtual gifts and game privileges. For IP licensing, we license our proprietary IP to third parties to develop derivative merchandise products, with a focus on long-term licensing. We also license our popular trademarks to third parties for use in their products. We collaborate with our partners generally through fixed-price licensing fees and/or revenue-sharing arrangements. We monetize our talent agency business by organizing our talents to participate in dramas, variety shows, commercial performances and brand endorsements, among others. For online literature, we monetize through advertisement and paid reading (including membership subscription) on our platform, where readers can pay to gain access to our premium online literary titles.

We also generate revenue from other licensing by granting rights to certain customers to re-create short-form videos for selected content assets from our existing content library over a fixed license period.

Sales and Marketing
Brand Promotion

iQIYI’s brand values are youth, vitality and positivity. We believe that our high-quality video content and services lead to strong word-of-mouth referrals, which drives customer awareness of our brand in mainland China. Our market position benefits significantly from our large and high-quality user base and our strong brand recognition.

Leveraging our in-depth understanding of user behavior, we employ a variety of online marketing programs and promotional activities to build our brand as part of our overall market strategy, including celebrity endorsement, hot topic dissemination through different media outlets, brand value embedment in blockbuster content, as well as resource exchange with major internet media platforms.

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We host many offline activities to enhance our brand recognition. To increase members’ loyalty, we organize special events for members such as on-site visits during the show productions. We also host innovative offline marketing activities such as offline music festivals and our content IP based exhibitions.

We also execute marketing strategies aimed at young users to enhance user affinity. We use innovative technology to communicate with the younger generation, such as using AR to enable user interaction at bus stops. We use social media platforms to facilitate user engagement. We attract young users by offering artist-fans interactions opportunities. We also collaborate with major wireless carriers to provide monthly unlimited data package for using iQIYI app on mobile devices.

Advertising Sales

For brand advertising, we sell our advertising services primarily through third-party advertising agencies, including members of American Association of Advertising Agencies, or 4As, and leading Chinese advertising agencies, and a portion of our brand advertising services directly to advertisers. We primarily sell our performance-based advertising service through third-party advertising agencies. We strategically leverage advertising agencies’ existing long-term relationships and network resources to increase our sales and expand our advertiser base. Depending on the type of advertiser and content, the duration of an advertising framework agreement is typically 12 months.

We have an experienced sales team consisting of salespeople with prior experience at Chinese internet companies, members of 4As and domestic advertising agencies. We divide our sales team by regions across the country to ensure the delivery of targeted advertising solutions. We provide regular training to our sales team to help them provide advertisers with comprehensive information about our services.

Content promotion

We employ a variety of traditional and internet promotional activities to promote our content. We deploy outdoor brand advertisements, such as display ads in subway stations. Our promotional efforts are also focused on brand advertisements placed on internet video platforms and social media campaigns. Furthermore, we also organize offline promotional events attended by popular celebrities to raise the awareness of our content offerings.

Intellectual Property and Copyright Protection

We highly value our intellectual property rights, which are fundamental to our success and competitiveness. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and restrictions to protect our intellectual property rights. As of December 31, 2022, we have applied for the registration of 9,080 patents, among which 2,078 patents of invention, 30 utility model patents and 3,758 patents of appearance have been registered with the State Administration for Market Regulation of the PRC, or the SAMR. As of December 31, 2022, we have applied for 6,022 trademarks, among which 5,077 have been registered with the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce of the PRC. We have also registered 509 software copyrights with the Copyright Protection Center of the PRC, as of December 31, 2022, our “爱奇艺” and “https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img59740482_0.jpg” trademarks have been recognized as well-known trademarks by the SAMR.

We employ a three-phase copyright protection scheme consisting of copyright management, network monitoring, and complaint or legal action. Our proprietary copyright management system registers all procured copyrights and ensures that licensed content on our platform do not exceed its scope and term of the licensing agreement. We developed a proprietary system to detect unauthorized use of iQIYI content on other internet platforms. We also establish various other channels for copyright protection. After a user registers and before each upload, we require the user to confirm that the content to be uploaded is in compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in the user agreement, to guarantee that he or she is the copyright owner or has obtained all necessary consents and authorizations for such content. We set technical barriers to deter illegal video content extractions. We encourage our users to report pirated content, and our copyright protection team promptly removes any suspected infringing content once we receive proper notification from the legitimate copyright owner. As a major market player in the streaming entertainment industry, we also attach great value to industrial response and feedback. We actively liaise with other major internet video streaming services to form industry union and collectively protect copyright.

Content Moderation

We implement strict monitoring procedures to remove inappropriate or illegal content, including video, online literature, animations, iQIYI Show, bullet chat and comment postings, and content from other services. Text, images and videos are screened by

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our content moderation team, which reviews our content on a 24/7 basis. Illegal and inappropriate content can generally be identified and removed promptly after it has been uploaded.

Our content moderation team employs systematic monitoring procedures that include machine screening and manual review based on the latest laws and regulations. Our proprietary machine identification system automatically screens text, picture and video content. The text identification system screens text content based on pre-set key words and anti-spam system; the picture identification system screens picture content based on optical character recognition and pornographic-content detection; and the video identification system screens video content based on similarity analysis against our video database to analyze each frame and each second of video content. The machine screening process may have three possible outcomes: suggesting to delete content identified as illegal or inappropriate, releasing content identified as safe, or flagging content for manual review when the system cannot make a judgment. The content moderation team manually reviews flagged content to make judgment on whether to block or to release, and the machine identification system conducts auto-learning based on the judgment from manual review. The content moderation team also conducts random screening on content that has passed the machine screening process. We regularly communicate with relevant government authorities to stay abreast of relevant laws and regulations to ensure compliance. We provide periodic and comprehensive training to our content moderation team to ensure and enhance their understanding of regulatory requirements.

We conduct thorough background checks on our content providers. We request entities to provide us with copies of registration information and organization code certificate, and individuals to provide us with copies of official governmental ID. We request individuals to provide a mobile phone number, which is registered with one’s ID. We monitor all live content broadcast on our platform in real time using both machine screening and manual review. Despite our content moderation efforts, we may still be subject to risks arising from contents on our platform. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Videos and other content displayed on our platform may be found objectionable by PRC regulatory authorities and may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.”

Competition

We face competition for content sourcing, user traffic and advertising customers from other providers of online entertainment video services in mainland China, primarily including Tencent Video, Youku, Mango TV and Bilibili. We also compete with other internet media and entertainment services, such as internet and social platforms and short-form video platforms, as well as major TV stations. For a discussion of risks related to competition, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We operate in a highly competitive market and we may not be able to compete effectively.”

Seasonality

Seasonal fluctuations have affected, and are likely to affect our business in the future. Historically, we have experienced lower online advertising services revenue in the first quarter of each year in connection with the Chinese New Year holiday as advertisers limit their budget for online platforms. The first and third quarters of each year typically represent the peak seasons for our membership services historically, when users tend to consume more content during Chinese New Year and summer holiday. However, the seasonal pattern of our business can be impacted by our content release schedule and other factors. For a discussion of risk related to seasonality and fluctuation of our operating results, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factor—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate, which makes our results of operations difficult to predict and may cause our quarterly results of operations to fall short of expectations.”

Insurance

As required by laws and regulations in mainland China, we participate in various employee social benefits plans that are organized by municipal and provincial governments, including medical insurance, job-related injury insurance, maternity insurance and unemployment insurance. We do not have any business liability or disruption insurance coverage for our operations in mainland China. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have limited business insurance coverage.”

Government Regulations
PRC Regulations

This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in mainland China.

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Regulations Related To Foreign Investment in Mainland China
Foreign Investment Industrial Policy

Investments activities in mainland China by foreign investors are principally governed by the Catalog for the Encouragement of Foreign Investment Industries (2022 Edition) (the “Catalog”) and the Negative List, which were both promulgated by the MOFCOM and the NDRC and each became effective on January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2022. The Catalog and the Negative List set forth the industries in which foreign investments are encouraged, restricted and prohibited. Industries that are not listed in any of these three categories are generally open to foreign investment unless otherwise specifically restricted by other PRC rules and regulations.

According to the Negative List, the foreign equity interests ownership of entities that engage in value-added telecommunications business (except for e-commerce, domestic multi-party communication, storage and forwarding and call center) must not exceed 50%. In addition, foreign investments in the internet cultural business (except for music), the internet audio-video program business, the radio and television program production and operation business, the production of audio-video products and/or electronic publications and film production and distribution business are prohibited. However, foreign investors are allowed to hold up to 100% of equity interests in an online data processing and transaction processing business (including e-commerce business operation) in mainland China.

Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Measures

On March 15, 2019, Foreign Investment Law was enacted by the National People’s Congress, which became effective on January 1, 2020 and has replaced the previous major laws and regulations governing foreign investment in mainland China, including the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures Enterprises Law of the PRC, the Sino-foreign Co-operative Enterprises Law of the PRC and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law of the PRC. According to the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign-invested enterprises” refers to enterprises that are wholly or partly invested by foreign investors and registered under the PRC laws within mainland China, and “foreign investment” refers to any foreign investor’s direct or indirect investment activities in mainland China, including: (i) establishing foreign-invested enterprises in mainland China either individually or jointly with other investors; (ii) obtaining stock shares, equity shares, shares in properties or other similar interests of Chinese domestic enterprises; (iii) investing in new projects in mainland China either individually or jointly with other investors; and (iv) investing through other methods provided by laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council.

On December 26, 2019, the State Council issued Implementation Regulations for the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC (the “Implementation Rules”) which came into effect on January 1, 2020, and replaced the Implementing Rules of the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures Enterprises Law of the PRC, the Implementing Rules of the Sino-foreign Co-operative Enterprises Law of the PRC and the Implementing Rules of the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law of the PRC. According to the Implementation Rules, in the event of any discrepancy between the Foreign Investment Law, the Implementation Rules and the relevant provisions on foreign investment promulgated prior to January 1, 2020, the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Rules shall prevail. The Implementation Rules also set forth that foreign investors that invest in sectors on the Negative List in which foreign investment is restricted shall comply with special management measures with respect to, among others, shareholding and senior management personnel qualification in the Negative List. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Rules, the existing foreign-invested enterprises established prior to the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law are allowed to keep their corporate organization forms for five years from the effectiveness of the Foreign Investment Law before such existing foreign-invested enterprises change their organization forms and organization structures in accordance with the PRC Company Law, the Partnership Enterprise Law of the PRC and other applicable laws.

On December 30, 2019, the MOFCOM and the SAMR jointly promulgated the Measures on Reporting of Foreign Investment Information, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, and has replaced the Interim Measures for the Administration of Record-filling on the Establishment and Changes in Foreign-Invested Enterprises. Foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises shall submit investment information to the commerce administrative authorities through the Enterprise Registration System and the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System.

On December 19, 2020, the NDRC and the MOFCOM jointly promulgated the Measures on the Security Review of Foreign Investment, effective on January 18, 2021, setting forth provisions concerning the security review mechanism on foreign investment, including the types of investments subject to review, review scopes and procedures, among others. The Office of the Working Mechanism of the Security Review of Foreign Investment (the “Office of the Working Mechanism”) will be established under the NDRC, who will lead the task together with the MOFCOM. Foreign investor or relevant parties in mainland China must declare the security review to the Office of the Working Mechanism prior to (i) the investments in the military industry, military industrial supporting and other fields relating to the security of national defense, and investments in areas surrounding military facilities and military industry facilities; and (ii) investments in important agricultural products, important energy and resources, important

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equipment manufacturing, important infrastructure, important transport services, important cultural products and services, important information technology and internet products and services, important financial services, key technologies and other important fields relating to national security, and obtain control in the target enterprise. Control exists when the foreign investor (i) holds over 50% equity interests in the target, (ii) has voting rights that can materially impact on the resolutions of the board of directors or shareholders meeting of the target even when it holds less than 50% equity interests in the target, or (iii) has material impact on target’s business decisions, human resources, accounting and technology.

Regulations on Value-added Telecommunications Services

On September 25, 2000, the State Council promulgated the Telecommunications Regulations of the People’s Republic of China, or the Telecom Regulations, which was amended on July 29, 2014 and February 6, 2016. The Telecom Regulations is the primary PRC law governing telecommunications services and sets out the general regulatory framework for telecommunications services provided by PRC companies. The Telecom Regulations distinguishes between “basic telecommunications services” and “value-added telecommunications services.” The Telecom Regulations defines value-added telecommunications services as telecommunications and information services provided through public network infrastructures. Pursuant to the Telecom Regulations, commercial operators of value-added telecommunications services must first obtain an operating license from the MIIT, or its provincial level counterparts.

The Catalog of Telecommunications Business, or the Catalog, which was issued as an attachment to the Telecom Regulations and most recently amended on June 6, 2019, further categorizes value-added telecommunications services into two classes: Class 1 value-added telecommunications services and Class 2 value-added telecommunications services. Information services provided via cable networks, mobile networks or internet fall within Class 2 value-added telecommunications services.

The Administrative Measures on Internet Content Services, or the Internet Content Services Measures, promulgated by the State Council on September 25, 2000, amended and effective on January 8, 2011, sets out guidelines on the provision of internet content services. According to the Internet Content Services Measures, the internet content services are classified into commercial internet content services and non-commercial internet content services. An internet content services provider must obtain a Value-added Telecommunications Business Operation License for the provision of internet content services, or an ICP License, from the appropriate telecommunications authorities.

On July 3, 2017, the MIIT issued the Measures on the Administration of Telecommunications Business Operating Permits, or the Telecom License Measures, which became effective on September 1, 2017, to supplement the Telecom Regulations and further regulate the telecommunications business permits. The Telecom License Measures sets forth the types of licenses required to operate value-added telecommunications services and the qualifications and procedures for obtaining such licenses. The Telecom License Measures also provides that an operator providing value-added services in multiple provinces is required to obtain an inter-regional license, whereas an operator providing value-added services in one province is required to obtain an intra-provincial license. Any telecommunication services operator must conduct its business in accordance with the specifications in its license. We engage in business activities that are value-added telecommunications services as defined in the Telecom Regulations and the Catalog. To comply with the relevant laws and regulations, Beijing iQIYI, Shanghai Zhong Yuan, and Chengdu Skymoons have each obtained the ICP License, which will remain effective until September 8, 2026, May 11, 2026, and May 12, 2027 respectively.

Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment In Value-added Telecommunications Companies

According to the Negative List, the foreign equity interests ownership of entities that engage in value-added telecommunications business (except for e-commerce, domestic multi-party communication, storage and forwarding and call center) must not exceed 50% and the industry of value-added telecommunications services we currently operate falls into the restricted category.

Foreign direct investment in telecommunications companies in mainland China is governed by the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises, which was promulgated by the State Council on December 11, 2001 and was last amended on March 29, 2022 with effect from May 1, 2022. These regulations require that foreign-invested value-added telecommunications enterprises in mainland China must be established as Sino-foreign equity joint ventures and that the foreign investors may acquire up to 50% equity interests in such joint ventures. In addition, a major foreign investor in a value-added telecommunications business in mainland China must demonstrate a good track record and experience in operating value-added telecommunications businesses. Moreover, foreign investors that meet these requirements must obtain approvals from the MIIT, to provide value-added telecommunication services in mainland China and the MIIT retain considerable discretion in granting such approvals.

On July 13, 2006, the Ministry of Information Industry, or the MII, which was the predecessor to the MIIT, released the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Operation of Value-added Telecommunications Business, or the

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MII Notice, pursuant to which, for any foreign investor to invest in telecommunications businesses in mainland China, a foreign-invested telecommunications enterprise must be established and such enterprise must apply for the relevant telecommunications business operation licenses. Furthermore, under the MII Notice, domestic telecommunications enterprises may not rent, transfer or sell a telecommunications business operation license to foreign investors in any form, and they may not provide any resources, premises, facilities and other assistance in any form to foreign investors for their illegal operation of any telecommunications business in mainland China. In addition, under the MII Notice, the internet domain names and registered trademarks used by a value-added telecommunication service operator shall be legally owned by such operator or its shareholders.

In view of these restrictions on foreign direct investment in value-added telecommunications services and certain other types of businesses under which our business may fall, including internet culture services, internet audio-video program services and radio/television programs production and operation business, we have established various domestic variable interest entities to engage in value-added telecommunications services and other foreign investment restricted or prohibited businesses. Due to the lack of interpretative guidance from the relevant PRC governmental authorities, there are uncertainties regarding whether PRC governmental authorities would consider our corporate structure and contractual arrangements to constitute foreign ownership of a value-added telecommunications business or any other foreign investment restricted or prohibited business. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating certain of our operations in mainland China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.” In order to comply with PRC regulatory requirements, we operate a substantial portion of our business through the variable interest entities, which we have contractual relationships with but we do not have actual ownership interests in. If our current ownership structure is found to be in violation of current or future PRC laws, rules or regulations regarding the legality of foreign investment in value-added telecommunications services and other types of businesses on which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited, we could be subject to severe penalties.

Regulations on Internet Content Providers

The Internet Content Services Measures, set out guidelines on the provision of internet content services. The Internet Content Services Measures specifies that internet content services regarding news, publications, education, medical and health care, pharmacy and medical appliances, among other things, are required to be examined, approved and regulated by the relevant authorities. Internet information providers are prohibited from providing services beyond those included in the scope of their licenses or filings. Furthermore, the Internet Content Services Measures specifies a list of prohibited content. Internet information providers are prohibited from producing, copying, publishing or distributing information that is humiliating or defamatory to others or that infringes the legal rights of others. Internet information providers that violate such prohibition may face criminal charges or administrative sanctions. Internet information providers must monitor and control the information posted on their websites. If any prohibited content is found, they must remove the content immediately, keep a record of such content and report to the relevant authorities.

On December 15, 2019, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission promulgated the Provisions on the Governance of Network Information Content Ecology, or the Network Information Content Provisions. According to the Network Information Content Provisions, content platforms shall set up a mechanism for ecological governance of network information content, develop detailed rules for ecological governance of the network information content, and improve systems for user registration, account management, information release examination, posts and comments examination, among others. If a content platform violates the Network Information Content Provisions, the competent cyberspace authorities may hold interviews, give warnings and order the platform to make rectifications within a specified time limit. If the content platform fails to do so or if the circumstances are severe, the cyberspace authorities may order such platform to suspend its information update and impose other penalties. As a provider of commercial internet content services, we are required to comply with the Network Information Content Provisions. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Videos and other content displayed on our platform may be found objectionable by PRC regulatory authorities and may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.”

Regulations on Internet Audio-video Program Services

On December 20, 2007, the MII and the SARFT, jointly issued the Administrative Provisions for the Internet Audio-video Program Services, or the Audio-video Program Provisions, which came into effect on January 31, 2008 and was amended on August 28, 2015. The Audio-video Program Provisions defines “internet audio-video program services” as producing, editing and integrating of audio-video programs, supplying audio-video programs to the public via the internet, and providing audio-video programs uploading and transmission services to a third-party. Entities providing internet audio-video program services must obtain an Internet Audio-video Program Transmission License. Applicants for such licenses shall be state-owned or state-controlled entities unless an internet audio-video program transmission license has been obtained prior to the effectiveness of the Audio-video Program Provisions

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in accordance with the then-in-effect laws and regulations. According to the Official Answers to Press Questions Regarding the Internet Audio-video Program Regulations published by the SARFT on February 3, 2008, the SARFT and MII clarified that providers of Internet audio-video program services who had legally engaged in such services prior to the adoption of the Audio-video Program Provisions, provided they have not been in violation of laws and regulations, shall be eligible to re-register and continue operations of Internet audio-video program services. This policy has later been reflected in the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Application and Approval of Audio-video Permit, issued by SARFT on May 21, 2008 and amended on August 28, 2015. In addition, in accordance with the Decisions of the State Council on the Entry of the Non-state-owned Capital into the Cultural Industry, promulgated by the State Council on April 13, 2005, and the Opinions on Introducing Foreign Investments to the Cultural Sector, jointly adopted by five PRC regulatory agencies and the Negative List, foreign-invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in the above-mentioned services.

According to the Audio-video Program Provisions and other relevant laws and regulations, audio-video programs provided by the entities supplying internet audio-video program services shall not contain any illegal content or other content prohibited by the laws and regulations, such as any content against the basic principles in the PRC Constitution, any content that damages the sovereignty of the country or national security, and any content that disturbs social order or undermine social stability. An audio-video program that has already been broadcast shall be retained in full for at least 60 days. Movies, television programs and other media content used as internet audio-video programs shall comply with relevant administrative regulations on programs broadcasts through radio, movie and television channels. Entities providing services related to internet audio-video programs shall immediately delete the audio-video programs violating laws and regulations, keep relevant records, report relevant authorities and implement other regulatory requirements.

The Categories of the Internet Audio-video Program Services (Trial), or the Audio-video Program Categories, promulgated by SAPPRFT on March 17, 2010 and amended on March 10, 2017, classifies internet audio/visual programs into four categories: (I) Category I internet audio/video program service, which is carried out with a form of radio station or television station; (II) Category II internet audio/video program service, including (a) re-broadcasting service of current political news audio/video programs; (b) hosting, interviewing, reporting and commenting service of arts, entertainment, technology, finance and economics, sports, education and other specialized audio/video programs; (c) producing (interviewing not included) and broadcasting service of arts, entertainment, technology, finance and economics, sports, education and other specialized audio/video programs; (d) producing and broadcasting service of internet films/dramas; (e) aggregating and broadcasting service of films, television dramas and cartoons; (f) aggregating and broadcasting service of arts, entertainment, technology, finance and economics, sports, education and other specialized audio/video programs; and (g) live audio/video broadcasting service of cultural activities of common social organizations, sport events or other organization activities; and (III) Category III internet audio/video program service, including (a) aggregating service of online audio/video contents, and (b) re-broadcasting service of the audio/video programs uploaded by internet users; and (IV) Category IV internet audio/video program service, including (a) re-broadcasting of the radio/television program channels; (b) re-broadcasting of internet audio/video program channels; and (c) re-broadcasting of live internet-based audio/video programs.

On July 20, 2015, the SAPPRFT issued the Notice on Relevant Issues concerning Implementing the Approval Works of Upgrading Mobile Internet Audio-video Program Service, or the Mobile Audio-video Program Notice. The Mobile Audio-video Program Notice provides that the mobile internet audio-video program services shall be deemed internet audio-video program service. Entities which have obtained the approvals to provide the internet audio-video program services may use mobile WAP websites or mobile applications to provide audio-video program services. Entities with regulatory approvals may operate mobile applications to provide the audio-video program services. The types of the programs shall be within the permitted scope as provided in the licenses and such mobile applications shall be filed with the NRTA and/or SFB. On March 16, 2018, the SAPPRFT issued the Notice on Further Regulating the Transmission Orders of Internet Audio-video Programs, or the SAPPRFT Notice No. 21. According to the SAPPRFT Notice No. 21, online platforms shall not illegally capture, edit, or reprogram audio-video programs, shall strengthen the administration of audio-video programs, such as online movie clips and trailers, shall strengthen the management of the naming or sponsorship of the various programs, and the relevant authorities shall strengthen their administration and supervision over online audio-video platforms, as well as radio and television stations on content management. Among other, SAPPRFT Notice No. 21 requires that online audio-video platforms shall not produce or disseminate programs that distort, parody or vilify classic literary works; shall not re-edit, re-dub, or re-caption the subtitles of classic literary works, radio and television programs, network-based original audio-video programs or intercept certain program segments and splice them into new programs; and shall not disseminate edited pieces of works that distort the originals. Online platforms shall strictly supervise reprogramed videos uploaded by users and shall not facilitate the dissemination of defective audio-video programs. In addition, when receiving a complaint about defective programs from copyright owners, broadcasting agencies or producing agencies, online platforms shall immediately delete such programs.

On October 31, 2018, the State Administration of Radio and Television issued the Notice on Further Strengthening the Management of Radio and Television and Network Audio-video Programs, or the Notice 60. According to Notice 60, all radio and

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television broadcasting institutes, network audio-video program service institutes and program production institutes shall stick to the right political direction and strengthen value guidance; pursue people-centered creative orientation to curb bad tendencies such as pursuing celebrities, pan-entertainment and so on; persist in providing high-quality content, constantly innovate programs, and strictly control the remuneration of guests; and strengthen the governance of TV series, network series (including network movies) to promote the benign development of the industry; shall strengthen the use and management of ratings (click-through rate) survey data and resolutely crack down on ratings (click-through rate) forgeries, etc. Notice 60 further provides that as to main network audiovisual programs, the total remuneration of all guests in each program shall not exceed 40% of the total cost of the program, the total remuneration of main guests in each program shall not exceed 40% of the total remuneration of all guests, and information such as the names, salaries and cost proportion of the guests shall be reported to the State Administration of Radio and Television before going online. Meanwhile, the total remuneration of all actors of each TV series and network series (including network movies) shall not exceed 40% of the total cost of production, of which the total remuneration of main actors shall not exceed 70% of the total remuneration of all actors.

On December 27, 2018, the SART issued the Notice on the Upgrading of the Network Audio-video Program Information Recording System, or the Notice 158. According to the Notice 158, the State Administration of Radio and Television has added a new module called “Main Network Movies and Teleplays Information Recording System,” or the Recording System, in the “Network Play, Micro Film and other Network Audiovisual Program Information Recording System” set up in 2012. Since February 15, 2019, before the production of main network movies and teleplays (including network plays, network movies and network animations), the producers shall provide relevant information, such as name, type, content outline, budget making, etc. Main network movies and teleplays shall include network series (network animations) with total investment of more than RMB five million and network movies with an investment of more than RMB one million. After shooting and production of main network movies and teleplays, the producers shall provide relevant information, such as the expected broadcasting platform, amount of actual investment, actor’s remuneration and so on in the Recording System, and submit the finished programs to the relevant radio and television administrative departments. Main network series, network movies and network animations with on-line filing numbers could be broadcasted and promoted on the home pages of various audio-video program websites, or could be used for investment promotion, membership recommendation, online recommendation and program optimization of audio-video program websites. On September 2, 2021, the NRTA issued the Circular of the General Office of the National Radio and Television Administration on Further Strengthening the Management of Cultural Programs and Their Personnel or the Notice 267, pursuant to which online audio-video platforms shall not broadcast idol training shows, as well as variety entertainment and reality shows participated by celebrities’ children. The Notice 267 also requires platforms to strictly control voting in the talent shows and not to use in programs actors and guests who have violated laws or have conducted unethical behaviors. Beijing iQIYI has obtained the Internet Audio-video Program Transmission License which will remain effective until October 23, 2024, covering certain audio-video program services as provided in Category II and Category III, and Shanghai Zhong Yuan has obtained the Internet Audio-video Program Transmission License which will remain effective until March 23, 2023, covering certain audio-video program services as provided in Category II, Category III and Category IV.

The Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, the MCT and the NRTA issued the Notice on Issuing the Administrative Provisions on Online Audio-video Information Services on November 18, 2019, which provides that online audio-video information service providers shall authenticate user’s real identity information based on the organization code, identity card number, mobile phone number, etc. Online audio-video information service providers shall not serve users who fail to provide their real identity information. Online audio-video information service providers shall strengthen the management of the audio-video information posted by users, deploy and apply identification technologies for illegal and non-real audio and video; if any user is found to produce, post or disseminate content prohibited by laws or regulations, the transmission of such information shall be ceased, and disposal measures such as deletion shall be taken to prevent the information from spreading, and such service providers shall keep relevant records, and report to the CAC, the MCT, the NRTA, etc.

Regulations on Online Live Streaming Services

On November 4, 2016, the State Internet Content Office issued the Administrative Regulations on Online Live- Streaming Services, or the Online Live-streaming Regulations, which came into effect on December 1, 2016. According to the Online Live-streaming Regulations, when providing internet news information services, both online live-streaming service providers and online live-streaming publishers must obtain the relevant licenses for providing internet news information service and may only carry out internet news information services within the scope of their licenses. All online live-streaming service providers (whether or not providing internet news information) must take certain actions to operate their services, including establishing platforms for monitoring live-streaming content.

On September 2, 2016, the SAPPRFT issued the Circular on Issues concerning Strengthening the Administration of Online Live Streaming of Audio-video Programs, or the Online Live Streaming Circular. According to the Online Live Streaming Circular, the Internet Audio-video Program Transmission License is a prerequisite for online audio-video live streaming of general cultural events, such as social communities, sports events, as well as important political, military, economic, social and cultural events. Relevant

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information about specific activities to be streamed shall be filed in advance with the provincial counterparts of the NRTA. Online audio-video live streaming service providers shall censor and tape such programs and retain them for at least 60 days for future check by the administrative departments; and they shall have emergency plans in place to replace programs in violation of laws and regulations. Bullet chats are not allowed in the live streaming of major political, military, economic, social, cultural, sports and other activities and events. Special censorship shall be implemented over the bullet chats during the live streaming of cultural activities of general social groups, sports events and other organizational activities.

According to the Measures for the Administration of Cyber Performance Business Operations, promulgated by the Ministry of Culture, or the MOC, which was the predecessor to the MCT, on December 2, 2016 and became effective on January 1, 2017, a cyber-performance business entity engaging in cyber performance business operations shall apply to the cultural administrative department at the provincial level for a Network Cultural Business Permit, and the permit shall specify the scope of its cyber performance. Each of Beijing iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan has obtained a Network Cultural Business Permit from the relevant authorities.

According to the Notice on Strengthening the Management of Online Show Live Streaming and e-commerce- Live Streaming promulgated by the NRTA on November 12, 2020, live streaming platforms for online shows are requested to strengthen positive value guidance and enable those tasteful, meaningful, interesting and warm live-streaming programs to have good traffic, and to prevent the spread of the trends of wealth flaunting, money worshiping and vulgarity. In addition, the number of content reviewers a platform is required to keep must in principle be no less than 1/50 of the number of live streaming rooms. Live streaming platforms for online shows need to manage the hosts and “virtual gifting” users based on the real-name- registration system, and users who have not registered with real names or who are minors are prohibited from virtual gifting. The live streaming platforms are required to implement real-name registration system by real-name verification, face recognition, manual review and other measures to prevent minors from virtual gifting. The platform shall limit the maximum amount of virtual gifting each user may give per time, day and month. Live streaming platforms for e-commerce shall not illegally produce and broadcast, beyond their business scope of e-commerce, any commentary programs unrelated to sales of goods.

According to the Law of the PRC on the Protection of Minors (2020 Revision), which became effective on June 1, 2021, among others, live streaming service providers are not allowed to provide minors under age 16 with online live streaming publisher account registration service, and must obtain the consent from parents or guardians and verify the identity of the minors before allowing minors aged 16 or above to register live streaming publisher accounts.

Regulations on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services

In addition to the Telecom Regulations and other regulations above, mobile internet applications, or the Apps, are further regulated by the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, or the APP Provisions, which was promulgated by the CAC and became effective on August 1, 2022. The APP Provisions sets forth the relevant requirements on the App information service providers and the App Store service providers. The CAC and its local branches shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of nationwide and local App information respectively.

App providers shall strictly fulfill their responsibilities of information security management, and perform the following duties: (i) in accordance with the principles of “real name at background, any name at foreground,” verify identities with the registered users through mobile phone numbers etc.; (ii) establish and improve the mechanism for user information security protection, follow the principles of “legality, appropriateness and necessity” in collection and use of personal information, expressly state the purpose, methods and scope of information collection, and obtain the users’ consent; (iii) establish and improve the verification and management mechanism for the information content; adopt proper sanctions and measures such as warning, limiting functions, suspending updates, and closing accounts, for releasing illegal information content, as appropriate; keep records and report to the competent department; (iv) according to the law, protect and safeguard users’ “rights to know and rights to choose” during installation or use; do not turn on the functions of collecting geographic location, reading address books, or using cameras or recordings, without express statement to the users and the consent of the users; do not turn on functions irrelevant to the services; do not tie up and install irrelevant Apps; (v) respect and protect intellectual property rights; do not produce or release Apps which violate others’ intellectual property rights; and (vi) keep records of user log information for 60 days.

Regulations on Production and Operation of Radio/Television Programs

On July 19, 2004, the SARFT promulgated the Administrative Measures on the Production and Operation of Radio and Television Programs, or the Radio and Television Program Production Measures, which came into effect on August 20, 2004 and was amended on August 28, 2015 and October 31, 2018. The Radio and Television Program Production Measures provides that any business that produces or operates radio or television programs must first obtain a Radio and Television Program Production and Operation Permit. Entities holding such permits shall conduct their business within the permitted scope as provided in their permits. In

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addition, foreign-invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in the above-mentioned services. Both Beijing iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan have obtained the Radio and Television Program Production and Operation Permit for their respective businesses

Regulations on Online Culture Activities

According to the Interim Administrative Provisions on Internet Culture, or the Internet Culture Provisions, promulgated by the MOC, on February 17, 2011, and most recently amended on December 15, 2017. Internet culture activities include: (i) production, reproduction, import, release or broadcast of internet culture products (such as online music, online game, online performance and cultural products by certain technical means and copied to the internet for spreading); (ii) distribution or publication of cultural products on internet; and (iii) exhibitions, competitions and other similar activities concerning internet culture products. The Internet Culture Provisions further classifies internet cultural activities into commercial internet cultural activities and non-commercial internet cultural activities. Entities engaging in commercial internet cultural activities must apply to the relevant authorities for a Network Cultural Business Permit, while non-commercial cultural entities are only required to report to related culture administration authorities within 60 days of the establishment of such entity. If any entity engages in commercial internet culture activities without approval, the cultural administration authorities or other relevant government may order such entity to cease to operate internet culture activities as well as levying penalties including administrative warning, fines up to RMB30,000 and listing such entity on the cultural market blacklist to impose credit penalty in case of continued non-compliance. In addition, foreign-invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in the above-mentioned services except online music. Each of Beijing iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan has obtained a Network Cultural Business Permit from the relevant authorities.

In accordance with the Administrative Measures for Content Self-Review by Network Culture Business Entities, issued by MOC on August 12, 2013 and became effective on December 1, 2013, the entities that engage in the internet cultural business shall review the content of products and services to be provided before providing such content and services to the public. These entities shall establish content management system, set up departments for content management and employ proper personnel to ensure the legality of content. The content management system of an internet cultural business entity is required to specify the responsibilities, standards and processes for content review as well as accountability measures, and is required to be filed with the provincial level counterpart of the MCT.

Regulations on Online Advertising Services

On April 24, 2015, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress enacted the Advertising Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the New Advertising Law, effective on September 1, 2015 and most recently amended on April 29, 2021.

The New Advertising Law increases the potential legal liability of advertising services providers and strengthens regulations of false advertising. On July 4, 2016, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC, issued the Interim Measures of the Administration of Online Advertising, or the SAIC Interim Measures, effective on September 1, 2016. The New Advertising Law and the SAIC Interim Measures require that online advertisements may not affect users’ normal internet use and internet pop-up ads must display a “close” sign prominently and ensure one-key closing of the pop-up windows. The SAIC Interim Measures provides that all online advertisements must be marked “Advertisement” so that viewers can easily identify them as such. Moreover, the SAIC Interim Measures treats paid search results as advertisements that are subject to PRC advertisement laws, and requires that paid search results be conspicuously identified on search result pages as advertisements. The New Advertising Law and SAIC Interim Measures require us to conduct more stringent examination and monitoring of our advertisers and the content of their advertisements.

Regulations on Internet Publishing

On February 4, 2016, the SAPPRFT and MIIT jointly issued the Rules for the Administration for Internet Publishing Services, or the Internet Publishing Rules, which became effective on March 10, 2016, to replace the Provisional Rules for the Administration for Internet Publishing that had been jointly issued by the SAPPRFT and the MIIT on June 27, 2002. The Internet Publishing Rules defines “internet publications” as digital works that are edited, produced, or processed to be published and provided to the public through the internet, including (i) original digital works, such as pictures, maps, games, and comics; (ii) digital works with content that is consistent with the type of content that has been published in media such as books, newspapers, periodicals, audio-video products, and electronic publications; (iii) digital works in the form of online databases compiled by selecting, arranging, and compiling other types of digital works; and (iv) other types of digital works identified by the NPPA. Under the Internet Publishing Rules, internet operators distributing such publications via internet are required to apply for an internet publishing license with the relevant governmental authorities and for NPPA approval before distributing internet publications. Shanghai Zhong Yuan currently holds an internet publishing license to publish the internet games through the internet, while Beijing iQIYI plans to apply for the internet publishing license to the extent practical.

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Regulations on Online Games
Regulatory Authorities, Online Game Publications and Online Game Operations

On September 28, 2009, the General Administration of Press and Publication, or the GAPP, together with the National Copyright Administration, and the National Office of Combating Pornography and Illegal Publications jointly issued the Notice on Further Strengthening on the Administration of Pre-examination and Approval of Online Game and the Examination and Approval of Imported Online Game, or the Circular 13. The Circular 13 states that foreign investors are not permitted to invest in online game operating businesses in mainland China via wholly foreign-owned entities, Sino-foreign equity joint ventures or cooperative joint ventures or to exercise control over or participate in the operation of domestic online game businesses through indirect means, such as other joint venture companies or contractual or technical arrangements. If our contractual arrangements were deemed under the Circular 13 to be an “indirect means” for foreign investors to exercise control over or participate in the operation of a domestic online game business, our contractual arrangements might be challenged by the NPPA. We are not aware of any online game companies which use the same or similar contractual arrangements having been challenged by the GAPP, the SAPPRFT or the NPPA as using those contractual arrangements as an “indirect means” for foreign investors to exercise control over or participate in the operation of a domestic online game business or having been penalized or ordered to terminate operations since the Circular 13 became effective. However, it is unclear whether and how the Circular 13 might be interpreted or implemented in the future. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating certain of our operations in mainland China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.”

Pursuant to the Notice on Issuing the Provisions on the Main Functions, Internal Bodies and Staffing of the General Administration of Press and Publication (National Copyright Administration) promulgated by the General Office of the State Council on July 11, 2008, the Notice of the State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform on Interpretation of the State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform on Several Provisions relating to Animation, Online Game and Comprehensive Law Enforcement in Culture Market in the Three Provisions jointly promulgated by the MOC, SARFT and the GAPP on September 7, 2009, the Notice on Issuing the Provisions on the Main Functions, Internal Bodies and Staffing of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television promulgated by the General Office of the State Council on July 11, 2013, and the Internet Publishing Rules, the GAPP is responsible for the examination and approval process of online games prior to online publication, the SAPPRFT is responsible for the approval of game registration and issuance of game publication numbers, and after the online games uploaded on the internet, online games will be administered by the MOC. Moreover, if an online game is launched on the internet without the prior approval of the GAPP, the MOC will be responsible for guiding the cultural market law enforcement team to conduct investigation and punishment.

In March 2018, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the Plan for Deepening the Institutional Reform of the Party and State and the National People’s Congress promulgated the Decision of the First Session of the Thirteenth National People’s Congress on the State Council Institutional Reform Proposal, or collectively, the Institutional Reform Plans. According to the Institutional Reform Plans, the SAPPRFT was reformed and now known as the NRTA under the State Council, and the responsibility of the SAPPRFT for the approval of online game registrations and issuance of game publication numbers has been transferred to the NPPA, effective from March 21, 2018. The NPPA at the national level suspended approval of game registration and issuance of publication numbers for online games since March 2018 and resumed to issue game publication numbers by batches periodically since December 2018. Beginning in December 2018, the NPPA at the national level started to approve new online games.

On May 20, 2019, the MCT released the Notice on Adjusting the Scope of Examination and Approval regarding the Network Cultural Business Permit to Further Regulate the Approval Work, which quotes the Regulations on the Function Configuration, Internal Institutions and Staffing of the MCT and further specifies that the MCT no longer assumes the responsibility for administering the industry of online games. On July 10, 2019, the MCT issued the Abolition Decisions on the Interim Administrative Measures for the Administration of Online Games and the Administrative Measures for Tourism Development Plan, or the Abolition Decision. The Abolition Decision also cites the Regulations on the Function Configuration, Internal Institutions and Staffing of the MCT and further abolishes the Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Games, or Online Game Measures, which means that the MCT will no longer regulate the industry of the online games. The Abolition Decision reduced the regulatory burden on online game operators, as Network Cultural Business Permit and post-operation filings are no longer required for online games, and imported online games are no longer subject to content review by the MCT, while a currently valid games-related Network Cultural Business Permit will remain valid until the term of the license expires.

Protection of Minors

In April 2007, GAPP and several other government authorities jointly promulgated the Notice Concerning the Protection of Minors’ Physical and Mental Well-being and Implementation of Anti-addiction System on Online Games (the “Anti-Addiction

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Notice”), which confirms the real-name verification scheme and anti-addiction system standard made by GAPP in previous years and requires online game operators to develop and test their anti-addiction systems from April 2007 to July 2007, after which no online games can be registered or operated without an anti-addiction system, in accordance with the Anti-Addiction Notice. Since then, the governmental authorities have issued rules to restrict playtime of minors. On August 30, 2021, the NPPA promulgated the Notice on Further Strengthening Regulation to Effectively Prevent Online Gaming Addictions among Minors, according to which all online game companies can only provide one hour of online game services to minors between 8p.m. and 9p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and are not allowed to provide online game services in any form to minors in any other time.

Regulations on E-Commerce

On March 15, 2021, SAMR promulgated the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Transactions, which became effective on May 1, 2021. It imposes stringent requirements and obligations on online trading or service operators as well as marketplace platform providers. For example, marketplace platform providers are obligated to examine the legal status of each third-party merchant selling products or services on their platforms and display on a prominent location on a merchant’s web page the information stated in the merchant’s business license or a link to its business license. On December 24, 2014, MOFCOM promulgated the Provisions on the Procedures for Formulating Transaction Rules of Third-Party Online Retail Platforms (Trial) to regulate the formulation, revision and enforcement of transaction rules for online retail marketplace platforms.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress enacted the PRC E-Commerce Law on August 31, 2018, which came into effect on January 1, 2019. Under the PRC E-Commerce Law, E-Commerce refers to operating activities of selling goods or providing services through the internet or other information networks. The PRC E-Commerce Law generally applies to: (i) platform operators, which refer to legal persons or unincorporated organizations that provide network places of business, transaction matching, information release and other services to enable the transaction parties to carry out independent transaction activities; (ii) operators on the platform, which refer to e-commerce operators that sell goods or provide services to customers through e-commerce platforms; and (iii) other e-commerce operators that sell goods or provide services through self-established websites or other network services. The PRC E-Commerce Law also provides rules in relation to e-commerce contracts, dispute settlements, e-commerce development as well as legal liabilities involved in e-commerce.

According to the Notice on Lifting the Restriction to Foreign Shareholding Percentage in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (Operational E-commerce) promulgated by the MIIT on June 19, 2015, as well as the Negative List, foreign investors are allowed to hold up to 100% of all equity interest in the online data processing and transaction processing business (operational e-commerce) in mainland China. An e-commerce operator shall obtain a license for value-added telecommunications services with the specification of online data processing and transaction processing business from appropriate telecommunications authorities, pursuant to the Telecom Regulations and the Catalog.

The Consumer Protection Law, which was promulgated by the SCNPC on October 31, 1993 and was last amended on October 25, 2013 with effect from March 15, 2014, sets out the obligations of business operators and the rights and interests of the consumers. Business operators must guarantee the quality, function, usage and term of validity of the goods or services they sell or provide. The consumers whose interests have been damaged due to their purchase of goods or acceptance of services on online platforms may claim damages from the sellers or service providers. Online platform operators may be subject to liabilities if the lawful rights and interests of consumers are infringed in connection with consumers’ purchase of goods or acceptance of services on online platforms and the platform operators fail to provide consumers with authentic contact information of the sellers or service providers. In addition, platform operators may be jointly and severally liable with the sellers and service providers if they are aware or should be aware that the sellers or the service providers are using the online platform to infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of consumers and fail to take measures necessary to prevent or stop this activity. On January 6, 2017, the SAIC issued the Interim Measures for No Reason Return of Online Purchased Commodities within Seven Days, which became effective on March 15, 2017 and was amended on October 23, 2020, further clarifying the scope of consumers’ rights to make returns without a reason, including exceptions, return procedures and online marketplace platform providers’ responsibility to formulate seven-day no-reason return rules and related consumer protection systems, and supervise the merchants for compliance with these rules.

Regulations on Internet Information Security, Censorship and Privacy Protection

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s national legislative body, enacted the Decisions on the Maintenance of Internet Security on December 28, 2000 and amended them on August 27, 2009 that may subject persons to criminal liabilities in mainland China for any attempt to use the internet to: (i) gain improper entry to a computer or system of strategic importance; (ii) disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets; (iv) spread false commercial information or (v) infringe upon intellectual property rights. In 1997, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Administration Measures on the Security Protection of Computer Information Network with International Connections which was amended in 2011 and prohibits using the internet to leak

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state secrets or to spread socially destabilizing materials. If an ICP license holder violates these measures, the PRC government may revoke its ICP license and shut down its websites.

On July 1, 2015, the SCNPC issued the National Security Law, which became effective on the same day. The National Security Law provides that the state shall safeguard the sovereignty, security and cyber security development interests of the state, and that the state shall establish a national security review and supervision system to review, among other things, foreign investment, key technologies, internet and information technology products and services, and other important activities that are likely to impact the national security of China.

Pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on August 29, 2015, effective on November 1, 2015, any ICP provider that fails to fulfill the obligations related to internet content security as required by applicable laws and refuses to take corrective measures, will be subject to criminal liability for (i) any large-scale dissemination of illegal information; (ii) any severe effect due to the leakage of users’ personal information; (iii) any serious loss of evidence of criminal activities; or (iv) other severe situations, and any individual or entity that (i) sells or provides personal information to others unlawfully or (ii) steals or illegally obtains any personal information will be subject to criminal liability in severe situations.

The Cybersecurity Law of the PRC, or the PRC Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated on November 7, 2016 by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and came into effect on June 1, 2017, provides that network operators shall meet their cyber security obligations and shall take technical measures and other necessary measures to protect the safety and stability of their networks. Under the PRC Cybersecurity Law, network operators are subject to various security protection-related obligations, including: (i) network operators shall comply with certain obligations regarding maintenance of the security of internet systems; (ii) network operators shall verify users’ identities before signing agreements or providing certain services such as information publishing or real-time communication services; (iii) when collecting or using personal information, network operators shall clearly indicate the purposes, methods and scope of the information collection, the use of information collection, and obtain the consent of those from whom the information is collected; (iv) network operators shall strictly preserve the privacy of user information they collect, and establish and maintain systems to protect user privacy; (v) network operators shall strengthen management of information published by users, and when they discover information prohibited by laws and regulations from publication or dissemination, they shall immediately stop dissemination of that information, including taking measures such as deleting the information, preventing the information from spreading, saving relevant records, and reporting to the relevant governmental agencies. In addition, the PRC Cyber Security Law requires that critical information infrastructures operators generally shall store, within the territory of mainland China, the personal information and important data collected and produced during their operations in mainland China and their purchase of network products and services that affect or may affect national securities shall be subject to national cybersecurity review.

On June 10, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which became effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law provides for data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, as well as the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, or illegally acquired or used. The appropriate level of protection measures is required to be taken for each respective category of data. For example, a processor of important data shall designate the personnel and the management body responsible for data security, carry out risk assessments for its data processing activities and file the risk assessment reports with the competent authorities. In addition, the PRC Data Security Law provides a national security review procedure for those data activities which affect or may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information.

On April 13, 2020, the CAC, the NDRC, and several other administrations jointly promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Review Measures, which became effective on June 1, 2020. The Review Measures establish the basic framework for national security reviews of network products and services, and provide the principal provisions for undertaking cyber security reviews. In addition, on July 22, 2020, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Guiding Opinions on Implementing the Cyber Security Protection System and Critical Information Infrastructure Security Protection System to further improve the national cyber security prevention and control system. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, together with certain other PRC governmental authorities, jointly released the Revised Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the Revised Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure that intend to purchase network products and services that affect or may affect national security must apply for a cybersecurity review. The cybersecurity review will evaluate, among others, the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data, or the risk of a large amount of personal information being influenced, controlled or maliciously used by foreign governments after going public, and cyber information security risk. The Revised Cybersecurity Review Measures set out certain general factors which would be the focus in assessing the national security risk during a cybersecurity review. However, as advised by our PRC counsel, the scope of network product or service or data

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processing activities that will or may affect national security is still unclear, and the PRC government authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations.

The PIPL took effect in November 2021. The PIPL sets forth detailed rules on processing personal information, clarifies the relevant rights of the individuals and the obligations of the personal information processors, and further strengthens the liabilities for illegal process of personal information. In addition to other rules and principles of personal information processing, the PIPL specifically provides rules for processing sensitive personal information. Sensitive personal information refers to personal information that, once leaked or illegally used, could easily lead to the infringement of human dignity or harm to the personal or property safety of an individual, including biometric recognition, religious belief, specific identity, medical and health, financial account, personal whereabouts and other information of an individual, as well as any personal information of a minor under the age of 14. Only where there is a specific purpose and sufficient necessity, and under circumstances where strict protection measures are taken, may personal information processors process sensitive personal information. A personal information processor shall inform the individual of the necessity of processing such sensitive personal information and the impact thereof on the individual’s rights and interests. Some information we collect, such as location and mobile numbers, may be deemed to be sensitive personal information under the PIPL. The PIPL also strengthens the supervision of automatic decision making to protect the rights of individuals to obtain fair transaction terms and the supervision of mobile applications.

On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Draft Measures for Internet Data Security for public comments, which provides that data processors conducting the following activities shall apply for cybersecurity review: (i) merger, reorganization or division of internet platform operators that have acquired a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests affects or may affect national security; (ii) listing abroad of data processors processing over one million users’ personal information; (iii) listing in Hong Kong which affects or may affect national security; or (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. The Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations also provide that operators of large internet platforms that set up headquarters, operation centers or R&D centers overseas shall report to the national cyberspace administration and competent authorities. In addition, the Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations also require that data processors processing important data or going public overseas shall conduct an annual data security self-assessment or entrust a data security service institution to do so, and submit the data security assessment report of the previous year to the local branch of CAC before January 31 each year. As of the date of this annual report, this draft has not been formally adopted. Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, final content, interpretation and implementation.

On August 17, 2021, the PRC State Council promulgated the Regulations on Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures, which took effect on September 1, 2021 and provide that “critical information infrastructures” shall mean any important network facilities or information systems of important industries or fields such as public communication and information service, energy, communications, water conservation, finance, public services, e-government affairs and national defense science, and any other important network facilities or information systems which may endanger national security, people’s livelihood and public interest in case of damage, function loss or data leakage. In addition, relevant administration departments of each critical industry and sector, or Protection Departments, shall be responsible to formulate eligibility criteria and determine the critical information infrastructure operator in the respective industry or field. The operators shall be informed about the final determination as to whether they are categorized as critical information infrastructure operators. The regulations further require critical information infrastructures operators, among others, (i) to report to the competent Protection Departments in a timely manner when the identification result may be affected due to material changes in the critical information infrastructures; (ii) to plan, construct or put into use the security protection measures and the critical information infrastructures simultaneously; and (iii) to report to the competent Protection Departments in a timely manner in the event of merger division or dissolution, and deal with critical information infrastructures as required by the competent Protection Departments. Operators in violation of the regulations may be ordered to rectify, subject to warnings, fines and other administrative penalties or even criminal liabilities, and the directly responsible personnel in charge may also be imposed on fines or other liabilities.

Under the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Content Services, which was issued by the MIIT in December 2011 and took effect in March 2012, an internet content service provider may not collect any personal information on a user or provide any such information to third parties without the user’s consent. It must expressly inform the user of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of such user’s personal information and may only collect information to the extent necessary to provide its services. An internet content service provider is also required to properly maintain users’ personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of such information, it must take immediate remedial measures and, in the event of a serious leak, report to the telecommunications regulatory authority immediately.

Pursuant to the Decision on Strengthening the Protection of Online Information, which was issued by the SCNPC and took effect in December 2012, and the Order for the Protection of Telecommunication and Internet User Personal Information, which was issued by the MIIT in 2013, any collection and use of a user’s personal information must be subject to the consent of the user, be legal, rational and necessary and be limited to specified purposes, methods and scopes. An internet content service provider must also keep such information strictly confidential, and is further prohibited from divulging, tampering or destroying any such information, or

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selling or providing such information to other parties. An internet content service provider is required to take technical and other measures to prevent the collected personal information from any unauthorized disclosure, damage or loss. Any violation of these laws and regulations may subject the internet content service provider to warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, revocation of licenses, cancelation of filings, closedown of websites or even criminal liabilities.

Interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Personal Information, issued on May 8, 2017 and effective on June 1, 2017, specified certain standards for the conviction and sentencing of the criminals in relation to personal information infringement. On May 28, 2020, the National People’s Congress adopted the Civil Code, which came into effect on January 1, 2021. Pursuant to the Civil Code, the personal information of a natural person shall be protected by the law. Any organization or individual shall legally obtain such personal information of others when necessary and ensure the safety of such information, and shall not illegally collect, use, process or transmit personal information of others, or illegally purchase or sell, provide or make public personal information of others.

The Provisions on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, published by the Ministry of Public Security on December 13, 2005 and became effective on March 1, 2006, requires internet service providers to keep records of certain information about their users (including user registration information, log-in and log-out times, IP addresses, content and time of posts by users) for at least 60 days. Under the PRC Cybersecurity Law, network operators must also report any instances of public dissemination of prohibited content. If a network operator fails to comply with such requirements, the PRC government may revoke its ICP License and shut down its websites.

On January 23, 2019, the SAMR, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the MIIT and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the Announcement on Carrying out Special Campaigns against Mobile Internet Application Programs Collecting and Using Personal Information in Violation of Laws and Regulations, or “the App Announcement,” which prohibits mobile app operators from collecting personal information irrelevant to their services, or forcing users to give authorization in disguised manner. According to the App Announcement, mobile app operators shall indicate to users the rules for collecting and using personal information in a simple, concise and easy-to-understand manner, with permission independently granted by the user. Furthermore, coercive or excessive collection of personal information, collection and use of personal information without user permission, leakage and loss of information or possible leakage and loss of personal information without any remedial measure, illegal use of personal information are prohibited. On November 28, 2019, the SAMR, the CAC, the MIIT and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the Measures for the Determination of the Collection and Use of Personal Information by Apps in Violation of Laws and Regulations, which provides guidance for the regulatory authorities to identify the illegal collection and use of personal information through mobile apps, and for the app operators to conduct self-examination and self-correction and for other participants to voluntarily monitor compliance.

On August 22, 2019, the CAC promulgated the Cyber Protection of Children’s Personal Information Provisions, effective on October 1, 2019, which requires, among others, that network operators who collect, store, use, transfer and disclose personal information of children under the age of 14 shall establish special rules and user agreements for the protection of children’s personal information, inform the children’s guardians in a noticeable and clear manner, and shall obtain the consent of the children’s guardians.

On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the PRC Personal Information Protection Law, which will take effect from November 1, 2021. Pursuant to the PRC Personal Information Protection Law, personal information refers to the information related to an identified or identifiable individual recorded electronically or by other means, excluding the anonymized information, and processing of personal information includes among others, the collection, storage, use, handling, transmission, provision, disclosure, deletion of personal information. The PRC Personal Information Protection Law explicitly sets forth the circumstances where it is allowed to process personal information, including (i) the consent from the individual has been obtained; (ii) it is necessary for the conclusion and performance of a contract under which an individual is a party, or it is necessary for human resource management in accordance with the labor related rules and regulations and the collective contracts formulated or concluded in accordance with laws; (iii) it is necessary to perform statutory duties or statutory obligations; (iv) it is necessary to respond to public health emergencies, or to protect the life, health and property safety of individuals in emergencies; (v) carrying out news reports, public opinion supervision and other acts for the public interest, and processing personal information within a reasonable scope; (vi) processing personal information disclosed by individuals or other legally disclosed personal information within a reasonable scope in accordance with this law; or (vii) other circumstances stipulated by laws and administrative regulations. In addition, this law emphasizes that individuals have the right to withdraw their consent to process their personal information, and the processors must not refuse to provide products or services on the grounds that the individuals do not agree to the processing of their personal information or withdraw their consent, unless processing of personal information is necessary for the provision of products or services. Before processing the personal information, the processors should truthfully, accurately and completely inform individuals of the following matters in a conspicuous manner and in clear and easy-to-understand language: (i) the name and contact information of the personal information processor; (ii) the purpose of processing personal information, processing method, type of personal information processed, and the retention period; (iii) methods and procedures for individuals to exercise their rights under this law; (iv) other matters that should be notified according

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to laws and administrative regulations. Furthermore, the law provides that personal information processors who use personal information to make automated decisions should ensure the transparency of decision-making and the fairness and impartiality of the results, and must not impose unreasonable differential treatment on individuals in terms of transaction prices and other transaction conditions.

In addition to the aforementioned general rules, the PRC Personal Information Protection Law also introduces the rules for processing sensitive personal information, which refers to the personal information that, once leaked or illegally used, can easily lead to the infringement of the personal dignity of natural persons or harm personal and property safety, including biometrics, religious beliefs, specific identities, medical health, financial accounts, whereabouts and other information, as well as personal information of minors under the age of fourteen. Personal information processors can process sensitive personal information only if they have a specific purpose and sufficient necessity, and take strict protective measures. In addition, the law provides rules for cross-border provision of personal information. In particular, it is provided that the operators of critical information infrastructures and the personal information processors that process personal information up to the number prescribed by the national cyberspace administration shall store personal information collected and generated within mainland China. If it is really necessary to provide such personal information overseas, they shall pass the security assessment organized by the national cyberspace administration, except as otherwise stipulated by laws, administrative regulations and the national cyberspace administration. Any processor in violation of this law may be subject to administrative penalties including rectifications, warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, suspension of the apps illegally processing personal information or suspension of the relevant business, revocation of business operation permits or business licenses, civil liabilities or even criminal liabilities. The directly responsible personnel in charge and other directly responsible personnel may be imposed with fines and prohibited from serving as directors, supervisors, senior management personnel and personal information protection officers of related companies within a certain period of time.

While we take measures to comply with all applicable data privacy and protection laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee the effectiveness of the measures undertaken by us and business partners. As certain laws and regulations, including the PRC Data Security Law and the PRC Personal Information Protection Law, were recently promulgated, we may be required to make further adjustments to our business practices to comply with these laws and regulations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our business is subject to complex and evolving Chinese and international laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in claims, changes to our business practices, negative publicity, legal proceedings, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.”

Regulations on Internet News Information Services

The Provisional Regulations for the Administration of Website Operation of News Publications, which was jointly issued by the State Council Information Office of the PRC, or the SCIO, and MII on November 6, 2000, stipulates that websites of non-news organizations shall not publish news items produced by themselves, and that their websites shall be approved by SCIO after securing permission from SCIO at the provincial level. On June 1, 2017, the Provisions for the Administration of Internet News Information

Services and the Implementing Rules for the Administration of the Licensing for Internet News Information Services, promulgated by the CAC, came into effect, which superseded the previous regulations. According to the revised provisions, to provide internet news information services to the public via internet websites, applications, forums, blogs, micro-blogs, public accounts, instant communication tools and online live-stream, providers must obtain an Internet News Information Service License, issued by the CAC or a local cyberspace administrative office. In addition, the regulations prohibit organizations from establishing foreign, partially or wholly-owned, entities that invest or operate internet-based news information services. The CAC and the local cyberspace administrative offices are responsible for the supervision, management and inspection of internet-based news information services. If any entity or individual provides internet news information services without licenses, the PRC regulatory authorities may suspend the services and impose a fine from RMB10,000 to RMB30,000.

Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights
Copyright

The Copyright Law of the PRC, or the Copyright Law, which took effect on June 1, 1991 and was latest amended on November 11, 2020 and effective on June 1, 2021, provides that Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations shall, whether published or not, own copyright in their copyrightable works, which include, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer software. Copyright owners enjoy certain legal rights, including right of publication, right of authorship and right of reproduction. The Copyright Law as revised in 2001 extends copyright protection to internet activities and products disseminated over the internet. In addition, Copyright Law provides for a voluntary registration system administered by

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the China Copyright Protection Center, or the CPCC. According to the Copyright Law, an infringer of the copyrights shall be subject to various civil liabilities, which include ceasing infringement activities, apologizing to the copyright owners and compensating the loss of copyright owner. Infringers of copyright may also subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities in severe situations.

The Computer Software Copyright Registration Measures, or the Software Copyright Measures, promulgated by the National Copyright Administration on April 6, 1992 and amended on May 26, 2000 and February 20, 2002, regulates registrations of software copyright, exclusive licensing contracts for software copyright and assignment agreements. The National Copyright Administration, or the NCA administers software copyright registration and the CPCC, is designated as the software registration authority. The CPCC shall grant registration certificates to the Computer Software Copyrights applicants which meet the requirements of both the Software Copyright Measures and the Computer Software Protection Regulations (Revised in 2013).

The Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Certain Issues Related to the Application of Law in the Trial of Civil Cases Involving Disputes on Infringement of the Information Network Dissemination Rights, which was promulgated on December 17, 2012, and further amended on December 29, 2020 and became effective on January 1, 2021, specifies that disseminating works, performances or audio-video products by the internet users or the internet service providers via the internet without the permission of the copyright owners shall be deemed to have infringed the right of dissemination of the copyright owner.

The Measures for Administrative Protection of Copyright Related to Internet, which was jointly promulgated by the NCA and the MIIT on April 29, 2005 and became effective on May 30, 2005, provides that upon receipt of an infringement notice from a legitimate copyright holder, an ICP operator must take remedial actions immediately by removing or disabling access to the infringing content. If an ICP operator knowingly transmits infringing content or fails to take remedial actions after receipt of a notice of infringement that harms public interest, the ICP operator could be subject to administrative penalties, including an order to cease infringing activities, confiscation by the authorities of all income derived from the infringement activities, or payment of fines.

On May 18, 2006, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information (as amended in 2013). Under these regulations, an owner of the network dissemination rights with respect to written works, performance or audio or video recordings who believes that information storage, search or link services provided by an internet service provider infringe his or her rights may require that the internet service provider delete, or disconnect the links to, such works or recordings.

Patent

According to the Patent Law of the PRC (Revised in 2020), the State Intellectual Property Office is responsible for administering patent law in the PRC. The patent administration departments of provincial, autonomous region or municipal governments are responsible for administering patent law within their respective jurisdictions. The Chinese patent system adopts a first-to-file principle, which means that when more than one person file different patent applications for the same invention, only the person who files the application first is entitled to obtain a patent of the invention. To be patentable, an invention or a utility model must meet three criteria: novelty, inventiveness and practicability. A patent is valid for twenty years in the case of an invention and ten years in the case of utility models and designs. The Patent Law of the PRC was recently amended on October 17, 2020 and the revised version came into effect on June 1, 2021.

As of December 31, 2022, we had applied for approximately 9,080 patents in mainland China, among which 5,866 have been registered.

Trademark

Trademarks are protected by the Trademark Law of the PRC (Revised in 2019) which was adopted in 1982 and subsequently amended in 1993, 2001, 2013 and 2019 respectively as well as by the Implementation Regulations of the PRC Trademark Law adopted by the State Council in 2002 and as most recently amended on April 29, 2014. The Trademark Office of the SAMR handles trademark registrations. The Trademark Office grants a ten-year term to registered trademarks and the term may be renewed for another ten-year period upon request by the trademark owner. A trademark registrant may license its registered trademarks to another party by entering into trademark license agreements, which must be filed with the Trademark Office for its record. As with patents, the Trademark Law has adopted a first-to-file principle with respect to trademark registration. If a trademark applied for is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or subject to a preliminary examination and approval for use on the same or similar kinds of products or services, such trademark application may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration of a trademark may not injure existing trademark rights first obtained by others, nor may any person register in advance a trademark that has already been used by another party and has already gained a “sufficient degree of reputation” through such party’s use. As of

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December 31, 2022, we had applied for registration of 6,022 trademarks with the Trademark Office of the SAMR, among which 5,077 have been registered.

Domain Names

The MIIT promulgated the Measures on Administration of Internet Domain Names, or the Domain Name Measures, on August 24, 2017, which took effect on November 1, 2017 and replaced the Administrative Measures on China Internet Domain Names promulgated by MII on November 5, 2004. According to the Domain Name Measures, the MIIT is in charge of the administration of PRC internet domain names. The domain name registration follows a first-to-file principle. Applicants for registration of domain names shall provide the true, accurate and complete information of their identities to domain name registration service institutions. The applicants will become the holder of such domain names upon the completion of the registration procedure. On November 27, 2017, the MIIT promulgated the Notice of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Regulating the Use of Domain Names in Providing Internet-based Information Services, which became effective on January 1, 2018. Pursuant to the notice, the domain name used by an internet-based information service provider in providing internet-based information services must be registered and owned by such provider in accordance with the law. If the internet-based information service provider is an entity, the domain name registrant must be the entity (or any of the entity’s shareholders), or the entity’s principal or senior manager. As of December 31, 2022, we had registered 159 domain names in mainland China.

Regulations on Foreign Exchange
General Administration of Foreign Exchange

Under the PRC Foreign Exchange Administration Rules promulgated on January 29, 1996 and most recently amended on August 5, 2008 and various regulations issued by the SAFE and other relevant PRC government authorities, Renminbi is convertible into other currencies for current account items, such as trade-related receipts and payments and payment of interest and dividends. The conversion of Renminbi into other currencies and remittance of the converted foreign currency outside mainland China for of capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans and repatriation of investment, requires the prior approval from the SAFE or its local office.

Payments for transactions that take place within mainland China must be made in Renminbi. Unless otherwise approved, mainland China companies may not repatriate foreign currency payments received from abroad or retain the same abroad. Foreign-invested enterprises may retain foreign exchange in accounts with designated foreign exchange banks under the current account items subject to a cap set by the SAFE or its local office. Foreign exchange proceeds under the current accounts may be either retained or sold to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange pursuant to relevant SAFE rules and regulations. For foreign exchange proceeds under the capital accounts, approval from the SAFE is generally required for the retention or sale of such proceeds to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange.

Pursuant to the Circular of the SAFE on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment, or the SAFE Circular No. 59 promulgated by SAFE on November 19, 2012, which became effective on December 17, 2012 and was further amended on May 4, 2015 and on October 10, 2018, approval is not required for opening a foreign exchange account and depositing foreign exchange into the accounts relating to the direct investments. SAFE Circular No. 59 also simplified foreign exchange-related registration required for the foreign investors to acquire the equity interests of Chinese companies and further improve the administration on foreign exchange settlement for foreign-invested enterprises.

Pursuant to the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Currency Management Policy on Direct Investment, or the SAFE Circular No. 13, which was promulgated by SAFE on February 13, 2015 and became effective on June 1, 2015, and was later amended on December 30, 2019, which cancels the administrative approvals of foreign exchange registration of direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment and simplifies the procedure of foreign exchange-related registration, the investors shall register with banks for direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment.

The Circular on Reforming the Management Approach regarding the Settlement of Foreign Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprise, or the SAFE Circular No. 19, which was promulgated by the SAFE on March 30, 2015 and became effective on June 1, 2015, provides that a foreign-invested enterprise may, according to its actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign exchange capital in its capital account for which the relevant foreign exchange administration has confirmed monetary capital contribution rights and interests (or for which the bank has registered the injection of the monetary capital contribution into the account). Pursuant to the SAFE Circular No.19, for the time being, foreign-invested enterprises are allowed to settle 100% of their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis; a foreign-invested enterprise shall truthfully use its capital for its own operational purposes within the scope of business; where an ordinary foreign-invested enterprise makes domestic equity investment with the amount of foreign exchanges settled, the invested enterprise shall first go through domestic re-investment registration and open a

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corresponding account for foreign exchange settlement pending payment with the foreign exchange administration or the bank at the place where it is registered.

The Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or the SAFE Circular No. 16, which was promulgated by the SAFE and became effective on June 9, 2016, provides that enterprises registered in mainland China may also convert their foreign debts from foreign currency into Renminbi on self-discretionary basis. The SAFE Circular No. 16 also provides an integrated standard for conversion of foreign exchange under capital account items (including but not limited to foreign currency capital and foreign debts) on self-discretionary basis, which applies to all enterprises registered in mainland China.

In January 2017, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness and Compliance Verification, or Circular 3, which stipulates several capital control measures with respect to the outbound remittance of profits from domestic entities to offshore entities, including (i) banks must check whether the transaction is genuine by reviewing board resolutions regarding profit distribution, original copies of tax filing records and audited financial statements, and (ii) domestic entities must retain income to account for previous years’ losses before remitting any profits. Moreover, pursuant to Circular 3, domestic entities must explain in detail the sources of capital and how the capital will be used, and provide board resolutions, contracts and other proof as a part of the registration procedure for outbound investment.

On October 23, 2019, SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Promoting the Facilitation of Cross-border Trade and Investment, or SAFE Notice 28, which permits non-investment foreign-invested enterprises to use their capital funds to make equity investments in mainland China, with genuine investment projects and in compliance with effective foreign investment restrictions and other applicable laws. However, as the SAFE Notice 28 was newly issued, there are still substantial uncertainties as to its interpretation and implementations in practice.

Based on SAFE Circular No.13 and other laws and regulations relating to foreign exchange, when setting up a new foreign-invested enterprise, the foreign invested enterprise shall register with the bank located at its registered place after obtaining the business license, and if there is any change in capital or other changes relating to the basic information of the foreign-invested enterprise, including, without limitation any increase in its registered capital or total investment, the foreign invested enterprise shall register such changes with the bank located at its registered place after obtaining the approval from or completing the filing with competent authorities. Pursuant to the relevant foreign exchange laws and regulations, the above-mentioned foreign exchange registration with the banks will typically take less than four weeks upon the acceptance of the registration application.

Based on the foregoing, if we intend to provide funding to our wholly foreign owned subsidiaries through capital injection at or after their establishment, we shall register the establishment of and any follow-on capital increase in our wholly foreign owned subsidiaries with the SAMR or its local counterparts, file such via the FICMIS and register such with the local banks for the foreign exchange related matters.

Loans by the Foreign Companies to their mainland China subsidiaries

A loan made by foreign investors as shareholders in a foreign invested enterprise is considered to be foreign debt in mainland China and is regulated by various laws and regulations, including the PRC Foreign Currency Exchange Administration Rules, the Interim Provisions on the Management of Foreign Debts, the Statistical Monitoring of Foreign Debts Tentative Provisions, the Detailed Rules for the Implementation on Statistical Monitoring of Foreign Debt, and the Administrative Measures for Registration of Foreign Debts. Under these rules and regulations, a shareholder loan in the form of foreign debt made to a mainland China entity does not require the prior approval of SAFE. However, such foreign debt must be registered with and recorded by SAFE or its local branches within 15 business days after entering into the foreign debt contract. Pursuant to these rules and regulations, the balance of the foreign debts of a foreign invested enterprise shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the foreign invested enterprise, or Total Investment and Registered Capital Balance.

Pursuant to the Interim Provisions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce on the Ratio of the Registered Capital to the Total Investment of a Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise, or the Provisions on Ratio of the Registered Capital to the Total Investment, promulgated by SAIC on February 17, 1987 and effective on March 1, 1987, with respect to a Sino-foreign equity join venture, the registered capital shall be (i) no less than 7/10 of its total investment, if the total investment is US$3 million or under US$3 million; (ii) no less than 1/2 of its total investment, if the total investment is ranging from US$3 million to US$10 million (including US$10 million), provided that the registered capital shall not be less than US$2.1 million if the total investment is less than US$4.2 million; (iii) no less than 2/5 of its total investment, if the total investment is ranging from US$10 million to US$30 million (including US$30 million), provided that the registered capital shall not be less than US$5 million if the total investment is less than US$12.5 million; and (iv) no less than 1/3 of its total investment, if the total investment exceeds US$30 million, provided that the registered capital shall not be less than US$12 million if the total investment is less than US$36 million.

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On January 11, 2017, the PBOC promulgated the Notice of the People’s Bank of China on Matters concerning the Macro-Prudential Management of Full-Covered Cross-Border Financing, or the PBOC Notice No. 9. Pursuant to the PBOC Notice No. 9, within a transition period of one year from January 11, 2017, the foreign invested enterprises may adopt the currently valid foreign debt management mechanism, or Current Foreign Debt Mechanism, or the mechanism as provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, or Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism, at their own discretion. The PBOC Notice No. 9 provides that, enterprises may conduct independent cross-border financing in RMB or foreign currencies as required. Pursuant to the PBOC Notice No. 9, the outstanding cross-border financing of an enterprise (the outstanding balance drawn, here and below) shall be calculated using a risk-weighted approach, or Risk-Weighted Approach, and shall not exceed the specified upper limit, namely: risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing £ the upper limit of risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing. Risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing = ∑ outstanding amount of RMB and foreign currency denominated cross-border financing * maturity risk conversion factor * type risk conversion factor + ∑ outstanding foreign currency denominated cross-border financing * exchange rate risk conversion factor. Maturity risk conversion factor shall be 1 for medium- and long-term cross-border financing with a term of more than one year and 1.5 for short-term cross-border financing with a term of less than one year. Type risk conversion factor shall be 1 for on-balance-sheet financing and 1 for off-balance-sheet financing (contingent liabilities) for the time being. Exchange rate risk conversion factor shall be 0.5. The PBOC Notice No. 9 further provides that the upper limit of risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing for enterprises shall be 200% of its net assets, or Net Asset Limits. Enterprises shall file with SAFE in its capital item information system after entering into the relevant cross-border financing contracts and prior to three business day before drawing any money from the foreign debts.

Based on the foregoing, if we provide funding to our wholly foreign owned subsidiaries through shareholder loans, the balance of such loans shall not exceed the Total Investment and Registered Capital Balance and we will need to register such loans with SAFE or its local branches in the event that the Current Foreign Debt Mechanism applies, or the balance of such loans shall be subject to the Risk-Weighted Approach and the Net Asset Limits and we will need to file the loans with SAFE in its information system in the event that the Notice No. 9 Mechanism applies. According to the PBOC Notice No. 9, after a transition period of one year from January 11, 2017, the PBOC and SAFE will determine the cross-border financing administration mechanism for the foreign-invested enterprises after evaluating the overall implementation of the PBOC Notice No. 9. As of the date hereof, neither PBOC nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices or circulars in this regard. It is uncertain which mechanism will be adopted by PBOC and SAFE in the future and what statutory limits will be imposed on us when providing loans to our mainland China subsidiaries.

Offshore Investment

Under the Circular of the SAFE on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-trip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or the SAFE Circular No. 37, issued by the SAFE and effective on July 4, 2014, mainland China residents are required to register with the local SAFE branch prior to the establishment or control of an offshore special purpose vehicle, or SPV, which is defined as offshore enterprises directly established or indirectly controlled by mainland China residents for offshore equity financing of the enterprise assets or interests they hold in mainland China. An amendment to registration or subsequent filing with the local SAFE branch by such mainland China resident is also required if there is any change in basic information of the offshore company or any material change with respect to the capital of the offshore company. At the same time, the SAFE has issued the Operation Guidance for the Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over Round-trip Investment regarding the procedures for SAFE registration under the SAFE Circular No. 37, which became effective on July 4, 2014 as an attachment of Circular No. 37.

Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in the SAFE Circular No. 37 may result in restrictions on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliates, and may also subject relevant mainland China residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.

On February 13, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Notice on Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Currency Management Policy on Direct Investment, effective from June 1, 2015, which further amends SAFE Circular No. 37 by requiring domestic residents to register with qualified banks rather than the SAFE or its local branches in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing.

Regulations on Dividend Distribution

The principal laws and regulations regulating to the dividend distribution of dividends by foreign-invested enterprises in mainland China include the Company Law of the PRC, as amended in 2004, 2005, 2013 and 2018, the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Regulations. Under the current regulatory regime in mainland China, foreign-invested enterprises in mainland China may pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and

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regulations. A mainland China company is required to set aside as statutory reserve funds at least 10% of its after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of such reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital unless laws regarding foreign investment provide otherwise. A mainland China company shall not distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.

As of December 31, 2022, all of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries, including but not limited to Beijing QIYI Century, iQIYI New Media, Tianjin iQIYI Network & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai iQIYI Network & Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing iQIYI Interactive Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai iQIYI New Media Science & Technology Co., Ltd., and Hainan iQIYI Information Technology Co., Ltd., were in an accumulated loss position, all of which have not and will not be able to pay dividends to our offshore entities until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.

Regulations on Taxation
Enterprise Income Tax

On March 16, 2007, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the EIT Law, which was amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018. On December 6, 2007, the State Council enacted the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on Enterprise Income Tax, which came into effect on January 1, 2008 and was amended on April 23, 2019. Under the EIT Law and its implementing regulations, both resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises are subject to tax in mainland China. Resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are established in mainland China in accordance with PRC laws, or that are established in accordance with the laws of foreign countries but are actually or in effect controlled from within mainland China. Non-resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are organized under the laws of foreign countries and whose actual management is conducted outside mainland China, but who have established institutions or premises in mainland China or income generated from inside mainland China. Under the EIT Law and relevant implementing regulations, a uniform corporate income tax rate of 25% is applied. However, if non-resident enterprises have not formed permanent establishments or premises in mainland China, or if their permanent establishment or premises in mainland China have no actual relationship to the relevant income derived in mainland China, enterprise income tax is set at the rate of 10% with respect to their income sourced from inside mainland China.

Value-Added Tax

The Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Value-added Tax were promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993 and came into effect on January 1, 1994 which were subsequently amended on November 10, 2008 and came into effect on January 1, 2009 and most recently amended on February 6, 2016 and November 19, 2017. The Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Value-added Tax (Revised in 2011) was promulgated by the Ministry of Finance on December 25, 1993 and subsequently amended on December 15, 2008 and October 28, 2011, or collectively, VAT Law. On November 19, 2017, the State Council promulgated The Decisions on Abolishing the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Business Tax and Amending the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Value-added Tax, or Order 691. According to the VAT Law and Order 691, all enterprises and individuals engaged in the sale of goods, the provision of processing, repair and replacement services, sales of services, intangible assets, real property and the importation of goods within the territory of mainland China are the taxpayers of VAT. The VAT tax rates generally applicable are simplified as 17%, 11%, 6% and 0%, and the VAT tax rate applicable to the small-scale taxpayers is 3%. The Notice of the Ministry of Finance and the SAT on Adjusting Value-added Tax Rates, or the Notice, was promulgated on April 4, 2018 and came into effect on May 1, 2018. The Notice adjusted the VAT tax rates of 17% and 11% to 16% and 10%, respectively. According to the Announcement on Relevant Policies for Deepening Value-Added Tax Reform, with effect from April 1, 2019, the VAT tax rate of 16% and 10% are changed into 13% and 9%, respectively.

As of the date of this annual report, our mainland China subsidiaries and the variable interest entities are generally subject to 3%, 6%, 9% or 13% VAT rate.

Dividend Withholding Tax

The EIT Law provides that since January 1, 2008, an income tax rate of 10% will normally be applicable to dividends declared to non-mainland China resident enterprise investors which do not have an establishment or place of business in mainland China, or which have an establishment or place of business that is not effectively connected with the relevant income, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within mainland China.

Pursuant to an Arrangement Between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Incomes, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent PRC tax authority to

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have satisfied the relevant conditions and requirements under such Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable laws, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise receives from a mainland China resident enterprise may be reduced to 5%. However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, or the SAT Circular 81, issued on February 20, 2009 by the SAT, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. According to the Circular on Several Questions regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which was issued on February 3, 2018 by the SAT and will take effect on April 1, 2018, when determining the applicant’s status as a “beneficial owner” with respect to the tax treatment of dividends, interest or royalties under certain tax treaties, several factors, including whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than 50% of his or her income over a twelve-month period to residents of a third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes actual business activities; and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaty does not levy any tax, exempts the relevant income from tax or levies tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account and be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of specific cases. This circular further provides that applicants who intend to prove his or her “beneficial owner” status shall submit the relevant documents to the relevant tax bureau according to the Announcement on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Non-Resident Taxpayers’ Enjoyment of the Treatment under Tax Agreements.

Tax on Indirect Transfer

On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 7. Pursuant to Circular 7, an “indirect transfer” of assets, including equity interests in a mainland China resident enterprise, by a non-mainland China resident enterprise, may be recharacterized and treated as a direct transfer of mainland China taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of mainland China enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to mainland China enterprise income tax. When determining whether there is a “reasonable commercial purpose” of the transaction arrangement, features to be taken into consideration include, inter alia, whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives directly or indirectly from mainland China taxable assets; whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consist of direct or indirect investments in mainland China, or whether its income is mainly derived from China; and whether the offshore enterprise and its subsidiaries that directly or indirectly hold mainland China taxable assets have a real commercial nature which is evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure. According to Circular 7, where the payor fails to withhold any or sufficient tax, the transferor shall declare and pay such tax to the tax authority by itself within the statutory time limit. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest. Circular 7 does not apply to sales of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares were acquired on a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Tax Withholding regarding Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income Tax, or SAT Circular 37, which was amended on June 15, 2018. SAT Circular 37 further elaborates the relevant implemental rules regarding the calculation, reporting and payment obligations of the withholding tax by the non-resident enterprises. Nonetheless, there remain uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of Circular 7. Circular 7 may be determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to our offshore transactions or sale of our shares or those of our offshore subsidiaries where non-resident enterprises, being the transferors, were involved.

Regulations on Employment and Social Welfare
Labor Contract Law

The Labor Contract Law of the PRC, or the Labor Contract Law, which took effect on January 1, 2008 and was amended on December 28, 2012, is primarily aimed at regulating rights and obligations of employer and employee relationships, including the establishment, performance and termination of labor contracts. Pursuant to the Labor Contract Law, labor contracts shall be concluded in writing if labor relationships are to be or have been established between employers and the employees. Employers are prohibited from forcing employees to work above certain time limit and employers shall pay employees for overtime work in accordance to national regulations. In addition, employee wages shall be no lower than local standards on minimum wages and shall be paid to employees timely.

Social Insurance and Housing Fund

As required under the Regulation of Insurance for Labor Injury implemented on January 1, 2004 and amended in 2010, the Provisional Measures for Maternity Insurance of Employees of Corporations implemented on January 1, 1995, the Decisions on the Establishment of a Unified Program for Old-Aged Pension Insurance of the State Council issued on July 16, 1997, the Decisions on the Establishment of the Medical Insurance Program for Urban Workers of the State Council promulgated on December 14, 1998, the Unemployment Insurance Measures promulgated on January 22, 1999 and the Social Insurance Law of the PRC implemented on July

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1, 2011 and amended in 2018, employers are required to provide their employees in mainland China with welfare benefits covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, labor injury insurance and medical insurance.

In accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Housing Fund which was promulgated by the State Council in 1999 and amended in 2002 and 2019, employers must register at the designated administrative centers and open bank accounts for depositing employees’ housing funds. Employer and employee are also required to pay and deposit housing funds, with an amount no less than 5% of the monthly average salary of the employee in the preceding year in full and on time. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—The enforcement of the PRC Labor Contract Law and other labor-related regulations in mainland China may adversely affect our business and results of operations.”

Employee Stock Incentive Plan

Pursuant to the Notice of Issues Related to the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Listed Company, or Circular 7, which was issued by the SAFE on February 15, 2012, employees, directors, supervisors, and other senior management who participate in any stock incentive plan of a publicly listed overseas company and who are mainland China citizens or non-mainland China citizens residing in mainland China for a continuous period of no less than one year, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a qualified domestic agent, which may be a mainland China subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures.

In addition, the SAT has issued certain circulars concerning employee stock options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, employees working in mainland China who exercise stock options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to mainland China individual income tax. The mainland China subsidiaries of an overseas listed company are required to file documents related to employee stock options and restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of employees who exercise their stock option or purchase restricted shares. If the employees fail to pay or the mainland China subsidiaries fail to withhold income tax in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the mainland China subsidiaries may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC governmental authorities.

Regulations on Anti-Unfair Competition and Anti-Monopoly

According to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, which was adopted by the SCNPC on September 2, 1993, became effective as of December 1, 1993, and last amended on April 23, 2019, unfair competition refers to the production and operating activities where the operator disrupts the market competition order and damages the legitimate rights and interests of other operators or consumers in violation of the provisions of the Anti-unfair Competition Law. Pursuant to the Anti-unfair Competition Law, operators shall abide by the principle of voluntariness, equality, impartiality, integrity and adhere to laws and business ethics during market transactions. Operators in violation of the Anti-unfair Competition Law may be subject to civil, administrative or criminal liabilities depending on the specific circumstances.

The currently effective PRC Anti-Monopoly Law was promulgated by the SCNPC in 2007. Pursuant to the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law, the relevant operators of a concentration of undertakings which reaches the standard for declaration shall make an advance declaration to the anti-monopoly law enforcement authority under the State Council and it prohibits monopolistic conduct, such as entering into monopoly agreements, abuse of dominant market position and concentration of undertakings that have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition.

Monopoly Agreement

Competing business operators may not enter into monopoly agreements that eliminate or restrict competition, such as by boycotting transactions, fixing or changing the price of commodities, limiting the output of commodities, fixing the price of commodities for resale to third parties, among others, unless the agreement will satisfy the exemptions under the PRC Anti-monopoly Law, such as improving technologies, increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of small and medium-sized undertakings, or safeguarding legitimate interests in cross-border trade and economic cooperation with foreign counterparts. Sanctions for violations include an order to cease the relevant activities, and confiscation of illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year, or RMB500,000 if the intended monopoly agreement has not been performed).

On June 26, 2019, the SAMR further issued the Interim Provisions on the Prohibitions of Monopoly Agreements which took effect on September 1, 2019 and supersedes certain anti-monopoly rules and regulations previously issued by the SAIC.

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Abuse of Dominant Market Position

A business operator with a dominant market position may not abuse its dominant market position to conduct acts, such as selling commodities at unfairly high prices or buying commodities at unfairly low prices, selling products at prices below cost without any justifiable cause, and refusing to trade with a trading party without any justifiable cause. Sanctions for violation of the prohibition on the abuse of dominant market position include an order to cease the relevant activities, confiscation of the illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year).

On June 26, 2019, the SAMR issued the Interim Provisions on the Prohibitions of Acts of Abuse of Dominant Market Positions which took effect on September 1, 2019 to further prevent and prohibit the abuse of dominant market positions.

Concentration of Undertakings

Where a concentration of undertakings reaches the declaration threshold stipulated by the State Council, a declaration must be approved by the anti-monopoly authority before the parties implement the concentration. Concentration refers to (1) a merger of undertakings; (2) acquiring control over other undertakings by acquiring equities or assets; or (3) acquisition of control over, or the possibility of exercising decisive influence on, an undertaking by contract or by any other means. If business operators fail to comply with the mandatory declaration requirement, the anti-monopoly authority is empowered to terminate and/or unwind the transaction, dispose of relevant assets, shares or businesses within certain periods and impose fines of up to RMB500,000.

Furthermore, on February 7, 2021, the Anti-Monopoly Committee of the State Council promulgated the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for the Internet Platform Economy Sector, or the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines, aiming to provide guidelines for supervising and prohibiting the monopolistic conducts in connection with the internet platform business operations and further elaborate on the factors for recognizing such monopolistic conducts in the internet platform industry. In particular, pursuant to the Anti-monopoly Guidelines, the methods of an internet platform collecting, using the privacy information of the internet users may also be one of the factors to be considered for analyzing and recognizing the monopolistic conducts in the internet platform industry. For example, whether the relevant business operator compulsorily collects unnecessary user information may be considered to analyze whether there is a bundled sale or additional unreasonable trading condition, which is one of the behaviors constituting the abuse of dominant market position. In addition, the factors including, among other things, based on the big data and algorithms, whether differentiated transaction prices or other transaction conditions are implemented for consumers with different payment ability, consumption preferences and usage habits, may be used to analyze whether there is a differentiated treatment, which is also one of the behaviors constituting abuse of dominant market position. Furthermore, whether the relevant business operators are required to “choose one” among the internet platform and its competitive platforms may be considered to analyze whether such internet platform operator with dominant market position abuses its dominant market position and excludes or restricts market competition, etc.

M&A Rules and Overseas Listing

On August 8, 2006, six PRC governmental and regulatory agencies, including MOFCOM and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, promulgated the M&A Rules, governing the mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors that became effective on September 8, 2006 and was revised on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules, among other things, requires that if an overseas company established or controlled by mainland China companies or individuals, or mainland China Citizens, intends to acquire equity interests or assets of any other mainland China domestic company affiliated with the mainland China Citizens, such acquisition must be submitted to the MOFCOM for approval. The M&A Rules also requires that an offshore SPV formed for overseas listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by the mainland China Citizens shall obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to overseas listing and trading of such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly promulgated the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law, or the Opinions. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-based overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and etc. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future.

Furthermore, on February 17, 2023, the CSRC published the Interim Administrative Measures on Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by the Domestic Enterprises, or the Overseas Listing Measures, which will become effective on March 31, 2023. Under the Overseas Listing Measures, a filing-based regulatory system will be applied to “indirect overseas offerings and listings” of PRC domestic companies, which refers to securities offerings and listings in an overseas market made under the name of an offshore entity but based on the underlying equity, assets, earnings or other similar rights of a domestic company that operates its main business

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domestically in the PRC. The Overseas Listing Measures state that, any overseas offering of securities, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, by a PRC domestic company, and listing by a PRC domestic company in an overseas market, shall be subject to filing requirement within three business days after the completion of such offering or listing. In connection with the Overseas Listing Measures, on February 17, 2023 the CSRC also published the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by the Domestic Enterprises, or the Notice on Overseas Listing Measures. According to the Notice on Overseas Listing Measures, issuers that have already been listed in an overseas market by March 31, 2023, the date on which the Overseas Listing Measures will become effective, such as our company, are not required to make any immediate filing. However, such issuers will be required to comply with the filing requirements under Overseas Listing Measures if and when they pursue any future securities offerings and listings outside of mainland China, including but not limited to follow-on offerings, secondary listings and going private transactions.

C.
Organizational Structure

The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure, which include our significant subsidiaries and the variable interest entities as of the date of this annual report:

 

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img59740482_1.jpg 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img59740482_2.jpg 

For details of contractual arrangements, see “Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders.”

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img59740482_3.jpg 

Equity interest.

Notes

(1)
The shareholders of Shanghai iQIYI are Dr. Yu Gong and Mr. Xiaohua Geng, our senior vice president, each holding 50% of equity interest.
(2)
The shareholder of Beijing iQIYI is Mr. Xiaohua Geng, holding 100% of equity interest.
(3)
The shareholder of Shanghai Zhong Yuan is Dr. Yu Gong, holding 100% of equity interest.

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Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders

Current PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in certain value -added telecommunication services, internet audio-video program services and certain other businesses. We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Beijing QIYI Century, our mainland China subsidiary, is considered a foreign-invested enterprise. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we primarily conduct our business in mainland China through Beijing iQIYI, Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan, the variable interest entities in mainland China, and their subsidiaries, based on a series of contractual arrangements by and among Beijing QIYI Century, the variable interest entities and their shareholders.

Such contractual arrangements enable us to impose control over activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the variable interest entities, receive economic benefits of and absorb losses that potentially could be significant to the variable interest entities, and have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interest and assets in the variable interest entities when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. Because of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities in mainland China and hence consolidate their financial results as our variable interest entities.

The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements among Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI, Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder and iQIYI, Inc.

Loan Agreement

Pursuant to the amended and restated loan agreement dated January 30, 2013 between Beijing QIYI Century and Mr. Xiaohua Geng, the sole shareholder of Beijing iQIYI, Beijing QIYI Century made loans in an aggregate amount of RMB27 million to Mr. Geng for the acquisition and capitalization of Beijing iQIYI. Pursuant to the amended and restated loan agreement, Mr. Geng can only repay the loans by the sale of all his equity interest in Beijing iQIYI to iQIYI, Inc. insofar as permitted under PRC law and pay all of the proceeds from sale of such equity interests to iQIYI, Inc. In the event that Mr. Geng sells his equity interests in Beijing iQIYI to iQIYI, Inc. with a price equivalent to or less than the amount of the principal, the loans will be interest free. If the price is higher than the amount of the principal, the excess amount will be paid to Beijing QIYI Century as the loan interest to or cost for capital occupancy to the extent allowed under PRC law. The initial loan maturity date is June 23, 2021 unless otherwise decided by Beijing QIYI Century, and can be extended upon the written notification from Beijing QIYI Century. On December 21, 2020, Beijing QIYI Century executed a confirmation letter to extend the term of the loan agreement to June 23, 2031.

Share Pledge Agreement

Pursuant to the amended and restated share pledge agreement dated January 30, 2013, Mr. Xiaohua Geng has pledged all of his equity interest in Beijing iQIYI to guarantee his and Beijing iQIYI’s performance of his obligations under, where applicable, the amended and restated exclusive technology consulting and services agreement and the amended and restated loan agreement. If Beijing iQIYI or Mr. Geng breach their contractual obligations under these agreements, Beijing QIYI Century, as pledgee, will have the right to dispose of the pledged equity interests. Mr. Geng agrees that, during the term of the share pledge agreements, he will not dispose of the pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests, and he also agrees that Beijing QIYI Century’s rights relating to the equity pledge should not be prejudiced by the legal actions of Mr. Geng, his successor or his assignee. During the term of the amended and restated share pledge agreement, Beijing QIYI Century has the right to receive all of the dividends and profits distributed on the pledged equity. The amended and restated share pledge agreement will terminate on the date when Beijing iQIYI and Mr. Geng have completed all their obligations under the amended and restated exclusive technology consulting and services agreement and the amended and restated loan agreement unless otherwise unilaterally terminated by Beijing QIYI Century.

Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement

Pursuant to the amended and restated exclusive purchase option agreement dated January 30, 2013 by and among iQIYI, Inc., Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI, and Mr. Xiaohua Geng, Mr. Geng irrevocably grants iQIYI, Inc. or its designee an exclusive option to purchase at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of his equity interests in Beijing iQIYI. In addition, the purchase price should equal the amount that Mr. Geng contributed to Beijing iQIYI as registered capital for the equity interest to be purchased, or be the lowest price permitted by applicable PRC law. If any dividends or assets of other form were distributed, such dividends or distributions, including the purchase consideration received if the exclusive purchase option is exercised, will have to be repaid by Mr. Geng to iQIYI, Inc. Without the prior written consent of iQIYI, Inc., Beijing iQIYI may not amend its articles of associate, increase or decrease the registered capital, sell or otherwise dispose of its assets or beneficial interest, create or allow any encumbrance on its assets or other beneficial interests, provide any loans to any third parties, enter into any

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material contract with a value of more than RMB300,000 (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business), merge with or acquire any other persons or make any investments, or distribute dividends to the shareholders. Mr. Geng agrees that, without the prior written consent of iQIYI, Inc., he will not dispose of his equity interests in Beijing iQIYI or create or allow any encumbrance on the equity interests, and will not cause Beijing iQIYI to provide any persons with any loans. The initial term of the amended and restated exclusive purchase option agreement is ten years and can be renewed at the discretion of iQIYI, Inc. On December 21, 2020, iQIYI, Inc. executed a confirmation letter to extend the term of the amended and restated exclusive purchase option agreement to November 22, 2032.

Business Operation Agreement

Pursuant to the amended and restated business operation agreement dated January 30, 2013 by and among Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI and Mr. Xiaohua Geng, Beijing QIYI Century agrees to provide Beijing iQIYI with performance guarantees with respect to any contracts, agreements and transactions Beijing iQIYI entered into in connection with its business. As a counter-guarantee, Beijing iQIYI agrees to offer all its account receivables and assets as collateral. The initial term of the business operation agreement is ten years and can be renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century. On December 21, 2020, Beijing QIYI Century executed a confirmation letter to extend the term of the business operation agreement to January 30, 2033.

Business Cooperation Agreement

Pursuant to the business cooperation agreement, which took effect on November 23, 2011 by and between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI, Beijing iQIYI agrees to provide Beijing QIYI Century with services, including internet information services, online advertising and other services reasonably necessary within the scope of Beijing QIYI Century’s business. Beijing iQIYI agrees to use, on the website it operates, technology services provided by Beijing QIYI Century, including but not limited to, P2P download and video on-demand system. As consideration for the internet information services and other services provided by Beijing iQIYI, Beijing QIYI Century agrees to pay specified service fees to Beijing iQIYI. Beijing iQIYI has the right to waive the service fees. The initial term of the business cooperation agreement is ten years and can be renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century. On December 21, 2020, Beijing QIYI Century executed a confirmation letter to extend the term of the business cooperation agreement to November 23, 2031.

Commitment Letter

Pursuant to the commitment letter dated January 30, 2013, under the condition that Beijing iQIYI remains as an entity of which the financial statements are consolidated by iQIYI, Inc. and Beijing QIYI Century under U.S. GAAP and the relevant contractual arrangements remain in effect, iQIYI, Inc. and Beijing QIYI Century undertake to provide financial support to Beijing iQIYI for any financial loss that might affect its business operation occurred before and after the execution of the commitment letter as permitted by relevant laws. Such financial support shall be forgiven by iQIYI, Inc. and Beijing QIYI Century. As of December 31, 2022, iQIYI has provided RMB785.8 million (US$113.9 million) in financial support to Beijing iQIYI under this commitment letter, all of which has been forgiven.

Shareholder Voting Rights Trust Agreement

Pursuant to the amended and restated shareholder voting rights trust agreement dated January 30, 2013 by and between Beijing QIYI Century and Mr. Xiaohua Geng, Mr. Geng has agreed to irrevocably entrust a person designated by Beijing QIYI Century to represent him to exercise all the voting rights and other shareholders’ rights to which he is entitled as the shareholder of Beijing iQIYI. The agreement will remain effective for as long as Mr. Geng remains the shareholder of Beijing iQIYI unless Beijing QIYI Century unilaterally terminates the agreement by written notice.

Exclusive Technology Consulting and Services Agreement

Pursuant to the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement, which took effect on November 23, 2011 by and between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI, Beijing QIYI Century has the sole and exclusive right to provide specified technology consulting and services to Beijing iQIYI. Beijing iQIYI agrees to accept such services and, without the prior written consent of Beijing QIYI Century, may not accept the same or similar technology consulting and services provided by any third-party during the term of the agreement. Beijing iQIYI agrees to pay specified service fees to Beijing QIYI Century on a quarterly basis. Beijing QIYI Century has the right to adjust the calculation basis and payment method through written confirmation, without the prior consent of Beijing iQIYI. All the benefits and interests generated from the agreement, including but not limited to software copyrights, intellectual property rights, know-how and trade secrets, will be Beijing QIYI Century’s sole and exclusive rights. The initial term of the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement is ten years and can be renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century.

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On December 21, 2020, Beijing QIYI Century executed a confirmation letter to extend the term of the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement to November 23, 2031.

Trademark License Agreement

Pursuant to the trademark license agreement, which took effect on November 23, 2011 by and between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI, Beijing QIYI Century grants Beijing iQIYI trademark licenses to use the trademarks held by Beijing QIYI Century in specified areas. Beijing QIYI Century may not grant trademark licenses to third parties. Beijing iQIYI agrees to pay specified usage fees to Beijing QIYI Century. The initial term of this trademark license agreement is five years and is afterwards automatically renewed for one additional year each year, unless terminated by Beijing QIYI Century by written notice.

Software Usage License Agreement

Pursuant to the software usage license agreement, which took effect on November 23, 2011 by and between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI, Beijing QIYI Century grants Beijing iQIYI non-exclusive rights to use specified software in mainland China. Beijing iQIYI agrees not to sublicense such software usage rights, and agrees to pay specified usage fees to Beijing QIYI Century. The initial term of this software usage license agreement is five years and can be renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century. On December 2, 2016, Beijing QIYI Century executed a confirmation letter to extend the term of the software usage license agreement for five years. On December 21, 2020, Beijing QIYI Century executed another confirmation letter to extend the term of the software usage license agreement to December 1, 2031.

Power of Attorney

On January 30, 2013, Beijing QIYI Century granted iQIYI, Inc. irrevocable power of attorney under the amended and restated shareholder voting rights trust agreement. Pursuant to the irrevocable power of attorney, iQIYI, Inc. may exercise all shareholder rights during the term of the amended and restated shareholder voting rights trust agreement and may transfer such rights to a designated third-party without written notice to Beijing QIYI Century.

Spousal Consent Letter

The spouse of the shareholder of Beijing iQIYI signed a spousal consent letter. Under the spousal consent letter, the signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the spouse is aware of the above-mentioned loan agreement, share pledge agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, business operation agreement, and shareholder voting rights trust agreement, and has no objection regarding the contractual arrangements aforesaid. The signing spouse committed not to impose any adverse assertions upon the validity of such contractual arrangement based on the existence or termination of the marital relationship with the relevant shareholder, or exert any impediment or adverse influence over the relevant shareholder’s performance of any contractual arrangement or claim rights on Beijing iQIYI.

The contractual arrangements by and among iQIYI, Inc., Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai iQIYI, and the shareholders of Shanghai iQIYI, including loan agreement, share pledge agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, business operation agreement, commitment letter, shareholder voting rights trust agreement, spousal consent letter and exclusive technology consulting and services agreement, are substantially the same as the corresponding contractual arrangements discussed above. The relevant loan agreements, exclusive purchase option agreement, business operation agreement and exclusive technology consulting and services agreement were extended by Beijing QIYI Century and iQIYI, Inc. before their respective expiration dates to October 25, 2033, and can be further renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century and iQIYI, Inc..

The contractual arrangements by and among iQIYI, Inc., Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai Zhong Yuan, and the shareholder of Shanghai Zhong Yuan, including loan agreement, share pledge agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, business operation agreement, commitment letter, shareholder voting rights trust agreement, spousal consent letter and exclusive technology consulting and services agreement, are substantially the same as the corresponding contractual arrangements discussed above. The relevant loan agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, business operation agreement and exclusive technology consulting and services agreement were extended by Beijing QIYI Century and iQIYI, Inc. before their respective expiration dates to January 14, 2034, and can be further renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century and iQIYI, Inc.

In the opinion of Jingtian & Gongcheng, our PRC legal counsel:

the ownership structure of the variable interest entities and our wholly-foreign owned subsidiaries are in compliance with PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and

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the contractual arrangements among our wholly-foreign owned subsidiaries, variable interest entities and their respective shareholder(s), either individually or taken as a whole, are valid and legally binding upon each party to such arrangement and are enforceable against each party thereto in accordance with their terms, and do not contravene any PRC laws or regulations currently in effect.

However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our internet video streaming business and related business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in internet video streaming and related businesses, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating certain of our operations in mainland China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

D.
Property, Plants and Equipment

Our principal executive offices are located in Beijing, China, where we lease premises of approximately 28,219 square meters. We own office premises of approximately 17,570 square meters in Shanghai and land of approximately 506,722 square meters in Zhejiang Province. We also lease offices in Shanghai, Chongqing and various other cities, with an aggregate area of approximately 26,437 square meters. We lease our premises from unrelated third parties. Below is a summary of the term of each of our current leases, and we plan to renew most of these leases when they expire:

 

Leased properties

Term

Area (square meters)

Beijing

1, 3, 4 and 6 years

28,219

Shanghai

1, 3 and 20 years

2,920

Chongqing

2 years

6,760

Others

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 years

16,757

Total

 

54,656

 

Our main IT infrastructure include internet data centers (IDC) and content delivery networks (CDN). We lease IDC facilities from China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile. Our bandwidth provider includes self-built CDN, cooperating bandwidth, commercial CDN and Internet Exchange.

iTEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not Applicable.

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 the related notes included in this annual report. This report contains forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Information.” In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information provided under the caption “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in this annual report. We caution you that our businesses and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties.

A.
Operating Results
Overview

We have developed multiple monetization methods to capture entertainment market opportunities in mainland China. We generate revenues through (i) membership services, (ii) online advertising services, (iii) content distribution, and (iv) others.

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Selected Income Statement Items
Total Revenues

We derive our revenues from (i) membership services, (ii) online advertising services, (iii) content distribution and (iv) others. The following table presents our revenue lines and as percentages of our total revenues for the periods presented.

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

2020

2021

2022

 

RMB

%

RMB

%

RMB

US$

%

 

(in thousands, except for percentages)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership services

16,491,030

55.5

16,713,664

54.7

17,710,830

2,567,829

 61.1

Online advertising services

6,822,115

23.0

7,066,751

23.1

5,331,697

773,023

 18.4

Content distribution

2,660,074

9.0

2,855,602

9.3

2,469,771

358,083

 8.5

Others

3,733,996

12.5

3,918,342

12.9

3,485,250

505,314

 12.0

Total revenues

29,707,215

100.0

30,554,359

100.0

28,997,548

4,204,249

 100.0

Membership services

We offer membership packages primarily to provide our members with (i) access to streaming of a library of premium content, (ii) certain commercial skipping and other viewing privilege, and (iii) merchandise selection and privilege. We also offer a broader selection of paid services with innovative privileges. We generate a small portion of our membership services revenue from on-demand content purchase by our users and the sale of the right to membership services through the cooperation with other parties, where we recognize revenue on a net basis when we do not control the specified services before they are transferred to the customer. Our users’ willingness to pay continued to increase along with our efforts in premium content production. In November 2020, we increased the pricing of our monthly, quarterly and annual membership packages on non-iOS channels to the same level of iOS channels. In December 2021 and December 2022, we further increased the pricing of certain membership packages.

Online advertising services

Our advertising revenues are recognized net of advertising agency rebates in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Most of our online advertising services are in the form of brand advertising.

Content distribution

We distribute video content by sub-licensing such content to other third-party internet video streaming platforms, and as consideration, receive either cash or the right to broadcast certain licensed content from such platforms on our platform. We also distribute selected content to regions outside of mainland China and/or to TV stations in mainland China.

Others

We generate revenues from various other channels, such as online games, and talent agency business. We generate revenues from online games both by distributing third-party online games and sharing revenues with them, and offering our self-developed online games. We launched several new self-developed and licensed games following the acquisition of Skymoons in July 2018, and plan to further broaden our offerings, especially self-developed games that fully leverage the IP value in our content. We generate revenues from talent agency services, primarily from celebrity endorsement contracts for the artists we represent. In addition, we generate revenues from IP licensing, online literature and other business lines. We also generate revenue from other licensing, granting rights to certain customers to re-create short-form videos for selected content assets from our existing content library over a fixed license period.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Our operating costs and expenses consist of (i) cost of revenues, (ii) selling, general and administrative expenses and (iii) research and development expenses.

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Cost of revenues. Our cost of revenues mainly consists of content costs and others. Content costs mainly consist of costs for original content, which includes amortization and impairment of capitalized produced content and expenses recorded when production costs exceed the total revenues to be earned; licensed content, which includes amortization and impairment of licensed copyrights; and revenue sharing cost for content uploaded by partners and cost incurred for live streaming hosts. We expect that our cost of revenues as a percentage of total revenues will continue to improve going forward benefiting from the improvement in operating efficiency, the content production infrastructure we have developed, and the better supply and demand dynamics.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Our selling expenses primarily consist of promotional and marketing expenses and compensation for our sales and marketing personnel. We expect our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues to modestly increase in the foreseeable future to achieve high-quality growth.

Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for our general and administrative personnel and fees and expenses for legal, accounting and other professional services. We expect our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues to decrease in the foreseeable future as we continue to enhance overall cost control to improve operating margin.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for our research and development personnel. We expect our research and development expenses as a percentage of total revenues to decrease in the foreseeable future as we continue to enhance overall cost control to improve operating margin.

Taxation

We had income tax expense of RMB23.3 million, RMB96.5 million and RMB84.0 million (US$12.2 million) in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We are subject to various rates of income tax under different jurisdictions. The following summarizes major factors affecting our applicable tax rates in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China.

Cayman Islands

We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Cayman Islands does not impose withholding tax on dividend payments.

Hong Kong

Our subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to the uniform tax rate of 16.5%. Under the Hong Kong tax laws, we are exempted from the Hong Kong income tax on our foreign-derived income. Hong Kong does not impose a withholding tax on dividends.

Singapore

Generally, entities in Singapore are subject to a unified 17% tax rate. Under the Singapore tax laws, certain entities may be entitled to preferential tax treatments. Our primary subsidiary in Singapore was granted a five-year Development and Expansion Incentive (“DEI”) commencing from September 15, 2020, which awards a concessionary tax rate of 10% on qualifying income, subject to certain terms and conditions imposed. Singapore does not impose a withholding tax on dividends.

Mainland China

Generally, our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries are subject to enterprise income tax on their taxable income in mainland China at a rate of 25%. The enterprise income tax is calculated based on the entity’s global income as determined under mainland China tax laws and accounting standards.

An enterprise may benefit from a preferential tax rate of 15% under the EIT Law if it qualifies as a High and New Technology Enterprise, or HNTE. A HNTE certificate is normally effective for a period of three years. Certain of our mainland China subsidiaries and variable interest entities including Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai Zhong Yuan, Beijing iQIYI and Skymoons Interactive are qualified as HNTEs. The related tax holiday under such HNTE certificates of our entities will expire in 2024 and 2025.

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Our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries are subject to VAT at a rate of 3%, 6%, 9% or 13% on the services we provide and related surcharges.

If our holding company in the Cayman Islands or our subsidiary outside of mainland China were deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, it would be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—If we are classified as a mainland China resident enterprise for mainland China income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-mainland China shareholders or ADS holders.”

Impact of COVID-19 on Our Operations and Financial Performance

Substantially all of our revenues and workforce are concentrated in mainland China. Beginning in 2020, outbreaks of COVID-19 resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities across China.

The spread of the disease and the preventive actions taken dampened content production and title release in the entire online entertainment industry. This caused an undersupply of content, especially cinema movies, throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022. For example, our subscribing member base witnessed fluctuation: the number of subscribing members increased during the first half of 2020 driven by the increased demand for entertainment during the period resulting from the temporary office closure and quarantine and social distancing measures, while the same witnessed decline at the end of 2020 as compared with 2019 due to the weakened supply of content, particularly of movies.

Our revenue from membership services slightly increased by 6.0% in 2022 as compared with 2021. In 2022, our online advertising services revenue was RMB5,331.7 million (US$733.0 million), representing a 24.6% decrease from RMB7,066.8 million in 2021, primarily due to the challenging macroeconomic environment, pandemic resurgence, and fewer number of variety shows launched.

China began to modify its zero-COVID policy at the end of 2022, and most of the quarantine requirements were lifted in December 2022. There remains uncertainty as to the future impact of the virus, especially in light of this change in policy. The extent to which the pandemic impacts our results of operations going forward will depend on future developments which are highly uncertain and unpredictable, including the frequency, duration and extent of outbreaks of COVID-19, the appearance of new variants with different characteristics, the effectiveness of efforts to contain or treat cases, and future actions that may be taken in response to these developments. See also “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We face risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks, as well as natural disasters, which could significantly disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operation.”

As of December 31, 2022, we had RMB7,097.9 million (US$1,029.1 million), RMB13.6 million (US$2.0 million), RMB818.3 million (US$118.6 million) and RMB750.0 million (US$108.7 million) in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and long-term restricted cash included in prepayments and other assets, respectively. For more details about the composition of our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments, please see “—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

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Results of Operations

Despite the lack of equity ownership, our Cayman Island holding company is considered the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entities and consolidates the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries as required by ASC topic 810, Consolidation. Accordingly, we treat the variable interest entities as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP and we consolidate the financial results of the variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with

U.S. GAAP. The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations in absolute amounts and as percentages of our total revenues for the years presented.

 

 

2020

2021

2022

 

RMB

%

RMB

%

RMB

US$

%

 

(in thousands, except for percentages)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership services

16,491,030

55.5

16,713,664

54.7

17,710,830

2,567,829

61.1

Online advertising services

6,822,115

23.0

7,066,751

23.1

5,331,697

773,023

18.4

Content distribution

2,660,074

9.0

2,855,602

9.3

2,469,771

358,083

8.5

Others

3,733,996

12.5

3,918,342

12.9

3,485,250

505,314

12.0

Total revenues

29,707,215

100.0

30,554,359

100.0

28,997,548

4,204,249

100.0

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues(1)

(27,884,395)

(93.9)

(27,513,497)

(90.0)

(22,319,315)

(3,235,996)

(77.0)

Selling, general and administrative(1)

(5,187,835)

(17.5)

(4,725,142)

(15.5)

(3,466,579)

(502,607)

(12.0)

Research and development(1)

(2,675,494)

(9.0)

(2,794,927)

(9.1)

(1,899,233)

(275,363)

(6.5)

Total operating costs and expenses

(35,747,724)

(120.4)

(35,033,566)

(114.6)

(27,685,127)

(4,013,966)

(95.5)

Operating (loss)/income

(6,040,509)

(20.4)

(4,479,207)

(14.6)

1,312,421

190,283

4.5

Total other expenses, net

(943,368)

(3.2)

(1,532,781)

(5.0)

(1,346,197)

(195,180)

(4.6)

Loss before income taxes

(6,983,877)

(23.6)

(6,011,988)

(19.6)

(33,776)

(4,897)

(0.1)

Income tax expenses

(23,276)

(0.1)

(96,545)

(0.3)

(84,000)

(12,179)

(0.3)

Net loss

(7,007,153)

(23.7)

(6,108,533)

(19.9)

(117,776)

(17,076)

(0.4)

Note:

(1)
Share-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

2020

2021

2022

 

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

Cost of revenues

201,970

173,263

147,045

21,320

Selling, general and administrative

851,416

718,377

425,209

61,650

Research and development

316,709

327,523

239,187

34,679

Total

1,370,095

1,219,163

811,441

117,649

Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2021
Revenues

Our revenues decreased by 5.1% from RMB30,554.4 million in 2021 to RMB28,997.5 million (US$4,204.2 million) in 2022.

Membership services. Our membership services revenue increased by 6.0% from RMB16,713.7 million in 2021 to RMB17,710.8 million (US$2,567.8 million) in 2022, primarily because we launched a variety of premium content that elevated user experiences in 2022 and continued to refine operations to improve our monetization capabilities. The average daily number of total subscribing members in 2022 was 103.1 million, as compared to 101.6 million in 2021. The average daily number of subscribing

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members excluding individuals with trial memberships was 102.4 million in 2022, as compared to 100.7 million in 2021. In addition, monthly ARM in 2022 increased by 4.4% to RMB14.31, as compared to RMB13.71 in 2021. We track the number of average daily subscribing members and monthly ARM as key indicators for membership revenue growth, and have been cultivating users’ willingness to pay. We are dedicated to providing more premium content through diversified approaches, as we did in the past by launching theme-based drama theaters, members only content and the PVOD mode, to expand our subscribing member base, nurture members’ willingness to pay and diversify our routes to membership monetization to drive membership services revenue.

Online advertising services. Our online advertising services revenue decreased by 24.6% from RMB7,066.8 million in 2021 to RMB5,331.7 million (US$773.0 million) in 2022, as a result of the challenging macroeconomic environment, pandemic resurgence, and fewer number of variety shows launched. Average brand advertising revenue per brand advertiser decreased by 21.4% from RMB4.9 million in 2021 to RMB3.8 million (US$0.6 million) in 2022. We track the average brand advertising revenue per brand advertiser as a key indicator to evaluate our advertising services business and adapt our sales strategy, advertisement solutions and content scheduling accordingly.

Content distribution. Our content distribution revenue decreased by 13.5% from RMB2,855.6 million in 2021 to RMB2,469.8 million (US$358.1 million) in 2022, primarily attributable to the decrease in barter transactions during the year.

Others. Other revenues decreased by 11.1% from RMB3,918.3 million in 2021 to RMB3,485.3 million (US$505.3 million) in 2022, primarily due to the performance deterioration in various business lines and the adjustment in business operation model of certain business line, partially offset by the revenue derived from third-party cooperation.

Cost of revenues

Our cost of revenues decreased by 18.9% from RMB27,513.5 million in 2021 to RMB22,319.3 million (US$3,236.0 million) in 2022, primarily due to the decrease of content cost.

Content cost. Content cost decreased by 20.3% from RMB20,744.8 million in 2021 to RMB16,533.8 million (US$2,397.2 million) in 2022. The decrease in content cost resulted from our strategy of prioritizing the production of high-quality original content, fewer number of variety shows launched, and improvement in operating efficiency.

Gross profit

As a result of the foregoing, we recorded gross profit of RMB3,040.9 million and RMB6,678.2 million (US$968.3 million) in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Our gross profit as a percentage of total revenues improved from 10.0% in 2021 to 23.0% in 2022, which was primarily attributed to the increase in the membership services revenue and the decrease in our content cost.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling expenses decreased by 27.3% from RMB3,660.3 million in 2021 to RMB2,662.0 million (US$386.0 million) in 2022, primarily due to disciplined marketing spending and decline in personnel compensation expenses. Our sales and marketing personnel compensation expenses decreased by 32.0% from RMB1,057.0 million in 2021 to RMB718.5 million (US$104.2 million) in 2022 primarily due to decreased employee headcount. Our marketing and promotional expenses decreased by 24.1% from RMB2,383.3 million in 2021 to RMB1,809.1 million (US$262.3 million) in 2022 as we decreased our games, contents and brand promotional spending.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 24.4% from RMB1,064.8 million in 2021 to RMB804.6 million (US$116.7 million) in 2022, primarily due to decreases in personnel compensation expenses. Our general and administrative personnel compensation expenses decreased by 37.5% from RMB775.5 million in 2021 to RMB484.4 million (US$70.2 million) in 2022, primarily due to decreased share-based compensation expenses.

Research and development expenses

Our research and development expenses decreased by 32.0% from RMB2,794.9 million in 2021 to RMB1,899.2 million (US$275.4 million) in 2022, which was primarily due to a decrease in personnel-related compensation expenses.

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Income tax expense

In 2022, RMB84.0 million (US$12.2 million) of income tax expense was recognized, which resulted from RMB53.9 million (US$7.8 million) current year income tax and RMB30.1 million (US4.4 million) deferred income tax expense. In comparison, in 2021, RMB96.5 million income tax expense was recognized, which resulted from RMB78.0 million current year income tax and RMB18.5 million deferred income tax expense.

Net loss

As a result of the foregoing, we had net losses of RMB6,108.5 million and RMB117.8 million (US$17.1 million) in 2021 and 2022, respectively. For specific factors that may constrain our ability to reverse our net loss, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have incurred net losses since our inception and may continue to incur losses in the future.”

Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2020

For a detailed description of the comparison of our operating results for the year ended December 31, 2021 to the year ended December 31, 2020, see “Item 5.A. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results—Results of Operation—Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2020” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2022.

Inflation

To date, inflation in mainland China has not materially impacted our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for December 2020, 2021 and 2022 were increases of 0.2%, 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected in the future by higher rates of inflation in mainland China. For example, certain operating costs and expenses, such as employee compensation and office operating expenses may increase as a result of higher inflation. Additionally, because a substantial portion of our assets consists of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, high inflation could significantly reduce the value and purchasing power of these assets. We are not able to hedge our exposure to higher inflation in mainland China.

Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuation

See “Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in Mainland ChinaFluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.” and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Exchange Risk.”

Impact of Governmental Policies

See “Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China” and “Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business OverviewGovernment Regulations.”

B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, we had RMB7,097.9 million (US$1,029.1 million) and RMB13.6 million (US$2.0 million) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on hand and highly liquid investments, which are unrestricted from withdrawal or use, or which have original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Our restricted cash mainly represents restricted deposits used as collateral against short-term loans and certain lawsuits. As of December 31, 2022, we had RMB818.3 million (US$118.6 million) in short-term investments. Our short-term investments consisted of available-for-sale debt securities with maturities of less than one year purchased from commercial banks and other financial institutions. Our total current liabilities were RMB28.1 billion (US$4.1 billion) as of December 31, 2022, which primarily included RMB8,305.4 million (US$1,204.2 million) in convertible senior notes, current portion, RMB5,993.4 million (US$869.0 million) in accounts and notes payable, RMB4,232.1 million (US$613.6 million) in customer advances and deferred revenue, and RMB3,347.6 million (US$485.4 million) in short-term loans. As of December 31, 2022, we had unused credit lines of RMB1.6 billion (US$0.2 billion) and a working capital deficit of RMB14.3 billion (US$2.1 billion).

We recorded net loss of RMB117.8 million (US$17.1 million) in 2022. We had not been profitable in the past financial years since our inception and we had only been able to generate positive net cash flows in some of the financial years, in which case the

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positive net cash flows were mainly attributable to the net proceeds we received in our initial public offering, our convertible notes offerings and our ADSs offering. Accounts and notes payable amounted to RMB8,896.5 million and RMB5,993.4 million (US$869.0 million) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. A substantial majority of our accounts and notes payable are due to content providers. The decrease in accounts and notes payable in 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in content acquisition related payables. To finance our operations, we have incurred a significant amount of indebtedness and other liabilities in relation to our convertible senior notes and other financing arrangements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flow from our operations or secure additional financing to support the repayment of our indebtedness when our payments become due.

As disclosed in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021, there was substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern as we did not have sufficient funds to repurchase all or a significant portion of the outstanding 2025 Notes if redeemed by noteholders on April 1, 2023 without securing additional financing. We have implemented plans and improved our financial position by reducing discretionary capital expenditures and operational expenses and raising additional financing. In March 2022, we issued ordinary shares for a total cash purchase price of US$285 million in a private placement transaction. In December 2022, we issued US$500 million convertible senior notes for cash. In February 2023, we issued to PAG an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes upon its exercise to subscribe for additional notes in full. In January 2023, we completed a registered follow-on public offering and received net proceeds of US$500 million in aggregate. In March 2023, we completed an offering of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of 2028 Notes. Concurrently with and shortly after the offering of the 2028 Notes, we entered into separate individually and privately negotiated agreements with certain holders of the 2026 Notes to repurchase US$340 million principal amount of such notes for cash. We generated positive operating cash flow in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2022. As a result of the cash generated from operations, coupled with the Plans and fund raised from the above actions, the substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern has been resolved as of the date of this annual report. We intend to further strengthen our financial position and generate cash from our operations by continuing to focus on improving operational efficiency.

Historically, we have issued convertible senior notes, which are senior, unsecured obligations of our company. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of our convertible senior notes may declare the whole principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain exceptions and conditions under the respective indenture. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders of the notes will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase all of their notes or any portion of the principal amount and accrued and unpaid interests. In the event of a fundamental change, we may also be required to issue additional ADSs upon conversion of the notes. The accompanying consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.

Our current cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and proceeds and lines of credit/financing available to us and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. We prudently manage our working capital to support our business and operations. We have been exploring and executing plans to reduce discretionary capital expenditures and operational expenses and secure additional financing, including, but not limited to, obtaining additional credit facilities from banks in the normal course of business, re-financing certain existing loans and credit facilities, issuance of asset-backed debt securities and raising funds through additional issuances of equity and/or debt in public and/or private capital market transactions.

We have conducted the below debt and equity financing activities since our initial public offering:

In December 2018, we completed an offering of US$750 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.75% convertible senior notes due 2023, or the 2023 Notes. In connection with the 2023 Notes, we also entered into capped call transactions. The holders of the 2023 Notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash on December 1, 2021 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In November 2021, we completed the repurchase relating to the 2023 Notes. US$746.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes were validly surrendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the repurchase right offer. The aggregate purchase price of these 2023 Notes was US$746.8 million. As of December 31, 2022, RMB22.1 million (US$3.2 million) of the net carrying amount of the 2023 Notes was included in the current liabilities.
In March 2019, we completed an offering of US$1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of 2.00% convertible senior notes due 2025, or the 2025 Notes. In connection with the 2025 Notes, we also entered into capped call transactions. In February, 2023, we notified holders of the 2025 Notes that each holder has the right to, between March 3, 2023 and March 30, 2023, require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their 2025 Notes on April 1, 2023 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

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In December 2020, we completed the offering of the US$800 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.00% convertible senior notes due 2026, or the 2026 Notes, and 40,000,000 ADSs at the price of US$17.50 per ADS. The underwriters exercised their option in full to purchase an additional US$100 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Notes and their option in part to purchase 4,594,756 additional ADSs at the price of US$17.50 per ADS, which transaction was closed on January 8, 2021. The holders of the 2026 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes on August 1, 2024 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
In March 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with Baidu and a consortium of financial investors that include Oasis Management Company Ltd., pursuant to which these parties purchased from us, through a private placement, a total of 164,705,882 newly issued Class B ordinary shares and 304,705,874 newly issued Class A ordinary shares of our company, for a total purchase price of US$285 million in cash. In accordance with the subscription agreements, Baidu subscribed for Class B ordinary shares, and the financial investors subscribed for Class A ordinary shares.
In December 2022, we issued an aggregate amount of US$500 million convertible notes due January 2028, or the PAG Notes, to PAG. In February 2023, we issued to PAG an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes upon its exercise to subscribe for additional notes in full. The PAG Notes bear an interest rate of 6% per annum and will mature on the fifth anniversary of the issuance date. Holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require us to repurchase or repay for cash all or part of their notes, at a price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively.
In January 2023, we completed a registered follow-on public offering of 76,500,000 ADSs at a public offering price of US$5.90 per ADS. The underwriters exercised their option to purchase 9,975,000 additional ADSs at the price of US$5.90 per ADS in January 2023. We received net proceeds of US$500.0 million from the follow-on offering, including the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ADSs, after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions.
In March 2023, we completed an offering of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due March 2028, or the 2028 Notes. Holders of the 2028 Notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash on March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Under the terms of the indentures governing the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes, PAG Notes and 2028 Notes, events of default include: (i) default in any payment of interest or additional amounts as defined under the respective indenture for a period of 30 days; (ii) default in the payment of principal for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes and 2028 Notes when due and payable, or repurchase amount for the PAG Notes when due; (iii) failure by our company to comply with its obligation to convert the notes upon exercise of a holder’s conversion right for a period of five business days; (iv) failure by our company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change as defined under the respective indenture or a specified corporate event when due for a period of five business days; (v) failure by our company to comply with its obligations relating to consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance and lease under article 11 of the respective indenture; (vi) failure by our company for 60 days after written notice from the trustee or by the trustee at the request of the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the respective notes then outstanding has been received by our company to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the respective notes or the indenture; (vii) default by our company or any significant subsidiaries, as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, secured or evidenced any indebtedness in excess of US$60 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes or 2028 Notes or in excess of US$100 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the PAG Notes, resulting in accelerated maturity or a failure to pay principal or interest when due, and such indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not otherwise cured or rescinded, within 30 days; (viii) a delay in payment or discharge of a final judgment for the payment of US$60 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes or 2028 Notes or the payment of US$100 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the PAG Notes rendered against us or any of our significant subsidiaries; (ix) we or any of our significant subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief; and (x) for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes or PAG Notes, an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against our company or any significant subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive days.

The indentures for these convertible notes define a “fundamental change” to include, among other things: (i) any person or group gaining control of our company; (ii) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our ordinary shares or the ADSs as a result of which these securities would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (iii) the shareholders of our company approving any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of our company; (iv) our ADSs ceasing to be listed on Nasdaq Stock Market; or (v) any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations and rules of the PRC resulting in our

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company being legally prohibited from operating substantially all of the business operations conducted by our subsidiaries in mainland China, our variable interest entities and subsidiaries of our variable interest entities or being unable to continue to derive the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by these entities.

Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount may declare, in the case of the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes or 2028 Notes, the whole principal of, or, in the case of the PAG Notes, 120% or 130% of the principal amount thereof depending on the occurrence date, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain exceptions and conditions under the respective indenture. We may also be required to pay additional interests. Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders of these notes will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase all of their notes or any portion of the principal amount, in the case of the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes or 2028 Notes, or, in the case of the PAG Notes, 120% or 130% of the principal amount thereof depending on the when the fundamental change occurs, and accrued and unpaid interests. In the event of a fundamental change, we may also be required to issue additional ADSs upon conversion of its convertible notes. As of December 31, 2022, there was no such event of default or fundamental change.

We have also conducted the following asset-backed debt securities transactions and structured payable arrangements:

In December 2018, our suppliers sold certain receivables due from us, which were recorded as accounts payable in our consolidated balance sheets totaling RMB525.3 million to certain financial institutions at a discount. The factored receivables were further transferred to a securitization vehicle and used to securitize debt securities issued to third-party investors with a stated interest rate ranging from 5.0%-5.5% for gross proceeds of RMB446.0 million. Concurrently, we also entered into an agreement with the financial institutions to extend the repayment of the underlying payables to mirror the repayment terms for the asset-back debt securities with maturities in December 2019 and December 2020.
In November 2019, July 2021 and November 2021, we entered into similar reverse factoring arrangements whereby our suppliers sold certain receivables due from us amounting to RMB587.0 million, RMB231.6 million and RMB633.9 million, respectively, to the financial institutions at a discount. The factored receivables were recorded as accounts payable in our consolidated balance sheets. The factored receivables were further transferred to a securitization vehicle and used to securitize debt securities issued to third-party investors with a stated interest of 5.1%, 5.5% and 4.5% for gross proceeds of RMB500.0 million, RMB200.0 million and RMB570.0 million, respectively. Concurrently, we also entered into an agreement with the financial institutions to extend the repayment of the underlying payables to mirror the repayment terms for the corresponding asset-back debt securities which matured in November 2021, July 2022 and November 2022, respectively. The borrowings have an effective interest rate of 5.97%, 8.40% and 8.26%, respectively.
In 2020, 2021 and 2022, we entered into structured payable arrangements with banks or other financial institutions, pursuant to which the suppliers’ receivables collection process was accelerated through selling their receivables from us to the banks or other financial institutions at a discount. We were legally obligated to pay the banks or other financial institutions in the amount totaling RMB395.9 million, RMB1,058.6 million and RMB1,497.4 million (US$217.1 million), respectively, which will mature within one year. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding borrowings from the factoring arrangements was RMB754.6 million (US$109.4 million), which is repayable within one year.

In terms of business and operational initiatives, we will continue to (i) pursue diversified monetization models, including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, online games, IP licensing, talent agency, and online literature, (ii) work closely with our advertising customers and suppliers to optimize our payment terms, and (iii) strengthen our content production capabilities and improve production efficiency to enhance content quality, increase return on investment, and manage our cost and operating expenses, in particular content costs.

As we will continue to invest in both original and licensed content and technology to support our growth, we may not be able to improve our working capital or liquidity position or to generate or maintain positive net cash flows beyond the next 12 months. We have taken a series of measures to mitigate such risks, including stepping up efforts in accounts receivable collection as well as actively controlling spending through careful budget formulation, stringent budge implementation and payment arrangements with longer payment period. We are also exploring opportunities to obtain additional financing, including financing from new and/or existing shareholders, and financing generated through capital market transactions and commercial banks. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants that would restrict our operations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have substantial indebtedness and we may continue to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, which could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to generate sufficient cash to satisfy our outstanding and future debt obligations on a timely manner. Deterioration of our cash flow position could materially and adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness and continue our operations.” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have significant working capital requirements and have in the past

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experienced working capital deficits. If we experience such working capital deficits in the future, our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.” Despite our efforts to pursue our fund raising plans and business initiatives, the successful completion of these plans is dependent on factors outside of our control and there can be no assurances that new financings or other transactions will be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the potential worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to, and volatility in, the global financial markets resulting from factors such as intensified geopolitical conflicts and other adverse changes in macro-economic conditions may adversely impact our ability to secure additional financing.

As of December 31, 2022, 36.7% of our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were held in mainland China, while 30.6% of our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were held by the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries.

Although we consolidate the results of the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries, we only have access to the assets or earnings of the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries through our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and their shareholders.

See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure” For restrictions and limitations on liquidity and capital resources as a result of our corporate structure, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Holding company structure.” We may make additional capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries, establish new mainland China subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new mainland China subsidiaries, make loans to our mainland China subsidiaries, or acquire offshore entities with business operations in mainland China in offshore transactions. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:

capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries must be registered with the SAMR or its local counterparts, and reported to the competent commerce authorities through the enterprise registration system and the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System; and
loans by us to our mainland China subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed the difference between its registered capital and its total investment amount as recorded in the foreign investment comprehensive management information system or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the Risk-Weighted Approach and the Net Asset Limits and must be registered with SAFE or its local branches or filed with SAFE in its information system. Any loan to be provided by us to our mainland China subsidiaries, variable interest entities and their subsidiaries with a term of more than one year must be recorded and registered by the NDRC or its local branches.

See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Foreign Exchange.” There is, in effect, no statutory limit on the amount of capital contribution that we can make to our mainland China subsidiaries. This is because there is no statutory limit on the amount of registered capital for our mainland China subsidiaries, and we are allowed to make capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries by subscribing for their initial registered capital and increased registered capital, provided that the mainland China subsidiaries complete the relevant filing and registration procedures. With respect to loans to the mainland China subsidiaries by us, (i) if the relevant mainland China subsidiaries determine to adopt the traditional foreign exchange administration mechanism, or the Current Foreign Debt mechanism, the outstanding amount of the loans shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the mainland China subsidiaries and there is, in effect, no statutory limit on the amount of loans that we can make to our mainland China subsidiaries under this circumstance since we can increase the registered capital of our mainland China subsidiaries by making capital contributions to them, subject to the completion of relevant registrations, and the difference between the total investment and the registered capital will increase accordingly; and (ii) if the relevant mainland China subsidiaries determine to adopt the foreign exchange administration mechanism as provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, or the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt mechanism, the risk-weighted outstanding amount of the loans, which shall be calculated based on the formula provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, shall not exceed 200% of the net asset of the relevant mainland China subsidiary. According to the PBOC Notice No. 9, after a transition period of one year since the promulgation of the PBOC Notice No. 9, the PBOC and SAFE will determine the cross-border financing administration mechanism for the foreign-invested enterprises after evaluating the overall implementation of the PBOC Notice No. 9. As of the date hereof, neither PBOC nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices or circulars in this regard. It is uncertain which mechanism will be adopted by PBOC and SAFE in the future and what statutory limits will be imposed on us when providing loans to our mainland China subsidiaries.

A majority of our future revenues are likely to continue to be in the form of Renminbi. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, Renminbi may be converted into foreign exchange for current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service related foreign exchange transactions.

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Our mainland China subsidiaries may convert Renminbi amounts that they generate in their own business activities, including technical consulting and related service fees pursuant to their contracts with the variable interest entities, as well as dividends they receive from their own subsidiaries, into foreign exchange and pay them to their non-mainland China parent companies in the form of dividends. However, current PRC regulations permit our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Each of our mainland China subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits after making up previous years’ accumulated losses each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.

The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated.

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

2020

2021

2022

 

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

 

(in thousands)

Summary Consolidated Cash Flows Data:

 

 

 

 

Net cash used for operating activities

(5,411,071)

(5,951,847)

(70,569)

(10,232)

Net cash provided by investing activities

159,296

1,262,350

265,980

38,564

Net cash provided by/(used for)

financing activities

9,373,906

(2,959,455)

4,468,863

647,925

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(91,293)

(216,696)

122,418

17,748

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

4,030,838

(7,865,648)

4,786,692

694,005

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year

6,909,674

10,940,512

3,074,864

445,813

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year

10,940,512

3,074,864

7,861,556

1,139,818

 

Net cash used for operating activities

Net cash used for operating activities decreased from RMB5,951.8 million in 2021 to RMB70.6 million (US$10.2 million) in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in net loss by RMB5,990.7 million from RMB6,108.5 million of net loss in 2021 to RMB117.8 million (US$17.1 million) of net loss in 2022, as adjusted by a decrease of non-cash items by RMB3,202.5 million from RMB17,742.9 million in 2021 to RMB14,540.4 million (US$2,108.2 million) in 2022 and a decrease of cash outflow from changes in operating assets and liabilities by RMB3,093.0 million from RMB17,586.2 million in 2021 to RMB14,493.2 million (US$2,101.3 million) in 2022. The decrease of cash outflow from changes in operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to decreased licensed copyrights and produced content, offset by increased accounts payable. The decrease in non-cash items was primarily due to decreases of amortization and impairment of licensed copyrights and produced content.

Net cash used for operating activities increased from RMB5,411.1 million in 2020 to RMB5,951.8 million in 2021, primary due to an increase of cash outflow for operating assets and liabilities by RMB972.9 million from RMB16,613.3 million in 2020 to RMB17,586.2 million in 2021 and a decrease of non-cash items by RMB466.5 million from RMB18,209.4 million in 2020 to RMB17,742.9 million in 2021, offset by a decrease in net loss by RMB898.7 million from RMB7,007.2 million in 2020 to RMB6,108.5 million in 2021. The increase of cash outflow for operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to increased licensed copyrights and produced content, offset by increased accounts payable. The decrease in non-cash items was primarily due to decreases of amortization and impairment of licensed copyrights, decreases of provision for credit loss, which was offset by increases of amortization and impairment of produced content, driven by business expansion to maintain our market leadership.

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Net cash provided by investing activities

Net cash provided by investing activities decreased from RMB1,262.4 million in 2021 to RMB266.0 million (US$38.6 million) in 2022, primarily due to (i) decreased cash outflow from purchasing of debt securities by RMB15,515.6 million from RMB19,975.1 million in 2021 to RMB4,459.5 million (US$646.5 million) in 2022, (ii) decreased cash inflow from maturities of debt securities by RMB16,956.5 million from RMB21,987.1 million in 2021 to RMB5,030.6 million (US$729.4 million) in 2022, and (iii) decreased cash outflow from purchase of long-term investments by RMB308.1 million from RMB386.4 million in 2021 to RMB78.3 million (US$11.3 million) in 2022.

Net cash provided by investing activities increased from RMB159.3 million in 2020 to RMB1,262.4 million in 2021, primary due to (i) increased cash outflow from purchasing of debt securities by RMB4,794.4 million from RMB15,180.7 million in 2020 to RMB19,975.1 million in 2021, and (ii) increased cash inflow from maturities of debt securities by RMB5,352.8 million from RMB16,634.2 million in 2020 to RMB21,987.1 million in 2021, and (iii) decreased purchase of long-term investments by RMB664.4 million from RMB1,050.8 million in 2020 to RMB386.4 million in 2021.

Net cash provided by/(used for) financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities increased from cash outflow of RMB2,959.5 million in 2021 to inflow of RMB4,468.9 million (US$647.9 million) in 2022, primarily due to (i) the increase in net cash inflow from issuance of convertible senior notes of RMB3,448.6 million (US$500.0 million) in 2022, (ii) the decrease in net cash outflow used for repayments of convertible senior notes, which was RMB4,751.0 million in 2021.

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased from cash inflow of RMB9,373.9 million in 2020 to cash outflow of RMB2,959.5 million in 2021, primarily due to (i) decreases of net cash inflow of issuance of convertible senior notes and follow-on offering by RMB8,475.1 million from RMB9,607.9 million in 2020 to RMB1,132.7 million in 2021, and (ii) increases of repayments of convertible senior notes, which was RMB4,751.0 million in 2021.

Material Cash requirements

Our material cash requirements as of December 31, 2022 and any subsequent period primarily include our capital expenditures, long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, and purchase obligations.

Our capital expenditures are incurred primarily in connection with leasehold improvements, computers and servers. Our capital expenditures were RMB240.8 million, RMB261.5 million and RMB174.3 million (US$25.3 million) in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Our capital expenditures may decrease in the future as we continue to enhance overall cost control. We currently plan to fund these expenditures with our current cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and anticipated cash flow generated from our operating activities.

We intend to fund our existing and future material cash requirements with our existing cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and other financing alternatives. We will continue to make cash commitments, including capital expenditures, to support the growth of our business.

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The following table sets forth our contractual obligations by specified categories as of December 31, 2022.

 

 

Payment due by period

 

Total

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027 and after

 

(in RMB thousands)

Long-Term Debt and Convertible Senior Notes Obligations(1)

21,438,429

644,782

620,748

8,816,423

6,664,112

4,692,364

Capital Lease Obligations(2)

59,487

       31,533

       27,954

-

-

-

Operating Lease Obligations(3)

782,670

102,756

79,602

74,799

70,441

455,072

Purchase Obligations(4)

13,028,484

5,158,272

3,628,458

2,641,375

1,264,544

335,835

Total

35,309,070

5,937,343

4,356,762

11,532,597

7,999,097

5,483,271

Notes:

(2)
On December 4, 2018, we issued US$750 million convertible senior notes (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes are senior, unsecured obligations of us, and interest is payable semi-annually in cash at a rate of 3.75% per annum on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2019. The 2023 Notes will mature on December 1, 2023 unless redeemed, repurchased or converted prior to such date. The holders may require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2023 Notes for cash on December 1, 2021, or upon a fundamental change. In 2021, we redeemed US$746.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes as requested by the holders.

On March 29, 2019, we issued US$1,200 million convertible senior notes (the “2025 Notes”). The 2025 Notes are senior, unsecured obligations of us, and interest is payable semi-annually in cash at a rate of 2.00% per annum on October 1 and April 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2019. The 2025 Notes will mature on April 1, 2025 unless redeemed, repurchased or converted prior to such date. The holders may require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2025 Notes for cash on April 1, 2023, which may result in a material cash outlay of our company. The holders of the 2025 Notes may also require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2025 Notes for cash upon a fundamental change.

On December 21, 2020, we issued US$800 million convertible senior notes and offered an additional US$100 million principal amount simultaneously, issuable pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of option to purchase additional notes. On January 8, 2021, the additional US$100 million principal amount was issued pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option. The convertible senior notes issued on December 21, 2020 and January 8, 2021 (collectively, the “2026 Notes”) are senior, unsecured obligations of us, and interest is payable semi-annually in cash at a rate of 4.00% per annum on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2021. The 2026 Notes will mature on December 15, 2026, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted prior to such date. The holders may require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2026 Notes for cash on August 1, 2024, or upon a fundamental change.

On December 30, 2022, we issued an aggregate amount of US$500 million convertible senior notes due January 2028, or the PAG Notes, to PAG. In February 2023, we issued to PAG an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes upon its exercise to subscribe for additional notes in full. The PAG Notes, secured by certain collateral arrangements, bear an interest rate of 6% per annum and will mature on the fifth anniversary of the issuance date. Holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require us to repurchase or repay for cash all or part of their notes, at a price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively. They also have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes in the event of certain fundamental changes and events of defaults. For further information, please see “Loans Payable” under Note 13 and “Convertible Senior Notes” under Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

(3)
Capital lease obligations represent our obligations for the finance leases of fixed assets.
(4)
Operating lease obligations represent our obligations for leasing office premises and internet data center facilities.
(5)
Purchase obligations represent our future minimum payments under non-cancelable agreements for licensed copyrights, produced content and property management fees.

Other than the contractual obligations set forth above, we do not have any contractual obligations that are long-term debt obligations, capital/operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or other long-term liabilities reflected on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2022.

Holding Company Structure

iQIYI, Inc. is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our mainland China subsidiaries, the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries in mainland China. As a result, iQIYI, Inc.’s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our mainland China subsidiaries. If our existing mainland China subsidiaries or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in mainland China are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of our subsidiaries and the variable interest entities in mainland China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. In addition, each of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in mainland China may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to enterprise expansion funds and staff bonus and welfare funds at its discretion, and the variable interest entities may allocate a portion of

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their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at its discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of mainland China is subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE. Our mainland China subsidiaries have not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.

The table below sets forth the respective revenue contribution and assets of iQIYI, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries and the variable interest entities as of the dates and for the periods indicated:

 

 

Total revenues(1)

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

2020

2021

2022

iQIYI, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries

7.7%

5.9%

7.6%

Variable interest entities

92.3%

94.1%

92.4%

Total

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

Notes:

(6)
The percentages exclude the inter-company transactions and balances between iQIYI, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries and the variable interest entities.

 

 

Total assets

 

As of December 31,

 

2020

2021

2022

iQIYI, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries

53.0%

35.7%

38.4%

Variable interest entities

47.0%

64.3%

61.6%

Total

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

 

C.
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
Technology

Technology is the bedrock of our products and services. Approximately half of our employees, excluding general and administrative employees, are engineers dedicated to technological innovation and breakthrough. We utilize AI technology to drive the entire business, including video content creation, purchase, production, tagging, distribution, monetization and customer service, to achieve automation and intelligence in the entire business process. Our advanced technologies facilitate better content production, enhanced operation efficiency and superior user experience. To maintain our industry-leading position, we have established extensive cooperation with many industry-leading research institutes.

Technologies to Enhance Content Production and Operation Efficiency

We empower content production and monetization cycle by applying various technologies. We have developed and put into use an integral set of technology infrastructures and tools, comprising of: (i) intelligent integrated production systems that improve digital workflow by integrating and streamlining the elements of video production; (ii) production business intelligence systems and integrated production tool sets that empower content producers with AI-powered decision-making, and (iii) other tools that support the facilitation of the content production process.

Leveraging our massive user data and big data analytics, we have developed a comprehensive system for script evaluation and casting. Our holistic data analysis supports content investment strategy through advanced algorithms that forecast video views and film box office, which result in more monetization opportunities and higher user value. Promising monetization capabilities then encourage the generation and distribution of more high-quality content on iQIYI platform, creating a virtuous cycle.

Our technologies also enhance our efficiency. We have leveraged AI, big data, and cloud computing technologies to distribute our massive content to targeted users accurately. Our user and content tagging system precisely analyzes user profile and conduct content recommendation. We provide personalized content distribution by intelligent recommendations. We balance user experience with video monetization by utilizing personalized and automatic advertising customized to video scenarios, video-in, video-out and other ad-marketing technology. We provide timely response and feedback service through AI-based autonomous service robots and online customer service center.

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Technologies to Enhance User Experience

We apply advanced deep learning technology to areas such as advanced content tagging, user profiling, developing knowledge graph and content recommendation. Users are given recommendations based on automatic classification of their tags.

In addition to content recommendations catering to users’ interests, our advanced video, audio and AI technologies provide users with superior viewing experience in a cost-effective manner. We are one of a few streaming entertainment service providers in mainland China providing concurrent 4K/8K high-definition video quality, HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging, Dolby Atmos® audio effect and immersive experience via 360 VR for live video streaming. We provide users with clear and smooth video play through adaptive coding technology. Our iQIYI VR app provides an immersive viewing experience via 360 VR. QiYu 4K VR HMD is one of the first 4K mobile VR devices in the world with 3D audio. Leveraging our big data analytics, features such as AI Radar and Watch Me Only support real-time recognition and search of information from video images, or allow users to view only the segments featuring particular artists. We have one of the world’s largest P2P and CDN-based HCDN (hybrid content delivery network), which seamlessly distributes and transmits massive internet video with high quality and low bandwidth cost.

In the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, our research and development expenditures, including share-based compensation expenses for research and development staff, were RMB2,675.5 million, RMB2,794.9 million and RMB1,899.2 million (US$275.4 million), respectively, representing 9.0%, 9.1% and 6.5% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs (including share-based compensation expenses).

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, 2020 to December 31, 2022 that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, 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.
Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reporting of, among other things, assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities and total revenues and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and on 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 our financial reporting process inherently relies on the use of estimates and assumptions, our actual results could differ from what we expect.

We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Such critical estimates are discussed below. For further information on our other significant accounting estimates, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Impairment of content assets

We review our film groups and individual content for impairment when there are events or changes in circumstances that indicate the fair value of a film group or an individual content may be less than its unamortized costs. When such events or changes in circumstances are identified, we perform a quantitative assessment to determine whether the fair value of a film group or an individual content is less than its unamortized film costs.

For the mainland China film group, we use a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value, which requires the use of inputs such as the forecasted future revenues, costs and operating expenses attributable to the film group and the discount rate. Our estimates of these inputs require subjective management judgment and are inherently uncertain. Changes in our estimates of these inputs may cause us to realize material write-downs in the future. The quantitative impairment assessment we performed with the assistance of a third-party valuation firm as of December 31, 2022 indicated that the fair value of our mainland China film group is in excess of their carrying value and, therefore, did not result in an impairment.

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For the fair value of the produced content predominantly monetized on its own, we use a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value, which requires the use of inputs include forecasted future revenues, production costs required to complete the content and exploitation and participation costs. Based on the above assessment, certain produced content predominantly monetized on its own are determined to be impaired and re-measured to the fair value as of each quarter end.

Amortization of content assets

Based on factors including historical and estimated future viewership consumption patterns, our content assets (licensed copyrights and produced content) are amortized using an accelerated method by content categories over the shorter of each content’s contractual period or estimated useful lives within ten years, beginning with the month of first availability. We review factors that impact the amortization of the content assets on a regular basis, such as the estimates of future viewership consumption patterns and estimated useful lives. Our estimates related to these factors require complex and subjective management judgment and any changes in our estimates of future viewership consumption patterns and estimated useful lives may cause us to realize different amounts of amortization in future periods.

Critical Accounting Policies and Judgments

The selection of critical accounting policies, the judgments and other uncertainties affecting application of those policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions are factors that should be considered when reviewing our financial statements. For further information on our significant accounting policies, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Consolidation of Affiliated Entities

In order to comply with PRC laws and regulations limiting foreign ownership of or imposing conditions on value-added telecommunication services, internet, value-added telecommunication-based online advertising, online audio and video services and mobile application distribution businesses, we operate our internet platform and conduct our value-added telecommunication-based online advertising, online audio and video services and mobile application distribution businesses through our affiliated entities in mainland China by means of contractual arrangements. We have entered into certain exclusive agreements with the affiliated entities through our subsidiaries, which obligate us to absorb losses of the affiliated entities that could potentially be significant to them or entitle us to receive economic benefits from the affiliated entities that could potentially be significant to them. In addition, we have entered into certain agreements with the affiliated entities and the nominee shareholders of affiliated entities, which enable us to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the affiliated entities. Based on these contractual arrangements, we consolidate the affiliated entities as required by ASC topic 810, Consolidation, because we hold all the variable interests of the variable interest entities directly or through our subsidiaries, which are the primary beneficiaries of the variable interest entities. We will reconsider the initial determination of whether a legal entity is a variable interest entity upon certain events listed in ASC 810-10-35-4 occurred. We will also continuously reconsider whether we are the primary beneficiary of our affiliated entities as facts and circumstances change. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”

Revenue Recognition

Our revenues are derived principally from membership services, online advertising services and content distribution. Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services is transferred to our customers in an amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Value added taxes (“VAT”) are presented as a reduction of revenues. Our revenue recognition policies are set forth as follows.

Membership services

We offer membership services to subscribing members with various privileges, which primarily include access to exclusive and ad-free streaming of premium content 1080P/4K high-definition video, Dolby Audio, and accelerated downloads and others.

When the receipt of membership fees is for services to be delivered over a period of time, the receipt is initially recorded as “Customer advances and deferred revenue” on the consolidated balance sheets and revenue is recognized ratably over the membership period as services are rendered. Membership services revenue also includes fees earned from subscribing members for on-demand content purchases and early access to premium content. We are the principal in our relationships where partners, including consumer electronics manufacturers (TVs and cell phones), mobile operators, internet service providers and online payment agencies, provide access to the membership services or payment processing services as we retain control over our service delivery to our subscribing members. Typically, payments made to the partners, are recorded as cost of revenues. For the sale of the right to other membership

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services, through strategic cooperation with other parties, we recognize revenue on a net basis when we do not control the specified services before they are transferred to the customer.

Online advertising services

We sell advertising services primarily to third-party advertising agencies and a small portion is sold directly to advertisers. Advertising contracts are signed to establish the price and advertising services to be provided. Pursuant to the advertising contracts, we provide advertisement placements on our platforms in different formats, including but not limited to video, banners, links, logos, brand placement and buttons. We perform a credit assessment of the customer to assess the collectability of the contract price prior to entering into contracts. For contracts where we provide customers with multiple performance obligations, primarily for advertisements to be displayed in different spots, placed under different forms and occur at different times, we would evaluate all the performance obligations in the arrangement to determine whether each performance obligation is distinct. Consideration is allocated to each performance obligation based on its standalone selling price and revenue is recognized as each performance obligation is satisfied through our display of the advertisements in accordance with the revenue contracts.

We provide various sales incentives to our customers for meeting certain cumulative purchase volume requirements, including cash rebates to certain third-party advertising agencies and non-cash credits which can be used to acquire future online advertising services in certain bundled arrangements, which are negotiated on a contract by contract basis with customers. We account for cash rebates granted to customers as variable consideration which is measured based on the most likely amount of incentive to be provided to customers. Non-cash credits granted to customers are considered options to acquire additional services that provide customers with a material right. The contract consideration related to these customer options to acquire additional services are deferred and recognized as revenue when future services are transferred or when the options expire.

Content distribution

We generate revenues from sub-licensing content assets for cash or through nonmonetary exchanges mainly with other online video broadcasting companies. The exclusive licensing agreements we enter into with the vendors has a specified license period and provide us rights to sub-license these content assets to other parties. We enter into a non-exclusive sub-license agreement with a sub-licensee for a period that falls within the original exclusive license period. For cash sub-licensing transactions, we are entitled to receive the sub-license fee under the sub-licensing arrangements and do not have any future obligation once we have provided the underlying content to the sub-licensee (which is provided at or before the beginning of the sub-license period). The sub-licensing of content assets represents a license of functional intellectual property which grants a right to use our content assets and is recognized at the point in time when the content asset is made available for the customer’s use and benefit.

We also enter into nonmonetary transactions to exchange online broadcasting rights of content assets with other online video broadcasting companies from time to time. The exchanged content assets provide rights for each party to broadcast the content assets received on its own platform only. Each transferring party retains the right to continue broadcasting the exclusive content on its own platform and/or sublicense the rights to the content it surrendered in the exchange. We account for these nonmonetary exchanges based on the fair value of the asset received. Barter sublicensing revenues are recognized in accordance with the same revenue recognition criteria above. We estimate the fair value of the content assets received using a market approach based on various factors, including the purchase price of similar non-exclusive and/or exclusive contents, broadcasting schedule, cast and crew, theme, popularity and box office. The transaction price of barter transaction revenues is calculated on the individual content asset basis. For a significant barter sublicensing transaction, we further review the fair value by analyzing against the cost of the content assets bartered out and/or engage a third-party valuation firm to assess the reasonableness of its fair value. The attributable cost of sublicensing transactions, whether for cash or through nonmonetary exchanges, is recognized as cost of revenues through the amortization of the sublicensing right component of the exclusive content asset.

Long-term investments

Our long-term investments consist of equity securities without readily determinable fair values, equity method investments, available-for-sale debt securities accounted for at fair value and equity securities with readily determinable fair value.

Equity investments, except for those accounted for under the equity method, those that result in consolidation of the investee and certain other investments, are measured at fair value in accordance with ASC topic 321, Investments-Equity Securities (“ASC 321”) and any changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. For equity securities without readily determinable fair values and do not qualify for the existing practical expedient in ASC topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) to estimate fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) of the investment, we elected to use the measurement alternative to measure those investments at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly

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transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, if any. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value, and any changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

Investments in entities in which we can exercise significant influence and hold an investment in voting common stock or in-substance common stock (or both) of the investee but do not own a majority equity interest or control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting in accordance with ASC topic 323, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). Under the equity method, we initially record our investments at cost and the difference between the cost of the equity investee and the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of the equity investee is accounted for as if the investee was a consolidated subsidiary. We subsequently adjust the carrying amount of the investments to recognize our proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss into earnings after the date of investment. When calculating its proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss, we adjust the net income or loss of equity investee to include accretion of preferred stock that is classified in temporary equity in the equity investee’s financial statements. Intra-entity profits and losses shall be eliminated until realized by us or investee as if the investee was consolidated. We will discontinue applying the equity method if an investment (plus additional financial support provided to the investee, if any) has been reduced to zero. When we have other investments in our equity-method investee and are not required to advance additional funds to the investee, we would continue to report our share of equity method losses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive loss after our equity-method investment in ordinary shares has been reduced to zero, to the extent of and as an adjustment to the adjusted basis of our other investments in the investee. We evaluate the equity method investments for impairment under ASC 323. An impairment loss on the equity method investments is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss when the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary.

Available-for-sale debt securities are convertible debt instruments issued by private companies and investments in equity securities that are redeemable at our option, which are measured at fair value, with interest income recorded in earnings and unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Produced content, net

We produce original content in-house and collaborates with external parties. Produced content primarily consists of films, episodic series, variety shows and animations. The costs incurred in the physical production of original content include direct production costs, production overhead and acquisition costs. Produced content also includes cash expenditures made to acquire a proportionate share of certain rights to films including profit sharing, distribution and/or other rights. Exploitation costs are expensed as incurred. Participation costs are accrued using the individual-film-forecast-computation method, which recognizes the costs in the same ratio as the associated ultimate revenue. Production costs for original content that are predominantly monetized in a film group are capitalized. Production costs for original content predominantly monetized on its own are capitalized to the extent that they are recoverable from total revenues expected to be earned (“ultimate revenue”); otherwise, they are expensed as cost of revenues.

Ultimate revenue estimates include revenue expected to be earned from all sources, including exhibition, licensing, or exploitation of produced content if we have demonstrated a history of earning such revenue. We estimate ultimate revenue to be earned during the estimated useful lives of produced content based on anticipated release patterns and historical results of similar produced content, which are identified based on various factors, including cast and crew, target audience and popularity. The capitalized production costs are reported separately as noncurrent assets with caption of “Produced content, net” on the consolidated balance sheets.

Based on factors including historical and estimated future viewership consumption patterns, we amortize film costs for produced content that is predominantly monetized in a film group. For produced content that is monetized on its own, we consider historical and estimated usage patterns to determine the pattern of amortization for film costs. Based on the estimated patterns, we amortize produced content using an accelerated method over its estimated useful lives within ten years, beginning with the month of first availability and such costs are included in “Cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Licensed copyrights, net

Licensed copyrights consist of professionally produced content, such as films, television series, variety shows and other video content acquired from external parties. The license fees are capitalized and, unless prepaid, a corresponding liability is recorded when the cost of the content is known, the content is accepted by us in accordance with the conditions of the license agreement and the content is available for its first showing on our platforms. Licensed copyrights are presented on the consolidated balance sheets as current and non-current based on estimated time of usage.

The licensed copyrights include the right to broadcast and, in some instances, the right to sublicense. The broadcasting right, refers to the right to broadcast the content on our own platforms and the sublicensing right, refers to the right to sublicense the

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underlying content to external parties. When licensed copyrights include both broadcasting and sublicensing rights, the content costs are allocated to these two rights upon initial recognition, based on the relative proportion of the estimated total revenues that will be generated by each right over its estimated useful lives.

For the right to broadcast the contents on our own platforms that generates online advertising and membership services revenues, based on factors including historical and estimated future viewership patterns, the content costs are amortized using an accelerated method by content categories over the shorter of each content’s contractual period or estimated useful lives within ten years, beginning with the month of first availability. Content categories accounting for most of our content include newly released drama series, newly released movies, animations, library drama series and library movies. Estimates of future viewership consumption patterns and estimated useful lives are reviewed periodically, at least on an annual basis and revised, if necessary. Revisions to the amortization patterns are accounted for as a change in accounting estimate prospectively in accordance with ASC topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (“ASC 250”). For the right to sublicense the content to external parties that generates direct content distribution revenues, the content costs are amortized based on its estimated usage pattern and recorded as cost of revenues.

Impairment of licensed copyrights and produced content

Our business model is mainly subscription and advertising based, as such the majority of the content assets (licensed copyrights and produced content) are predominantly monetized with other content assets, whereas a smaller portion of the content assets are predominantly monetized at a specific title level such as variety shows and investments in a proportionate share of certain rights to films including profit sharing, distribution and/or other rights. Because the identifiable cash flows related to content launched on the mainland China platform are largely independent of the cash flows of other content launched on the overseas platform, we have identified two separate film groups. We review our film groups and individual content for impairment when there are events or changes in circumstances that indicate the fair value of a film group or individual content may be less than its unamortized costs. Examples of such events or changes in circumstances include, a significant adverse change in technological, regulatory, legal, economic, or social factors that could affect the fair value of the film group or the public’s perception of a film or the availability of a film for future showings, a significant decrease in the number of subscribers or forecasted subscribers, or the loss of a major distributor, a change in the predominant monetization strategy of a film that is currently monetized on its own, actual costs substantially in excess of budgeted costs, substantial delays in completion or release schedules, or actual performance subsequent to release failing to meet expectations set before release such as a significant decrease in the amount of ultimate revenue expected to be recognized.

When such events or changes in circumstances are identified, we assess whether the fair value of an individual content (or film group) is less than its unamortized film costs, determines the fair value of an individual content (or film group) and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the unamortized capitalized costs exceed the individual content’s (or film group’s) fair value. We mainly use a discounted cash flow approach to determine the fair value of an individual content or film group, for which the most significant inputs include the forecasted future revenues, costs and operating expenses attributable to an individual content or the film group and the discount rate. An impairment loss attributable to a film group is allocated to individual licensed copyrights and produced content within the film group on a pro rata basis using the relative carrying values of those assets as we cannot estimate the fair value of individual contents in the film group without undue cost and effort.

iTEM 6 DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

A.
Directors and Senior Management

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors as of the date of this annual report.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

Age

Position/Title

Junjie He

38

Chairman of the Board

Yu Gong

54

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Dou Shen

43

Director

Fei Qi

41

Director

Luyao Han

36

Director

Weijian Shan

69

Director

Sam Hanhui Sun

50

Independent Director

Conor Chia-hung Yang

60

Independent Director

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Directors and Executive Officers

Age

Position/Title

Jun Wang

44

Chief Financial Officer

Xiaohui Wang

54

Chief Content Officer

Wenfeng Liu

44

Chief Technology Officer

Youqiao Duan

53

Senior Vice President

Xianghua Yang

46

Senior Vice President

 

Junjie He has served as our director since March 2021 and chairman of our board of directors since November 2022. Mr. He joined Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU; SEHK: 9888) in June 2019. Currently serving as a senior vice president of Baidu, Mr. He was appointed as the leader, and be in full charge, of the Mobile Ecosystem Group (MEG) in May 2022. Prior to his current position, Mr. He oversaw Baidu’s M&A (Mergers & Acquisition), SIM (Strategic Investment Management), SOM (Sales Operation and Management), and FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) departments. Prior to joining Baidu, he had rich working experience with investment firms, including China International Capital Corporation (CICC), CITIC Private Equity, Warburg Pincus and Tibet Langrun Capital. Mr. He currently also serves on the board of directors of Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; SEHK: 9961). Mr. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University in 2007.

Yu Gong is the founder, chief executive officer and director of our company, and oversees our overall strategy and business operations. Prior to founding iQIYI, Dr. Gong was the president and chief operating officer of umessage.com, a top mobile internet services solution provider in China. Prior to that, Dr. Gong served in the roles of vice president, senior vice president, and chief operating officer at Sohu.com, a Nasdaq-listed company (Nasdaq: SOHU), from 2003 to 2008. From 1999 to 2003, Dr. Gong was the founder and chief executive officer of focus.cn, the then largest real estate search website in China, which was sold to Sohu.com. Dr. Gong received a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in automation control from Tsinghua University.

Dr. Dou Shen has served as our director since September 2019. Dr. Shen currently serves as executive vice president of Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU; SEHK: 9888) and the chief of Baidu AI Cloud, overseeing the development of AI Cloud. Dr. Shen has served in various other roles since joining Baidu in 2012, including in search, display advertising and financial services group. Prior to Baidu, Dr. Shen served as a researcher at Microsoft’s AdCenter Labs. He was also founder of Buzzlabs, a social media analytics company that was later acquired by IAC-owned CityGrid Media. Dr. Shen is currently the vice chair of KDDC (China chapter of ACM in data-mining). Dr. Shen currently serves on the board of directors of Kuaishou Technology (SEHK: 1024). He was previously a director of Uxin Limited (Nasdaq: UXIN) and a director of Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM). Dr. Shen holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from North China Electric Power University, a master’s degree in engineering from Tsinghua University, and a Ph.D. in computer science from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Fei Qi has served as our director since December 2022. Mr. Fei Qi joined Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU; SEHK: 9888) in March 2021, and currently serves as vice president of Baidu, chief of staff to CEO, and head of corporate strategic department. Prior to joining Baidu, Mr. Qi served as managing director at China International Capital Corporation (CICC), where he had over 15 years of experience in the investment banking division with a focus on the TMT sector. Mr. Qi obtained his bachelor's degree in management information systems from Tsinghua University in 2003.

Luyao Han has served as our director since November 2022. Ms. Luyao Han joined Baidu in February 2014, and currently serves as Head of Baidu’s Investments, Mergers and Acquisitions Department. Ms. Han has rich work experience in strategic investments, M&A and investment banking industry. Prior to joining Baidu, she worked in the Investment Banking Division of China International Capital Corporation Limited (SH: 601995; SEHK: 3908) from 2008 to 2014. Ms. Han obtained her bachelor’s degree in economics from Peking University.

Weijian Shan has served as our director since December 2022. Mr. Shan is the executive chairman and cofounder of PAG – one of Asia’s leading investment management groups. Between 1998 and 2010, Mr. Shan was co-managing partner of the private equity firm Newbridge Capital (now known as TPG Asia) and a partner of TPG. Before Newbridge, Mr. Shan was a managing director at J.P. Morgan where he worked for five years. Mr. Shan was an assistant professor at the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania for six years. Mr. Shan also worked at the World Bank in 1987. Mr. Shan is a Trustee of the British Museum. Mr. Shan is also member of the International Advisory Council of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and an independent director of Alibaba Group. Mr. Shan is the author of three books: Out of the Gobi, Money Games and Money Machine. Mr. Shan holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco. Mr. Shan graduated with a major in English from the Beijing University of International Business and Economics.

Sam Hanhui Sun has served as our independent director since March 2018. Mr. Sun has been the Chairman of VSP Private Fund Management (Zhuhai) Co., Limited since 2021. From 2016 to 2020, Mr. Sun was a venture partner at Blue Lake Capital. From 2010

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to 2015, Mr. Sun served various positions at Qunar Cayman Islands Limited, a Nasdaq-listed company, including Qunar’s president in 2015 and its chief financial officer from 2010 to 2015. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Sun was the chief financial officer of KongZhong Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed company. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Sun served in several financial controller positions at Microsoft China R&D Group, Maersk China Co. Ltd., and SouFun.com. From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Sun worked in KPMG’s auditing practice group. Mr. Sun currently serves as a director on the boards of Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH) and Yiren Digital Ltd. (NYSE: YRD). Mr. Sun served as an independent director of Fang Holdings Limited (NYSE: SFUN) from September 2010 to May 2019, Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE: STG) from March 2018 to July 2019 and CAR Inc. (formerly SEHK: 699) from August 2014 to July 2021, when CAR Inc. was privatized. Mr. Sun received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Beijing Institute of Technology. He is a Certified Public Accountant in China.

Conor Chia-hung Yang has served as our independent director since April 2022. Mr. Yang is the chief financial officer of Sunrate Holdings Limited since February 2023. Mr. Yang was the co-founder and president of Black Fish Group Limited from 2017 to 2021. From 2007 to 2017, Mr. Yang served in several chief financial officer positions at US-listed companies including Tuniu Corporation (Nasdaq: TOUR), E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc., and AirMedia Group Inc. Mr. Yang was the chief executive officer of Rock Mobile Corporation from 2004 to 2007, and the chief financial officer of the Asia Pacific region for Cellstar Asia Corporation from 1999 to 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Yang was a senior banker at Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., Lehman Brothers Asia Limited and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Yang currently serves as an independent director and chairman of the audit committee of Ehang Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: EH), I-Mab (Nasdaq: IMAB), Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0780) and UP Fintech Holding Limited (Nasdaq: TIGR). Mr. Yang received his master's degree in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jun Wang has served as our chief financial officer since February 2022. Mr. Jun Wang has been engaged with us in January 2018 and has been responsible for advising on major capital market transactions since then. Prior to joining us, he served as a partner of Waterwood Group Limited, a private equity firm, from December 2015 to October 2017. From June 2014 to August 2015, he served as a managing director of TBP Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited. From July 2008 to June 2014, he worked at J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited with his last position being the vice president of investment banking. Mr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from Tsinghua University in July 2000 and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago in June 2008.

Xiaohui Wang joined us in 2016 as our chief content officer. Mr. Wang is responsible for the procurement, production and operations of content business. From 2019, Mr. Wang also serves as president of our Professional Content Business Group (PCG). Prior to joining iQIYI, Mr. Wang was vice president of China National Radio, where he served in various positions from 1990 to 2016, including director of news center from 2002 to 2003, vice president of Voice of China from 2003 to 2006, director of finance office from 2006 to 2007, and vice president from 2007 to 2016. Mr. Wang currently serves on the board of directors of Strawbear Entertainment Group (SEHK: 2125). Mr. Wang holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Jilin University, a master’s degree in business administration from Cheong Kong Graduate School of Business and a Ph.D. in literature from the Communication University of China.

Wenfeng Liu joined us in 2012 and is our chief technology officer. From 2019, Mr. Liu also serves as president of our Infrastructure and Intelligent Content Distribution Business Group (IIG). Mr. Liu served as our vice president of technology, IT operation, product marketing and business development. Prior to joining us, Mr. Liu served as research and development manager from 2011 to 2012 at VMware China Research Center, where he led the research, development and distribution of various update and maintenance releases of Vmware vSphere projects. From 2003 to 2011, Mr. Liu served in various senior positions at Intel China Research Center, including the role of research and development manager between 2007 to 2011, in which position he spearheaded Intel’s various global R&D initiatives. Mr. Liu holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in computer science from Zhejiang University.

Youqiao Duan joined us in 2012 and is our senior vice president responsible for membership business and intelligent device business. Prior to joining us, Mr. Duan was senior director responsible for investment business at Skyworth Group, where he worked from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Duan holds a bachelor’s degree in automation control from Tsinghua University.

Xianghua Yang joined us in 2010 and is our senior vice president responsible for oversea business and motion picture business. Mr. Yang led iQIYI Pictures from 2014 to 2016 and led our mobile business department from 2010 to 2014. Prior to joining us, Mr. Yang served as deputy general manager of wireless business department at Sohu.com, responsible for R&D, marketing and mobile business. Mr. Yang holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in hydraulic and hydroelectric engineering from Tsinghua University.

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B.
Compensation

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, we paid an aggregate of RMB56.7 million (US$8.2 million) in cash to our executive officers and directors. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our executive officers and directors. Our mainland China subsidiaries and variable interest entities are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employee’s salary for his or her pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance and other statutory benefits and a housing provident fund. For share incentive grants to our officers and directors, see “—Share Incentive Plans.”

Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into an employment agreement with each of our executive officers. Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is employed at will. We may terminate employment for cause. We may also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon 60-day advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will provide severance payments to the executive officer as agreed by us and the executive officer. The executive officer may resign at any time with a 60-day advance written notice.

Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law, any of our confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secrets of our customers or prospective customers, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third-party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in confidence to us all inventions, designs and trade secrets which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice during the executive officer’s employment with us and to assign all right, title and interest in them to us, and assist us in obtaining and enforcing patents, copyrights and other legal rights for these inventions, designs and trade secrets.

In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her employment and typically for one year following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) approach our suppliers, clients, direct or end customers or contacts or other persons or entities introduced to the executive officer in his or her capacity as a representative of us for the purpose of doing business with such persons or entities that will harm our business relationships with these persons or entities; (ii) assume employment with or provide services to any of our competitors, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or otherwise, any of our competitors, without our express consent; or (iii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of, or hire or engage, any person who is known to be employed or engaged by us; or (iv) otherwise interfere with our business or accounts.

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we agree to indemnify our directors and executive officers against liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of our company.

Share Incentive Plans
The 2010 Plan

We adopted the 2010 Plan on October 18, 2010, which was subsequently amended and restated on November 3, 2014, August 6, 2016 and September 15, 2020, for the purpose of granting share-based compensation awards either through a proprietary interest in our long-term success, or compensation based on fulfilling certain performance goals to employees, officers, directors and consultants to incentivize their performance and promote the success of our business. Under the 2010 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is 589,729,714 shares. As of February 28, 2023, options to purchase a total of 340,864,386 Class A ordinary shares were outstanding under the 2010 Plan.

The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2010 Plan.

Types of Awards. The Plan permits the awards of options, share appreciation rights, share grants and restricted share units.

Plan Administration. A committee consisting of at least two individuals determined by our board acts as the plan administrator. The plan administrator will determine the participants who are to receive awards, the number of awards to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each award grant. The plan administrator can amend outstanding awards and interpret the terms of the 2010 Plan and any award agreement.

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Award Agreement. Options to purchase ordinary shares granted under the 2010 Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions for each grant.

Exercise Price. The excises price of an option or a share appreciation right will be determined by the plan administrator. In certain circumstances, such as a recapitalization, a spin-off, reorganization, merger, separation and split-up, the plan administrator may adjust the exercise price of outstanding options and share appreciation rights.

Eligibility. We may grant awards to our employees, directors or consultants or employees, directors or consultants or our affiliates.

Term of the Awards. Unless otherwise determined by the board of directors, the term of each option or share appreciation right granted under the 2010 Plan shall not exceed ten years from date of the grant.

Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is set forth in the award agreement.

Acceleration of Awards upon Change in Control. The plan administrator may determine, at the time of grant or thereafter, that an award shall become vested and exercisable, in full or in part, in the event that a change in control of our company occurs.

Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except as otherwise provided by the plan administrator.

Termination. The plan shall terminate on October 17, 2030 provided that our board may terminate the plan at any time and for any reason.

The 2017 Plan

We adopted the 2017 Plan on November 30, 2017, which was further amended on December 7, 2017, for the purpose of promoting the success and enhance the value of iQIYI, Inc., by linking the personal interests of the members of the board, employees, consultants and other individuals to those of our shareholders and, by providing an incentive for outstanding performance, to generate superior returns for our shareholders. Under the 2017 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is 720,000 ordinary shares, all of which have been granted in the form of restricted share units. As of February 28, 2023, 369,500 of the granted restricted share units had been forfeited due to the departure of the relevant grantees, and the remaining 350,500 restricted share units had been vested and exercised. As such, as of February 28, 2023, no awards were outstanding under the 2017 Plan.

The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2017 Plan.

Types of Awards. The Plan permits the awards of options, restricted shares and restricted share units.

Plan Administration. A committee of one or more members of the board acts as the plan administrator. The plan administrator will determine the participants who are to receive awards, the type or types of awards to be granted, the number of awards to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each award grant. The plan administrator can amend outstanding awards and interpret the terms of the 2017 Plan and any award agreement.

Award Agreement. Awards granted under the 2017 Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions for each grant.

Exercise Price. The excises price of an option will be determined by the plan administrator, but shall not be less than the fair market value on the grant date of the respective option or share appreciation right. In certain circumstances, such as a recapitalization, a spin-off, reorganization, merger, separation and split-up, the plan administrator may adjust the exercise price of outstanding options and share appreciation rights.

Eligibility. We may grant awards to our employees, consultants, and all members of the board, and other individuals.

Term of the Awards. The term of each option or share appreciation right granted under the 2017 Plan shall not exceed ten years from date of the grant.

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Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is set forth in the relevant award agreement.

Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except as otherwise provided by the plan administrator.

Termination. The plan shall terminate on November 29, 2027, provided that our board may terminate the plan at any time and for any reason.

The shares reserved and to be issued under the 2010 Plan and the 2017 Plan have been registered on the Form S-8 on May 24, 2018.

The 2021 Plan

We also adopted the 2021 Plan on December 2, 2021, as amended and restated on November 2, 2022, for the purpose of promoting the success and enhance the value of iQIYI, Inc., by linking the personal interests of the directors, employees and consultants to those of our shareholders and, by providing an incentive for outstanding performance, to generate superior returns for our shareholders. Under the 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is initially 364,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, or the 2021 Plan Award Pool, provided that if restricted share units are granted, each restricted share unit (that entitles the holder to one share) granted shall reduce the number of shares in the 2021 Plan Award Pool available for future grants by 1.3 shares; any option with nil exercise price shall have the same effect of reducing the number of shares in the 2021 Plan Award Pool as the restricted share units. As of February 28, 2022, options with nil exercise price to purchase a total of 127,127,798 ordinary shares were outstanding under the 2021 Plan.

The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2021 Plan.

Types of Awards. The Plan permits the awards of options and restricted share units.

Plan Administration. A committee of one or more members of the board acts as the plan administrator, and the board shall conduct the general administration of the plan if required by applicable laws, and with respect to awards granted to members of the committee that acts as the plan administrator. The plan administrator will determine the participants who are to receive awards, the type or types of awards to be granted, the number of awards to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each award grant. The plan administrator can amend outstanding awards and interpret the terms of the 2021 Plan and any award agreement.

Award Agreement. Awards granted under the 2021 Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions for each grant.

Exercise Price. The excises price of an option will be determined by the plan administrator. In certain circumstances, such as a recapitalization, a spin-off, reorganization, merger, separation and split-up, the plan administrator may adjust the exercise price of outstanding options and share appreciation rights.

Eligibility. We may grant awards to our directors, employees and consultants.

Term of the Awards. The term of each option or share appreciation right granted under the 2021 Plan shall not exceed ten years from date of the grant unless otherwise determined by the shareholders or the board under the condition that our company decides to follow home country practice.

Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is set forth in the relevant award agreement.

Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except as otherwise provided by the plan administrator.

Termination. The plan shall terminate on December 2, 2031, provided that our board may terminate the plan at any time and for any reason.

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The following table summarizes, as of February 28, 2023, the outstanding options and restricted share units that we granted to our directors and executive officers:

 

Name

Class A Ordinary Shares Underlying Options Awarded

Exercise Price
(US$/Share)

Date of Grant

Date of
Expiration

Yu Gong

147,820,116

0 to 0.51

Various dates from 2010/10/18 to 2022/3/11

Various dates from 2024/12/15 to 2032/3/11

Jun Wang

*

0 to 0.51

Various dates from 2018/2/28 to 2022/3/11

Various dates from 2028/2/28 to 2032/3/11

Xiaohui Wang

*

0 to 0.51

Various dates from 2016/8/5 to 2022/3/11

Various dates from 2026/8/5 to 2032/3/11

Wenfeng Liu

*

0 to 0.51

Various dates from 2014/12/15 to 2022/3/11

Various dates

from 2024/12/15

to 2032/3/11

Youqiao Duan

*

0 to 0.51

Various dates from 2014/12/25 to 2022/3/11

Various dates from 2024/12/25 to 2032/3/11

Xianghua Yang

*

0 to 0.5

Various dates from 2014/12/25 to 2022/3/11

Various dates from 2024/12/25 to 2032/3/11

Total

219,908,274

 

 

 

Notes:

* The aggregate number of ordinary shares exercisable from all options granted is less than 1% of our total issued and outstanding ordinary shares.

As of February 28, 2023, other grantees as a group held options to purchase 248,083,910 Class A ordinary shares of our company, with exercise prices ranging from US$0 to US$0.51 per share.

C.
Board Practices
Board of Directors

Our board of directors consists of eight directors. Baidu has the right to appoint a majority of our directors as long as it holds no less than 50% of the voting power of our Company. In addition, some of our directors are also senior management of Baidu. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Relationship with Baidu—We may have conflicts of interest with Baidu and, because of Baidu’s controlling ownership interest in our company, we may not be able to resolve such conflicts on terms favorable to us.” In addition, PAG Asia has the right to appoint, remove and replace one director, who should be elected as a non-voting member of the audit committee and a voting member of the compensation committee of the board of directors, so long as the PAG Notes or Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion of the PAG Notes beneficially owned by PAG Asia and its affiliates represents no less than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes. 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 provided (i) such director, if his interest in such contract or arrangement is material, has declared the nature of his interest at the earliest meeting of the board at which it is practicable for him to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice and (ii) if such contract or arrangement is a transaction with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit committee. The directors may exercise all the powers of the 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 the company or of any third-party. None of our non-executive directors has a service contract with us that provides for benefits upon termination of service.

Committees of the Board of Directors

We have established an audit committee and a compensation committee under the board of directors. We have adopted a charter for each of the two committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.

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Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Sam Hanhui Sun, Conor Chia-hung Yang, Fei Qi and Weijian Shan, and is chaired by Mr. Sam Hanhui Sun. We have determined that Sam Hanhui Sun and Conor Chia-hung Yang satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and meet the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We have determined that members including Sam Hanhui Sun and Conor Chia-hung Yang qualify as “audit committee financial experts.” Fei Qi and Weijian Shan are non-voting members of the audit committee. 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 registered public accounting firm and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;
reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act;
discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing major issues as to the adequacy of our internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies;
annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter;
meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent registered public accounting firm; and
reporting regularly to the board.

Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Junjie He, Fei Qi, Weijian Shan and Sam Hanhui Sun, and is chaired by Mr. Junjie He. We have determined that Sam Hanhui Sun satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and executive officers. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which their compensation is deliberated upon. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:

reviewing the total compensation package for our executive officers and making recommendations to the board with respect to it;
approving and overseeing the total compensation package for our executives other than the three most senior executives;
reviewing the compensation of our directors and making recommendations to the board with respect to it; and
periodically reviewing and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, and employee pension and welfare benefit plans.
Duties of Directors

Under Cayman Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to our company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly and a duty to act in what they consider in good faith to be in our best interests. Our directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Our directors also owe to our 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, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association. Our company has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached. In limited exceptional circumstances, a shareholder may have the right to seek damages in our name if a duty owed by our directors is breached.

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Terms of Directors and Officers

Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the shareholders. Our directors are not subject to a term of office and hold office until such time as they are removed from office by the shareholders or by the board. A director will be removed from office automatically if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing to our company; (iv) without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three consecutive meetings and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or (v) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our current memorandum and articles of association.

Board Diversity Matrix

 

Board Diversity Matrix (As of February 28, 2023)

Country of Principal Executive Offices

Mainland China

Foreign Private Issuer

Yes

Disclosure Prohibited Under Home Country Law

No

Total Number of Directors

8

 

 

Female

Male

Non-Binary

Did Not
Disclose
Gender

Part I: Gender Identity

 

 

 

 

Directors

1

7

0

0

Part II: Demographic Background

 

 

 

 

Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction

0

LGBTQ+

0

Did Not Disclose Demographic Background

0

D.
Employees

We had 7,721, 5,856 and 4,981 employees as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, we had 2,743 employees in Beijing and 2,238 employees in other cities in mainland China and overseas. The following table sets forth the number of our employees by function as of December 31, 2022:

 

Research and development

2,042

Content production and operation

1,558

Sales and marketing

985

General and administrative

396

Total

4,981

Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees. We offer employees competitive salaries, performance-based cash bonuses and other incentives. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any material labor disputes. None of our employees are represented by labor unions.

As required by laws and regulations in mainland China, we participate in various employee social benefits plans that are organized by municipal and provincial governments, including housing funds, pension, medical insurance, job-related injury insurance, maternity insurance and unemployment insurance. We are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified percentages of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time.

We typically enter into standard confidentiality and employment agreements with our employees. These contracts include a standard non-compete covenant that prohibits the employee from competing with us, directly or indirectly, during his or her employment as well as certain period of time after employment is terminated.

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E.
Share Ownership

Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of February 28, 2023:

each of our directors and executive officers; and
each person known to us to own beneficially 5% or more of our ordinary shares.

The calculations in the table below are based on 6,696,857,188 ordinary shares outstanding as of February 28, 2023, comprising of 3,655,759,910 Class A ordinary shares (excluding 196,046,533 Class A ordinary shares issued to our depositary bank for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards under our share incentive plans) and 3,041,097,278 Class B ordinary shares.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant, or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

 

Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned

 

Class A Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned (†)

Class B Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned (††)

Voting Power (†††)

 

Number

%

Number

%

%

Directors and Executive Officers:**

 

 

 

 

 

Junjie He

Yu Gong(1)

143,859,044

3.8

*

Dou Shen

*

*

*

Fei Qi

Luyao Han

Weijian Shan(2)

Sam Hanhui Sun(3)

Conor Chia-hung Yang(4)

Jun Wang

*

*

Xiaohui Wang

*

*

*

Wenfeng Liu

*

*

*

Youqiao Duan

*

*

*

Xianghua Yang

*

*

*

All directors and executive officers as a group

197,366,463

5.1

*

Principal Shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Baidu(5)

7,933,331

*

3,041,097,278

100.0

89.3

PAG(6)

840,222,180

18.7

2.3

Best Ventures Limited(7)

341,874,885

9.4

1.0

 

Notes:

* Less than 1%.

* * Except for Junjie He, Dou Shen, Fei Qi and Luyao Han, and as indicated otherwise below, the business address of our directors and executive officers is 4/F, iQIYI Youth Center, Yoolee Plaza, No. 21, North Road of Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100027, China. The business address of Junjie He, Dou Shen, Fei Qi, and Luyao Han is Baidu Campus, No. 10 Shangdi 10th Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China.

† For each person and group included in this column, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of Class A ordinary shares beneficially owned by such person or group, including Class A ordinary shares that such person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days of February 28, 2023, by the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding as of February 28, 2023 and the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the options or other right held by such person or group that are exercisable to acquire Class A ordinary shares within 60 days of February 28, 2023.

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†† For each person and group included in this column, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of Class B ordinary shares beneficially owned by such person or group, including Class B ordinary shares that such person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days of February 28, 2023, by the sum of the total number of Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of February 28, 2023 and the number of Class B ordinary shares underlying the options or other right held by such person or group that are exercisable to acquire Class B ordinary shares within 60 days of February 28, 2023.

††† For each person or group included in this column, percentage of total voting power represents voting power based on both Class A and Class B ordinary shares held by such person or group, including Class A and Class B ordinary shares that such person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days of February 28, 2023, with respect to all outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. Each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per Class A ordinary share. Each holder of our Class B ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per Class B ordinary share. Our Class B ordinary shares are convertible at any time by the holder into Class A ordinary shares on a share-for-share basis.

(1)
Representing (i) 137,423,870 Class A ordinary shares that Dr. Gong may purchase upon exercise of options within 60 days of February 28, 2023, and (ii) 6,435,174 Class A ordinary shares held by Cannes Ventures Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Cannes Ventures Limited is wholly-owned by Dr. Gong. The registered address of Cannes Ventures Limited is 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
(2)
The address of Mr. Weijian Shan is 33/F, Three Pacific Place, 1 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong.
(3)
The address of Sam Hanhui Sun is 64 Donggong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100009, China.
(4)
The address of Conor Chia-hung Yang is 12/F, No. 1217 Dongfang Road, Pudong, Shanghai 200122, China.
(5)
Representing (i) 7,933,331 Class A ordinary shares, in the form of ADSs, and (ii) 2,876,391,396 Class B ordinary shares held by Baidu Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands, and (iii) 164,705,882 Class B ordinary shares held by Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong. Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited is wholly-owned by Baidu Holding Limited, which in turn is wholly-owned by Baidu. The business address of each of Baidu Holdings Limited and Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited is No. 10 Shangdi 10th Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China.
(6)
Representing 797,352,990 Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the PAG Notes held by PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, 37,969,190 Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the PAG Notes held by PM Partners I LP and 4,900,000 Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the PAG Notes held by Polymer Asia Fund LP, as reported in the Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D filed jointly by PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, PAGAC IV-2 (Cayman) Limited, PAG Asia IV LP, PAG Asia Capital GP IV Limited, PAG Capital Limited, Pacific Alliance Group Limited and PAG on January 23, 2023. PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited is controlled by PAGAC IV-2 (Cayman) Limited. PAGAC IV-2 (Cayman) Limited is controlled by PAG Asia IV LP and PAG Asia Capital GP IV Limited is the general partner of PAG Asia IV LP. PAG Asia Capital GP IV Limited is controlled by PAG Capital Limited which in turn is controlled by Pacific Alliance Group Limited. PM Partners I LP is indirectly controlled by Pacific Alliance Group Limited. Pacific Alliance Group Limited is controlled by PAG. Polymer Asia Fund LP is indirectly controlled by PAG. PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited is a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands. PM Partners I LP is a partnership established and registered under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Polymer Asia Fund LP is a partnership established and registered in the Cayman Islands. The address of each of PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, PM Partners I LP and Polymer Asia Fund LP is P.O. Box 472, Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106 Cayman Islands.
(7)
Representing 341,874,885 Class A ordinary shares held by Best Ventures Limited (formerly known as Xiaomi Ventures Limited) as of December 31, 2018, as reported in a Schedule 13G filed by Xiaomi Ventures Limited on February 1, 2019. Best Ventures Limited is a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands. Best Ventures Limited is beneficially owned and controlled by Xiaomi Corporation. The registered address of Best Ventures Limited is c/o P.O. Box 2221, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B ordinary shares are entitled to ten votes per share. We issued Class A ordinary shares represented by our ADSs in our initial public offering in April 2018. Holders of our Class B ordinary shares may choose to convert their Class B ordinary shares into the same number of Class A ordinary shares at any time. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstance.

We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company. To our knowledge, as of February 28, 2023, 3,427,133,369 of our Class A ordinary shares were held by three record holders in the United States, representing 93.7% of our total issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares as of such date (excluding 196,046,533 Class A ordinary shares reserved for future issuances upon the exercising or vesting of awards granted under the issuer’s share incentive plans). As of February 28, 2023, none of our Class B ordinary shares are held by record holders in the United States.

For options and restricted share units granted to our officers, directors and employees, see “—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plans.”

F.
Disclosure of a Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation

Not applicable.

A.
Major Shareholders

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.”

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B.
Related Party Transactions

Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders

See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders.”

Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates

Baidu

We enjoy significant business synergies with Baidu primarily in the form of complementary content offerings for users and cross-sale of each other’s services.

Master Business Cooperation Agreement

We have entered into a master business cooperation agreement with Baidu on January 19, 2018.

Under the master business cooperation agreement, we and Baidu agree to cooperate with each other in areas including but not limited to AI technology, smart devices/DuerOS (the dialog-type AI system and open platform developed by Baidu), cloud services, online advertising, internet traffic, data and content, and to treat each other as the most preferred strategic partner in our areas of cooperation.

Specifically, (i) Baidu agrees to cooperate with us on leveraging AI technology to further improve our user experience; (ii) we and Baidu agree to share sales channel resources to promote smart devices/DuerOS and increase iQIYI’s market share in its industry; (iii) Baidu agrees to provide support for our cloud computing infrastructure and provide us with cloud computing infrastructure services on Baidu’s most favored terms; (iv) we and Baidu agree to cross sell our respective advertising services, and Baidu agrees to grant us priority to advertise on its platform; (v) we and Baidu agree to leverage our respective services to increase user traffic; and (vi) we and Baidu agree to allow our respective registered users and content providers to log onto each other’s platforms.

Under this agreement, (i) Baidu agrees not to compete with us in providing video content services that are the same as or substantially similar to our long-form video businesses (with the exception of existing business activities conducted by Baidu and its affiliates and of the business activities conducted by the entity that currently operates Baidu’s online video business), and (ii) we agree not to compete with Baidu in any business that is the same as or substantially similar to Baidu’s core businesses (with the exception of existing business activities conducted by us or our affiliates). Long-form video business means long-form video content services currently provided by iQIYI, such long-form video content includes, but is not limited to, movies, TV series, network series, cartoons, variety shows, documentaries, etc. Whether any service is Baidu’s core business or is the same as or substantially similar to Baidu’s core business shall be determined by Baidu and us in a commercially reasonable manner.

The master business cooperation agreement will expire on the eighth anniversary of the date of execution, extendable for a term of eight years upon agreement by both parties. In the event we are no longer controlled by Baidu, either we or Baidu may terminate this agreement.

Loan Agreement

Under the master business cooperation agreement, Baidu would provide us with a RMB650.0 million (US$94.2 million) loan, which mature on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. We entered into an interest-free loan agreement with Baidu with respect to such loan on January 19, 2018. The loan was repaid in full in March 2023.

Share Purchase Agreement and Ticket Business Cooperation Agreement

On February 12, 2018, we entered into a share purchase agreement with Baidu Holdings, pursuant to which we would issue to Baidu Holdings an aggregate of 36,860,691 Class B ordinary shares. The transaction has closed in April 2018. As consideration for the issuance of such shares and subject to the conditions set forth in the share purchase agreement, Baidu Holdings agreed to (i) undertake certain non-compete obligations towards us with respect to the online movie ticket and show ticket booking business of Baidu Holdings and its affiliates, (ii) direct user traffic related to such ticket business to us, (iii) provide us with technological support with respect to our ticket booking business, (iv) license certain domain names and certain intellectual property rights to us and (v) enter into a ticket business cooperation agreement with us, which has been signed concurrently.

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Share Subscription by Baidu

In March 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with Baidu and a consortium of financial investors who agreed to subscribe for and purchase from us, through a private placement, a total of 164,705,882 newly issued Class B ordinary shares and 304,705,874 newly issued Class A ordinary shares of our company, for a total purchase price of US$285 million in cash. In accordance with the subscription agreements, Baidu subscribed for Class B ordinary shares.

Other Transactions with Baidu

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we generated membership services revenue of RMB19.8 million, nil and RMB54.4 million (US$7.9 million), respectively, advertising services revenue of RMB113.9 million, RMB122.9 million and RMB55.7 million (US$8.1 million), respectively, and other revenues of RMB15.4 million, RMB14.5 million and RMB1.8 million (US$0.3 million), respectively, from Baidu.

We incurred cost of revenues for license fees in the amount of RMB13.7 million, RMB13.9 million and RMB8.2 million (US$1.2 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We incurred cost of revenues for bandwidth services and cloud services in the amount of RMB1,007.5 million, RMB918.8 million and RMB653.0 million (US$94.7 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We incurred selling, general and administrative expenses for advertising services provided by Baidu in the amount of RMB2.5 million, RMB13.4 million and RMB47.6 million (US$6.9 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We incurred research and development expenses for cloud services provided by Baidu in the amount of RMB7.4 million, nil and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had RMB38.3 million, RMB34.9 million and RMB20.0 million (US$2.9 million), respectively, due from Baidu. The balance mainly represents amounts due from Baidu for advertising, membership and other services.

As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had RMB1,037.8 million, RMB1,405.5 million and RMB1,879.1 million (US$272.4 million), respectively, due to Baidu. The related party balances mainly represented accrued expenses for bandwidth services and cloud services provided by Baidu. As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had RMB700.0 million, RMB700.0 million and RMB700.0 million (US$101.5 million), respectively, in loans due to Baidu. As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the total outstanding balance represents an interest-free loan of RMB50.0 million that is due on demand, and an interest-free loan of RMB650.0 million provided by Baidu in January 2018. The RMB650.0 million interest-free loan was repaid in full in March 2023.

Other Transactions with Related Parties

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we generated content distribution revenue of RMB176.2 million, RMB297.3 million and RMB190.4 million (US$27.6 million), respectively, from equity investees. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we purchased content from equity investees in the amount of RMB1,455.9 million, RMB2,358.7 million and RMB1,513.7 million (US$219.5 million), respectively. Other related party transactions, including services provided by/to our equity method investees and other investees measured using the measurement alternative in the ordinary course of business, were insignificant for each of the years presented.

As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had RMB97.2 million, RMB201.6 million and RMB144.0 million (US$20.9 million), respectively, due from other related parties. The balance mainly represents amounts due from our equity investees for content distribution services or paid in advance by us for licensed copyrights acquisition.

As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had RMB1,018.4 million, RMB1,309.2 million and RMB1,043.5 million (US$151.3 million), respectively, due to other related parties. The related party balances mainly represented, (i) deferred revenues in relation to content distribution, IP licensing, advertising services and traffic support services to be provided to one of our equity investees; (ii) amounts owed to our equity investees for licensed copyrights; and (iii) advances made by one of our equity investees for online advertising services.

Shareholders Agreement

Other than provisions with respect to registration rights, the description of which is set forth below, all provisions and rights under our sixth amended and restated shareholders agreement terminated upon consummation of our initial public offering.

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Demand Registration Rights. At any time after the earlier of (i) the four-year period following the date of the shareholders agreement or (ii) 180 days after the effective date of the registration statement for a public offering, holders of at least 30% of the registrable securities then outstanding, or Existing Initiating Holders, holders of at least 30% of the registrable securities issued or issuable upon conversion of the Series F preferred shares then outstanding, or Series F Initiating Holders, and holders of at least 30% of the registrable securities issued or issuable upon conversion of the Series G preferred shares then outstanding, or Series G Initiating Holders, have the right to demand that we file a registration statement covering the registration of any registrable securities of such holders. We have the right to defer filing of a registration statement for a period of not more than 90 days after the receipt of the request of the initiating holders under certain conditions, but we cannot exercise the deferral right more than once in any twelve-month period and we cannot register any other share during such twelve-month period. We are not obligated to effect a demand registration if we have, within the six-month period prior to the date of a demand registration request, already effected a registration. We are not obligated to effect more than four demand registrations initiated by the Existing Initiating Holders, more than two demand registrations initiated by the Series F Initiating Holders, or more than two demand registrations initiated by the Series G Initiating Holders, other than demand registration to be effected pursuant to registration statement on Form F-3, for which an unlimited number of demand registrations shall be permitted.

Piggyback Registration Rights. If we propose to file a registration statement for a public offering of our securities, we must offer holders of our registrable securities an opportunity to include in the registration the number of registrable securities of the same class or series as those proposed to be registered. If the managing underwriters of any underwritten offering determine in its view the number of registrable securities exceeds the maximum offering size, the registrable securities shall allocate first to us, second to each of holders requesting for the inclusion of their registrable securities pursuant to the piggyback registration, and third to holders of our other securities with such priorities among them as we shall determine.

Form F-3 Registration Rights. Any of the Existing Initiating Holders, Series F Initiating Holders and Series G Initiating Holders may request us in writing to file an unlimited number of registration statements on Form F-3. Promptly after receiving such request, we shall give written notice of the proposed registration and within 20 days of such notice, we shall effect the registration of the securities on Form F-3.

Expenses of Registration. We will bear all registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions incurred in connection with any demand, piggyback or F-3 registration.

Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.”

Share Option Grants

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plans.”

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

Following the publication in April 2020 of a short seller report by Wolfpack Research, or the Wolfpack Report, the SEC asked us to produce certain financial, operating, and other documents and records. We also engaged professional advisers, including a Big Four accounting firm that is not our auditor, to conduct an internal review into certain of the key allegations in the Wolfpack Report and to report their findings to our audit committee. The SEC also sought the production of certain documents and records from us related to such internal review and other related information. We cooperated with the SEC. Our internal review within the agreed scope was substantially complete and did not uncover any evidence that would substantiate the allegations.

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Furthermore, starting in April 2020, we and certain of our current and former officers and directors were named as defendants in several putative securities class actions filed in federal court, which were purportedly brought on behalf of a class of persons who allegedly suffered damages as a result of alleged misstatements and omissions in our company’s public disclosure documents. In May 2021, these actions were consolidated under the caption In re iQIYI, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 1:20-CV-1830 (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York). In June 2021, lead plaintiffs filed the operative amended complaint. In July 2021, defendants filed motion to dismiss the case. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on September 29, 2021. However, in light of the common questions of law and fact at issue in this case and a related action under the caption In re Baidu Inc. Securities Litigation, 20-cv-03794 (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York), the Court terminated the motion to dismiss without prejudice and ordered motion-to-dismiss briefing for the two cases to be completed by March 3, 2023 under a new briefing schedule. The coordinated motion-to-dismiss briefing has now been completed under the new schedule, and we await a decision from the court on these motions.

We will have to defend against these putative securities class action lawsuits, as applicable, including any appeals of such lawsuits should our initial defense be unsuccessful. We are currently unable to estimate the possible outcome or loss or possible range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these lawsuits. In the event that our initial defense of these lawsuits is unsuccessful, we cannot assure you that we will prevail in any appeal. Any adverse outcome of these cases, including any plaintiff’s appeal of a judgment in these lawsuits, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation, cash flows, and reputation. Although no further information has been requested from us since early 2021, we are currently unable to predict the duration, outcome, or impact of the SEC investigation of iQIYI, or from the SEC’s review of the documents and records requested from us. The litigation or SEC investigation process may utilize a significant portion of our resources and divert management’s attention from the day-to-day operations, all of which could harm our business.

As of December 31, 2022, 138 cases against us were pending before various courts in mainland China. The aggregate amount of damages sought under these pending cases is approximately RMB350.9 million. We are currently unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or a range of reasonably possible loss as the proceedings are in the early stages, or there is a lack of clear or consistent interpretation of laws. As a result, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the timing or ultimate resolution of such proceedings, which includes eventual loss, fine, penalty or business impact, if any, and therefore, an estimate for the reasonably possible loss or a range of reasonably possible loss cannot be made. With respect to the limited number of proceedings for which we are able to estimate the reasonably possible loss or the range of reasonably possible loss, such estimates are immaterial.

In addition, as of December 31, 2022, 1,046 cases brought by us against others for copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition and other commercial disputes were pending before various courts in mainland China. The aggregate amount of damages we are seeking under these pending cases is approximately RMB980.1 million.

Dividend Policy

Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant.

We do not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.

We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in mainland China for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in Mainland China—We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our mainland China subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to make payments to us and any tax we are required to pay could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” If we pay any dividends, we will pay our ADS holders to the same extent as holders of our Class A ordinary shares, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder.

B.
Significant Changes

Except as disclosed elsewhere 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.

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ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

A.
Offering and Listing Details.

See “—C. Markets.”

B.
Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.

C.
Markets

Our ADSs have been listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “IQ” since March 29, 2018.

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

The following are summaries of material provisions of our currently effective ninth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as well as the Companies Act (as revised) insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.

Board of Directors

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices.”

Ordinary Shares

General. All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares. Our company will issue only non-negotiable shares, and will not issue bearer or negotiable shares.

Register of Members. Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:

the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member, of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member and whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the articles of association of the company, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional;
the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
the date on which any person ceased to be a member.

Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e. the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members is deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the

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register of members. Once our register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members should be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name in the register of members.

If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of our company, the person or member aggrieved (or any member of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Cayman Islands Grand Court for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.

Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors (provided always that dividends may be declared and paid only out of funds of the Company lawfully available therefor, namely out of either profit, retained earnings or our share premium account, and provided further that a dividend may not be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business).

Classes of Ordinary Shares. Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares (and a further class of authorized but undesignated shares). Except for conversion rights and voting rights, the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall carry equal rights and rank pari passu with one another, including but not limited to the rights to dividends (subject to the ability of the board of directors, under our current memorandum and articles of association, to determine that a dividend shall be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets (which may consist of the shares or securities of any other company) and to settle all questions concerning such distribution (including fixing the value of such assets, determining that cash payment shall be made to some shareholders in lieu of specific assets and vesting any such specific assets in trustees on such terms as the directors think fit)) and other capital distributions.

Conversion. Class B ordinary shares may be converted into the same number of Class A ordinary shares by the holders thereof at any time, while Class A ordinary shares cannot be converted into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.

Voting Rights. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall, at all times, vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote by the members at any general meeting of our company. Each Class A ordinary share shall be entitled to one vote on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our company, and each Class B ordinary share shall be entitled to ten votes on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our company. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one shareholder present in person or by proxy.

Walkers (Hong Kong), our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, has advised that such voting structure is in compliance with current Cayman Islands law as in general terms, a company and its shareholders are free to provide in the articles of association for such rights as they consider appropriate, subject to such rights not being contrary to any provision of the Companies Act and not inconsistent with common law.

An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attached to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorized representatives) at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of no less than two-thirds of the votes attached to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders who are present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorized representatives) at a general meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our company, as permitted by the Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our memorandum and articles of association.

Transfer of Ordinary Shares. 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 of directors.

However, our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which our company has a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:

the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;

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the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
a fee of such maximum sum as the Nasdaq Global Select Market may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the board of directors may from time to time require, is paid to our company in respect thereof; and
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.

If our directors refuse to register a transfer they are required, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.

Liquidation. On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares or, on a winding up, with the sanction of a special resolution of our company and any other sanction required by the Companies Act), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares will be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them (subject to, on a winding up where the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders of our company shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, a deduction from ordinary shares in respect of which there are monies due of all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise). If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them. We are a “limited liability” company registered under the Companies Act, and under the Companies Act, the liability of our members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. Our current memorandum of association contains a declaration that the liability of our members is so limited.

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares (together with any interests which may have accrued). The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.

Redemption. Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares. We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders thereof, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Our company may also repurchase any of our shares provided that the manner and terms of such purchase have been approved by our board of directors or by ordinary resolution of our shareholders, or are otherwise authorized by our memorandum and articles of association. Under the Companies Act, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if our company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding other than shares held as treasury shares, or (c) if the company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.

Variations of Rights of Shares. If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any such class may (subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class of share) only be materially adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class by the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights will not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to such existing class of shares or the redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by our company. The rights of the holders of shares shall not be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation or issue of shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.

General Meetings of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our current memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.

Shareholders’ annual general meetings and any other general meetings of our shareholders may be convened by a majority of our board of directors or our chairman. Advance notice of at least seven calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholders holding shares in our Company which carry in aggregate (or representing by proxy) not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all shares in our Company in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting, present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative.

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Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our current memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that as at the date of the deposit of such requisition carry the right to vote at general meetings of our company, to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting; however, our current memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.

Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our ordinary shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association, the register of mortgages and charges and any special resolutions passed by shareholders). Under Cayman Islands law, the names of our current directors can be obtained from a search conducted at the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.

Changes in Capital. Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:

increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares;
sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or
cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so canceled.

Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by our company for an order confirming such reduction, reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.

Exempted Company. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands. The Companies Act in the Cayman Islands distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
an exempted company’s register of members is not required to be open to inspection;
an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
an exempted company may issue no par value shares;
an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 30 years in the first instance);
an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and
an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on that shareholder’s shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

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Registered Office and Objects

Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other location within the Cayman Islands as our directors may from time to time decide. The objects for which our company is established are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or any other law of the Cayman Islands.

Differences in Corporate Law

The Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England but does not follow recent United Kingdom statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the Companies Act and the current Companies Act of England. In addition, the Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the comparable provisions of the laws applicable to companies incorporated in Delaware and their shareholders.

Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Act 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 (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a combined 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) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to (amongst other matters) the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a statement 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 and 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 (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. 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, compromises or arrangements between a Cayman Islands company and its members (or any class of them).

Following amendments to the Companies Act that became effective on August 31, 2022, the majority-in-number "headcount test" in relation to the approval of members' schemes of arrangement has been abolished. Section 86(2A) of the Companies Act provides that, if 75% in value of the members (or class of members) of a Cayman Islands company agree to any compromise or arrangement, such compromise or arrangement shall, if sanctioned by the Cayman Court, be binding on all members (or class of members) of such company and on the company itself. Where a Cayman Islands company is in the course of being wound up, such compromise or arrangement would be binding on the liquidator and contributories of the company. In contrast, section 86(2) of the Companies Act continues to require (a) approval by a majority in number representing 75% in value; and (b) the sanction of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, in relation to any compromise or arrangement between a company and its creditors (or any class of them). At the initial directions hearing, the Cayman Islands court will make orders for (amongst other things) the convening of the meetings of creditors or members (or classes of them, as applicable). While a dissenting shareholder or creditor has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court would nevertheless be likely to approve the arrangement if it determines that:

the company has complied with the directions set down by the Cayman Islands court;
the meeting was properly held and the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met;
the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; and
the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his/her interest.

If a compromise or arrangement of a Cayman Islands company is approved by the members in the context of a members' scheme and the Cayman Islands court subsequently sanctions such scheme (as described above), a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to the appraisal rights which it would have if the company in question were a Delaware corporation (being the

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right to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of its shares). This is because such scheme will be binding on all members (or class of members), regardless of whether all the members (or class of members) approved the scheme, upon the sanction order being made. Having said that, a dissenting shareholder would have the right to appeal the making of the sanction order to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, if there were grounds for doing so.

Shareholders’ Suits. In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company, and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands court can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge actions where:

a company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires;
the act complained of, although not ultra vires, could only be effected duly if authorized by more than a simple majority vote that has not been obtained; and
those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability. The ability of Cayman Islands companies to provide in their articles of association for indemnification of officers and directors is limited, insofar as it is not permissible for the directors to contract out of the core fiduciary duties they owe to the company, nor would any indemnity be effective if it were held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, which would include any attempt to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our current memorandum and articles of association provide that our directors and officers shall be indemnified against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such director or officer, other than by reason of such person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our current memorandum and articles of association.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Some provisions of our current 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 preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.

However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.

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 or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her 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 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.

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As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company owes duties to the company including the following—a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a personal profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him to do so), a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third-party and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time.

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. The Delaware General Corporation Law does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, but in keeping with common law, Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. 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 provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to table resolutions at a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our current memorandum and articles of association provides that, on the requisition of shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that as at the date of the deposit of such requisition carry the right to vote at general meetings of our company, the board shall convene an extraordinary general meeting. However, our current memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.

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. Cayman Islands law does not prohibit cumulative voting, but our current articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

Appointment of Directors. For so long as Baidu Holdings and its affiliates collectively hold no less than 50% of the voting power of our company, Baidu shall be entitled to appoint, remove and replace a majority of the directors.

The board of directors may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining directors present and voting at a meeting of the board of directors, appoint any person as a director, to fill a casual vacancy on the board of directors that is not a Baidu Holdings appointed director or as an addition to the existing board of directors. A vacancy on the board of directors created by the removal of a non-Baidu Holdings appointed director may be filled by way of an ordinary resolution of our company’s shareholders or by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining directors present and voting at a meeting of the board of directors.

Each director whose term of office expires shall be eligible for re-election at a meeting of our company’s shareholders or re-appointment by the board of directors.

Removal of Directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our current memorandum and articles of association, directors not appointed by Baidu Holdings may be removed by ordinary resolution of our shareholders or pursuant to an existing written agreement between the director and our company.

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 or bylaws that is approved by its shareholders, 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 a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock or who or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and owned 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer 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

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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 acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

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 for a proper corporate purpose 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 Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up either voluntarily or compulsorily. A company may be wound up by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for a number of reasons, including: (i) the company has passed a special resolution requiring the company to be wound up by the Grand Court; (ii) the company is unable to pay its debts; and (iii) the Grand Court is of opinion that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up.

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 current articles of association, we may only materially adversely vary the rights attached to any class of shares (subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class of share) with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class by the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class.

Amendment of Governing Documents. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may be amended only if adopted and declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and the bylaws may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and may, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, also be amended by the board of directors. Under the Companies Act, our memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by special resolution of our shareholders.

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by our current 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 current memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

Directors’ Power to Issue Shares. Under our current memorandum and articles of association, our board of directors is empowered to issue or allot shares or grant options and warrants with or without preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or restrictions.

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 on Form 20-F.

D.
Exchange Controls

See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Foreign Exchange” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government Regulations—Regulations on Dividend Distribution.”

E.
Taxation

The following summary of Cayman Islands, People’s Republic of China and U. S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in our ADSs or Class A 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

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relating to an investment in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, such as tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it represents the opinion of Walkers (Hong Kong), our Cayman Islands counsel. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of PRC tax law, it represents the opinion of Jingtian & Gongcheng, our PRC counsel.

Cayman Islands Taxation

The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.

Payments of dividends and capital in respect of the shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding tax will be required on the payment of dividends or capital to any holder of our ADSs or ordinary shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our ADSs or ordinary shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.

Mainland China Taxation

The Enterprise Income Tax Law provides that an enterprise established under the laws of a foreign country or region but whose “de facto management body” is located in mainland China is treated as a mainland China resident enterprise for mainland China tax purposes and consequently subject to mainland China income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income. The implementing rules of the Enterprise Income Tax Law merely define the location of the “de facto management body” as an “organizational body which effectively manages and controls the production and business operation, personnel, accounting, properties and other aspects of operations of an enterprise.” Based on a review of surrounding facts and circumstances, we do not believe that we should be considered a mainland China resident enterprise for mainland China tax purposes. However, there is limited guidance and implementation history of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, and if we are treated as a mainland China resident enterprise for mainland China tax purposes, we will be subject to mainland China tax on our global income at a uniform tax rate of 25%.

Mainland China income tax at the rate of 10% will be withheld from payments of interest or dividends we make to investors that are “non-resident enterprises” of mainland China, if such investors do not have an establishment or place of business in mainland China, or if they have such establishment or place of business in mainland China but the relevant income is not effectively connected with such establishment or place of business, to the extent such interest or dividends are deemed to be sourced within mainland China.

Furthermore, any gain realized on the transfer of the ADSs or shares by such investors would also be subject to mainland China income tax at 10% if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within mainland China.

Furthermore, if we are considered a mainland China resident enterprise and relevant mainland China tax authorities consider the interest or dividends we pay or any gains realized from the transfer of our ADSs or shares to be income derived from sources within mainland China, such interest or dividends and gains earned by non-resident individuals would be subject to the 20% mainland China individual income tax (which may be withheld at source).

These rates could be reduced by applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements between China and the jurisdiction of the investor. For example, for investors in Hong Kong, the tax rate is reduced to 7% for interest payments and 5% for dividends. However, it is unclear whether non-mainland China shareholders would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and mainland China in the event that we are treated as a mainland China resident enterprise.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations under present law of the ownership and disposition of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. This summary applies only to investors that are U.S. Holders (as defined below) and that hold the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion is based on the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, pertinent judicial decisions, interpretive rulings of the IRS and such other authorities as we have considered relevant. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax considerations described below.

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The following discussion does not deal with all the tax considerations to any particular investor or to persons that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, including:

banks;
financial institutions;
insurance companies;
broker dealers;
persons that elect to mark their securities to market;
tax-exempt entities;
persons liable for the alternative minimum tax;
regulated investment companies;
certain expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;
governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
persons holding the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction;
persons that actually or constructively own ADSs or ordinary shares representing 10% or more of our voting power or value;
persons whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar; or
persons who acquired ADSs or Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services.

U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors about the application of the U.S. federal tax rules to their particular circumstances as well as the state, local and foreign tax consequences to them of ownership and disposition of ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.

The discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax considerations will apply if you are a “U.S. Holder.” You are a “U.S. Holder” if you are the beneficial owner of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
a corporation (or other entity subject to tax as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
a trust that (i) is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons has or have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities that hold the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, or of persons who hold the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the 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 will be complied with in accordance with their terms. If you hold ADSs, you will be treated as the holder of the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

This discussion does not address any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or estate tax laws, or state, local or foreign tax laws or the Medicare tax on certain net investment income. We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS or an opinion as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court.

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Taxation of Dividends or Other Distributions on the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares

Subject to the discussion under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations” below, the gross amount of all our distributions to you with respect to the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares will be included in your gross income as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the depositary, in the case of ADSs, or by you, in the case of Class A ordinary shares, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (computed under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because we do not intend to calculate our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, you should expect to treat the full amount of the distribution as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by us will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.

With respect to individuals and certain other non-corporate holders, dividends paid on our ADSs may be subject to reduced rates of taxation provided that (1) our ADSs are readily tradeable on an established securities market in the United States, or otherwise, in the event we are deemed to be a mainland China “resident enterprise” under the PRC tax law, we are eligible for the benefit of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC, or the Treaty, (2) we are not a PFIC (as discussed below) for either the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year and (3) certain holding period and other requirements are met. Because our ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and will accordingly be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, and we believe that we were not a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 2022 and we do not expect to be a PFIC in the foreseeable future, we believe that we are a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid on the ADSs, but not with respect to dividends paid on our ordinary shares. In the event that we are deemed to be a mainland China resident enterprise under PRC tax law, we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. If we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by our ADSs, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation applicable to qualified dividend income, as discussed above. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.

Dividends will generally be treated as income from foreign sources for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes and will generally constitute passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a mainland China resident enterprise under the PRC tax law and dividends paid on our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares are subject to mainland China withholding taxes, depending on your particular facts and circumstances, you may be eligible, subject to a number of complex limitations, to claim a foreign tax credit in respect of any foreign withholding taxes imposed (at a rate not exceeding the applicable Treaty rate) on dividends received on the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. If you do not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes withheld, you may instead, subject to applicable limitations, claim a deduction, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholdings, but only for a year in which you elect to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. You are advised to consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under your particular circumstances.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares

Subject to the discussion under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations” below, you will recognize gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an ADS or Class A ordinary share equal to the difference between the amount realized for the ADS or Class A ordinary share and your tax basis in the ADS or Class A ordinary share. The gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss, which will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period for the shares exceeds one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gains are generally eligible for a preferential rate of taxation for individuals and certain other non-corporate U.S. Holders. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that you recognize will generally be treated as U.S.-source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, in which event you may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any mainland China tax imposed on the disposition of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against tax due on other income derived from foreign sources in the same category. However, in the event we are deemed to be a mainland China resident enterprise under PRC tax law, we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. In such event, if PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may elect to treat such gain as mainland China-source income for foreign tax credit purposes. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences in case any mainland China tax is imposed on gain on a disposition of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit and the election to treat any gain as mainland China-source, under your particular circumstances.

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Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations

A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, is considered a PFIC for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. 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, more than 25% (by value) of the shares. Although the law in this regard is not entirely clear, we treat the variable interest entities as being owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes because we impose control over them and we are entitled to their economic benefits and, as a result, we consolidate their results of operations in our combined and consolidated financial statement. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of the variable interest entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would likely be treated as a PFIC for our taxable year ended December 31, 2022 and for subsequent taxable years.

Assuming we are the owner of the variable interest entities in mainland China for U.S. federal income tax purposes, based on our current and expected income and assets and the current market value of our ADSs, we do not presently expect to be a PFIC for the 2023 taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, given the lack of authority applying the PFIC rules to our particular circumstances, and the highly factual nature of the analysis, no assurance can be given. The determination as to whether we are a PFIC must be made annually after the end of each taxable year based on that year’s composition of income and assets, and consequently, our PFIC status may change. While we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC, changes in the nature of our income or assets or the value of our ADSs may cause us to become a PFIC for the current or any subsequent taxable year. In particular, because the value of certain of our assets for purposes of the asset test is generally determined by reference to the market price of the ADSs, our PFIC status may depend in part on the market price of the ADSs, which may fluctuate considerably. The composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets. In addition, there are uncertainties in the application of the PFIC rules to our particular circumstances. It is possible that the IRS may challenge our classification of certain income and assets or our valuation of our tangible and intangible assets, each of which may result in our becoming a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years.

If we are a PFIC for any year during which you hold the ADSs or the Class A ordinary shares we will generally continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which you hold such ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. However, if we cease to be a PFIC, provided that you have not made a mark-to-market election, as described below, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime by making a purging election with respect to such ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, as applicable. One type of purging election creates a deemed sale of such shares at their fair market value. Any gain recognized in this deemed sale will be subject to tax as an excess distribution, as described below. As a result of this election, you will have additional basis (to the extent of any gain recognized on the deemed sale) and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, a new holding period in your shares.

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold the ADSs or the Class A ordinary shares you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the ADSs or Class A 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 Class A ordinary shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules:

the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares;
the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we became a PFIC, would be treated as ordinary income; and
the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for you for such year and would be increased by an additional tax equal to interest on the resulting tax deemed deferred with respect to each such other taxable 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) realized on the sale of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as capital assets.

Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election for such stock of a PFIC to elect out of the tax treatment discussed in the two preceding paragraphs. The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter, or “regularly traded,” on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable Treasury Regulations. We expect that the ADSs will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market which is a qualified exchange for these purposes.

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Consequently, assuming that the ADSs are regularly traded, if you are a holder of ADSs, it is expected that the mark-to-market election would be available to you were we to become a PFIC. However, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to our Class A ordinary shares as they are not marketable stock. If you make a valid mark-to-market election for the ADSs, you will include in income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ADSs as of the close of your taxable year over your adjusted basis in such ADSs. You are allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ADSs over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. Such deductions, however, are allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the ADSs included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs in a year in which we are a PFIC, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment also applies to the deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss on the ADSs, as well as to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the ADSs, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such ADSs. Your basis in the ADSs will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make such a mark-to-market election, tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations which are not PFICs would apply to distributions by us (except that the lower applicable capital gains rate would not apply).

Because, as a technical matter, a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the general PFIC rules described above with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in certain investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Alternatively, a U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect to its ADSs and Class A ordinary shares by making a timely “qualified electing fund,” or QEF, election. To comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive certain information from us. Because we do not intend to provide such information, however, such election will not be available to you with respect to the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.

If you hold ADSs or Class A ordinary shares in any year in which we are a PFIC, you will generally be required to file an annual information report containing such information as the U.S. Treasury may require.

You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.

F.
Dividends and Paying Agents

Not Applicable.

G.
Statement by Experts

Not Applicable.

H.
Documents on Display

We previously filed with the SEC our registration statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-223263), as amended, including the prospectus contained therein, to register our Class A ordinary shares in relation to our initial public offering. We have also filed with the SEC a related registration statement on F-6 (Registration No. 333-223709) to register the ADSs.

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. Specifically, we are required to file annually a Form 20-F within four months after the end of each fiscal year, which is December 31. 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 Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information regarding the Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1 -800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. 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.

We will furnish JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the depositary of our ADSs, with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary

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will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.

In accordance with Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5250(d), we will post this annual report on our website ir.iqiyi.com. In addition, we will provide hardcopies of our annual report to shareholders, including ADS holders, free of charge upon request.

I.
Subsidiary Information

Not applicable.

J.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Foreign Exchange Risk

Our revenues and expenses are mainly denominated in Renminbi. Although our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited in general, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the exchange rate between U.S. dollar and Renminbi because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while our ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.

The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. The Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in mainland China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies, among other things. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.

To date, we have not entered into any material hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations or capital expenditures, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.

The RMB depreciated by 8.23% against the U.S. dollar in 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we had RMB-denominated cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and long-term restricted cash included in prepayments and other assets of RMB3,638.6 million, and U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of US$729.7 million. Assuming we had converted RMB3,638.6 million into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of RMB6.8972 for US$1.00 as of the end of 2022, our U.S. dollar cash balance would have been US$1,257.2 million. If the RMB had depreciated by 10% against the U.S. dollar, our U.S. dollar cash balance would have been US$1,209.3 million instead. Assuming we had converted US$729.7 million into RMB at the exchange rate of RMB6.8972 for US$1.00 as of the end of 2022, our RMB cash balance would have been RMB8,671.5 million. If the RMB had appreciated by 10% against the U.S. dollar, our RMB cash balance would have been RMB8,168.2 million instead. In addition, we had U.S. dollar-denominated convertible senior notes of US$2,587.0 million as of December 31, 2022. A hypothetical 10% increase in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have resulted in an increase of RMB1,784.3 million (US$258.7 million) in the value of our U.S. dollar-denominated convertible senior notes as of December 31, 2022.

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated by excess cash, which is mostly held in interest-bearing bank deposits. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates, and we have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. However, our future interest income may fall short of expectations due to changes in market interest rates.

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ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

A.
Debt Securities

Not applicable.

B.
Warrants and Rights

Not applicable.

C.
Other Securities

Not applicable.

D.
American Depositary Shares

Fees and Charges Our ADS holders May Have to Pay

The depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of shares, issuances in respect of share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose ADRs are canceled or reduced for any other reason, US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, canceled or surrendered, as the case may be. The depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of a share distribution, rights and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.

The following additional charges shall be incurred by the ADR holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing shares or by any party surrendering ADSs and/or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is applicable:

a fee of up to US$0.05 per ADS for any cash distribution made pursuant to the deposit agreement;
an aggregate fee of US$0.05 per ADS per calendar year (or portion thereof) for services performed by the depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year and shall be assessed against holders of ADRs as of the record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable in the manner described in the next succeeding provision);
a fee for reimbursement of such fees, charges and expenses as are incurred by the depositary and/or any of the depositary’s agents (including, without limitation, the custodian and expenses incurred on behalf of holders in connection with compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment) in connection with the servicing of the shares or other deposited securities, the sale of securities (including, without limitation, deposited securities), the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (which fees and charge shall be assessed on a proportionate basis against holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions);
a fee for the distribution of securities (or the sale of securities in connection with a distribution), such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (treating all such securities as if they were shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the depositary to those holders entitled thereto;
stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges;
SWIFT, cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at your request in connection with the deposit or delivery of shares, ADRs or deposited securities;
transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfer of deposited securities on any applicable register in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities;

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in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. shall deduct out of such foreign currency the fees, expenses and other charges charged by it and/or its agent (which may be a division, branch or affiliate) so appointed in connection with such conversion; and
fees of any division, branch or affiliate of the depositary utilized by the depositary to direct, manage and/or execute any public and/or private sale of securities under the deposit agreement.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and/or its agent may act as principal for such conversion of foreign currency.

We will pay all other charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the depositary. The charges described above may be amended from time to time by agreement between us and the depositary.

Fees and Other Payments Made by the Depositary to Us

The depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADS program upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. In 2022, we received US$2.6 million from the depository for expenses incurred in connection with the establishment and maintenance of the ADS program.

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PART II.

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

None.

ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders

See “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Ordinary Shares” for a description of the rights of securities holders, which remain unchanged.

Use of Proceeds

The following “Use of Proceeds” information relates to: the Registration Statement on Form F-3, as amended (File No. 333-251359) that became effective immediately upon filing on December 15, 2020, and (i) the applicable prospectus supplements filed in December 2020 in relation to our offering of 40,000,000 ADSs, each representing seven Class A ordinary shares of our company, at a price to public of US$17.50 per ADS (the “2020 Follow-On Offering”), and US$800 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.00% senior notes due 2026, or the 2026 Notes (the “2026 Notes Offering”), and (ii) the prospectus supplement filed in January 2023 in relation to our offering of 76,500,000 ADSs, each representing seven Class A ordinary shares of our company, at a price to public of US$5.90 per ADS (the “2023 Follow-On Offering”).

Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., BofA Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC were the representatives of the underwriters for the 2020 Follow-On Offering and 2026 Notes Offering. The underwriters exercised their option in full to purchase an additional US$100 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Notes and their option in part to purchase 4,594,756 additional ADSs at the price of US$17.5 per ADS for the Follow-On Offering, which were closed on January 8, 2021. We received net proceeds of US$759.0 million from the 2020 Follow-On Offering, and net proceeds of US$884.3 million from 2026 Notes Offering, including the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional notes and ADSs, each after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions.

BofA Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC act were the representatives of the underwriters for the 2023 Follow-On Offering. The underwriters exercised their option in part to purchase 9,975,000 additional ADSs at the price of US$5.90 per ADS for the 2023 Follow-On Offering. We received net proceeds of US$500.0 million from the 2023 Follow-On Offering, including the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ADSs, after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions.

As of December 31, 2022, we had used all net proceeds of RMB10,740.7 million from the 2020 Follow-On Offering and the 2026 Notes Offering to expand and enhance our content offerings, strengthen our technologies and for working capital and other general corporate purposes, as disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplements to the Registration Statement on Form F-3.

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

Based upon that evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file and furnish under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that the information required to be disclosed by us 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.

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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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States of America and 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 our company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of our company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, our management including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer assessed the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 using the criteria set forth in the report “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)” published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022.

Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, has audited the effectiveness of our company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, as stated in its report, which appears on page F-4 of this annual report on Form 20-F.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

item 16. [RESERVED]

item 16a. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our board of directors has determined that members including Sam Hanhui Sun and Conor Chia-hung Yang, independent directors and member of our audit committee, are audit committee financial experts.

item 16b. CODE OF ETHICS

Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of the directors, officers and employees of us and our subsidiaries, whether they work for us on a full-time, part-time, consultative, or temporary basis. Certain provisions of the code apply specifically to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, senior finance officer, controller, senior vice presidents, vice presidents and any other persons who perform similar functions for us. We have posted a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics on our website at http://ir.iqiyi.com.

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item 16c. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by the categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, for the periods indicated. We did not pay any other fees to our auditors during the periods indicated below.

 

 

2021

2022

 

RMB

RMB

 

(in thousands)

Audit fees(1)

15,005

16,068

Audit related fees(2)

8,476

6,139

 

Notes:

(1)
“Audit fees” means the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements.
(2)
“Audit-related fees” means, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the aggregate fees billed for professional services in connection with the offering of the ADSs/Notes and review of interim financial statements, respectively.

The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, including audit services and audit-related services as described above, other than those for de minimis 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

We rely on the exemption provided by Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(D) under the Exchange Act. Fei Qi and Weijian Shan are non-voting members of our audit committee and only have observer status on our audit committee. Based on our assessment, such reliances do not materially adversely affect the ability of the audit committee to act independently or to satisfy the other requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.

item 16e. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

None.

item 16f. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

item 16g. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

As a Cayman Islands company listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq Stock Market Rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. We rely on the exemption available to foreign private issuers for the requirement under Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(i) that each member of the audit committee must be an independent director as defined under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2). Fei Qi and Weijian Shan, who are non-voting members of our audit committee, are not independent directors as defined under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2).

In addition, Nasdaq Rule 5620 requires each issuer to hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after the end of the issuer’s fiscal year-end. However, Nasdaq Rule 5615(a)(3) permits foreign private issuers like us to follow “home country practice” in certain corporate governance matters. We followed home country practice and did not hold an annual meeting of shareholders in 2022. If we continue to rely on these and other exemptions available to foreign private issuers in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Furthermore, Nasdaq Rule 5635(c) requires shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities when a stock option or purchase plan is to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended, pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants. We elected to follow our home country practice and did not obtain shareholder approval the amendment to our 2021 Plan.We may, however, hold annual shareholders meetings in the future.

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We also rely on exemptions afforded to controlled companies. We are a “controlled company” as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Baidu beneficially owns more than 50% of our total voting power. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely, and currently rely, on certain exemptions from corporate governance rules, including:

an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors;
an exemption from the rule that the compensation of our chief executive officer must be determined or recommended solely by independent directors; and
an exemption from the rule that our director nominees must be selected or recommended solely by independent directors.

A majority of the members of our board of directors are not independent directors. Not all members of our compensation committee are independent directors, and we do not have a nomination and corporate governance committee. As a result, you will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements.

item 16h. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

item 16i. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, and our auditor was subject to that determination.

In April 2022, iQIYI, Inc. was conclusively listed by the SEC as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA after we file this annual report.

To the best of our knowledge, no Cayman Islands governmental entities owns any shares of iQIYI, Inc. and no governmental entities in mainland China own shares of any of the variable interest entities in mainland China, as of the date of this annual report.

To the best of our knowledge, no mainland China governmental entities owns any shares of iQIYI, Inc. or the variable interest entities as of the date of this annual report. Therefore, the mainland China governmental entities do not have a controlling financial interest in iQIYI, Inc. or the variable interest entities as of the date of this annual report.

None of the members of the board of directors of iQIYI, Inc. or our operating entities, including the variable interest entities, is an official of the Chinese Communist Party as of the date of this annual report.

The currently effective memorandum and articles of association of iQIYI, Inc. and equivalent organizing documents of our operating entities, including the variable interest entities, do not contain any charter of the Chinese Communist Party.

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PART III

item 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.

item 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The consolidated financial statements of iQIYI, Inc. and its subsidiaries are included at the end of this annual report.

item 19. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

Description

1.1

Ninth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

2.1

Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.3)

2.2

Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Class A ordinary shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

2.3

Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, the depositary and holder of the American Depositary Receipts (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-225165) filed with the SEC on May 24, 2018)

2.4

Shareholders Agreement between the Registrant and other parties thereto dated October 26, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

2.5

Description of Securities (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020)

4.1

Third Amended and Restated 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-251359), filed with the SEC on December 16, 2020)

4.2

2017 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.3

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registration statement on Form F-1(File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.4

Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.5

Master Business Cooperation Agreement between Baidu Holdings and iQIYI, Inc. dated January 19, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.6

English translation of the amended and restated Shareholder Voting Rights Trust Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Mr. Xiaohua Geng dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.7

English translation of the amended and restated Share Pledge Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Mr. Xiaohua Geng dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.8

English translation of the Commitment Letter from iQIYI, Inc. and Beijing QIYI Century to Beijing iQIYI dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.9

English translation of the amended and restated Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement among iQIYI, Inc., Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI and Mr. Xiaohua Geng dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by

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Exhibit
Number

Description

 

reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.10

English translation of the amended and restated Loan Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Mr. Xiaohua Geng dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.11

English translation of the amended and restated Business Operation Agreement among Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI and Mr. Xiaohua Geng dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.12

English translation of Power of Attorney by Beijing QIYI Century to iQIYI, Inc. dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.13

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Ying Zhang dated September 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.14

English translation of Loan Agreement among Beijing QIYI Century, Mr. Xiaohua Geng and Dr. Yu Gong dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.15

English translation of Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement among iQIYI, Inc., Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai iQIYI, Mr. Xiaohua Geng and Dr. Yu Gong dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.16

English translation of Share Pledge Agreement among Beijing QIYI Century, Mr. Xiaohua Geng and Dr. Yu Gong dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.17

English translation of Shareholder Voting Rights Trust Agreement among Mr. Xiaohua Geng, Dr. Yu Gong and Beijing QIYI Century dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.18

English translation of Business Operation Agreement among Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai iQIYI, Mr. Xiaohua Geng and Dr. Yu Gong dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.19

English translation of Exclusive Technology Consulting and Service Agreement among Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai iQIYI dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.20

English translation of Commitment Letter between iQIYI, Inc. and Shanghai iQIYI dated October 25, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.21

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Yihong Mou dated September 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.22

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Ying Zhang dated September 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.23

English translation of Business Operation Agreement among Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai Zhong Yuan and Dr. Yu Gong dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the registration statement on Form F1 (File No. 333-223263) filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.24

English translation of Loan Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Dr. Yu Gong dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

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Exhibit
Number

Description

4.25

English translation of Commitment Letter from iQIYI, Inc. to Shanghai Zhong Yuan dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.26

English translation of Exclusive Technology Consulting and Service Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai Zhong Yuan dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.27

English translation of Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement among iQIYI, Inc., Beijing QIYI Century, Dr. Yu Gong and Shanghai Zhong Yuan dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.28

English translation of Shareholder Voting Rights Trust Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Dr. Yu Gong dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.29

English translation of Share Pledge Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Dr. Yu Gong dated January 14, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.30

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Yihong Mou dated September 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.31

English translation of Exclusive Management Consulting and Business Cooperation Agreement among iQIYI New Media, Beijing iQIYI Cinema, Dr. Yu Gong and Mr. Xianghua Yang dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.32

English translation of Exclusive Share Purchase Agreement among iQIYI New Media, Dr. Yu Gong, Mr. Xianghua Yang and Beijing iQIYI Cinema dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.33

English translation of Loan Agreement between iQIYI New Media and Mr. Xianghua Yang dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.34

English translation of Loan Agreement between iQIYI New Media and Dr. Yu Gong dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.35

English translation of Share Pledge Agreement among iQIYI New Media, Dr. Yu Gong and Beijing iQIYI Cinema dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.36

English translation of Share Pledge Agreement among iQIYI New Media, Mr. Xianghua Yang and Beijing iQIYI Cinema dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263) filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.37

English translation of Power of Attorney by Mr. Xianghua Yang to iQIYI New Media dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.38

English translation of Power of Attorney by Dr. Yu Gong to iQIYI New Media dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.39

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Congyu Lin dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.40

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Yihong Mou dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

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Exhibit
Number

Description

4.41

English translation of Power of Attorney by iQIYI New Media to QIYI, Inc. dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.42

English translation of Commitment Letter by QIYI, Inc. to Beijing iQIYI Cinema dated July 27, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.43

English translation of Exclusive Management Consulting and Business Cooperation Agreement among iQIYI New Media, iQIYI Pictures, Dr. Yu Gong and Mr. Ning Ya dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.44

English translation of Exclusive Share Purchase Agreement among iQIYI New Media, iQIYI Pictures, Dr. Yu Gong and Mr. Ning Ya dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.45

English translation of Loan Agreement between iQIYI New Media and Mr. Ning Ya dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.46

English translation of Loan Agreement between iQIYI New Media and Dr. Yu Gong dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.47

English translation of Share Pledge Agreement among iQIYI New Media, Mr. Ning Ya and iQIYI Pictures dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.48

English translation of Share Pledge Agreement among iQIYI New Media, Dr. Yu Gong and iQIYI Pictures dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.49

English translation of Power of Attorney by Mr. Ning Ya to iQIYI New Media dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.50

English translation of Power of Attorney by Dr. Yu Gong to iQIYI New Media dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.51 of the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.51

English translation of Spousal Consent Letter of Ms. Yihong Mou dated August 30, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.52

English translation of Exclusive Technology Consulting and Service Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd. dated December 1, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.53

English translation of Software Licensing Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd. dated December 1, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.54 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.54

English translation of Trademark Licensing Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd. dated December 1, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.55 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.55

English translation of Business Cooperation Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd. dated December 1, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

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Exhibit
Number

Description

4.56

English translation of Loan Agreement between Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Beijing QIYI Century dated January 19, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.57

Share Purchase Agreement dated February 12, 2018 by and between iQIYI, Inc. and Baidu Holdings (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.58

English translation of Ticket Business Cooperation Agreement dated February 12, 2018 by and between Baidu Holdings and iQIYI, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

4.59

English translation of Share Purchase Agreement among Beijing iQIYI Technology Co., Ltd., iQIYI, Inc., Yunpeng He, Pu Zhang, Xingyou Zhou, Wei Du, Kun Meng, Skymoons (BVI) Group Limited, Chengdu Skymoons Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Skymoons Inc., dated July 10, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.66 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 15, 2019)

4.60

English translation of form Confirmation Letter executed by Beijing QIYI Century, dated December 21, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.60 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 9, 2021)

4.61

English translation of Confirmation Letter executed by the Registrant, dated December 21, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.61 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 9, 2021)

4.62

Indenture, dated December 4, 2018 constituting $750 million 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.67 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 15, 2019)

4.63

Indenture, dated March 29, 2019 constituting $1.2 billion 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.61 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020)

4.64

Indenture, dated December 21, 2020, between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.64 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 9, 2021)

4.65

First Supplemental Indenture, dated December 21, 2020, between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.65 to the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38431) filed with the SEC on March 9, 2021)

4.66*

Amended and Restated 2021 Share Incentive Plan

4.67*

Investment Agreement, dated August 30, 2022, between the Registrant, PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited and PAG Pegasus Fund LP

4.68*

Deed of Amendment to the Investment Agreement, by and among the Registrant, PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, and PAG Pegasus Fund LP, dated as of December 30, 2022

4.69*

Indenture, dated December 30, 2022, between the Registrant and Citicorp International Limited, as trustee

4.70*

English translation of form Confirmation Letters executed by Beijing QIYI Century, dated February 10, 2023

4.71*

English translation of form Confirmation Letters executed by the Registrant, dated February 10, 2023

4.72*

English translation of Supplementary Agreement to the Trademark Licensing Agreement between Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI (formerly known as “Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd.”) dated February 10, 2023

4.73*

Indenture, dated March 7, 2023, between the Registrant and Citicorp International Limited, as trustee

8.1*

Principal Subsidiaries and Variable Interest Entities of the Registrant

11.1

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-223263), as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018)

12.1*

CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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Exhibit
Number

Description

12.2*

CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

13.1**

CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

13.2**

CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

15.1*

Consent of Walkers (Hong Kong)

15.2*

Consent of Jingtian & Gongcheng

15.3*

Consent of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

101.INS*

Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

101.SCH*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104*

Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Exhibit 101 Inline XBRL document set

 

* Filed herewith.

* * Furnished herewith.

Instruments defining the rights of holders of certain issues of long-term debt of the Registrant and of certain consolidated subsidiaries, for which financial statements are required to be filed with this annual report, including (i) standard terms of the asset-backed debt securities securitized by certain of our payables to our suppliers issued to third-party investors, which raised gross proceeds of RMB446.0 million, and (ii) standard terms of asset-backed debt securities securitized by certain of our payables to our suppliers issued to third-party investors, which raised gross proceeds of RMB500.0 million, have not been filed as exhibits to this annual report because the authorized principal amount of any one of such issues does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Registrant and our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of each of such instrument to the SEC upon request.

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

 

iQIYI, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Yu Gong

 

 

Name:

Yu Gong

 

 

Title:

Director and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date:

March 22, 2023

 

 

 

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iQIYI, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:1408)

 

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022

 

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022

 

F-8

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022

 

F-10

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022

 

F-11

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-13

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of iQIYI, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of iQIYI, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 22, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.


We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

 

Impairment of Mainland China film group content assets

 

 

Description of the Matter

At December 31, 2022, the carrying value of the Company’s licensed copyrights and produced content, net of accumulated impairment charges, were RMB7,586,687 thousands (US$1,099,966 thousands) and RMB13,001,904 thousands (US$1,885,099 thousands), respectively. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the majority of the Company’s content assets (licensed copyrights and produced content) are predominantly monetized together with other content assets. Film groups are reviewed for impairment when there are events or changes in circumstances that indicate the fair value of a film group may be less than its unamortized costs and an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the unamortized capitalized costs exceed the film group’s fair value. As a result of the impairment assessment, there is no impairment charge recognized during the year ended December 31, 2022.

Auditing management’s estimated fair value of the Mainland China film group required complex auditor judgment due to the significant estimation required by management in forecasting the amount and timing of expected future cash flows and the underlying assumptions used in the

F-2


Table of Contents

 

discounted cash flow approach. In particular, the fair value estimate was sensitive to significant assumptions such as forecasted future revenues, costs and operating expenses attributable to the film group, and the discount rate. These significant assumptions are forward looking and could be materially affected by future economic and market conditions, changes in user traffic on the Company’s platform, and changes in viewership trends of its content.
 

 

 

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s film group impairment review process, including controls over management’s review of the significant assumptions described above.

To test impairment of the China Mainland film group, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, evaluating the significant assumptions used to estimate fair value and tested the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the assessment. We involved our valuation specialists to assist in assessing the Company’s valuation methodology and evaluating the discount rate by comparing it to a discount rate that was independently developed using observable market information. We assessed the reasonableness of the significant assumptions described above by comparing them to the Company’s business plans, historical trends, and current industry and economic outlook.

 

 

Amortization of content assets

 

 

Description of the Matter

For the year ended December 31, 2022, amortization expenses related to licensed copyrights and produced content were RMB7,780,928 thousands (US$1,128,129 thousands) and RMB5,292,129 thousands (US$767,286 thousands), respectively. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, based on factors including historical and estimated future viewership consumption patterns, the Company’s content assets are amortized using an accelerated method by content categories over the shorter of their respective contractual periods or estimated useful lives within ten years, beginning with the month of first availability.

Auditing the amortization of the Company’s content assets required complex and subjective auditor judgment due to the judgment required by management in estimating future viewership consumption patterns for different content categories. If actual viewership consumption patterns differ from these estimates, the pattern and/or period of amortization would be changed and could materially affect the timing of recognition of content amortization. These assumptions are forward looking and can be affected by changes in user traffic on the Company’s platform and changes in viewership trends of its content.

 

 

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s content assets amortization assessment process. For example, we tested controls over management’s review of the amortization method and the significant assumptions, including the historical and forecasted video views used to develop its estimated future viewership consumption patterns by content categories.
 

 

To test the amortization of content assets, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, evaluating the amortization method and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data from the systems used in determining estimated viewership consumption patterns. We assessed management’s estimated viewership consumption patterns by considering historical and current viewing trends, including comparing previous estimates of consumption patterns to latest available data.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.

Beijing, The People’s Republic of China

March 22, 2023

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of iQIYI, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited iQIYI, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, iQIYI, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and our report dated March 22, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

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 Annual 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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (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 its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP

 

Beijing, The People’s Republic of China

March 22, 2023

F-4


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2022

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

2,997,212

 

 

 

7,097,938

 

 

 

1,029,104

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

77,652

 

 

 

13,618

 

 

 

1,974

 

Short-term investments

 

 

3

 

 

 

1,348,255

 

 

 

818,265

 

 

 

118,637

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of RMB240,326
      and RMB
130,148 (US$18,870) as of
      December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively

 

 

5

 

 

 

2,747,774

 

 

 

2,402,675

 

 

 

348,355

 

Prepayments and other assets

 

 

6

 

 

 

3,266,523

 

 

 

2,602,927

 

 

 

377,390

 

Amounts due from related parties

 

 

23

 

 

 

155,512

 

 

 

104,154

 

 

 

15,101

 

Licensed copyrights, net

 

 

7

 

 

 

931,189

 

 

 

746,058

 

 

 

108,168

 

Total current assets

 

 

 

 

 

11,524,117

 

 

 

13,785,635

 

 

 

1,998,729

 

Non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets, net

 

 

11

 

 

 

1,344,784

 

 

 

1,104,721

 

 

 

160,169

 

Long-term investments

 

 

4

 

 

 

3,035,155

 

 

 

2,453,644

 

 

 

355,745

 

Deferred tax assets, net

 

 

15

 

 

 

31,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Licensed copyrights, net

 

 

7

 

 

 

7,258,042

 

 

 

6,840,629

 

 

 

991,798

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

8

 

 

 

545,305

 

 

 

436,685

 

 

 

63,313

 

Produced content, net

 

 

9

 

 

 

10,951,078

 

 

 

13,001,904

 

 

 

1,885,099

 

Prepayments and other assets

 

 

6

 

 

 

2,905,690

 

 

 

3,865,133

 

 

 

560,392

 

Operating lease assets

 

 

12

 

 

 

907,297

 

 

 

673,971

 

 

 

97,717

 

Goodwill

 

 

10

 

 

 

3,888,346

 

 

 

3,826,147

 

 

 

554,739

 

Amounts due from related parties

 

 

23

 

 

 

81,000

 

 

 

59,880

 

 

 

8,682

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

30,948,048

 

 

 

32,262,714

 

 

 

4,677,654

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

42,472,165

 

 

 

46,048,349

 

 

 

6,676,383

 

 

F-5


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities (including current liabilities of the
      consolidated VIEs without recourse to the primary
      beneficiary of RMB
13,941,720 and RMB12,234,786
      (US$
1,773,876) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022,
      respectively):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

8,896,460

 

 

 

5,993,416

 

 

 

868,964

 

Amounts due to related parties

 

 

23

 

 

 

2,634,089

 

 

 

3,521,646

 

 

 

510,591

 

Customer advances and deferred revenue

 

 

 

 

 

3,484,509

 

 

 

4,232,110

 

 

 

613,598

 

Short-term loans

 

 

13

 

 

 

4,117,774

 

 

 

3,347,638

 

 

 

485,362

 

Convertible senior notes, current portion

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,305,447

 

 

 

1,204,177

 

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

 

 

12

 

 

 

171,541

 

 

 

103,517

 

 

 

15,009

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

 

2,280,322

 

 

 

1,839,671

 

 

 

266,727

 

Other liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

891,775

 

 

 

786,573

 

 

 

114,041

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

22,476,470

 

 

 

28,130,018

 

 

 

4,078,469

 

Non-current liabilities (including non-current liabilities
      of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the
      primary beneficiary of RMB
919,082 and
      RMB
1,750,258 (US$253,764) as of
      December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes

 

 

14

 

 

 

12,652,172

 

 

 

9,568,279

 

 

 

1,387,270

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

15

 

 

 

3,127

 

 

 

1,832

 

 

 

266

 

Amounts due to related parties

 

 

23

 

 

 

780,615

 

 

 

100,941

 

 

 

14,635

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

12

 

 

 

625,737

 

 

 

508,571

 

 

 

73,736

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

260,931

 

 

 

1,395,269

 

 

 

202,295

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

14,322,582

 

 

 

11,574,892

 

 

 

1,678,202

 

Total liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

36,799,052

 

 

 

39,704,910

 

 

 

5,756,671

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F-6


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Mezzanine equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

18

 

 

 

397,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A ordinary shares (US$0.00001 par value; 94,000,000,000 
      shares authorized as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively;
      
2,940,101,566 and 3,246,481,443 shares issued as of December 31,
      2021 and 2022, respectively;
2,722,361,459 and 3,047,568,900
      shares outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2022,
      respectively)

 

 

19

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

194

 

 

 

28

 

Class B ordinary shares (US$0.00001 par value; 5,000,000,000 
      shares authorized as of December 31, 2021 and 2022,
      respectively;
2,876,391,396 and 3,041,097,278 shares
      issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and
      2022, respectively)

 

 

19

 

 

 

183

 

 

 

193

 

 

 

28

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

 

49,642,014

 

 

 

50,885,688

 

 

 

7,377,731

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

20

 

 

 

(47,163,773

)

 

 

(46,498,897

)

 

 

(6,741,706

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

25

 

 

 

2,709,002

 

 

 

1,863,454

 

 

 

270,175

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

88,129

 

 

 

92,807

 

 

 

13,456

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

5,275,728

 

 

 

6,343,439

 

 

 

919,712

 

Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

42,472,165

 

 

 

46,048,349

 

 

 

6,676,383

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

F-7


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS), and per share (or ADS) data)

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership services (including related party
   amounts of RMB
25,571, RMB3,766 and
   RMB
56,379 (US$8,174) for the years ended
   December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022,
   respectively)

 

 

 

 

16,491,030

 

 

 

16,713,664

 

 

 

17,710,830

 

 

 

2,567,829

 

Online advertising services (including related
   party amounts of RMB
206,624, RMB296,920 
   and RMB
279,774 (US$40,564) for the years
   ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022,
   respectively)

 

 

 

 

6,822,115

 

 

 

7,066,751

 

 

 

5,331,697

 

 

 

773,023

 

Content distribution (including related
   party amounts of RMB
176,227,
   RMB
297,304 and RMB190,398 
   (US$
27,605) for the years ended
   December 31, 2020, 2021 and
   2022, respectively)

 

 

 

 

2,660,074

 

 

 

2,855,602

 

 

 

2,469,771

 

 

 

358,083

 

Others (including related party amounts of
   RMB
54,064, RMB59,685 and RMB55,310
   (US$
8,019) for the years ended December
   31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively)

 

 

 

 

3,733,996

 

 

 

3,918,342

 

 

 

3,485,250

 

 

 

505,314

 

Total revenues

 

 

 

 

29,707,215

 

 

 

30,554,359

 

 

 

28,997,548

 

 

 

4,204,249

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (including related party
   amounts of RMB
1,111,729, RMB1,239,044 
   and RMB
884,333 (US$128,216) for the
   years ended December 31, 2020, 2021
   and 2022, respectively)

 

 

 

 

(27,884,395

)

 

 

(27,513,497

)

 

 

(22,319,315

)

 

 

(3,235,996

)

Selling, general and administrative (including
   related party amounts of RMB
5,045,
   RMB
24,343 and RMB69,628 (US$10,095)
   for the years ended December 31, 2020,
   2021 and 2022, respectively)

 

 

 

 

(5,187,835

)

 

 

(4,725,142

)

 

 

(3,466,579

)

 

 

(502,607

)

Research and development (including related
   party amounts of RMB
7,412, nil 
   and RMB
3,953 (US$573) for the years ended December 31,
   2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively)

 

 

 

 

(2,675,494

)

 

 

(2,794,927

)

 

 

(1,899,233

)

 

 

(275,363

)

Total operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

(35,747,724

)

 

 

(35,033,566

)

 

 

(27,685,127

)

 

 

(4,013,966

)

Operating (loss)/income

 

 

 

 

(6,040,509

)

 

 

(4,479,207

)

 

 

1,312,421

 

 

 

190,283

 

 

F-8


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS), and per share (or ADS) data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Other income/(expenses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (including related party amounts of RMB1,247,
     
nil and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020,
     2021 and 2022, respectively)

 

 

 

 

 

157,477

 

 

 

118,615

 

 

 

69,577

 

 

 

10,088

 

Interest expenses

 

 

 

 

 

(1,066,320

)

 

 

(1,349,544

)

 

 

(715,081

)

 

 

(103,677

)

Foreign exchange gain/(loss), net

 

 

 

 

 

43,274

 

 

 

54,555

 

 

 

(167,857

)

 

 

(24,337

)

Share of losses from equity method investments

 

 

 

 

 

(224,489

)

 

 

(446,323

)

 

 

(213,409

)

 

 

(30,941

)

Others, net

 

 

 

 

 

146,690

 

 

 

89,916

 

 

 

(319,427

)

 

 

(46,313

)

Total other expenses, net

 

 

 

 

 

(943,368

)

 

 

(1,532,781

)

 

 

(1,346,197

)

 

 

(195,180

)

(Loss)/Income before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

(6,983,877

)

 

 

(6,011,988

)

 

 

(33,776

)

 

 

(4,897

)

Income tax expense

 

 

15

 

 

 

(23,276

)

 

 

(96,545

)

 

 

(84,000

)

 

 

(12,179

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

(7,007,153

)

 

 

(6,108,533

)

 

 

(117,776

)

 

 

(17,076

)

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

31,208

 

 

 

61,051

 

 

 

18,436

 

 

 

2,673

 

Net loss attributable to iQIYI, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

(7,038,361

)

 

 

(6,169,584

)

 

 

(136,212

)

 

 

(19,749

)

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

18

 

 

 

(7,087

)

 

 

(20,336

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

(7,045,448

)

 

 

(6,189,920

)

 

 

(136,212

)

 

 

(19,749

)

Net loss per Class A and Class B ordinary share:

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

 

(1.36

)

 

 

(1.11

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.00

)

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

(1.36

)

 

 

(1.11

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.00

)

Net loss per ADS (1 ADS equals 7 Class A ordinary
   shares):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

 

(9.52

)

 

 

(7.77

)

 

 

(0.16

)

 

 

(0.02

)

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

(9.52

)

 

 

(7.77

)

 

 

(0.16

)

 

 

(0.02

)

Shares used in net loss per Class A and Class B ordinary share
   computation:

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

 

5,176,180,057

 

 

 

5,570,736,706

 

 

 

5,988,021,425

 

 

 

5,988,021,425

 

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

5,176,180,057

 

 

 

5,570,736,706

 

 

 

5,988,021,425

 

 

 

5,988,021,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

25

 

 

 

433,497

 

 

 

168,079

 

 

 

(844,725

)

 

 

(122,474

)

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities

 

 

25

 

 

 

(98

)

 

 

(2,851

)

 

 

(21,091

)

 

 

(3,058

)

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax

 

 

25

 

 

 

433,399

 

 

 

165,228

 

 

 

(865,816

)

 

 

(125,532

)

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

(6,573,754

)

 

 

(5,943,305

)

 

 

(983,592

)

 

 

(142,608

)

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

28,645

 

 

 

59,957

 

 

 

23,106

 

 

 

3,350

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to iQIYI, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

(6,602,399

)

 

 

(6,003,262

)

 

 

(1,006,698

)

 

 

(145,958

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

F-9


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares)

 

 

 

Attributable to iQIYI, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares

 

 

Additional

 

 

Accumulated
other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Number of
shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

paid-in
capital

 

 

comprehensive
income

 

 

Accumulated
deficit

 

 

Noncontrolling
interests

 

 

shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

Balances as of January 1, 2020

 

 

5,135,516,521

 

 

 

325

 

 

 

41,298,328

 

 

 

2,106,718

 

 

 

(33,834,357

)

 

 

42,376

 

 

 

9,613,390

 

Cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2016-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(94,048

)

 

 

 

 

 

(94,048

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,038,361

)

 

 

31,208

 

 

 

(7,007,153

)

Issuance of ordinary shares upon follow-on offering,
   net of issuance costs

 

 

280,000,000

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

4,451,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,451,969

 

Equity component of convertible senior notes,
   net of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

394,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

394,956

 

Exercise of share-based awards

 

 

70,684,420

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

193,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

193,102

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

435,962

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,563

)

 

 

433,399

 

Issuance of subsidiaries' shares to noncontrolling
   interest holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(918

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,527

 

 

 

9,609

 

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,087

)

 

 

 

 

 

(7,087

)

Dividends paid and payable by a subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,563

)

 

 

(22,563

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,370,095

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,370,095

 

Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20,026

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,026

 

 

 

 

Balances as of December 31, 2020

 

 

5,486,200,941

 

 

 

348

 

 

 

47,687,483

 

 

 

2,542,680

 

 

 

(40,973,853

)

 

 

79,011

 

 

 

9,335,669

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,169,584

)

 

 

61,051

 

 

 

(6,108,533

)

Issuance of ordinary shares upon follow-on offering,
   net of issuance costs

 

 

32,163,292

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

505,416

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

505,418

 

Equity component of convertible senior notes,
   net of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

48,793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48,793

 

Exercise of share-based awards

 

 

80,388,622

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

181,159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

181,165

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

166,322

 

 

 

 

 

(1,094

)

 

 

165,228

 

Issuance of subsidiaries' shares to noncontrolling
   interest holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

37

 

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20,336

)

 

 

 

 

(20,336

)

Dividends paid and payable by subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(50,876

)

 

 

(50,876

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,219,163

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,219,163

 

Balances as of December 31, 2021

 

 

5,598,752,855

 

 

 

356

 

 

 

49,642,014

 

 

 

2,709,002

 

 

 

(47,163,773

)

 

 

88,129

 

 

 

5,275,728

 

Cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2020-06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,432,986

)

 

 

24,938

 

 

 

772,123

 

 

 

 

 

 

(635,925

)

Reversal of accretion of redeemable
    noncontrolling interests upon deconsolidation
    of subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,965

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(136,212

)

 

 

18,436

 

 

 

(117,776

)

Issuance of ordinary shares to third parties upon
   private placement

 

 

304,705,874

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

1,170,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,170,090

 

Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Baidu
   upon private placement

 

 

164,705,882

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

634,460

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

634,470

 

Exercise of share-based awards

 

 

20,501,567

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

63,229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,230

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(870,486

)

 

 

 

 

 

4,670

 

 

 

(865,816

)

Issuance of subsidiaries' shares to noncontrolling
   interest holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

Dividends paid and payable by subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,878

)

 

 

(16,878

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

811,441

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

811,441

 

Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,540

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,550

)

 

 

(5,090

)

Balances as of December 31, 2022

 

 

6,088,666,178

 

 

 

387

 

 

 

50,885,688

 

 

 

1,863,454

 

 

 

(46,498,897

)

 

 

92,807

 

 

 

6,343,439

 

Balances as of December 31, 2022, in US$

 

 

 

 

 

56

 

 

 

7,377,731

 

 

 

270,175

 

 

 

(6,741,706

)

 

 

13,456

 

 

 

919,712

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

F-10


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”))

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(7,007,153

)

 

 

(6,108,533

)

 

 

(117,776

)

 

 

(17,076

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation of fixed assets

 

 

 

 

480,396

 

 

 

400,241

 

 

 

337,423

 

 

 

48,922

 

Amortization and impairment of intangible assets

 

 

 

 

317,579

 

 

 

162,182

 

 

 

177,019

 

 

 

25,665

 

Amortization and impairment of licensed copyrights

 

 

 

 

11,863,521

 

 

 

10,082,541

 

 

 

7,780,928

 

 

 

1,128,129

 

Amortization and impairment of produced content

 

 

 

 

4,534,116

 

 

 

6,121,035

 

 

 

5,359,648

 

 

 

777,075

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

 

 

143,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision/(reversal) of credit losses

 

 

 

 

265,540

 

 

 

(45,228

)

 

 

25,855

 

 

 

3,749

 

Unrealized foreign exchange (gain)/loss

 

 

 

 

(51,819

)

 

 

15,534

 

 

 

107,595

 

 

 

15,600

 

Gain on disposal of fixed assets

 

 

 

 

(20,991

)

 

 

(25,611

)

 

 

(34,901

)

 

 

(5,060

)

Gain on disposal of subsidiaries

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

(44,861

)

 

 

(367,717

)

 

 

(53,314

)

Accretion on convertible senior notes and
   asset-backed debt securities

 

 

 

 

501,033

 

 

 

618,393

 

 

 

146,079

 

 

 

21,179

 

Barter transaction revenue

 

 

 

 

(1,376,912

)

 

 

(1,243,562

)

 

 

(876,109

)

 

 

(127,024

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

1,370,095

 

 

 

1,219,163

 

 

 

811,441

 

 

 

117,649

 

Share of losses from equity method investments

 

 

 

 

224,489

 

 

 

446,323

 

 

 

213,409

 

 

 

30,941

 

Fair value change and impairment of long-term investments

 

 

 

 

33,928

 

 

 

82,447

 

 

 

823,806

 

 

 

119,440

 

Interest and other investment expense/(income)

 

 

 

 

49,622

 

 

 

(5,134

)

 

 

(5,537

)

 

 

(803

)

Deferred income tax (benefit)/expense

 

 

 

 

(41,979

)

 

 

18,535

 

 

 

30,056

 

 

 

4,358

 

Amortization of deferred income

 

 

 

 

(14,969

)

 

 

(12,674

)

 

 

(11,760

)

 

 

(1,705

)

Other non-cash (income)/expenses

 

 

 

 

(67,750

)

 

 

(46,400

)

 

 

23,185

 

 

 

3,362

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

8,841

 

 

 

644,924

 

 

 

312,776

 

 

 

45,348

 

Amounts due from related parties

 

 

 

 

144,423

 

 

 

(56,029

)

 

 

49,434

 

 

 

7,167

 

Licensed copyrights

 

 

 

 

(10,527,700

)

 

 

(9,731,462

)

 

 

(6,143,075

)

 

 

(890,662

)

Produced content

 

 

 

 

(6,728,467

)

 

 

(10,491,647

)

 

 

(7,387,666

)

 

 

(1,071,111

)

Prepayments and other assets

 

 

 

 

1,166,105

 

 

 

96,000

 

 

 

222,399

 

 

 

32,245

 

Accounts payable

 

 

 

 

(605,394

)

 

 

1,438,676

 

 

 

(2,911,022

)

 

 

(422,059

)

Amounts due to related parties

 

 

 

 

77,049

 

 

 

658,173

 

 

 

204,774

 

 

 

29,689

 

Customer advances and deferred revenue

 

 

 

 

429,510

 

 

 

39,592

 

 

 

750,799

 

 

 

108,856

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

 

 

(580,615

)

 

 

(216,064

)

 

 

(615,479

)

 

 

(89,236

)

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

2,897

 

 

 

31,599

 

 

 

1,023,847

 

 

 

148,444

 

Net cash used for operating activities

 

 

 

 

(5,411,071

)

 

 

(5,951,847

)

 

 

(70,569

)

 

 

(10,232

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of fixed assets

 

 

 

 

(240,750

)

 

 

(261,536

)

 

 

(174,263

)

 

 

(25,266

)

Acquisition of intangible assets

 

 

 

 

(144,978

)

 

 

(139,199

)

 

 

(95,506

)

 

 

(13,847

)

Purchase of long-term investments

 

 

 

 

(1,050,810

)

 

 

(386,383

)

 

 

(78,273

)

 

 

(11,349

)

Proceeds from disposal of long-term investments

 

 

 

 

40,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,145

 

 

 

2,921

 

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

 

 

 

 

(5,798

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Film investments made as passive investor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,850

)

 

 

(59,650

)

 

 

(8,648

)

Proceeds from film investments as passive investor

 

 

 

 

1,612

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

30,200

 

 

 

4,379

 

 

F-11


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”))

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Loans provided to related parties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans provided to third parties

 

 

 

 

(9,655

)

 

 

(813,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of loans provided to related parties

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of loans provided to third parties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

813,030

 

 

 

3,182

 

 

 

461

 

Purchases of held-to-maturity debt securities

 

 

 

 

(3,367,103

)

 

 

(6,419,905

)

 

 

(727,943

)

 

 

(105,542

)

Maturities of held-to-maturity debt securities

 

 

 

 

5,202,271

 

 

 

8,518,768

 

 

 

769,766

 

 

 

111,606

 

Purchases of available-for-sale debt securities

 

 

 

 

(11,813,599

)

 

 

(13,555,195

)

 

 

(3,731,634

)

 

 

(541,036

)

Maturities of available-for-sale debt securities

 

 

 

 

11,431,950

 

 

 

13,468,301

 

 

 

4,260,759

 

 

 

617,752

 

Other investing activities

 

 

 

 

16,156

 

 

 

55,719

 

 

 

49,197

 

 

 

7,133

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

 

 

 

159,296

 

 

 

1,262,350

 

 

 

265,980

 

 

 

38,564

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from short-term loans

 

 

 

 

3,559,525

 

 

 

4,437,033

 

 

 

4,277,653

 

 

 

620,201

 

Repayments of short-term loans

 

 

 

 

(3,219,083

)

 

 

(3,296,979

)

 

 

(5,033,931

)

 

 

(729,851

)

Repayments of long-term loans and borrowings from third
   party investors

 

 

 

 

(709,192

)

 

 

(880,861

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes, net
   of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

5,150,888

 

 

 

632,369

 

 

 

3,448,551

 

 

 

499,993

 

Repayments of convertible senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,751,022

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of subsidiaries' shares

 

 

 

 

9,609

 

 

 

268,457

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

145

 

Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares in the follow-on offering, net of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

4,457,007

 

 

 

500,380

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares to third parties upon
   private placement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,172,732

 

 

 

170,030

 

Proceeds from issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Baidu upon private placement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

634,470

 

 

 

91,990

 

Proceeds from exercise of share options

 

 

 

 

196,597

 

 

 

180,002

 

 

 

51,850

 

 

 

7,518

 

Finance lease payments

 

 

 

 

(9,020

)

 

 

(14,473

)

 

 

(38,132

)

 

 

(5,529

)

Dividends paid by subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

(62,425

)

 

 

(27,827

)

 

 

(64,240

)

 

 

(9,314

)

Other financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,534

)

 

 

18,910

 

 

 

2,742

 

Net cash provided by/(used for) financing activities

 

 

 

 

9,373,906

 

 

 

(2,959,455

)

 

 

4,468,863

 

 

 

647,925

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash
   equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

 

 

(91,293

)

 

 

(216,696

)

 

 

122,418

 

 

 

17,748

 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents
   and restricted cash

 

 

 

 

4,030,838

 

 

 

(7,865,648

)

 

 

4,786,692

 

 

 

694,005

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the
   beginning of the year

 

 

 

 

6,909,674

 

 

 

10,940,512

 

 

 

3,074,864

 

 

 

445,813

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
   at the end of the year

 

 

 

 

10,940,512

 

 

 

3,074,864

 

 

 

7,861,556

 

 

 

1,139,818

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

 

 

 

502,985

 

 

 

670,916

 

 

 

524,484

 

 

 

76,043

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

 

 

 

97,863

 

 

 

108,436

 

 

 

56,153

 

 

 

8,141

 

Acquisition of fixed assets included in accounts payable

 

 

 

 

30,341

 

 

 

68,110

 

 

 

3,751

 

 

 

544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

10,915,282

 

 

 

2,997,212

 

 

 

7,097,938

 

 

 

1,029,104

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

 

25,230

 

 

 

77,652

 

 

 

13,618

 

 

 

1,974

 

Long-term restricted cash

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

750,000

 

 

 

108,740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows

 

 

 

 

10,940,512

 

 

 

3,074,864

 

 

 

7,861,556

 

 

 

1,139,818

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

F-12


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

1.
ORGANIZATION

iQIYI, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on November 27, 2009.

The Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and VIEs’ subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Group”. The Group is an innovative platform in China offering a diverse collection of high-quality internet video content, including professionally produced content licensed from professional content providers and self-produced content, on its platform. The Group provides membership services, online advertising services, content distribution services, live broadcasting services and online games services. The Group’s principal geographic market is in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). The Company does not conduct any substantive operations of its own but conducts its primary business operations through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries in the PRC.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s major subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries are as follows:

 

 

 

Place of
Incorporation

 

Date of
Establishment/Acquisition

 

Effective
interest held

 

Subsidiaries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beijing QIYI Century Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
   (“Beijing QIYI Century”)

 

Mainland China

 

March 8, 2010

 

 

100

%

iQIYI HK Limited
   (“iQIYI HK”, formerly known as Qiyi.com HK Limited)

 

Hong Kong

 

April 14, 2011

 

 

100

%

iQIYI Media Limited

 

Cayman

 

May 26, 2017

 

 

100

%

iQIYI Film Group HK Limited

 

Hong Kong

 

June 12, 2017

 

 

100

%

Beijing iQIYI Interactive Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

 

January 31, 2019

 

 

100

%

iQIYI International Singapore Pte, Ltd.

 

Singapore

 

February 11, 2020

 

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
   (“Beijing iQIYI”, formerly known as Beijing
   Xinlian Xinde Advertisement Media Co., Ltd.)

 

Mainland China

 

Acquired on November 23, 2011

 

Nil

 

Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd.
   (“Shanghai iQIYI”)

 

Mainland China

 

December 19, 2012

 

Nil

 

Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd.
   (“Shanghai Zhong Yuan”)

 

Mainland China

 

Acquired on May 11, 2013

 

Nil

 

Chengdu Skymoons Interactive Network Game Co., Ltd.
   (“Skymoons Interactive”)

 

Mainland China

 

Acquired on July 17, 2018

 

Nil

 

Hainan iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

 

February 17, 2017

 

Nil

 

 

In July 2018, the Company and its subsidiaries Beijing iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan acquired a controlling equity interest in Skymoons Inc, Chengdu Skymoons Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. and their subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Skymoons”).

PRC laws and regulations prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of companies that engage in internet audio-video program services, value-added telecommunication services, radio and television program production and operation services, and certain other services. To comply with these foreign ownership restrictions, the Group operates its platforms and primarily conducts its business in the PRC through the VIEs. The paid-in capital of the VIEs was mainly funded by the Company or its subsidiaries through loans extended to the authorized individuals who were the shareholders of the VIEs. The Company has entered into certain agreements with the shareholders of the VIEs through the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the PRC, including loan agreements for the paid-in capital of the VIEs and share pledge agreements for the equity interests in the VIEs held by the shareholders of the VIEs. In addition, the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries have entered into shareholder voting rights trust agreements, powers of

F-13


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

attorney and exclusive purchase option agreements with the VIEs and nominee shareholders of the VIEs, which give the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs and to acquire the equity interests in the VIEs when permitted by the PRC laws, respectively. Commitment letters have been entered into which obligate the Company to absorb losses of the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs and certain exclusive agreements have been entered into that entitle the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries to receive economic benefits from the VIEs that potentially could be significant to the VIEs.

Despite the lack of equity ownership, as a result of a series of contractual arrangements (the “Contractual Arrangements”), the shareholders of the VIEs effectively assigned all of their voting rights underlying their equity interests in the VIEs to the Company, which gives the Company the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance. In addition, through the other exclusive agreements, which consist of the business operation agreements/exclusive management consulting and business cooperation agreements, exclusive technology consulting and services agreements, trademark license agreements and software usage license agreements and business cooperation agreement, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the PRC, has the right to receive economic benefits from the VIEs that potentially could be significant to the VIEs. Lastly, through the commitment letters, the Company has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. Therefore, the Company is considered the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and consolidates the VIEs and their subsidiaries as required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 810 (“ASC 810”), Consolidation.

The principal terms of the Contractual Arrangements are further described below:

Loan Agreements

Pursuant to the loan agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and the shareholder of Beijing iQIYI, amended and restated on January 30, 2013, Beijing QIYI Century provided a RMB27 million interest-free loan to the shareholder of Beijing iQIYI solely for funds necessary for the capital injection to Beijing iQIYI. The loan can be repaid only with the proceeds from the sale of all of the equity interests in Beijing iQIYI to the Company or its designated representative(s) if permitted under PRC laws. The term of the loan agreement expires on June 23, 2021 originally, which was extended for another ten years to June 23, 2031, and can be further extended upon the written notification from Beijing QIYI Century.

The loan agreement entered into between Beijing QIYI Century and the shareholders of Shanghai iQIYI dated October 25, 2013, contains terms similar to the terms described above, except that the total amount of loans extended to the shareholders of Shanghai iQIYI is RMB10 million. The original term of the loan agreement expires on October 25, 2023,which was extended for another ten years to October 25, 2033 and can be further extended upon the written notification from Beijing QIYI Century.

The loan agreement entered into between Beijing QIYI Century and the shareholder of Shanghai Zhong Yuan, amended on January 14, 2014, contains terms similar to the terms described above, except that the total amount of the loan to the shareholder of Shanghai Zhong Yuan is RMB20 million. The original term of the loan agreement expires on January 14, 2024, which was extended for another ten years to January 14, 2034 and can be further extended upon the written notification from Beijing QIYI Century.

Each of the loan agreements amongst Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries and the respective shareholders of Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs contains substantially the same terms as those described above, except that the amount of the loans and the contract expiration date vary.

F-14


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Exclusive Purchase Option Agreements

Pursuant to the exclusive purchase option agreement amongst the Company, Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI and its shareholder, amended and restated on January 30, 2013, the shareholder granted the Company an exclusive irrevocable option to purchase, all or part of the equity interests held by its shareholder, when and to the extent permitted under PRC law, at an amount equal to the cost of the initial contributions to the registered capital or the minimum amount of consideration permitted by applicable PRC law. In addition, Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder granted the Company an exclusive right to designate one or more persons to purchase all the equity interests in Beijing iQIYI. Without the prior written consent of the Company, Beijing iQIYI may not: (i) amend its articles of association, (ii) increase or decrease the registered capital, (iii) sell or otherwise dispose of its assets or beneficial interest, (iv) create or allow any encumbrance on its assets or other beneficial interests, (v) extend any loans to third parties, (vi) enter into any material contract with a value of more than RMB300 (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business), (vii) merge with or acquire any other persons or make any investments, or (viii) distribute dividends to its shareholders. Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder also agrees that he will not dispose of the equity interests in Beijing iQIYI nor create or allow any encumbrance on the equity interests and extend any loans to individuals without the prior written consent of the Company. The shareholder should remit to the Company any amount that is paid by the Company or its designated person(s) in connection with the purchased equity interest. Any and all dividends and other capital distributions from Beijing iQIYI to its shareholders should be repaid to the Company. The agreement will terminate when Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder transfers all of his equity interests in Beijing iQIYI to the Company or its designated person(s) or upon expiration of the term of business of the Company or Beijing iQIYI. The original term of the agreement is ten years, which was extended for another ten years to November 22, 2032 and may be further renewed at the discretion of the Company.

The exclusive purchase option agreement amongst the Company, Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai iQIYI and its shareholders dated October 25, 2013, the exclusive purchase option agreement amongst the Company, Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai Zhong Yuan and its shareholder, amended on January 14, 2014, and each of the exclusive purchase option agreements amongst the Company, Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries, Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs and the respective shareholders, contain terms similar to the terms described above. The original terms of the exclusive purchase option agreement of Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan expires on October 25, 2023 and January 14, 2024, which were extended to October 25, 2033 and January 14, 2034, respectively, and may be further renewed at the discretion of the Company.

Commitment Letters

Pursuant to the commitment letter dated January 30, 2013, under the condition that Beijing iQIYI remains as a variable interest entity of the Company under United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and the relevant contractual arrangements remain in effect, the Company commits to provide unlimited financial support to Beijing iQIYI, if Beijing iQIYI requires any form of reasonable financial support for its normal business operations. If Beijing iQIYI incurs any losses and as a result cannot repay its loans from the Company and Beijing QIYI Century, the Company and Beijing QIYI Century would unconditionally forgive their loans to Beijing iQIYI, if Beijing iQIYI provides sufficient proof for its loss and incapacity to repay.

The commitment letters executed by the Company for other VIEs including Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan, contain terms similar to the terms described above.

Shareholder Voting Rights Trust Agreements and Powers of Attorney

Pursuant to the shareholder voting rights trust agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder, amended and restated on January 30, 2013, Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder agreed to entrust all the rights to exercise its voting power and any other rights as Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder to the person(s) designated by Beijing QIYI Century. Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder agreed to irrevocably appoint the person(s) designated by Beijing QIYI Century as his attorney-in-fact to represent him to exercise all the voting rights and other shareholders’ rights on his behalf on all matters requiring shareholder approval. The agreement will remain effective for as long as the shareholder remains the shareholder of Beijing iQIYI unless Beijing QIYI Century unilaterally terminates the agreement by written notice. Pursuant to an irrevocable power of attorney, Beijing QIYI Century granted all of its rights under the shareholder voting rights trust agreement to the Company.

F-15


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

The shareholder voting rights trust agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai iQIYI’s shareholders dated October 25, 2013, and the shareholder voting rights trust agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai Zhong Yuan’s shareholder, amended on January 14, 2014, contain terms similar to the terms described above except under the shareholder voting rights trust agreement, the person designated by Beijing QIYI Century as the attorney-in-fact to represent the shareholders of Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan must be approved by the Company.

Each of the shareholder voting rights trust agreements amongst Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries and the respective shareholders of Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs contains substantially the same terms as those described above. Each of the powers of attorney amongst the Company, Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries and the respective shareholders of Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs are substantially the same as terms discussed above.

Exclusive Technology Consulting and Services Agreements

Pursuant to the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI effective November 23, 2011, Beijing QIYI Century has the sole and exclusive right to provide to Beijing iQIYI specified technology consulting and services in return for service fees. Beijing iQIYI agrees to accept such services and, without the prior written consent of Beijing QIYI Century, may not accept the same or similar technology consulting and services provided by any third party during the term of the agreement. Beijing iQIYI agrees to pay specified service fees to Beijing QIYI Century on a quarterly basis. Beijing QIYI Century has the right to unilaterally adjust the amount of the service fee through written confirmation, without prior consent from Beijing iQIYI. All the benefits and interests generated from the agreement, including but not limited to software copyrights, intellectual property rights, know-how and trade secrets, become the sole and exclusive rights of Beijing QIYI Century. The agreement has a term of ten years originally, which was extended for another ten years to November 23, 2031, unless Beijing QIYI Century unilaterally terminates the agreement by giving written notification at least thirty days prior to the expiration of the agreement. The agreement can also be further renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century.

The exclusive technology consulting and services agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai iQIYI on October 25, 2013, the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai Zhong Yuan, amended on January 14, 2014, and each of the exclusive technology consulting and service agreements amongst Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries and Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs, contain terms similar to the terms described above. The original terms of the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement of Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan expires on October 25, 2023 and January 14, 2024, which were extended to October 25, 2033 and January 14, 2034, respectively, and may be further renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century.

Share Pledge Agreements

Pursuant to the share pledge agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder, amended and restated on January 30, 2013, Beijing iQIYI’s shareholder has pledged all of his equity interests in Beijing iQIYI to guarantee his and Beijing iQIYI’s performance of their obligations under, the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement and the amended and restated loan agreement. During the term of the share pledge agreement, Beijing QIYI Century has the right to receive all of the dividends and profits distributed on the pledged equity. If Beijing iQIYI or its shareholder breaches its respective contractual obligations, Beijing QIYI Century, as the pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the right to sell the pledged equity interests. The shareholder of Beijing iQIYI agrees not to dispose of the pledged equity interests, create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests or take any actions that would prejudice Beijing QIYI Century’s interest. The share pledge agreement will expire after Beijing iQIYI and its shareholder has completed all their obligations under the exclusive technology consulting and services agreement and the amended and restated loan agreement unless otherwise unilaterally terminated by Beijing QIYI Century.

The share pledge agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai iQIYI’s shareholders dated October 25, 2013, the share pledge agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai Zhong Yuan’s shareholder, amended on January 14, 2014, and the share pledge agreements amongst Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries and Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs, contain terms similar to the terms described above except that the pledged equity interest is only to guarantee performance of their obligations under the loan agreements.

F-16


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Business Operation Agreements / Exclusive Management Consulting and Business Cooperation Agreements

Pursuant to the business operation agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century, Beijing iQIYI and its shareholder, amended and restated on January 30, 2013, Beijing iQIYI agrees to accept the proposal provided by Beijing QIYI Century from time to time relating to employment, daily business and financial management. This agreement can only be unilaterally revoked/amended by Beijing QIYI Century. The agreement has a term of ten years originally, which was extended for another ten years to January 30, 2033 and is further renewable at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century.

The business operation agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai iQIYI’s shareholders dated October 25, 2013, the business operation agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Shanghai Zhong Yuan’s shareholder, amended on January 14, 2014, and the business operation agreements or the exclusive management consulting and business cooperation agreements amongst Beijing QIYI Century or other subsidiaries and Beijing iQIYI or other VIEs, contain terms similar to the terms described above. The original term of the business operation agreement of Shanghai iQIYI and Shanghai Zhong Yuan expires on October 25, 2023 and January 14, 2024, which were extended to October 25, 2033 and January 14, 2034, respectively, and may be further renewed at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century.

Trademark License Agreement and Software Usage License Agreement

Pursuant to the trademark license agreement and the software usage license agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI effective November 23, 2011, Beijing QIYI Century granted a non-exclusive and non-transferable license, without sublicensing rights, to Beijing iQIYI to use its trademarks and software. Beijing iQIYI may only use the licenses in its own business operations. Beijing QIYI Century has the right to adjust the service fees at its sole discretion. The initial term of the two agreements is five years and the software usage license agreement may be extended upon the written consent of Beijing QIYI Century. The trademark license agreement is automatically extended for successive one-year periods after its expiration unless Beijing QIYI Century early terminates the agreement in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. The software usage license agreement was extended for another five years after its initial term, and was extended for another ten years to December 1, 2031 and is further renewable at the discretion of Beijing QIYI Century.

Business Cooperation Agreement

Pursuant to the business cooperation agreement amongst Beijing QIYI Century and Beijing iQIYI effective November 23, 2011, Beijing iQIYI agrees to provide Beijing QIYI Century with services, including internet information services, online advertising and other services reasonably necessary within the scope of Beijing QIYI Century’s business. Beijing iQIYI agrees to use technology services provided by Beijing QIYI Century on its platform, including but not limited to, P2P download and video on-demand systems. Beijing QIYI Century agrees to pay specified service fees to Beijing iQIYI as consideration for the internet information services and other services provided by Beijing iQIYI. Beijing iQIYI has the right to waive the service fees at its discretion. The original term of this agreement is ten years, which was extended for another ten years to November 23, 2031 and can be further renewed at Beijing QIYI Century’s discretion.

In the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel, (i) the ownership structure relating to the VIEs of the Company is in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations; (ii) each of the contractual arrangements with the VIEs and their shareholders are valid and legally binding upon each party to such agreement under PRC laws; and (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of the contractual arrangements do not result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association and business licenses of the VIEs, and any violation of any explicit provisions of the current PRC laws and regulations.

On January 1, 2020, the Foreign Investment Law came into effect and became the principal laws and regulations governing foreign investment in the PRC. The Foreign Investment Law requires compliance with a negative industry catalog (“Negative List”), which sets forth the business that are restricted and prohibited from foreign investment. The Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, but it contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation of the Foreign Investment Law with respect to the contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. The VIEs’ internet audio-video program services, value-added telecommunication services, radio and television program production and operation services, and certain other services are included in the Negative List. If any of the contractual arrangements would be deemed as a foreign investment that is prohibited by the Foreign Investment Law or any other current or future laws, regulations or interpretations, the Company’s ability, through its wholly- owned subsidiaries in the PRC, to enforce its rights under these contractual arrangements with the VIEs and the Company’s ability to conduct business through the VIEs could be severely limited.

F-17


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

In addition, if the current organizational structure or any of the contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing and/or future PRC laws or regulations, the Company may be subject to penalties, which may include but not be limited to: the cancellation or revocation of the Company’s business and operating licenses, being required to restructure the Company’s operations or discontinue the Company’s operating activities. The imposition of any of these or other penalties may cause the Company to lose its right to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs and/or the right to receive economic benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIEs based on the contractual arrangements, which may result in the Company no longer being able to consolidate the financial results of the VIEs in the consolidated financial statements.

Furthermore, shareholders of the VIEs may have interests that are different with those of the Company, which could potentially increase the risk that they would seek to breach the existing terms of the aforementioned agreements.

The carrying amounts of the assets, liabilities and the results of operations of the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and statements of comprehensive loss are as follows:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

950,267

 

 

 

1,882,877

 

 

 

272,992

 

Short-term investments

 

 

595,754

 

 

 

529,411

 

 

 

76,757

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

2,613,546

 

 

 

2,316,961

 

 

 

335,928

 

Licensed copyrights, net

 

 

669,672

 

 

 

527,792

 

 

 

76,523

 

Prepayments and other assets

 

 

3,027,691

 

 

 

2,366,445

 

 

 

343,102

 

Total current assets

 

 

7,856,930

 

 

 

7,623,486

 

 

 

1,105,302

 

Non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets, net

 

 

726,115

 

 

 

649,690

 

 

 

94,196

 

Long-term investments

 

 

1,987,678

 

 

 

1,941,014

 

 

 

281,421

 

Licensed copyrights, net

 

 

2,288,848

 

 

 

1,952,497

 

 

 

283,085

 

Produced content, net

 

 

10,425,514

 

 

 

12,534,227

 

 

 

1,817,292

 

Operating lease assets

 

 

697,965

 

 

 

578,937

 

 

 

83,938

 

Goodwill

 

 

2,412,989

 

 

 

2,350,790

 

 

 

340,833

 

Others

 

 

919,713

 

 

 

712,697

 

 

 

103,331

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

19,458,822

 

 

 

20,719,852

 

 

 

3,004,096

 

Total assets

 

 

27,315,752

 

 

 

28,343,338

 

 

 

4,109,398

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third-party liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

5,068,907

 

 

 

3,315,976

 

 

 

480,771

 

Customer advances and deferred revenue

 

 

3,370,582

 

 

 

4,125,789

 

 

 

598,183

 

Short-term loans (i)

 

 

2,292,899

 

 

 

2,381,846

 

 

 

345,335

 

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

 

 

108,059

 

 

 

95,603

 

 

 

13,861

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

3,101,273

 

 

 

2,315,572

 

 

 

335,726

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

13,941,720

 

 

 

12,234,786

 

 

 

1,773,876

 

Non-current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

579,844

 

 

 

502,687

 

 

 

72,883

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

339,238

 

 

 

1,247,571

 

 

 

180,881

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

919,082

 

 

 

1,750,258

 

 

 

253,764

 

Amounts due to the Company and its subsidiaries

 

 

20,835,196

 

 

 

22,808,971

 

 

 

3,306,990

 

Total liabilities

 

 

35,695,998

 

 

 

36,794,015

 

 

 

5,334,630

 

 

F-18


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Total revenues

 

 

27,412,800

 

 

 

28,947,480

 

 

 

26,966,013

 

 

 

3,909,704

 

Net (loss)/income

 

 

(1,360,562

)

 

 

(1,688,711

)

 

 

334,414

 

 

 

48,485

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

980,975

 

 

 

160,904

 

 

 

275,422

 

 

 

39,933

 

Net cash (used for )/provided by investing activities

 

 

(625,675

)

 

 

(540,018

)

 

 

547,231

 

 

 

79,341

 

Net cash (used for)/provided by financing activities

 

 

(380,298

)

 

 

515,423

 

 

 

79,733

 

 

 

11,560

 

 

(i) In accordance with the arrangement as described in Note 13, the Group consolidates the securitization vehicle as it is a VIE for which the Group considers itself the primary beneficiary given the Group has the power to govern the activities that most significantly impact its economic performance and is obligated to absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, RMB708,195 and nil, respectively, of the loan is repayable within one year and is included in “Short-term loans”, in the carrying amounts of the liabilities of the VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries.

The carrying amounts of the assets, liabilities and the results of operations of the VIEs and their subsidiaries are presented in aggregate due to the similarity of the purpose and design of the VIEs and their subsidiaries, the nature of the assets in these VIEs and their subsidiaries and the type of the involvement of the Company in these VIEs and their subsidiaries.

Unrecognized revenue-producing assets held by the VIEs include certain internet content provisions and other licenses, domain names and trademarks. The internet content provisions and other licenses, which are held by the VIEs that provide the relevant services, are required under relevant PRC laws, rules and regulations for the operation of Internet businesses in the PRC, and therefore are integral to the Company’s operations. The VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries contributed an aggregate of 92%, 94% and 92% of the Group’s consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, after elimination of inter-company transactions. As of December 31, 2022, there was no pledge or collateralization of the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries’ assets that can only be used to settled obligations of the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries, other than the aforementioned in the share pledge agreements, business operation agreements and collateralization of a VIE’s office building as described in Note 13.

The VIEs’ third-party creditors did not have recourse to the general credit of the Company in the normal course of business. The Company did not provide or intend to provide financial or other support not previously contractually required to the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries during the years presented.

2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Going concern

As disclosed in the Group's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021, there was substantial doubt regarding its ability to continue as a going concern as it did not have sufficient funds to repurchase all or a significant portion of the outstanding 2025 Notes if redeemed by noteholders on April 1, 2023 (Note 14) without securing additional financing. The Group has implemented plans and improved its financial position by reducing discretionary capital expenditures and operational expenses (the "Plans") and secured additional financing. In March 2022, the Group issued ordinary shares for a total cash purchase price of US$285 million (equivalent to RMB1,807.2 million) in a private placement transaction (Note 19). In December 2022, the Group issued US$500.0 million (equivalent to RMB3,448.6 million) convertible senior notes (Note 14) to certain investors. In January 2023, the Group completed a registered follow-on public offering of ADSs and received net proceeds of US$500 million (equivalent to RMB3,448.6 million). In February 2023, certain investors exercised their option to subscribe for an additional amount of US$50.0 million (equivalent to RMB344.9 million) convertible senior notes (Note 26). In March 2023, the Group issued US$600 million (equivalent to RMB4,138.3 million) convertible senior notes. Concurrently with and shortly after the offering, the Group also entered into separate and individually privately negotiated agreements with certain holders of the 2026 Notes to repurchase US$340 million (equivalent to RMB2,345.0 million) principal amount of such notes (Note 26).

The Group has incurred net losses since inception and had an accumulated deficit of RMB46,498,897 (US$6,741,706) as of December 31, 2022 and negative cash flow from operations of RMB70,569 (US$10,232) for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Group had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB7,929,821 (US$1,149,715), unused credit lines of RMB1,635,644 (US$237,146) and a working capital deficit of RMB14,344,383 (US$2,079,740). However, net loss decreased from RMB6,108,533 for the year ended December 31, 2021 to RMB117,776 (US$17,076) for the year ended December 31, 2022, which led to improved operating cash flows.

F-19


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

As a result of the cash generated from operations, coupled with the Plans and funds raised above, the substantial doubt regarding the Group's ability to continue as a going concern has been resolved.

Convenience translation

Translations of amounts from RMB into US$ for the convenience of the readers have been calculated at the exchange rate of RMB6.8972 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2022, the last business day in fiscal year 2022, as published on the website of the United States Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at such rate.

Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The consolidated financial statements of the Group include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The results of the subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which the Group obtains control and continues 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 power to govern the activities which most significantly impact its economic performance and is obligated to absorb losses of the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs or the right to receive benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs, then the entity is consolidated. All intercompany balances and transactions between the Company, its subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Management evaluates estimates, including those related to the standalone selling prices of performance obligations of revenue contracts, accrued sales rebates for online advertising revenues, the allowance for credit losses of accounts receivable, contract assets, receivables from online payment agencies, amounts due from related parties and debt securities, liabilities associated with financial guarantees, future viewership consumption patterns and useful lives of licensed copyrights and produced content, future revenues generated by the broadcasting and sublicensing rights of content assets (licensed and produced), useful lives of certain finite-lived intangible assets, fair values of certain debt and equity investments, recoverability and useful lives of long-lived assets, recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill, ultimate revenue of produced content predominantly monetized on its own, fair values of licensed copyrights and produced content monetized as a film group or individually, fair value of share options to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares, fair value of nonmonetary content exchanges, fair value of financial instruments, forfeiture rates for share options granted, valuation allowances on deferred tax assets and income tax uncertainties, among others. Management bases these estimates on its historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Foreign currency translation and transactions

The Company’s functional currency is the US$ and its reporting currency is the RMB. The Company’s subsidiaries, VIEs and subsidiaries of the VIEs determine their functional currencies based on the criteria of ASC topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters (“ASC 830”). The functional currency of the subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong is the U.S. dollar. The functional currencies of the subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries in Mainland China are the RMB. The Company uses the monthly average exchange rate and the exchange rate at the balance sheet date to translate the operating results and financial position to its reporting currency, respectively. Translation differences are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity.

F-20


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are re-measured into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing on the transaction dates. Financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are re-measured into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash, money market funds, investments in interest bearing demand deposit accounts, time deposits, and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase and are stated at cost which approximates their fair value.

Restricted Cash

Cash that is restricted as to withdrawal or for use or pledged as security is reported separately on the consolidated balance sheets. The Group’s restricted cash mainly represents restricted deposits used as security against short-term loans, convertible senior notes and certain lawsuits.

In the event that the obligation to maintain such deposits is expected to be terminated within the next twelve months, these deposits are classified as current assets, included in "Restricted cash" in the consolidated balance sheets. Otherwise, they are classified as non-current assets, included in "Prepayments and other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets.

Short-term investments

All highly liquid investments with maturities of greater than three months, but less than twelve months, are classified as short-term investments.

Investments that are expected to be realized in cash during the next twelve months are also included in short-term investments. The Group accounts for short-term investments in accordance with ASC topic 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities (“ASC 320”). The Group classifies the short-term investments in debt securities as “held-to-maturity”, “trading” or “available-for-sale”, whose classification determines the respective accounting methods stipulated by ASC 320. Interest income, including amortization of the premium and discount arising at acquisition, for all categories of investments in securities are included in earnings.

The securities that the Group has the positive intent and the ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and stated at amortized cost. The Group determines realized gains or losses on sale of held-to-maturity securities on a specific identification method, and records such gains or losses in earnings.

The securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and measured at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses for trading securities are included in earnings.

Investments not classified as trading or as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale securities. Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains or losses are included in earnings during the period in which the gain or loss is realized.

Measurement of credit losses

The Group maintains an allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable, contract assets and receivables from online payment agencies, which is recorded as an offset to accounts receivable, contract assets and receivables from online payment agencies, respectively, and the estimated credit losses charged to the allowance is classified as “Selling, general and administrative” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. When similar risk characteristics exist, the Group assesses collectability and measure expected credit losses on a collective basis for a pool of assets, whereas if similar risk characteristics do not exist, the Group assesses collectability and measures expected credit losses on an individual asset basis. In determining the amount of the allowance for credit losses, the Group considers historic collection experience, the age of the accounts receivable, contract assets balances and receivables from online payment agencies, credit quality of the Group’s customers, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and other factors that may affect the customer’s ability to pay.



For debt securities, the allowance for credit losses reflects the Group's estimated expected losses over the contractual lives of the debt securities and is recorded as a charge to “Others, net” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Estimated allowances of credit losses are determined by considering reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions in

F-21


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

addition to information about past events and current conditions.
 

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts receivable are recognized and carried at the original invoiced amount less an allowance for credit losses. An estimate for the allowance for credit losses is discussed above in “Measurement of credit losses”. The receivable balances are written off when they are deemed uncollectible. The Group generally does not require collateral from its customers.

Receivables from Online Payment Agencies, net

Receivables from online payment agencies are cash due from the third-party online payment service providers for clearing transactions and are included in “Prepayments and other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. The cash was paid or deposited by customers or users through these online payment agencies for services provided by the Group. The Group carefully considers and monitors the credit worthiness of the third-party payment service providers used and provides an allowance for credit losses as discussed in “Measurement of credit losses”. Receivable balances are written off when they are deemed uncollectible. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, allowance for credit losses provided for the receivables from online payment agencies were insignificant.

Fixed assets, net

Fixed assets are stated at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the term of the related lease, as follows:

 

Computer equipment

 

3 to 5 years

Office furniture and equipment

 

3 to 5 years

Leasehold improvements

 

over the shorter of lease terms or estimated useful lives of the assets

Office building

 

43 years

Others

 

5 years

 

Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, whereas the cost of renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized as additions to the related assets. Retirements, sales and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost and accumulated depreciation from the asset and accumulated depreciation accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

All direct and indirect costs that are related to the construction of fixed assets and incurred before the assets are ready for their intended use are capitalized as construction in progress. Construction in progress is transferred to specific fixed assets items and depreciation of these assets commences when ready for their intended use.

Long-term investments

The Group’s long-term investments consist of equity securities without readily determinable fair values, equity method investments, available-for-sale debt securities accounted for at fair value and equity securities with readily determinable fair value.

Equity investments, except for those accounted for under the equity method, those that result in consolidation of the investee and certain other investments, are measured at fair value in accordance with ASC topic 321, Investments—Equity Securities (“ASC 321”) and any changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. For equity securities without readily determinable fair values and do not qualify for the existing practical expedient in ASC topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) to estimate fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) of the investment, the Group elected to use the measurement alternative to measure those investments at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, if any. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value, and any changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

F-22


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Investments in entities in which the Group can exercise significant influence and holds an investment in voting common stock or in-substance common stock (or both) of the investee but does not own a majority equity interest or control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting in accordance with ASC topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). Under the equity method, the Group initially records its investment at cost and the difference between the cost of the equity investee and the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of the equity investee is accounted for as if the investee was a consolidated subsidiary. The Group subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investments to recognize the Group’s proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss into earnings after the date of investment. When calculating its proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss, the Group adjusts the net income or loss of equity investee to include accretion of preferred stock that is classified in temporary equity in the equity investee’s financial statements. Intra-entity profits and losses shall be eliminated until realized by the Group or investee as if the investee was consolidated. The Group will discontinue applying the equity method if an investment (plus additional financial support provided to the investee, if any) has been reduced to zero. When the Group has other investments in its equity-method investee and is not required to advance additional funds to the investee, the Group would continue to report its share of equity method losses in its consolidated statements of comprehensive loss after its equity-method investment in ordinary shares has been reduced to zero, to the extent of and as an adjustment to the adjusted basis of the Group’s other investments in the investee. The Group evaluates the equity method investments for impairment under ASC 323. An impairment loss on the equity method investments is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss when the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary.

Available-for-sale debt securities are convertible debt instruments issued by private companies and investments in equity securities that are redeemable at the Company’s option, which are measured at fair value, with interest income recorded in earnings and unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Produced content, net

The Group produces original content in-house and collaborates with external parties. Produced content primarily consists of films, episodic series, variety shows and animations. The costs incurred in the physical production of original content include direct production costs, production overhead and acquisition costs. Produced content also includes cash expenditures made to acquire a proportionate share of certain rights to films including profit sharing, distribution and/or other rights. Exploitation costs are expensed as incurred. Participation costs are accrued using the individual-film-forecast-computation method, which recognizes the costs in the same ratio as the associated ultimate revenue. Production costs for original content that are predominantly monetized in a film group are capitalized. Production costs for original content predominantly monetized on its own are capitalized to the extent that they are recoverable from total revenues expected to be earned (“ultimate revenue”); otherwise, they are expensed as cost of revenues. Ultimate revenue estimates include revenue expected to be earned from all sources, including exhibition, licensing, or exploitation of produced content if the Group has demonstrated a history of earning such revenue. The Group estimates ultimate revenue to be earned during the estimated useful lives of produced content based on anticipated release patterns and historical results of similar produced content, which are identified based on various factors, including cast and crew, target audience and popularity. The capitalized production costs are reported separately as noncurrent assets with caption of “Produced content, net” on the consolidated balance sheets.

Based on factors including historical and estimated future viewership consumption patterns, the Group amortizes film costs for produced content that is predominantly monetized in a film group. For produced content that is monetized on its own, the Group considers historical and estimated usage patterns to determine the pattern of amortization for film costs. Based on the estimated patterns, the Group amortizes produced content using an accelerated method over its estimated useful lives within ten years, beginning with the month of first availability and such costs are included in “Cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Licensed copyrights, net

Licensed copyrights consist of professionally produced content such as films, television series, variety shows and other video content acquired from external parties. The license fees are capitalized and, unless prepaid, a corresponding liability is recorded when the cost of the content is known, the content is accepted by the Group in accordance with the conditions of the license agreement and the content is available for its first showing on the Group’s platforms. Licensed copyrights are presented on the consolidated balance sheets as current and non-current based on estimated time of usage.

F-23


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

The Group’s licensed copyrights include the right to broadcast and, in some instances, the right to sublicense. The broadcasting right, refers to the right to broadcast the content on its own platforms and the sublicensing right, refers to the right to sublicense the underlying content to external parties. When licensed copyrights include both broadcasting and sublicensing rights, the content costs are allocated to these two rights upon initial recognition, based on the relative proportion of the estimated total revenues that will be generated by each right over its estimated useful lives.

For the right to broadcast the contents on its own platforms that generates online advertising and membership services revenues, based on factors including historical and estimated future viewership patterns, the content costs are amortized using an accelerated method by content categories over the shorter of each content's contractual period or estimated useful lives within ten years, beginning with the month of first availability. Content categories accounting for most of the Group’s content include newly released drama series, newly released movies, animations, library drama series and library movies. Estimates of future viewership consumption patterns and estimated useful lives are reviewed periodically, at least on an annual basis and revised, if necessary. Revisions to the amortization patterns are accounted for as a change in accounting estimate prospectively in accordance with ASC topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (“ASC 250”). For the right to sublicense the content to external parties that generates direct content distribution revenues, the content costs are amortized based on its estimated usage pattern and recorded as cost of revenues.

Impairment of licensed copyrights and produced content

The Group’s business model is mainly subscription and advertising based, as such the majority of the Group’s content assets (licensed copyrights and produced content) are predominantly monetized with other content assets, whereas a smaller portion of the Group’s content assets are predominantly monetized at a specific title level such as variety shows and investments in a proportionate share of certain rights to films including profit sharing, distribution and/or other rights. Because the identifiable cash flows related to content launched on the Group’s Mainland China platform are largely independent of the cash flows of other content launched on the Group’s overseas platform, the Group has identified two separate film groups. The Group reviews its film groups and individual content for impairment when there are events or changes in circumstances that indicate the fair value of a film group or individual content may be less than its unamortized costs. Examples of such events or changes in circumstances include, a significant adverse change in technological, regulatory, legal, economic, or social factors that could affect the fair value of the film group or the public's perception of a film or the availability of a film for future showings, a significant decrease in the number of subscribers or forecasted subscribers, or the loss of a major distributor, a change in the predominant monetization strategy of a film that is currently monetized on its own, actual costs substantially in excess of budgeted costs, substantial delays in completion or release schedules, or actual performance subsequent to release failing to meet expectations set before release such as a significant decrease in the amount of ultimate revenue expected to be recognized.

When such events or changes in circumstances are identified, the Group assesses whether the fair value of an individual content (or film group) is less than its unamortized film costs, determines the fair value of an individual content (or film group) and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the unamortized capitalized costs exceed the individual content’s (or film group’s) fair value. The Group mainly uses a discounted cash flow approach to determine the fair value of an individual content or film group, for which the most significant inputs include the forecasted future revenues, costs and operating expenses attributable to an individual content or the film group and the discount rate. An impairment loss attributable to a film group is allocated to individual licensed copyrights and produced content within the film group on a pro rata basis using the relative carrying values of those assets as the Group cannot estimate the fair value of individual contents in the film group without undue cost and effort.

Partner-generated content (“PGC”)

The Group collaborates with a large number of selected partners to supplement its video content portfolio with PGC, and incentivizes them to submit high-quality content through the Group’s revenue-sharing mechanism. Under such arrangements, the Group shares with the partners a portion of the revenues derived from either online advertising services or membership services based on various factors agreed upon. As the Group is the primary obligor of online advertising services and membership services, such revenues are recorded on a gross basis. Revenue sharing costs incurred and payable to partners are recognized as cost of revenues when the criteria of those pre-agreed factors are met.

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination. The Group assesses goodwill for impairment in accordance with ASC subtopic 350-20, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: Goodwill (“ASC 350-20”), which requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually and more frequently upon the occurrence of certain events, as defined by ASC 350-20.

A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment referred to as a component. The Group determines its reporting units by first identifying its operating segments, and then assesses whether any components of these segments constituted a business for which discrete financial information is available and where the Company’s segment manager regularly reviews the operating results of that component. The Group determined that it has one reporting unit because components below the consolidated level either did not have discrete financial information or their operating results were not regularly reviewed by the segment manager.

The Group has the option to assess qualitative factors first to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with ASC 350-20. If the Group believes, as a result of the qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test described above is required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. In the qualitative assessment, the Group considers primary factors such as industry and market considerations, overall financial performance of the reporting unit, and other specific information related to the operations. The quantitative goodwill impairment test, used to identify both the existence of impairment and the amount of impairment loss, compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit is greater than zero and its fair value exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired.

On disposal of a portion of reporting unit that constitutes a business, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the amount of gain or loss recognized upon disposal. When the Group disposes of a business within the reporting unit, the amount of goodwill disposed is measured on the basis of the relative fair value of the business disposed and the portion of the reporting unit retained. This relative fair value approach is not used when the business to be disposed was not integrated into the reporting unit after its acquisition, in which case the current carrying amount of the acquired goodwill should be included in the carrying amount of the business to be disposed.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets with finite lives are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment loss, if any. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives.

Intangible assets have estimated economic lives as follows:

 

Traffic acquisition agreement

 

1-2 years

Intellectual property rights

 

1-10 years

Online literature

 

1-10 years

Trademarks

 

10-22 years

User list

 

5 years

Domain names

 

10-22 years

Published mobile games

 

2-4 years

Technology

 

5 years

Others

 

2 to 20 years

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Other Than Goodwill

The Group evaluates long-lived assets, such as fixed assets and purchased or acquired intangible assets with finite lives other than licensed copyrights and produced content, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment: Overall (“ASC 360-10”). When such events occur, the Group assesses the recoverability of the long-lived assets based on the undiscounted future cash flows the long-lived assets are expected to generate at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. The Group recognizes an

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

impairment loss when the estimated undiscounted future cash flow expected to result from the use of the long-lived assets plus net proceeds expected from the eventual disposition of the long-lived assets, if any, is less than their carrying values. If the Group identifies an impairment, the Group reduces the carrying value of the long-lived assets to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow approach or, when available and appropriate, to comparable market values. The Group uses estimates and judgments in its impairment tests and if different estimates or judgments had been utilized, the timing or the amount of any impairment charges could be different.

Revenue Recognition

The Group’s revenues are derived principally from membership services, online advertising services and content distribution. Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services is transferred to the Group’s customers in an amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Value added taxes (“VAT”) are presented as a reduction of revenues.

The Group’s revenue recognition policies are set forth as follows:

Membership services

The Group offers membership services to subscribing members with various privileges, which primarily include access to exclusive and ad-free streaming of premium content 1080P/4K high-definition video, Dolby Audio, and accelerated downloads and others. When the receipt of membership fees is for services to be delivered over a period of time, the receipt is initially recorded as “Customer advances and deferred revenue” on the consolidated balance sheets and revenue is recognized ratably over the membership period as services are rendered. Membership services revenue also includes fees earned from subscribing members for on-demand content purchases and early access to premium content. The Group is the principal in its relationships where partners, including consumer electronics manufacturers (TVs and cell phones), mobile operators, internet service providers and online payment agencies, provide access to the membership services or payment processing services as the Group retains control over its service delivery to its subscribing members. Typically, payments made to the partners are recorded as cost of revenues. For the sale of the right to other membership services through strategic cooperation with other parties, the Group recognizes revenue on a net basis when the Group does not control the specified services before they are transferred to the customer.

Online advertising services

The Group sells advertising services primarily to third-party advertising agencies and a small portion is sold directly to advertisers. Advertising contracts are signed to establish the price and advertising services to be provided. Pursuant to the advertising contracts, the Group provides advertisement placements on its platforms in different formats, including but not limited to video, banners, links, logos, brand placement and buttons. The Group performs a credit assessment of the customer to assess the collectability of the contract price prior to entering into contracts. For contracts where the Group provides customers with multiple performance obligations, primarily for advertisements to be displayed in different spots, placed under different forms and occur at different times, the Group would evaluate all the performance obligations in the arrangement to determine whether each performance obligation is distinct. Consideration is allocated to each performance obligation based on its standalone selling price and revenue is recognized as each performance obligation is satisfied through the Group’s display of the advertisements in accordance with the revenue contracts.

The Group provides various sales incentives to its customers for meeting certain cumulative purchase volume requirements, including cash rebates to certain third-party advertising agencies and non-cash credits which can be used to acquire future online advertising services in certain bundled arrangements, which are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis with customers. The Group accounts for cash rebates granted to customers as variable consideration which is measured based on the most likely amount of incentive to be provided to customers. Non-cash credits granted to customers are considered options to acquire additional services that provide customers with a material right. The contract consideration related to these customer options to acquire additional services are deferred and recognized as revenue when future services are transferred or when the options expire.

Content distribution

The Group generates revenues from sub-licensing content assets for cash or through nonmonetary exchanges mainly with other online video broadcasting companies. The exclusive licensing agreements the Group enters into with the vendors have a specified license period and provide the Group rights to sub-license these content assets to other parties. The Group enters into a non-exclusive sub-license agreement with a sub-licensee for a period that falls within the original exclusive license period. For cash sub-licensing

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

transactions, the Group is entitled to receive the sub-license fee under the sub-licensing arrangements and does not have any future obligation once it has provided the underlying content to the sub-licensee (which is provided at or before the beginning of the sub-license period). The sub-licensing of content assets represents a license of functional intellectual property which grants a right to use the Group’s content assets and is recognized at the point in time when the content asset is made available for the customer’s use and benefit.

The Group also enters into nonmonetary transactions to exchange online broadcasting rights of content assets with other online video broadcasting companies from time to time. The exchanged content assets provide rights for each party to broadcast the content assets received on its own platform only. Each transferring party retains the right to continue broadcasting the exclusive content on its own platform and/or sublicense the rights to the content it surrendered in the exchange. The Group accounts for these nonmonetary exchanges based on the fair value of the asset received. Barter sublicensing revenues are recognized in accordance with the same revenue recognition criteria above. The Group estimates the fair value of the content assets received using a market approach based on various factors, including the purchase price of similar non-exclusive and/or exclusive contents, broadcasting schedule, cast and crew, theme, popularity and box office. The transaction price of barter transaction revenues is calculated on the individual content asset basis. For a significant barter sublicensing transaction, the Company further reviews the fair value by analyzing against the cost of the content assets bartered out and/or engages a third-party valuation firm to assess the reasonableness of its fair value. The attributable cost of sublicensing transactions, whether for cash or through nonmonetary exchanges, is recognized as cost of revenues through the amortization of the sublicensing right component of the exclusive content asset.

Others

Other revenues mainly include revenues from online games, live broadcasting and other licensing.

Online games

The Group operates mobile games including both self-developed and licensed mobile games and generates mobile game revenues from the sale of in-game virtual items, including items, avatars, skills, privileges or other in-game consumables, features or functionality, within the games.

The Group records revenue generated from mobile games on a gross basis if the Group acts as the principal in the mobile game arrangements under which the Group controls the specified services before they are provided to the customer. In addition, when the Group acts as the principal, it is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide maintenance services and has discretion in setting the price for the services to the customer. Otherwise, the Group records revenue on a net basis based on the ratios pre-determined with the online game developers when all the revenue recognition criteria set forth in ASC topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) are met, which is generally when the user purchases virtual currencies issued by the game developers.

For transactions where the Group is the principal, the Group determines that the in-game virtual items are identified as performance obligations. The Group provides on-going services to the end-users who purchase virtual items to gain an enhanced game-playing experience. For the sale of durable virtual items, the Group recognizes revenues ratably over the estimated average playing period of these paying players, starting from the point in time when durable virtual items are delivered to the players’ accounts. For the sale of consumable virtual items, the Group recognizes revenue as the items are consumed.

Live broadcasting

The Group operates a live broadcasting platform, iQIYI Show, whereby users can follow their favorite hosts and shows in real time through live broadcasting. Users can purchase virtual currency for usage in iQIYI Show to acquire consumable virtual gifts, which are simultaneously presented to hosts to show their support or time-based virtual items, which enables users to enjoy additional functions and privileges for a specified time period.

The Group operates the live broadcasting platform and determines the price of virtual items sold. Therefore, revenues derived from the sale of virtual items are recorded on a gross basis as the Group acts as the principal in the transaction. Costs incurred from services provided by the hosts are recognized as cost of revenues. To facilitate the sale of virtual items, the Group bundles special privileges and virtual items as a package at a discounted price and the Group allocates the arrangement consideration to each performance obligation based on their relative standalone selling prices. Revenue from the sale of consumable virtual gifts is recognized when consumed by the user, or, in the case of time-based virtual items, recognized ratably over the period each virtual item is made available to the user. Virtual currency sold but not yet consumed by the purchasers is recorded as “Customer advances and deferred revenue” on the consolidated balance sheets.

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Other licensing

The Group grants rights to its customers to re-create short-form videos for selected content assets from its existing content library over a fixed license period. The transaction price is allocated based on the estimated standalone selling prices of the identified performance obligations, which consists of (i) the licensing of rights related to selected content assets in the existing content library; and (ii) future unspecified updates to the existing content library during the license period. The Group records revenue when the customer obtains the rights for the selected content assets from its existing content library at the commencement of the license period and as the updated contents are made available to the customer over the license period.

Contract balances

When either party to a revenue contract has performed, the Group presents the contract in the consolidated balance sheets as a contract asset or a contract liability, depending on the relationship between the entity’s performance and the customer’s payment.

Contract assets mainly represent unbilled amounts related to the Group's rights to consideration for advertising services delivered and are included in “Prepayments and other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, contract assets were RMB1,591,152 and RMB1,490,656
(US$
216,125), respectively, net of an allowance for credit losses of RMB14,721 and RMB12,409 (US$1,799), respectively. The decrease in the balance of contract assets was primarily due to less outstanding advertising contracts as of December 31, 2022 compared to the prior year for which the Group had commenced to provide advertisement placements but had not completed all specified advertising services in the contract, which corresponds to when the Group has the right to bill its customers.

Contract liabilities are the Group’s obligation to transfer goods or services to customers for which the Group has received consideration from customers, which are comprised of: i) payments received for membership fees and other services; ii) virtual currency sold for which the corresponding services have not yet been provided to customers; and iii) non-cash credits granted to customers. Contract liabilities are primarily presented as “Customer advances and deferred revenue” on the consolidated balance sheets. Balances of contract liabilities were RMB4,416,413 and RMB5,053,031 (US$732,621) as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The increase in contract liabilities is a result of the increase in consideration received from the Group’s customers. Revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2022 that was included in contract liabilities as of January 1, 2022 was RMB3,398,774 (US$492,776).

As of December 31, 2022, total transaction price allocated to performance obligations that were unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied for contracts with an original expected length of more than one year was RMB3,465,946 (US$502,515), which is expected to be recognized over the next three years.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

The Group does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which the Group recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues consists primarily of content costs, bandwidth costs and others.

Advertising expenses

Advertising expenses, primarily marketing spend in channel coverage and content related promotion are included in “Selling, general and administrative” and are expensed when incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were RMB2,304,782, RMB2,383,257 and RMB1,809,118 (US$262,297), respectively.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses (including share-based compensation cost) incurred for the development and enhancement to the Group’s platforms as well as costs associated with new product development

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

and enhancement. Depreciation expenses and other operating costs are also included in research and development expenses. The Group recognizes research and development costs as expenses when incurred.

Government subsidies

Government subsidies primarily consist of financial subsidies received from provincial and local governments for operating a business in their jurisdictions and compliance with specific policies promoted by the local governments. There are no defined rules and regulations to govern the criteria necessary for companies to receive such benefits, and the amount of financial subsidy is determined at the discretion of the relevant government authorities. The government subsidies with certain conditions are recorded as “Other liabilities” or “Other non-current liabilities” when received and will be recognized as income in “Others, net” or as a reduction of specific operating costs and expenses when the conditions are met. The government subsidies with no further conditions to be met are recognized as income in “Others, net” or as a reduction of specific operating costs and expenses for which the grants are intended to subsidize. If the government subsidies are related to an asset, it is recognized as a deduction of the carrying amount of the asset when the conditions are met and then recognized ratably over the expected useful life of the related asset as a reduction to the related amortization or depreciation in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Leases

The Group has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For leases of IDC facilities, the Group accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. Lastly, the Group elected the short-term lease exemption for all contracts with lease terms of 12 months or less.

The Group determines if an arrangement is a lease or contains a lease at lease inception in accordance with ASC topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). For operating leases, the Group recognizes a right-of-use asset (“ROU asset”) and a lease liability based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term in the consolidated balance sheets at commencement date. For finance leases, assets are included in “Fixed assets, net” in the consolidated balance sheets. Finance lease liabilities are included in "Other liabilities" and "Other non-current liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is estimated to approximate the interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments, and in the economic environment where the leased asset is located. Renewal options are included in the lease term if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise those options while options to terminate the lease are only included in the lease term if the Group is reasonably certain not to exercise those options. Lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Income Taxes

The Group follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect in the period in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Group records a valuation allowance to offset deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portions, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect of a change in tax rate is recognized in tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date of the change in tax rate. The Group has elected to classify interest and penalties related to an uncertain tax position, if and when required, as part of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

The Group applies the provisions of ASC topic 740, Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), to account for uncertainty in income taxes. ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. The Group elects to classify interest and penalties related to an uncertain tax position, if and when required, as part of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. In general, the PRC tax authorities have up to five years to conduct examinations of the tax filings of the Group’s PRC subsidiaries. Accordingly, the PRC subsidiaries’ tax filings from 2017 through 2022 remain open to examination by the respective tax authorities. The Group may also be subject to the examinations of the tax filings in other jurisdictions, which are not material to the consolidated financial statements.

(Loss)/earnings per share

The Company computes (loss)/earnings per Class A and Class B ordinary shares in accordance with ASC topic 260, Earnings per Share (“ASC 260”) using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

participating securities based on dividends declared (or accumulated) and participating rights in undistributed earnings as if all the earnings for the reporting period had been distributed. The Company adjusts for the accretion of the redeemable noncontrolling interests in the calculation of income available to ordinary shareholders of the Company used in the (loss)/earnings per share calculation. The participating rights (liquidation and dividend rights) of the holders of the Company’s Class A and Class B ordinary shares are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion (Note 19). As a result, and in accordance with ASC 260, the undistributed (loss)/income is allocated based on the contractual participation rights of the Class A and Class B ordinary shares, respectively. As the liquidation and dividend rights are identical, the undistributed (loss)/income is allocated on a proportionate basis.

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares and, if dilutive, potential ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Potential ordinary shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible senior notes using the if-converted method and ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of share options and vesting of restricted share units, using the treasury stock method. Potential ordinary shares are excluded from the computation of diluted (loss)/earnings per share if their effects are anti-dilutive. The computation of the diluted (loss)/earnings per Class A ordinary share assumes the conversion of Class B ordinary shares to Class A ordinary shares, while diluted (loss)/earnings per Class B ordinary share does not assume the conversion of such shares. The Company adjusts for the securities issued by subsidiaries and equity method investees in the calculation of (loss)/income available to ordinary shareholders of the Company used in the diluted (loss)/earnings per share calculation.

Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”).

The Company has elected to recognize share-based compensation using the straight-line method for all share-based awards granted with graded vesting based on service conditions. For awards with performance conditions, compensation cost is recognized on an accelerated basis if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. If required vesting conditions are not met and the share-based awards are forfeited, previously recognized compensation expenses relating to those awards are reversed. The Company elects to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in the subsequent period if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. Forfeiture rates are estimated based on historical experience and future expectations of employee turnover rates and are periodically reviewed. To the extent the Company revises these estimates in the future, the share-based payments could be materially impacted in the period of revision, as well as in following periods. Share-based compensation expense was recorded net of estimated forfeitures such that expense was recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to vest.

The Company, with the assistance of an independent third-party valuation firm, determined the fair value of share-based awards granted to employees and non-employees, if applicable.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting guidance defines fair value as 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 Group 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.

Accounting guidance establishes 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. Accounting guidance establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets

Level 2—Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace

Level 3—Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity

Accounting guidance also describes three main approaches to measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: (1) market approach; (2) income approach and (3) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated from

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace an asset.

Financial assets and liabilities of the Group primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, receivables from online payment agencies, amounts due from related parties, prepayments and other assets, long-term investments, accounts and notes payable, short-term loans, income tax payable, amounts due to related parties, accrued expenses, other liabilities and convertible senior notes. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments, except for long-term equity investments without readily determinable fair values, long-term equity method investments, long-term available-for-sale debt security and convertible senior notes, approximate their fair values because of their generally short maturities.

Commitments and contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Group is subject to contingencies, such as legal proceedings and claims arising out of its business, which cover a wide range of matters. Liabilities for contingencies are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a loss is incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability is accrued in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potential loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss, if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed.

Concentration of risks

Concentration of credit risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, contract assets, amounts due from related parties, receivables from online payment agencies and long-term restricted cash included in prepayments and other assets. The carrying amounts of these assets represent the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk. As of December 31, 2022, the Group has RMB7,861,556 (US$1,139,818) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and long-term restricted cash included in prepayments and other assets, which is held in cash and demand deposits with several financial institutions in the PRC and international financial institutions outside of the PRC, respectively. In the event of bankruptcy of one of these financial institutions, the Group may not be able to claim its cash and demand deposits back in full. The Group continues to monitor the financial strength of the financial institutions.

Accounts receivable, contract assets, amounts due from related parties and receivables from online payment agencies are typically unsecured and denominated in RMB, derived from revenue earned from customers and agencies in the PRC, which are exposed to credit risk. The risk is mitigated by credit evaluations the Group performs on its customers and its ongoing monitoring process of outstanding balances. The Group maintains an allowance for credit losses and the Group had no single customer with a balance exceeding 10% of the total accounts receivable and contract asset balance as of December 31, 2021 and 2022.

Business and economic risks

The Group participates in a dynamic high technology industry and believes that changes in any of the following areas could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s future financial position, results of operations or cash flows: changes in the overall demand for services and products; changes in business offerings; competitive pressures due to new entrants; advances and new trends in new technologies and industry standards; changes in bandwidth suppliers; changes in certain strategic relationships or customer relationships; regulatory considerations; copyright regulations; cybersecurity regulations; risks associated with the Group’s ability to anticipate user preferences and provide high-quality content in a cost-effective manner; and risks associated with the Group’s ability to attract and retain employees necessary to support its growth. The Group’s operations could be adversely affected by significant political, economic and social uncertainties in the PRC.

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Currency convertibility risk

Substantially all of the Group’s operating activities are transacted in RMB, which is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions take place either through the People’s Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China. Approval of foreign currency payments by the People’s Bank of China or other regulatory institutions requires submitting a payment application form together with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents and signed contracts.

Foreign currency exchange rate risk

The functional currency and the reporting currency of the Company are the US$ and the RMB, respectively. The Company’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk primarily relates to cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, long-term held-to-maturity debt securities, convertible senior notes and accounts and notes payable denominated in U.S. dollars. On June 19, 2010, the People’s Bank of China announced the end of the RMB’s de facto peg to the US$, a policy which was instituted in late 2008 in the face of the global financial crisis, to further reform the RMB exchange rate regime and to enhance the RMB’s exchange rate flexibility. On March 15, 2014, the People’s Bank of China announced the widening of the daily trading band for RMB against US$. The appreciation of the US$ against RMB was approximately 8.23% in 2022. Most of the Company’s revenues and costs are denominated in RMB, while a portion of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, long-term held-to-maturity debt securities, accounts and notes payable and all the amount of convertible senior notes are denominated in U.S. dollars. Any significant fluctuation of RMB may materially and adversely affect the Company’s cash flows, revenues, earnings and financial position in U.S. dollars.

Segment reporting

In accordance with ASC subtopic 280-10, Segment Reporting: Overall, the Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews the consolidated results of operations when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group as a whole; hence, the Group has only one operating segment. The Group does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. Because substantially all of the Group’s long-lived assets and revenues are located in and derived from the PRC, geographical segments are not presented.

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive loss is defined as the changes in equity of the Group during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Among other disclosures, ASC topic 220, Comprehensive Income, requires that all items that are required to be recognized under current accounting standards as components of comprehensive loss be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. For each of the years presented, the Company’s comprehensive loss includes net loss, foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities and is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Impact of COVID-19

Although the Group’s businesses have resumed, there is still continuing adverse impact on the Group’s online advertising revenues as a result of the challenging macroeconomic environment and the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence in 2022. Uncertainties still exist as it relates to the impact of COVID-19’s on the Group’s businesses, and the extent of the impact will depend on a number of factors, including the duration and severity of the pandemic; possibility of Delta and Omicron outbreak, the development and progress of distribution of COVID-19 vaccine and other medical treatment, the potential change in user behavior, especially on internet usage due to the prolonged impact of COVID-19, the uneven impact to certain industries, and the macroeconomic impact of government measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and related government stimulus measures, almost all of which are beyond the Group's control. As a result, certain of the Group’s estimates and assumptions, including the fair value of the Group’s film groups, allowance for credit losses, the fair value of non-marketable equity securities and fair value of financial assets or long-lived assets subject to impairment assessments, require increased judgment and carry a higher degree of variability and volatility that could result in material changes to the Group’s estimates in future periods.

F-32


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

3.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group’s short-term investments consist of held-to-maturity debt securities and available-for-sale debt securities with maturities of less than one year purchased from commercial banks and other financial institutions.

4.
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

The Group’s long-term investments primarily consist of equity investments without readily determinable fair value, equity method investments and available-for-sale debt investments.

Equity investments without readily determinable fair value

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the carrying amounts of the Group’s equity investments without readily determinable fair value were as follows:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Initial cost basis

 

 

2,285,439

 

 

 

2,286,171

 

 

 

331,464

 

Cumulative unrealized gains

 

 

329,768

 

 

 

87,226

 

 

 

12,647

 

Cumulative unrealized losses (including impairment)

 

 

(270,421

)

 

 

(710,476

)

 

 

(103,009

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total carrying amount

 

 

2,344,786

 

 

 

1,662,921

 

 

 

241,102

 

 

Impairment charges recognized on equity investments measured using the measurement alternative were RMB73,199, RMB168,079 and RMB458,559 (US$66,485) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Total realized and unrealized gains and losses for equity securities without readily determinable fair values for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are as follows:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Gross unrealized gains (upward adjustments)

 

 

38,595

 

 

 

94,510

 

 

 

31,295

 

 

 

4,537

 

Gross unrealized losses (downward adjustments excluding impairment)

 

 

(495

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains on equity securities held

 

 

38,100

 

 

 

94,510

 

 

 

31,295

 

 

 

4,537

 

Net realized gains on equity securities sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net gains recognized in other income, net

 

 

38,100

 

 

 

94,510

 

 

 

31,295

 

 

 

4,537

 

 

Equity method investments

In July 2018, the Group acquired a 32% outstanding equity interest amounting to RMB796,000 in Beijing Xin’ai Sports Media Technology Co., Ltd (or “Xin’ai”) that is engaged in the operation of a sports content platform. The Group has significant influence over the investee and therefore accounts for its equity interest as an equity method investment. The excess of the carrying value of the investment over the proportionate share of Xin’ai’s net assets of RMB609,502 was recognized as basis differences and investment goodwill. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group’s equity interest in Xin’ai was diluted to 23% and 23%, respectively, due to subsequent rounds of equity financing.

Strawbear Entertainment Group (or “Strawbear”), a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (“HKSE”), is a major drama series producer and distributor in the PRC, covering the investment, development, production and distribution of TV series and web series. In November 2018 and May 2020, the Group acquired a total of 19.57% equity interest for a total cash

F-33


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

consideration of US$55,139 in Strawbear and accounted for the investment using the measurement alternative as the shares held by the Group are not considered in-substance common stock. Upon the completion of the initial public offering of Strawbear on January 15, 2021, the shares held by the Group were automatically converted to common stock, and the Group’s equity interest in Strawbear was diluted to 14.68%. The Group can actively participate in the significant operation and financing decisions of Strawbear through its two seats on Strawbear’s board of directors with a total of nine members. Accordingly, the Group is considered to have significant influence over Strawbear and accounts for such investment as an equity method investment with an initial carrying value amounting to RMB443,670. The excess of the carrying value of the investment over the proportionate share of Strawbear’s net assets of RMB225,336 was recognized as basis differences and investment goodwill. In 2022, the market value of Strawbear had significantly declined and remained below the carrying value of the investment for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, the Group concluded that the decline in market value of the investment in Strawbear was other-than-temporary and an impairment charge of RMB382,715 (US$55,488) was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Group’s equity interest in Strawbear was 13.97%, which had a fair value of RMB88,652 (US$12,853) based on the closing share price.

In January 2022, the Group entered into an amended shareholder agreement with other investors of Beijing Dreamagic Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (or “Dreamagic”), a subsidiary of the Group in the business of producing virtual reality equipment for which the Group held an 81.95% interest in Dreamagic’s common stock while other investors hold preferred stock (44.6% on a fully diluted basis). The amended shareholder agreement included substantive changes to (i) increase the number of votes to 60% of the outstanding voting interests for significant decisions of Dreamagic that are made in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) reduce the number of seats on Dreamagic's board of directors to three seats with a total of seven members. As a result, the Group lost control and deconsolidated Dreamagic but can still participate in the significant operation and financing decisions of Dreamagic, and is considered to have significant influence over Dreamagic and accounts for its common stock investment as an equity method investment with an initial carrying value amounting to RMB250,502 (US$36,319). The excess of the carrying value of the investment over the proportionate share of Dreamagic's net assets of RMB208,084 (US$30,169) was recognized as basis differences and investment goodwill. In addition, the preferred stock investment of 7.28% held by the Group, on a fully diluted basis, contains substantive liquidation and redemption preference and is not considered in-substance common stock and accounted for using the measurement alternative. The Group recognized a total gain of RMB367,717 (US$53,314) from the transaction in "Others, net" in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, of which substantially all of the gain relates to the re-measurement of the Group's retained investment in Dreamagic. The fair value of the retained investment was determined by estimating the total equity value of Dreamagic using an option pricing model based on the observable transaction price of a recent round of financing and then allocating the total estimated equity value to each class of equity based on their different rights and obligations. Dreamagic is considered a related party after deconsolidation. Upon deconsolidation, a financial liability with a maximum potential amount of RMB140,044 (US$20,304) was recognized for the Group’s obligation to guarantee payments to certain guaranteed preferred shareholders if Dreamagic is unable to pay the redemption price of the preferred shares in full upon the occurrence of redemption or liquidation event, which partially offset the disposal gain. As of December 31, 2022, the Group’s equity interests of common stock were diluted to 42.66% on a fully diluted basis, due to a subsequent issuance of preferred equity financing.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group also held several other equity method investments through its subsidiaries or VIEs, all of which the Group can exercise significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest in or has control over. The other equity method investments were not significant. The carrying amounts of the Group’s equity method investments including Xin’ai and Strawbear were RMB580,776 and RMB279,095 (US$40,465) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

F-34


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Available-for-sale debt investments

Available-for-sale debt investments are measured at fair value and consist of convertible debt instruments issued by private companies and investments in equity securities that are redeemable at the Company’s option with no contractual maturity date.

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Cost or Amortized cost

 

 

76,500

 

 

 

319,975

 

 

 

46,392

 

Gross unrealized gains

 

 

3,780

 

 

 

176,219

 

 

 

25,549

 

Gross unrealized losses

 

 

(2,425

)

 

 

(10,870

)

 

 

(1,576

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

 

77,855

 

 

 

485,324

 

 

 

70,365

 

 

5.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

2,988,100

 

 

 

2,532,823

 

 

 

367,225

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(240,326

)

 

 

(130,148

)

 

 

(18,870

)

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

2,747,774

 

 

 

2,402,675

 

 

 

348,355

 

 

The following table presents movement of the allowance for credit losses:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Balance at the beginning of the year

 

 

144,574

 

 

 

360,299

 

 

 

240,326

 

 

 

34,844

 

Cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2016-13

 

 

72,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions/(Reversal)

 

 

202,108

 

 

 

(62,267

)

 

 

(41,943

)

 

 

(6,081

)

Write-offs

 

 

(58,749

)

 

 

(57,706

)

 

 

(68,235

)

 

 

(9,893

)

Balance at the end of the year

 

 

360,299

 

 

 

240,326

 

 

 

130,148

 

 

 

18,870

 

 

6.
PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS

The current and non-current portions of prepayments and other assets consist of the following:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Current portion:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract assets (i)

 

 

1,591,152

 

 

 

1,490,656

 

 

 

216,125

 

VAT prepayments

 

 

711,114

 

 

 

335,350

 

 

 

48,621

 

Prepaid licensed copyrights

 

 

152,596

 

 

 

136,656

 

 

 

19,813

 

Receivables from online payment agencies

 

 

324,327

 

 

 

369,734

 

 

 

53,606

 

Advances to suppliers

 

 

219,605

 

 

 

128,065

 

 

 

18,568

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

61,594

 

 

 

21,101

 

 

 

3,059

 

Deposits and prepaid rental fees

 

 

21,485

 

 

 

13,220

 

 

 

1,917

 

Others (ii)

 

 

184,650

 

 

 

108,145

 

 

 

15,681

 

 

 

 

3,266,523

 

 

 

2,602,927

 

 

 

377,390

 

 

F-35


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Non-current portion:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid licensed copyrights

 

 

2,193,285

 

 

 

2,525,282

 

 

 

366,131

 

Licensed copyrights prepaid assets (iii)

 

 

571,518

 

 

 

469,259

 

 

 

68,036

 

Deposits and prepaid rental fees

 

 

46,635

 

 

 

25,308

 

 

 

3,669

 

Long-term restricted cash (iv)

 

 

 

 

 

750,000

 

 

 

108,740

 

Others (ii)

 

 

94,252

 

 

 

95,284

 

 

 

13,816

 

 

 

 

2,905,690

 

 

 

3,865,133

 

 

 

560,392

 

(i)
The allowance for credit losses on contract assets was RMB14,721 and RMB12,409 (US$1,799) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The reversals charged against the allowance were RMB9,310 and RMB2,311 (US$335) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2022, respectively. The provision charged against the allowance were RMB5,446 for the year ended December 31,2021. No write-offs were charged against the allowance for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
(ii)
The allowance for credit losses on other current and non-current assets were RMB93,217 and RMB133,644 (US$19,377) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The provision charged against the allowance were RMB73,688, RMB19,529, and RMB57,115 (US$8,281) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The write-offs charged against the allowance were nil, nil and RMB16,688 (US$2,420) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
(iii)
Licensed copyrights prepaid assets are recognized when the Group has yet to receive the content copyrights from the counterparty under nonmonetary exchanges but the counterparty has already received the content copyrights from the Group.
(iv)
Long-term restricted cash represents collateral to repayments of PAG Notes (Note 14).
7.
LICENSED COPYRIGHTS, NET

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Gross carrying
value

 

 

Accumulated
amortization

 

 

Impairment
amount

 

 

Net carrying value

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

Licensed copyrights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Broadcasting rights

 

 

41,489,049

 

 

 

(33,016,890

)

 

 

(311,375

)

 

 

8,160,784

 

—Sublicensing rights

 

 

7,072,190

 

 

 

(7,043,743

)

 

 

 

 

 

28,447

 

 

 

 

48,561,239

 

 

 

(40,060,633

)

 

 

(311,375

)

 

 

8,189,231

 

Less: current portion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Broadcasting rights

 

 

8,591,506

 

 

 

(7,662,016

)

 

 

(26,748

)

 

 

902,742

 

—Sublicensing rights

 

 

7,072,190

 

 

 

(7,043,743

)

 

 

 

 

 

28,447

 

 

 

 

15,663,696

 

 

 

(14,705,759

)

 

 

(26,748

)

 

 

931,189

 

Licensed copyrights—non-current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Broadcasting rights

 

 

32,897,543

 

 

 

(25,354,874

)

 

 

(284,627

)

 

 

7,258,042

 

—Sublicensing rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,897,543

 

 

 

(25,354,874

)

 

 

(284,627

)

 

 

7,258,042

 

 

F-36


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2022

 

 

 

Gross carrying
value

 

 

Accumulated
amortization

 

 

Impairment
amount

 

 

Net carrying value

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Licensed copyrights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Broadcasting rights

 

 

43,217,278

 

 

 

(35,369,335

)

 

 

(261,256

)

 

 

7,586,687

 

 

 

1,099,966

 

—Sublicensing rights

 

 

7,399,172

 

 

 

(7,399,172

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,616,450

 

 

 

(42,768,507

)

 

 

(261,256

)

 

 

7,586,687

 

 

 

1,099,966

 

Less: current portion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Broadcasting rights

 

 

8,213,434

 

 

 

(7,448,077

)

 

 

(19,299

)

 

 

746,058

 

 

 

108,168

 

—Sublicensing rights

 

 

7,399,172

 

 

 

(7,399,172

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,612,606

 

 

 

(14,847,249

)

 

 

(19,299

)

 

 

746,058

 

 

 

108,168

 

Licensed copyrights—non-current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Broadcasting rights

 

 

35,003,844

 

 

 

(27,921,258

)

 

 

(241,957

)

 

 

6,840,629

 

 

 

991,798

 

—Sublicensing rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35,003,844

 

 

 

(27,921,258

)

 

 

(241,957

)

 

 

6,840,629

 

 

 

991,798

 

Amortization expense of RMB11,473,222, RMB10,082,541 and RMB7,780,928 (US$1,128,129) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, was recognized as cost of revenues.

Estimated amortization expense relating to the existing licensed copyrights for each of the next three years is as follows:

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Within 1 year

 

 

3,028,318

 

 

 

439,065

 

Between 1 and 2 years

 

 

1,525,280

 

 

 

221,145

 

Between 2 and 3 years

 

 

1,067,625

 

 

 

154,791

 

 

8.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

Finite-lived intangible assets

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Gross carrying
value

 

 

Accumulated
amortization
   and
   impairment

 

 

Net carrying
value

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

Intellectual property rights (i)

 

 

505,546

 

 

 

(223,358

)

 

 

282,188

 

Traffic acquisition agreement

 

 

546,150

 

 

 

(546,150

)

 

 

 

Published mobile games

 

 

514,664

 

 

 

(491,614

)

 

 

23,050

 

Trademarks

 

 

165,292

 

 

 

(116,589

)

 

 

48,703

 

Online literature

 

 

155,085

 

 

 

(76,433

)

 

 

78,652

 

Domain names

 

 

188,388

 

 

 

(116,239

)

 

 

72,149

 

Technology

 

 

101,730

 

 

 

(70,342

)

 

 

31,388

 

Others

 

 

31,738

 

 

 

(22,563

)

 

 

9,175

 

 

 

 

2,208,593

 

 

 

(1,663,288

)

 

 

545,305

 

 

F-37


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2022

 

 

 

Gross carrying
value

 

 

Accumulated
amortization
   and
   impairment

 

 

Net carrying
value

 

 

Net carrying
value

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Intellectual property rights (i)

 

 

532,184

 

 

 

(252,647

)

 

 

279,537

 

 

 

40,529

 

Published mobile games

 

 

514,664

 

 

 

(514,664

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trademarks

 

 

165,404

 

 

 

(120,809

)

 

 

44,595

 

 

 

6,466

 

Online literature

 

 

141,758

 

 

 

(110,109

)

 

 

31,649

 

 

 

4,589

 

Domain names

 

 

185,558

 

 

 

(123,491

)

 

 

62,067

 

 

 

8,999

 

Technology

 

 

101,730

 

 

 

(90,688

)

 

 

11,042

 

 

 

1,601

 

Others

 

 

17,738

 

 

 

(9,943

)

 

 

7,795

 

 

 

1,129

 

 

 

 

1,659,036

 

 

 

(1,222,351

)

 

 

436,685

 

 

 

63,313

 

 

(i)
Intellectual property rights include various rights the Company acquires either individually or in a bundle to broadcast, operate, publish, translate, distribute and/or adapt various forms of media, including but not limited to online games, literature and films.

RMB15,391, nil and nil of impairment charges were recognized on intangible assets and are included in “Cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Amortization expense was RMB302,188, RMB162,182 and RMB177,019 (US$25,665) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Estimated amortization expense relating to the existing intangible assets for each of the next five years is as follows:

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Within 1 year

 

 

91,448

 

 

 

13,259

 

Between 1 and 2 years

 

 

65,791

 

 

 

9,539

 

Between 2 and 3 years

 

 

59,113

 

 

 

8,571

 

Between 3 and 4 years

 

 

56,732

 

 

 

8,225

 

Between 4 and 5 years

 

 

51,975

 

 

 

7,536

 

 

9.
PRODUCED CONTENT, NET

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Released, less amortization and impairment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— Predominantly monetized with other contents

 

 

2,850,114

 

 

 

3,725,252

 

 

 

540,110

 

— Predominantly monetized on its own

 

 

29,782

 

 

 

89,987

 

 

 

13,047

 

 

 

 

2,879,896

 

 

 

3,815,239

 

 

 

553,157

 

In production, less impairment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— Predominantly monetized with other contents

 

 

6,338,582

 

 

 

7,581,415

 

 

 

1,099,202

 

— Predominantly monetized on its own

 

 

503,515

 

 

 

660,197

 

 

 

95,720

 

 

 

 

6,842,097

 

 

 

8,241,612

 

 

 

1,194,922

 

In development, less impairment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— Predominantly monetized with other contents

 

 

1,134,351

 

 

 

910,235

 

 

 

131,972

 

— Predominantly monetized on its own

 

 

94,734

 

 

 

34,818

 

 

 

5,048

 

 

 

 

1,229,085

 

 

 

945,053

 

 

 

137,020

 

 

 

 

10,951,078

 

 

 

13,001,904

 

 

 

1,885,099

 

 

Amortization expense of RMB3,023,628, RMB4,641,353, RMB4,556,960 (US$660,697) and RMB1,095,325, RMB1,318,693, RMB735,169 (US$106,589) was recognized as “Cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, for produced content predominantly monetized with other content assets and for produced

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Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

content predominantly monetized on its own, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, approximately RMB192,040 (US$27,843) of accrued participation cost liabilities will be paid during the upcoming operating cycle.

Estimated amortization expense relating to the existing produced content for each of the next three years is as follows:

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Within 1 year

 

 

1,446,955

 

 

 

209,789

 

Between 1 and 2 years

 

 

588,109

 

 

 

85,268

 

Between 2 and 3 years

 

 

423,182

 

 

 

61,356

 

 

10.
GOODWILL

The Company has one reporting unit and the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill from 2021 to 2022 was as follows:

 

 

 

RMB

 

Balance at December 31, 2020 and 2021

 

 

3,888,346

 

 

 

 

 

Deconsolidation of subsidiaries (Note 4)

 

 

(62,199

)

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

 

3,826,147

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 32, 2022, in US$

 

 

554,739

 

 

The fair value of the Group exceeded its carrying value as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively, and therefore the Group’s goodwill was not impaired.

11.
FIXED ASSETS, NET

Fixed assets consist of the following:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Computer equipment

 

 

2,285,185

 

 

 

1,960,884

 

 

 

284,301

 

Office building

 

 

588,685

 

 

 

588,685

 

 

 

85,351

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

194,336

 

 

 

162,653

 

 

 

23,582

 

Office furniture and equipment

 

 

158,784

 

 

 

147,766

 

 

 

21,424

 

Others

 

 

27,786

 

 

 

29,211

 

 

 

4,235

 

 

 

 

3,254,776

 

 

 

2,889,199

 

 

 

418,893

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(1,916,807

)

 

 

(1,793,614

)

 

 

(260,050

)

Construction in progress

 

 

6,815

 

 

 

9,136

 

 

 

1,326

 

 

 

 

1,344,784

 

 

 

1,104,721

 

 

 

160,169

 

 

Impairment charges in the amount of RMB95,111, nil and nil were recognized on fixed assets for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Depreciation expense was RMB480,396, RMB400,241 and RMB337,423 (US$48,922) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

12.
LEASES

The Group’s operating leases mainly related to office facilities, land use rights and IDC facilities.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the weighted average remaining lease term for the Group’s operating leases were 8.9 years and 9.4 years, respectively, and the corresponding weighted average discount rates were 5.55% and 5.59%, respectively. As of

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Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

December 31, 2021 and 2022, the weighted average remaining lease term for the Group’s finance leases were 2.2 years and 1.2 years, respectively, and the corresponding weighted average discount rates were 5.50% and 5.50%, respectively.

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Finance lease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computer equipment

 

 

118,997

 

 

 

118,997

 

 

 

17,253

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(23,215

)

 

 

(46,127

)

 

 

(6,688

)

Computer equipment, net

 

 

95,782

 

 

 

72,870

 

 

 

10,565

 

Finance lease liabilities, current portion

 

 

42,853

 

 

 

30,862

 

 

 

4,475

 

Finance lease liabilities

 

 

43,058

 

 

 

16,507

 

 

 

2,393

 

Total finance lease liabilities

 

 

85,911

 

 

 

47,369

 

 

 

6,868

 

 

The components of lease costs were as follows:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Operating lease costs(i)

 

 

173,815

 

 

 

202,862

 

 

 

155,408

 

 

 

22,532

 

Finance lease costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of finance lease assets

 

 

25,010

 

 

 

12,856

 

 

 

22,912

 

 

 

3,322

 

Interest on lease liabilities

 

 

4,251

 

 

 

1,866

 

 

 

3,463

 

 

 

502

 

Total finance lease costs

 

 

29,261

 

 

 

14,722

 

 

 

26,375

 

 

 

3,824

 

 

(i)
Excludes short-term lease contract costs of RMB451 million, RMB328 million and RMB310 million (US$45 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Finance lease costs were recorded as cost of revenues and interest expenses. Variable lease costs were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no lease costs for operating and finance leases were capitalized.

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Operating cash payments for operating leases

 

 

208,493

 

 

 

190,407

 

 

 

129,803

 

 

 

18,820

 

Operating cash payments for finance leases

 

 

662

 

 

 

1,004

 

 

 

3,872

 

 

 

561

 

Financing cash payments for finance leases

 

 

9,020

 

 

 

14,473

 

 

 

38,132

 

 

 

5,529

 

 

Lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Operating leases

 

 

359,168

 

 

 

36,515

 

 

 

6,868

 

 

 

996

 

Finance leases

 

 

15,208

 

 

 

75,693

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Future lease payments under lease liabilities as of December 31, 2022 were as follows:

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

 

Finance leases

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Year ending December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

102,756

 

 

 

14,898

 

 

 

31,533

 

 

 

4,572

 

2024

 

 

79,602

 

 

 

11,541

 

 

 

27,954

 

 

 

4,053

 

2025

 

 

74,799

 

 

 

10,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2026

 

 

70,441

 

 

 

10,213

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2027

 

 

69,881

 

 

 

10,132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

385,191

 

 

 

55,848

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total future lease payments

 

 

782,670

 

 

 

113,477

 

 

 

59,487

 

 

 

8,625

 

Less: Imputed interest

 

 

(170,582

)

 

 

(24,732

)

 

 

(12,118

)

 

 

(1,757

)

Total lease liability balance

 

 

612,088

 

 

 

88,745

 

 

 

47,369

 

 

 

6,868

 

 

13.
LOANS PAYABLE

Short-term Loans

Short-term loans as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 amounted to RMB4,117,774 and RMB3,347,638 (US$485,362), respectively, which primarily consisted of secured RMB denominated borrowings from financial institutions in the PRC that are repayable within one year. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the repayments of primarily all of the short-term loans are guaranteed by subsidiaries within the Group and either collateralized by an office building of one of the Group’s VIEs with a carrying amount of RMB535,432 and RMB522,390 (US$75,739), respectively, or collateralized by restricted cash balances totaling US$5,300 and nil, respectively. Certain of the Group’s outstanding short-term loan agreements contain financial and other covenants, which depend on the financial position or performance of the Group's subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries. One of the Group’s VIEs did not satisfy certain financial covenants for 2022, based on which the commercial bank has the right to suspend the issuance of credit lines, and/or cause all outstanding amounts totaling RMB600,000 (US$86,992) with original maturity dates in 2023 to be due and repayable immediately. On February 6, 2023, the commercial bank has waived its right to demand immediate repayment. Therefore, this did not constitute an Event of Default with respect to the convertible senior notes as of December 31, 2022 (Note 14).

Structured payable arrangements

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group entered into structured payable arrangements with banks or other financial institutions (“factoring arrangements”). Under the factoring arrangements, the suppliers’ receivables collection process was accelerated through selling its receivables from the Group to the banks or other financial institutions at a discount. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group was legally obligated to pay the banks or other financial institutions in the amount totaling RMB395,943, RMB1,058,619 and RMB1,497,423 (US$217,106), respectively, which will mature within one year.

As a result of the factoring arrangements, the payment terms of the Group’s original accounts payables were substantially modified and considered extinguished as the nature of the original liability has changed from accounts payables to loan borrowings from banks or other financial institutions. The proceeds from borrowings from banks or other financial institutions is a financing activity and is reported as “Proceeds from short-term loans” on the consolidated statements of cash flows. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the outstanding borrowings from the factoring arrangements were RMB750,067 and RMB754,581 (US$109,404), respectively, which are repayable within one year and are included in “Short-term loans” on the consolidated balance sheets.

Borrowings from third-party investors

Asset-backed debt securities

In July 2021 and November 2021, the Group entered into a series of transactions (“reverse factoring arrangement”) in order to re-finance certain payables due to its suppliers. In the reverse factoring arrangement, the Group's suppliers sold certain receivables due from the Group (the "2021 factored receivables") amounting to RMB231,573 and RMB633,938, respectively, to the financial institutions at a discount. The 2021 factored receivables were recorded as accounts payable in the Group’s consolidated balance

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Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

sheets. The 2021 factored receivables were further transferred to a securitization vehicle and used to securitize debt securities issued to third-party investors with a stated interest of 5.5% and 4.5% for gross proceeds of RMB200,000 and RMB570,000, respectively. Concurrently, the Group also entered into an agreement with the financial institutions to extend the repayment of the underlying payables to mirror the repayment terms for the corresponding asset-backed debt securities which matured in July 2022 and November 2022, respectively. Under such arrangement, the payable obligation between the Group and the suppliers was considered settled and the Group was legally obligated to pay the financial institutions thereafter. As the 2021 factored receivables were purchased by the financial institutions using the proceeds raised from issuance of the asset-backed debt securities and used to factor the suppler invoices to securitize the debt securities, the factored receivables are viewed as collateral for raising loans through the issuance of the corresponding asset-backed debt securities. The borrowings have an effective interest rate of 8.40% and 8.26%, respectively.

Accounting for asset-backed debt securities

The securitization vehicle was designed by the Group with the sole purpose to acquire receivable balances from the Group’s suppliers in order to securitize the senior asset-backed securities with guaranteed returns sold to third-party investors. The Group has a variable interest in the securitization vehicle through its interest in the subordinated asset-backed securities issued by the securitization vehicle which bear the residual loss. As a result, the Group considers itself the primary beneficiary and consolidates the securitization vehicle given the Group has (i) the power to govern the activities that most significantly impact its economic performance, and (ii) is obligated to absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the securitization vehicle.

As a result of the series of transactions described above, the payment terms of the Group’s original trade payables were substantially modified and considered extinguished as the nature of the original liability has changed from that of a trade payable to loan borrowings from third-party investors. The proceeds from borrowings from third-party investors is a financing activity and reported as “Proceeds from long-term loans and borrowings from third party investors, net of issuance costs” or “Proceeds from short-term loans” on the consolidated statements of cash flows depending on its maturities.

RMB200,000 (US$28,997) and RMB570,000 (US$82,642) of 2021 asset-backed debt securities was repaid when it became due in July 2022 and November 2022. The 2021 asset-backed debt securities were fully repaid as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the outstanding borrowings from asset-backed debt securities in “Short-term loans” in the consolidated balance sheets were RMB762,717 and nil, respectively.

The weighted average interest rate for all of the outstanding short-term borrowings mentioned above as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 was 4.80% and 3.95%, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the aggregate amounts of unused lines of credit for short-term loans were RMB2,754,099 and RMB1,635,644 (US$237,146), respectively.

14.
CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES

2023 Convertible Senior Notes

On December 4, 2018, the Company issued US$750 million convertible senior notes (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, and interest is payable semi-annually in cash at a rate of 3.75% per annum on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2019. The 2023 Notes will mature on December 1, 2023 unless redeemed, repurchased or converted prior to such date.

The initial conversion rate of the 2023 Notes is 37.1830 of the Company’s ADS per US$1,000 principal amount of the 2023 Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$26.89 per ADS). Prior to June 1, 2023, the 2023 Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders only upon the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2019, if the last reported sale price of ADSs for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price; (2) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per US$1,000 principal amount of notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the ADSs and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (3) if the Company calls the notes for a tax redemption; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. Thereafter, the 2023 Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in some events but is not adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following a make-whole fundamental change that occurs prior to the maturity date or following the Company’s delivery of a notice of

F-42


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

a tax redemption, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event or such tax redemption. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver to such converting holders, as the case may be, cash, ADSs, or a combination of cash and ADSs, at its election.

The holders may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2023 Notes for cash on December 1, 2021, or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In 2021, the Company repurchased US$746.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes as requested by the holders. Following settlement of the repurchase, the repurchase amount which was fully accreted was derecognized and US$3.2 million (equivalent to RMB22.1 million) aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes remained outstanding and was included in “Convertible senior notes, current portion” as of December 31, 2022 as it will mature on December 1, 2023.

In connection with the issuance of the 2023 Notes, the Company purchased capped call options (the “2023 Capped Call”) on the Company’s ADS with certain counterparties at a price of US$67.5 million. The counterparties agreed to sell to the Company up to approximately 27.9 million of the Company’s ADSs upon the Company’s exercise of the 2023 Capped Call. The exercise price is equal to the 2023 Notes’ initial conversion price and the cap price is US$38.42 per ADS, subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the capped call transactions. The capped call transactions are expected to reduce potential dilution to existing holders of the ordinary shares and ADSs of the Company upon conversion of the 2023 Notes and/or offset any potential cash payments that the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of any converted notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap.

2025 Convertible Senior Notes

On March 29, 2019, the Company issued US$1,200 million convertible senior notes (the “2025 Notes”). The 2025 Notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, and interest is payable semi-annually in cash at a rate of 2.00% per annum on October 1 and April 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2019. The 2025 Notes will mature on April 1, 2025 unless redeemed, repurchased or converted prior to such date.

The initial conversion rate of the 2025 Notes is 33.0003 of the Company’s ADS per US$1,000 principal amount of the 2025 Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$30.30 per ADS). Prior to October 1, 2024, the 2025 Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders only upon the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2019, if the last reported sale price of ADSs for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price; (2) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per US$1,000 principal amount of notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the ADSs and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (3) if the Company calls the notes for a tax redemption; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. Thereafter, the 2025 Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in some events but is not adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following a make-whole fundamental change that occurs prior to the maturity date or following the Company’s delivery of a notice of a tax redemption, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event or such tax redemption. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver to such converting holders, as the case may be, cash, ADSs, or a combination of cash and ADSs, at its election.

The holders may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2025 Notes for cash on April 1, 2023, or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

In connection with the issuance of the 2025 Notes, the Company purchased capped call options (the “2025 Capped Call”) on the Company’s ADS with certain counterparties at a price of US$84.5 million. The counterparties agreed to sell to the Company up to approximately 39.6 million of the Company’s ADSs upon the Company’s exercise of the 2025 Capped Call. The exercise price is equal to the 2025 Notes’ initial conversion price and the cap price is US$40.02 per ADS, subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the capped call transactions. The capped call transactions are expected to reduce potential dilution to existing holders of the ordinary shares and ADSs of the Company upon conversion of the 2025 Notes and/or offset any potential cash payments that the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of any converted notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap.

F-43


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

2026 Convertible Senior Notes

On December 21, 2020, the Company issued US$800 million convertible senior notes and offered an additional US$100 million principal amount simultaneously, pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional notes. On January 8, 2021, the additional US$100 million principal amount was issued pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option. The convertible senior notes issued on December 21, 2020 and January 8, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “2026 Notes”) are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, and interest is payable semi-annually in cash at a rate of 4.00% per annum on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2021. The 2026 Notes will mature on December 15, 2026 unless redeemed, repurchased or converted prior to such date.

The initial conversion rate of the 2026 Notes is 44.8179 of the Company’s ADS per US$1,000 principal amount of the 2026 Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$22.31 per ADS). Prior to June 15, 2026, the 2026 Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders only upon the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2021, if the last reported sale price of ADSs for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price; (2) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per US$1,000 principal amount of notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the ADSs and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (3) if the Company calls the notes for a tax redemption; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. Thereafter, the 2026 Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in some events but is not adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following a make-whole fundamental change that occurs prior to the maturity date or following the Company’s delivery of a notice of a tax redemption, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event or such tax redemption. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver to such converting holders, as the case may be, cash, ADSs, or a combination of cash and ADSs, at its election.

The holders may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2026 Notes for cash on August 1, 2024, or upon a fundamental change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

PAG Convertible Senior Notes

On December 30, 2022, the Company issued US$500 million convertible senior notes (the “PAG Notes”), pursuant to the definitive agreements entered into with PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, PAG Pegasus Fund LP and/or their affiliates (collectively, the "Investors") in August 2022. The PAG Notes are senior, secured obligations of the Company by certain collateral arrangements, and interest is payable quarterly in cash at a rate of 6.00% per annum on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2023. The PAG Notes will mature on the fifth anniversary of the issuance date unless redeemed, repurchased or converted prior to such date. The Company offered an additional US$50 million principal amount of the PAG Notes simultaneously, pursuant to the Investors’ option to purchase additional notes.

The PAG Notes will be convertible at the holder's option at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date and subject to the terms of the PAG Notes, at an initial conversion rate of 216.9668 ADS per US$ 1,000 principal amount of the PAG Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$4.61 per ADS). Following a make-whole fundamental change that occurs prior to the maturity date, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change.

Holders of the PAG Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes, at a repurchase price equal to 120% and 130% of the principal amount of the PAG Notes on or shortly after the third anniversary of the issuance date and the fifth anniversary of the issuance date, respectively. Upon the closing of the transaction, the Investors have appointed the executive chairman of PAG, as a member to the board of directors, a member of the compensation committee and a non-voting member of the audit committee of the Company pursuant to their rights in the definitive agreements. The repayments of PAG Notes are guaranteed by equity interests of certain subsidiaries within the Group and collateralized by all the cash consideration related to certain contracts for which RMB750,000 (US$108,740) cash consideration has been received as of December 31, 2022 and reported as long-term restricted cash balances (Note 6).

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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Under the terms of the indentures governing the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes and PAG Notes, events of default include:

(i) default in any payment of interest or additional amounts as defined under the respective indenture for a period of 30 days;

(ii) default in the payment of principal of the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes and 2026 Notes when due and payable, or repurchase amount for the PAG Notes when due;

(iii) failure by the Company to comply with its obligation to convert the notes upon exercise of a holder’s conversion right for a period of five business days;

(iv) failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change as defined under the respective indenture or a specified corporate event when due for a period of five business days;

(v) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations relating to consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance and lease under article 11 of the respective indenture;

(vi) failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the trustee or by the trustee at the request of the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the respective notes then outstanding has been received by the Company to comply with any of other agreements contained in the respective notes or the indenture;

(vii) default by the Company or its significant subsidiaries (as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, secured or evidenced any indebtedness in excess of US$60 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes and 2026 Notes or in excess of US$100 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the PAG Notes, resulting in accelerated maturity or a failure to pay principal or interest when due, and such indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not otherwise cured or rescinded, within 30 days;

(viii) a delay in payment or discharge of a final judgment for the payment of US$60 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes and 2026 Notes or the payment of US$100 million (or an equivalent amount in foreign currency) for the PAG Notes rendered against the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries;

(ix) the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief; and

(x) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or its significant subsidiaries seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive days.

The indentures for the 2023 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes and PAG Notes (collectively as the “Notes”) define a “fundamental change” to include, among other things: (i) any person or group gaining control of the Company, (ii) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs as a result of which these securities would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (iii) the shareholders of the Company approving any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iv) the Company’s ADSs ceasing to be listed on Nasdaq Stock Market; or (v) any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations and rules of the PRC resulting in the Group being legally prohibited from operating substantially all of the business operations conducted by the Group being unable to continue to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by these entities.

Upon the occurrence of an event of default which includes default on principal payment of the 2025 Notes when due on April 1, 2023, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount may declare the whole principal of (or, in the case of the PAG notes, 120% or 130% of the principal amount for such notes, as the case may be, depending on the date of occurrence of the event of default), and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the outstanding convertible senior notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain exceptions and conditions under the respective indenture. The Company may also be required to pay additional interest. Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders of the notes will have the right, at their option, to require the Company to repurchase all of their notes or any portion of the principal amount (or, in the case of the PAG notes, 120% or 130% of the principal amount for such notes, as the case may be, depending on the date of occurrence of the fundamental change), and accrued and unpaid

F-45


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iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

interests. In the event of a fundamental change, the Company may also be required to issue additional ADSs upon conversion of its convertible notes. As of December 31, 2022, there was no such event of default or fundamental change.

Accounting for Convertible Senior Notes

Adoption of ASU 2020-06

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which focuses on amending the legacy guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 simplifies an issuer’s accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models that require separate accounting for embedded conversion features. The Group adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2022, using a modified retrospective transition method, which resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment to decrease the opening balance of additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit on January 1, 2022 by RMB1,432,986 (US$207,763) and RMB772,123 (US$111,947), respectively, and increase the opening balance of convertible senior notes on January 1, 2022 by RMB635,925 (US$92,200), with remaining impact shown in accumulated other comprehensive income. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the adoption of ASU 2020-06 caused a decrease in net loss of RMB393,298 (US$57,023), a decrease of RMB0.07 (US$0.01) and RMB0.46 (US$0.07) in net loss per ordinary share and net loss per ADS, respectively, due to lower effective interest rates.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06, as the conversion option may be settled in cash at the Company’s option, the Company separated the 2023 Notes, the 2025 Notes and the 2026 Notes into liability and equity components in accordance with ASC subtopic 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (“ASC 470-20”). The carrying amount of the liability component was calculated by measuring the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an associated conversion feature. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the conversion option was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the initial proceeds and recorded as additional paid-in capital. The difference between the principal amount of each of the Notes and the liability component was considered debt discount and was amortized using the effective interest method to accrete the discounted carrying value of the Notes to its face value on the respective put dates of the Notes. Debt issuance costs were allocated to the liability and equity components based on the same proportion as the recognized amounts of liability and equity components determined aforementioned.

After the adoption of ASU 2020-06, as the Notes were not issued at a substantial premium, all of the proceeds received from the issuance of the Notes are recorded as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with ASC 470-20. That is, no portion of the proceeds from issuing the Notes are attributed to the conversion option at inception. The difference between the principal amount of each of the Notes and net proceeds from the issuance is considered debt discount and is amortized at their respective effective interest rates to accrete the carrying value of the Notes to its face value (120% of the principal amount for PAG Notes) on the respective put dates of the Notes. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the effective interest rates of the Notes were as follows:

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

%

 

%

 

%

The 2023 Notes

 

7.04%

 

7.04%

 

4.41%

The 2025 Notes

 

6.01%

 

6.01%

 

2.48%

The 2026 Notes

 

6.94%

 

6.94%

 

4.53%

The PAG Notes

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

12.27%

 

The cost of the 2023 Capped Call and 2025 Capped Call of US$67.5 million and US$84.5 million were recorded as a reduction of the Company’s additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets with no subsequent changes in fair value recorded.

The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Notes, the 2025 Notes, the 2026 Notes and the PAG Notes were US$736.7 million, US$1,179.0 million, US$884.3 million and US$491.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses of US$13.3 million, US$21.0 million, US$15.7 million and US$8.1 million from the initial proceeds of US$750 million, US$1,200 million, US$900 million and US$500 million, respectively.

F-46


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

The carrying amount of the Notes as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 were as follows:

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021

 

 

As of December 31, 2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Liability component:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

 

 

13,402,897

 

 

 

17,985,817

 

 

 

2,607,698

 

Less: unamortized debt discount

 

 

750,725

 

 

 

112,091

 

 

 

16,251

 

Net carrying amount

 

 

12,652,172

 

 

 

17,873,726

 

 

 

2,591,447

 

Equity component:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying amount

 

 

1,793,011

 

 

 

360,025

 

 

 

52,199

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the amounts of interest cost recognized were as follows:

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Contractual interest expense

 

 

364,922

 

 

 

556,382

 

 

 

404,120

 

 

 

58,592

 

Amortization of the discount and issuance costs

 

 

434,317

 

 

 

559,332

 

 

 

65,475

 

 

 

9,493

 

Total

 

 

799,239

 

 

 

1,115,714

 

 

 

469,595

 

 

 

68,085

 

 

As of December 31, 2022, the liability component of the 2025 Notes, the 2026 Notes and the PAG Notes will be accreted up to the principal amount of US$1,200 million, US$900 million and US$600 million (120% of the principal amount of PAG Notes) over a remaining period of 0.25 years, 1.59 years and 3.00 years, respectively. The amount repayable within the next twelve months are classified as “Convertible senior notes, current portion” on the consolidated balance sheets.

The aggregate amounts upon scheduled maturities of RMB22.1 million (US$3.2 million), RMB8,290.9 million (US$1,202.1 million), RMB6,218.2 million (US$901.6 million) and RMB4,490.9 million (US$651.1 million) of the 2023 Notes, the 2025 Notes, the 2026 Notes and the PAG Notes will be repaid when they become due in 2023, 2025, 2026 and 2028, respectively, assuming there is no conversion of the Notes, no redemption of the Notes prior to their maturities, the convertible senior notes bondholders hold the Notes until their maturities and the Company elects to fully settle the Notes in cash.

15.
INCOME TAXES

Cayman Islands

Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gains. Additionally, upon payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed.

Hong Kong

Under the Hong Kong tax laws, subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to the Hong Kong profits tax rate at 16.5% and they may be exempted from income tax on their foreign-derived income and there are no withholding taxes in Hong Kong on remittance of dividends.

Singapore

Under the Singapore tax laws, subsidiaries in Singapore are subject to a unified 17% tax rate, except for certain entities that are entitled to preferential tax treatments, and there are no withholding taxes in Singapore on remittance of dividends. iQIYI International Singapore Pte, Ltd. was granted a five-year Development and Expansion Incentive (“DEI”) commencing from September 15, 2020, which awards a concessionary tax rate of 10% on qualifying income, subject to certain terms and conditions imposed. An entity could re-apply for DEI upon the expiry of prior one, subject to the terms and conditions and amendments thereof.

F-47


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Mainland China

Effective from January 1, 2008, the statutory Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) rate in Mainland China is 25%. In accordance with the implementation rules of EIT Law, a qualified “High and New Technology Enterprise” (“HNTE”) is eligible for a preferential tax rate of 15% with HNTE certificate effective for a period of three years and a “Software Enterprise” (“SE”) is entitled to a two-year income tax exemption starting from the first profit making year, followed by a reduction of half the applicable tax rate for the subsequent three years. An entity must file required supporting documents with the tax authority and ensure fulfillment of the relevant HNTE criteria before using the preferential rate. An entity could re-apply for the HNTE certificate when the prior certificate expires. The SE is subject to relevant governmental authorities’ annual assessment based on self-assessment supporting documents filed with the tax authorities each year.

Certain PRC subsidiaries and VIEs, including Beijing QIYI Century, Shanghai Zhong Yuan , Beijing iQIYI and Skymoons Interactive are qualified HNTEs and enjoy a reduced tax rate of 15% for the years presented, which will expire in 2024 and 2025.

The other subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries in Mainland China are subject to the 25% EIT rate.

According to the current EIT Law and its implementation rules, foreign enterprises, which have no establishment or place in Mainland China but derive dividends, interest, rents, royalties and other income (including capital gains) from sources in Mainland China or which has an establishment or place in Mainland China but the aforementioned incomes are not connected with the establishment or place shall be subject to withholding tax (“WHT”) at 10% (a further reduced WHT rate may be available according to the applicable double tax treaty or arrangement provided that the foreign enterprise is the tax resident of the jurisdiction where it is located and it is the beneficial owner of the dividends, interest and royalties income).

The Group’s loss or income before income taxes consists of:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Non-Mainland China

 

 

(1,130,036

)

 

 

(2,024,738

)

 

 

(505,068

)

 

 

(73,228

)

Mainland China

 

 

(5,853,841

)

 

 

(3,987,250

)

 

 

471,292

 

 

 

68,331

 

 

 

 

(6,983,877

)

 

 

(6,011,988

)

 

 

(33,776

)

 

 

(4,897

)

 

Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 consists of:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Current income tax expense

 

 

65,255

 

 

 

78,010

 

 

 

53,944

 

 

 

7,821

 

Deferred income tax (benefit)/expense

 

 

(41,979

)

 

 

18,535

 

 

 

30,056

 

 

 

4,358

 

 

 

 

23,276

 

 

 

96,545

 

 

 

84,000

 

 

 

12,179

 

 

F-48


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

The reconciliation of total tax expense computed by applying the respective statutory income tax rate to pre-tax loss or income is as follows:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Income tax benefit at PRC statutory rate

 

 

(1,745,969

)

 

 

(1,502,997

)

 

 

(8,444

)

 

 

(1,224

)

Effect of differing tax rates in different jurisdictions

 

 

291,884

 

 

 

377,604

 

 

 

184,999

 

 

 

26,822

 

Non-deductible expenses

 

 

238,899

 

 

 

181,972

 

 

 

(119,094

)

 

 

(17,267

)

Research and development super-deduction

 

 

(159,919

)

 

 

(162,103

)

 

 

(115,975

)

 

 

(16,815

)

Effect of PRC preferential tax rates and tax holiday

 

 

281,437

 

 

 

269,585

 

 

 

23,564

 

 

 

3,416

 

Other adjustments

 

 

(73,027

)

 

 

(2,151

)

 

 

(41,940

)

 

 

(6,080

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

1,189,971

 

 

 

934,635

 

 

 

160,890

 

 

 

23,327

 

Income tax expense

 

 

23,276

 

 

 

96,545

 

 

 

84,000

 

 

 

12,179

 

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax balances at December 31, 2021 and 2022 are as follows:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and others

 

 

208,030

 

 

 

455,724

 

 

 

66,074

 

Bad debt provision

 

 

77,053

 

 

 

71,811

 

 

 

10,412

 

Net operating losses carried forward

 

 

1,756,698

 

 

 

1,737,385

 

 

 

251,897

 

Recorded cost relating to capitalized assets

 

 

3,902,201

 

 

 

3,799,494

 

 

 

550,875

 

Fixed assets depreciation

 

 

18,630

 

 

 

15,979

 

 

 

2,317

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(5,876,461

)

 

 

(6,037,351

)

 

 

(875,334

)

Deferred tax assets, net

 

 

86,151

 

 

 

43,042

 

 

 

6,241

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-lived assets arising from acquisitions

 

 

57,927

 

 

 

44,874

 

 

 

6,507

 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Classification in the consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets, net

 

 

31,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

3,127

 

 

 

1,832

 

 

 

266

 

 

Valuation allowances have been provided on the net deferred tax assets where, based on all available evidence, it was considered more likely than not that some portion or all of the recorded deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods.

Realization of the net deferred tax assets is dependent on factors including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and adequate future taxable income, exclusive of reversing deductible temporary differences and tax loss or credit carry forwards. The Group evaluates the potential realization of deferred tax assets on an entity-by-entity basis. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, valuation allowances were provided against deferred tax assets in entities where it was determined it was more likely than not that the benefits of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

F-49


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group had tax losses of RMB11,067,133 and RMB11,252,629 (US$1,631,478) deriving from entities in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore. The tax losses in the Mainland China can be carried forward for five years to offset future taxable income and the period was extended to ten years for entities qualified as HNTE in 2022 and thereafter. The tax losses in Hong Kong and Singapore can be carried forward without an expiration date.

The Group did not record any dividend withholding tax, as there were no taxable outside basis differences noted as of the end of the periods presented. As of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, there was no significant impact from tax uncertainties on the Group’s financial position and result of operations. And the Group did not record any interest and penalties related to an uncertain tax position for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Group does not expect the amount of unrecognized tax benefits would increase significantly in the next 12 months.

16.
EMPLOYEE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN AND EMPLOYEE OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM

Full-time employees of the Company’s subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries of the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries. The Group has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. The total amount for such employee benefits which are expensed as incurred were RMB490,245, RMB668,457 and RMB482,988 (US$70,027) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

In 2021, the Company initiated an Employee Optimization Program, which took on certain performance improvement actions which included downsizing its workforce to further enhance its cost structure and improve efficiency. The recognition of employee severance costs requires that the Company make certain judgments and estimates regarding the nature, timing and amount of costs associated with the initiative. To the extent the Company’s actual results differ from the estimates and assumptions, the Company may be required to revise the estimated liabilities, requiring the recognition of additional severance costs or the reduction of liabilities already recognized.

Severance payments made under a one-time benefit arrangement are generally recorded upon communication to the affected employees. As for statutorily required minimum benefits for involuntary terminations, the Company recognizes the liability for these arrangements when it is probable that the employee would be entitled to the benefits and the amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Total employee severance costs expected to be incurred in connection with the Employee Optimization Program was RMB178,732 in 2021, for which RMB25,709, RMB54,334, RMB98,689 were recognized as cost of revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses and research and developments expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the Employee Optimization Program was substantially completed and the Company has paid out substantially all of the severance costs to the affected employees. The remaining accrued severance liabilities as of December 31, 2021 was immaterial and paid in 2022.

17.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments for property management fees

Future minimum payments under non-cancelable agreements for property management fees consist of the following as of December 31, 2022:

 

Commitments for property management fees

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

2023

 

 

2,240

 

 

 

325

 

2024

 

 

6,112

 

 

 

886

 

2025

 

 

5,351

 

 

 

776

 

2026

 

 

3,752

 

 

 

544

 

2027 and thereafter

 

 

28,851

 

 

 

4,183

 

 

 

 

46,306

 

 

 

6,714

 

 

F-50


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

 

Commitments for Licensed Copyrights and Produced Content

Future minimum payments under non-cancelable agreements for licensed copyrights and produced content consist of the following as of December 31, 2022:

 

Commitments for Licensed Copyrights and Produced Content

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

2023

 

 

5,156,032

 

 

 

747,554

 

2024

 

 

3,622,346

 

 

 

525,191

 

2025

 

 

2,636,024

 

 

 

382,188

 

2026

 

 

1,260,792

 

 

 

182,798

 

2027 and thereafter

 

 

306,984

 

 

 

44,508

 

 

 

 

12,982,178

 

 

 

1,882,239

 

 

Capital commitment

As of December 31, 2022, commitments for the purchase of fixed assets are immaterial.

Litigation, claims and assessments

The Group is involved in a number of claims pending in various courts, in arbitration, or otherwise unresolved as of December 31, 2021. These claims are substantially related to alleged copyright infringement as well as routine and incidental matters to its business, with certain restricted deposits used as security against certain lawsuits, among others. Adverse results in these claims may include awards of damages and may also result in, or even compel, a change in the Group’s business practices, which could impact the Group’s future financial results. The Group has accrued RMB55,474 and RMB31,511 (US$4,569) in “Accrued expenses” in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022.

Starting in April 2020, the Group and certain of its current and former officers and directors were named as defendants in several putative securities class actions filed in federal court, which were purportedly brought on behalf of a class of persons who allegedly suffered damages as a result of alleged misstatements and omissions in the Group’s public disclosure documents. In May 2021, these actions were consolidated under one case. In June 2021, lead plaintiffs filed the operative amended complaint. In July 2021, defendants filed motion to dismiss the case. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on September 29, 2021. However, in light of the common questions of law and fact at issue in this case and a related action against Baidu, the Court terminated the motion to dismiss without prejudice and ordered a motion-to-dismiss briefing for the two cases to be completed by March 2023 under a new briefing schedule. The coordinated motion-to-dismiss briefing has now been completed under the new schedule, and the Group await a decision from the court on these motions. As the case remain in its preliminary stages, the likelihood of any unfavorable outcome or the amount or range of any potential loss cannot be reasonably estimated at the issuance date of the consolidated financial statements. As a result, as of December 31, 2022, the Group did not record any liabilities for the loss contingencies pertaining to the cases described above.

The Group is unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or a range of reasonably possible losses for proceedings in the early stages or where there is a lack of clear or consistent interpretation of laws specific to the industry-specific complaints among different jurisdictions. Although the results of unsettled litigations and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Group does not believe that, as of December 31, 2022, there was at least a reasonable possibility that the Group may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in excess of the accrued expenses, with respect to such loss contingencies. The losses accrued include judgments made by the court and out-of-court settlements after December 31, 2022, but related to cases arising on or before December 31, 2022. The Group is in the process of appealing certain judgments for which losses have been accrued.

18.
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

In 2021, Dreamagic, one of the Group’s VIE’s subsidiary completed several rounds of preferred shares financing from third-party preferred shareholders. As the preferred shares could be redeemed by such shareholders upon the occurrence of certain events

F-51


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

that are not solely within the control of the Group, these preferred shares are accounted for as redeemable noncontrolling interests. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests was nil due to the deconsolidation of the subsidiary (Note 4).

The Group accounts for the changes in accretion to the redemption value in accordance with ASC topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. The Group elects to use the effective interest method to account for the changes of redemption value over the period from the date of issuance to the earliest redemption date of the noncontrolling interests.

The movement in the carrying value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests is as follows:

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Balance as of January 1

 

 

101,542

 

 

 

108,629

 

 

 

397,385

 

 

 

57,615

 

Issuance of subsidiary shares

 

 

 

 

 

268,420

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

7,087

 

 

 

20,336

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deconsolidation of subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(397,385

)

 

 

(57,615

)

Balance as of December 31

 

 

108,629

 

 

 

397,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19.
ORDINARY SHARES

The authorized share capital of the Company was 100,000,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 94,000,000,000 Class A ordinary shares; (ii) 5,000,000,000 Class B ordinary shares; and (iii)1,000,000,000 reserved shares at par value of US$0.00001 per share. The rights of the holders of Class A and Class B ordinary shares are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion rights. Each share of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share and is not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Each share of Class B ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per share and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Upon any transfer of Class B ordinary shares by the holder thereof to any person or entity that is not an affiliate of such holder, such Class B ordinary shares would be automatically converted into an equal number of Class A ordinary shares.

On August 14, 2020 and October 27, 2022, 10,917,811 and 971,042 Class A ordinary shares were issued to certain key employees in relation to the acquisition of Skymoons.

280,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (40,000,000 ADS equivalent) were issued on December 21, 2020, and 32,163,292 Class A ordinary shares (4,594,756 ADS equivalent) were issued on January 8, 2021 pursuant to the underwriters’ partial exercise of their option to purchase additional ADSs.

164,705,882 Class B ordinary shares and 304,705,874 Class A ordinary shares were issued in March 2022 pursuant to the subscription agreements with Baidu and a consortium of financial investors, respectively.

As of December 31, 2022, there were 3,047,568,900 and 3,041,097,278 Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding, and 198,912,543 Class A ordinary shares are deemed issued but not outstanding as they have not been transferred to grantees.

20.
PROFIT APPROPRIATION AND RESTRICTED NET ASSETS

The Company’s subsidiaries, VIEs and the VIEs’ subsidiaries in China are required to make appropriations to certain non-distributable reserve funds. In accordance with the laws applicable to China’s WFOE, its subsidiaries have to make appropriations from its after-tax profit (as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the PRC (“PRC GAAP”) to non-distributable reserve funds including (i) general reserve fund, (ii) enterprise expansion fund, and (iii) staff bonus and welfare fund. General reserve fund is at least 10% of the after-tax profits calculated in accordance with PRC GAAP.

Appropriation is not required if the general reserve fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the respective company. The appropriations of the enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and welfare fund are at the Company’s discretion. At the same time, the Company’s VIEs, in accordance with the China Company Laws, must make appropriations from its after-tax profit (as determined under PRC GAAP) to non-distributable reserve funds including (i) statutory surplus fund, and (ii) discretionary surplus fund. Statutory surplus fund is at least 10% of the after-tax profits calculated in accordance with PRC GAAP.

F-52


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

General reserve fund and statutory surplus fund are restricted for set off against losses, expansion of production and operation or increase in register capital of the respective company. These reserves are not transferable to the Company in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. These reserves are therefore not available for distribution except in liquidation.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Company's PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries had appropriated RMB 42,781 and RMB49,061 (US$7,113), respectively, in its statutory reserves.

Under the PRC laws and regulations, the subsidiaries, VIEs and the VIEs’ subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Group either in the form of dividends, loans or advances of the combined and consolidated net assets as of December 31, 2022. Even though the Group currently does not require any such dividends, loans or advances from the PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries for working capital and other funding purposes, the Company may in the future require additional cash resources from its PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and development, or merely declare and pay dividends to or distribution to its shareholders. Amounts of net assets restricted include paid-in capital of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the net assets of the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries in which the Company has no legal ownership, totaling RMB19,329,865 (US$2,802,567) as of December 31, 2022.

21.
LOSS PER SHARE

Basic loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of the ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares and potential ordinary shares outstanding during the period under the if-converted method and the treasury stock method. The effect of the convertible senior notes, share options and restricted share units were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

Basic and diluted loss per Class A and Class B ordinary share for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are calculated as follows:

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

Class B

 

 

Class A

 

 

Class B

 

 

Class A

 

 

Class B

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to
   iQIYI, Inc.

 

 

(3,127,160

)

 

 

(3,911,201

)

 

 

(2,983,984

)

 

 

(3,185,600

)

 

 

(67,733

)

 

 

(9,820

)

 

 

(68,479

)

 

 

(9,929

)

Accretion of redeemable
   noncontrolling interests

 

 

(3,149

)

 

 

(3,938

)

 

 

(9,836

)

 

 

(10,500

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to
   iQIYI, Inc.'s ordinary
   shareholders

 

 

(3,130,309

)

 

 

(3,915,139

)

 

 

(2,993,820

)

 

 

(3,196,100

)

 

 

(67,733

)

 

 

(9,820

)

 

 

(68,479

)

 

 

(9,929

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of
   ordinary shares outstanding,
   basic

 

 

2,299,788,661

 

 

 

2,876,391,396

 

 

 

2,694,345,310

 

 

 

2,876,391,396

 

 

 

2,977,609,078

 

 

 

2,977,609,078

 

 

 

3,010,412,347

 

 

 

3,010,412,347

 

Weighted average number of
   ordinary shares outstanding,
   diluted

 

 

2,299,788,661

 

 

 

2,876,391,396

 

 

 

2,694,345,310

 

 

 

2,876,391,396

 

 

 

2,977,609,078

 

 

 

2,977,609,078

 

 

 

3,010,412,347

 

 

 

3,010,412,347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic

 

 

(1.36

)

 

 

(1.36

)

 

 

(1.11

)

 

 

(1.11

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.00

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.00

)

Net loss per share, diluted

 

 

(1.36

)

 

 

(1.36

)

 

 

(1.11

)

 

 

(1.11

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.00

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.00

)

 

22.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

2010 Equity Incentive Plan

On October 18, 2010, the Company adopted its 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”), which permits the grant of restricted shares, options and share appreciation rights to the employees, directors, officers and consultants of the Company. Under the plan, a total of 58,875,478 ordinary shares were initially reserved for issuance and subsequently increased to 589,729,714 ordinary shares. The 2010 Plan is valid and effective for an original term of ten years, and further extended to twenty years on September 15, 2020 commencing from its adoption. Except for service conditions, there were no other vesting conditions for all the awards under the 2010 Plan. Any unvested portion of the options will be forfeited upon the termination of the grantee’s service for any reason. In the

F-53


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

event the grantee’s service is terminated for cause other than death or permanent disability, the vested portion of the options will expire upon 90 days following such termination.

The Company has granted share options under the 2010 Plan to its employees and directors. Options granted to employees and directors vest over a four-year period.

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

On December 2, 2021, the Company adopted its 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which permits the grant of restricted shares units and options to the directors, employees, consultants and other individuals of the Company. Under the 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards shall initially be 364,000,000 ordinary shares, provided that if restricted share units or options with US$0 exercise price are granted, each restricted share unit and option with US$0 exercise price (that entitles the holder to one ordinary share) granted shall reduce the number of ordinary shares under the 2021 Plan available for future grants by 1.3 ordinary shares. The 2021 Plan is valid and effective for a term of ten years commencing from its adoption. Except for service conditions, there were no other vesting conditions for all the awards under the 2021 Plan. Any unvested portion of the restricted shares units and options will be forfeited upon the termination of the grantee’s service for any reason. In the event the grantee’s service is terminated for cause other than death or permanent disability, the vested portion of the options will be expired upon 90 days following such termination.

In 2022, the Company has granted options under the 2021 Plan to its employees and directors. All options vest over a four-year period.

The following table sets forth the summary of option activity for the year ended December 31, 2022:

 

 

 

Options
Outstanding

 

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life

 

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

(US$)

 

 

(In years)

 

 

(US$ in thousands)

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2021

 

 

341,665,534

 

 

 

0.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted (i)

 

 

174,961,521

 

 

 

0.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited/Expired

 

 

(17,625,428

)

 

 

0.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(19,530,525

)

 

 

0.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2022

 

 

479,471,102

 

 

 

0.35

 

 

 

6.78

 

 

 

193,032

 

Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2022

 

 

450,152,110

 

 

 

0.37

 

 

 

6.63

 

 

 

173,988

 

Exercisable as of December 31, 2022

 

 

276,887,892

 

 

 

0.48

 

 

 

5.25

 

 

 

76,753

 

 

(i)
It consists a total of 138,649,623 options granted with an exercise price of US$0 each that will reduce the number of ordinary shares under the 2021 Plan available for future grants by 1.3 ordinary shares.

As of December 31, 2022, the unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested share options granted to the Group’s employees and directors was RMB925,415 (US$134,173). Total unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.32 years and may be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures.

The weighted average grant date fair value of the share options granted during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were US$2.37, US$1.88 and US$0.60, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were RMB1,222,571, RMB1,072,572 and RMB765,284 (US$110,956), respectively. Total intrinsic value of options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were RMB888,668, RMB95,024 and RMB36,011 (US$5,221), respectively.

F-54


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

The Company uses the binomial tree option pricing model to estimate the fair value of share options with the assistance of an independent third-party valuation firm. The assumptions used to value the share options granted to employees and non-employees were as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

Fair value of ordinary shares (US$)

 

2.60~3.42

 

 

2.14~3.13

 

 

0.40~0.72

 

Risk-free interest rate (%)

 

0.60~0.78

 

 

0.93~1.57

 

 

1.72~2.00

 

Expected volatility (%)

 

48.2~50.4

 

 

47.2~48.0

 

 

51.1~51.2

 

Expected dividend yield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expected exercise multiple

 

2.2~2.8

 

 

2.2~2.8

 

 

2.2~2.8

 

 

The estimated fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares is based on the Company’s share price. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the options is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for a term consistent with the contractual term of the awards. Expected volatility is estimated based on the historical volatility of the Company’s share price. The dividend yield is estimated based on our expected dividend policy over the expected term of the options. The expected exercise multiple is based on management’s estimation, which the Company believes is representative of the future.

The following table sets forth the amount of share-based compensation expense included in each of the relevant financial statement line items:

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

201,970

 

 

 

173,263

 

 

 

147,045

 

 

 

21,320

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

851,416

 

 

 

718,377

 

 

 

425,209

 

 

 

61,650

 

Research and development

 

 

316,709

 

 

 

327,523

 

 

 

239,187

 

 

 

34,679

 

 

 

 

1,370,095

 

 

 

1,219,163

 

 

 

811,441

 

 

 

117,649

 

 

F-55


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

23.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
a)
The table below sets forth the major related parties and their relationships with the Group:

 

 

 

 

Name of related parties

 

Relationship with the Group

Baidu and its subsidiaries (“Baidu Group”)

Others

 

Controlling shareholder of the Company

Equity investees that the Group or Baidu has significant influence over

b)
The Group had the following related party transactions with the major related parties:

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Membership services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership services revenue earned from
   memberships sold to Baidu Group

 

 

19,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

54,401

 

 

 

7,887

 

Membership services revenue earned from
   memberships sold by Others

 

 

5,772

 

 

 

3,766

 

 

 

1,978

 

 

 

287

 

Online advertising revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising services provided to Baidu Group

 

 

113,934

 

 

 

122,919

 

 

 

55,664

 

 

 

8,071

 

Advertising services provided to Others

 

 

92,690

 

 

 

174,001

 

 

 

224,110

 

 

 

32,493

 

Content distribution revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content licensed to Others (i)

 

 

176,227

 

 

 

297,304

 

 

 

190,398

 

 

 

27,605

 

Other revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other services provided to Baidu Group

 

 

15,430

 

 

 

14,496

 

 

 

1,789

 

 

 

259

 

Others

 

 

38,634

 

 

 

45,189

 

 

 

53,521

 

 

 

7,760

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans due from Others

 

 

1,247

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

463,733

 

 

 

657,675

 

 

 

581,861

 

 

 

84,362

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

License fees to Baidu Group

 

 

13,691

 

 

 

13,894

 

 

 

8,183

 

 

 

1,186

 

Bandwidth fees to Baidu Group

 

 

1,007,461

 

 

 

918,758

 

 

 

653,001

 

 

 

94,676

 

Others (ii)

 

 

90,577

 

 

 

306,392

 

 

 

223,149

 

 

 

32,354

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising services provided by Baidu Group

 

 

2,466

 

 

 

13,354

 

 

 

47,617

 

 

 

6,904

 

Others

 

 

2,579

 

 

 

10,989

 

 

 

22,011

 

 

 

3,191

 

Research and development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloud services provided by Baidu Group

 

 

7,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,953

 

 

 

573

 

 

 

 

1,124,186

 

 

 

1,263,387

 

 

 

957,914

 

 

 

138,884

 

 

(i)
The transactions mainly represent revenues derived from content distributed to Investee A and Investee B.
(ii)
The transactions mainly represent revenue sharing arrangements with various equity investees. The Group entered into a significant revenue sharing arrangement in 2021 and 2022 to become the exclusive sales agent for an equity investee and provided a minimum guarantee of RMB100,000 and RMB60,000 of annual sales for a given period, respectively. Nil, RMB125,052 and RMB23,639 (US$3,427) were recognized as cost of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group purchased content from equity investees in an amount of RMB1,455,933, RMB2,358,680 and RMB1,513,683 (US$219,463), respectively.

F-56


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

c)
The Group had the following related party balances with the major related parties:

Except for the non-trade balances disclosed below, amounts due from/due to related parties as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 relate to transactions arising from the ordinary and usual course of business of the Group and were trade in nature.

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Amounts due from related parties, current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due from Baidu Group (i)

 

 

34,894

 

 

 

19,986

 

 

 

2,898

 

Due from Others (ii)

 

 

120,618

 

 

 

84,168

 

 

 

12,203

 

 

 

 

155,512

 

 

 

104,154

 

 

 

15,101

 

Amounts due from related parties, non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due from Others (iii)

 

 

81,000

 

 

 

59,880

 

 

 

8,682

 

 

 

 

81,000

 

 

 

59,880

 

 

 

8,682

 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Amounts due to related parties, current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans due to Baidu Group (iv)

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

700,000

 

 

 

101,490

 

Due to Baidu Group (v)

 

 

1,402,493

 

 

 

1,877,298

 

 

 

272,183

 

Deferred revenue in relation to services to be provided
   to an equity investee (vi)

 

 

211,802

 

 

 

21,186

 

 

 

3,072

 

Due to Others (vii)

 

 

969,794

 

 

 

923,162

 

 

 

133,846

 

 

 

 

2,634,089

 

 

 

3,521,646

 

 

 

510,591

 

Amounts due to related parties, non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans due to Baidu Group (iv)

 

 

650,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to Baidu Group (v)

 

 

2,989

 

 

 

1,828

 

 

 

265

 

Deferred revenue in relation to services to be provided
   to an equity investee (vi)

 

 

127,591

 

 

 

97,715

 

 

 

14,167

 

Due to Others

 

 

35

 

 

 

1,398

 

 

 

203

 

 

 

 

780,615

 

 

 

100,941

 

 

 

14,635

 

 

(i)
The balance mainly represents amounts due from Baidu Group for advertising, membership and other services.
(ii)
The balance mainly represents amounts due from or advances made to equity investees for content distribution services and other services.
(iii)
The balance represents prepayments for licensed copyrights to be received from the Group’s equity investees.
(iv)
The total outstanding balance represents a non-trade interest-free loan of RMB50,000, which is due on demand and a non-trade interest-free loan of RMB650,000 which was provided by Baidu in January 2018 and fully repaid in March 2023.
(v)
The balance mainly represents amounts owed to Baidu for bandwidth and cloud services provided to the Group.
(vi)
The balance represents deferred revenue in relation to content distribution, licenses of intellectual property and traffic support services to be provided to Investee A.
(vii)
The balance mainly represents amounts owed to the Group’s equity investees for acquisition of licensed copyrights and advances made for online advertising services.

F-57


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

24.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table sets forth the financial instruments measured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 and non-recurring fair value measurements as of December 31, 2021 and 2022:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices
in Active Market
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)

 

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

 

 

Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)

 

 

Total Gain/ (Losses)

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Recurring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits (i)

 

 

 

 

 

301,904

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale debt securities (i)

 

 

 

 

 

1,348,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale debt securities (ii)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity investments at fair value with readily determinable fair value

 

 

31,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes, non-current portion (iii)

 

 

 

 

 

9,547,453

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits (i)

 

 

 

 

 

470,568

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale debt securities (i)

 

 

 

 

 

818,265

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale debt securities (ii)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

485,324

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity investments at fair value with readily determinable fair value

 

 

26,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes, current portion (iii)

 

 

 

 

 

6,755,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes, non-current portion (iii)

 

 

 

 

 

7,253,289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-recurring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Produced content monetized on its own (iv)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,782

 

 

 

(160,989

)

 

 

 

Long-term investments (v)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

423,161

 

 

 

(169,828

)

 

 

 

Equity investments without readily determinable fair value (vi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

110,760

 

 

 

94,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Produced content monetized on its own (iv)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

85,466

 

 

 

(67,519

)

 

 

(9,789

)

Long-term investments (v)

 

 

98,807

 

 

 

 

 

 

669,007

 

 

 

(841,489

)

 

 

(122,004

)

Equity investments without readily determinable fair value (vi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

216,308

 

 

 

31,295

 

 

 

4,537

 

 

Recurring

(i)
The fair value of time deposits is determined based on the prevailing interest rates in the market. Due to maturities of less than one year, the carrying values of short-term investments approximate their fair values.

F-58


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

(ii)
Long-term available-for-sale debt securities are convertible debt instruments issued by private companies and investment in equity securities that is redeemable at the Company’s option, which do not have readily determinable market values. The fair values of these investments were categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Group uses a combination of valuation methodologies, including market and income approaches based on the Group’s best estimate, which is determined by using information including but not limited to the pricing of recent rounds of financing, future cash flow forecasts and liquidity factors.

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

 

10,807

 

 

 

77,855

 

 

 

11,288

 

Addition

 

 

66,500

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

1,450

 

Reclassification

 

 

 

 

 

413,863

 

 

 

60,004

 

Accrued interest

 

 

2,973

 

 

 

4,697

 

 

 

681

 

Net unrealized fair value change recognized in other comprehensive income

 

 

(2,425

)

 

 

(21,091

)

 

 

(3,058

)

Balance as of December 31

 

 

77,855

 

 

 

485,324

 

 

 

70,365

 

 

(iii)
The Company carries the convertible senior notes at face value less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs on its consolidated balance sheets, and presents the fair value for disclosure purposes only. The fair values of the convertible senior notes are classified as Level 2 fair value measurements based on dealer quotes. For further information on the convertible senior notes, see Note 14.

Non-recurring

(iv)
Due to adverse changes in the expected performance of certain produced content and the reduced amount of ultimate revenue expected to be recognized, the Group performed an assessment to determine whether the fair value was less than unamortized content costs. The Group uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value of the produced content titles predominantly monetized on its own. The significant unobservable inputs (level 3) include forecasted future revenues, production costs required to complete the content and exploitation and participation costs. The Group considers the historical performance of similar content, the forecasted performance and/or preliminary actual performance subsequent to the release of the produced content in estimating the fair value. Based on the above assessment, certain produced content predominantly monetized on its own were determined to be impaired and re-measured to the fair value as of each quarter end. Impairment charges of RMB205,462, RMB160,989 and RMB67,519 (US$9,789) were recognized for produced content predominantly monetized on its own and was recognized as cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The outbreak of COVID-19 during the first quarter of 2020 negatively impacted the Group’s operations and financial performance and resulted in a downward adjustment to forecasted advertising revenues for the Mainland China film group that resulted in the fair value of the Mainland China film group being less than its corresponding carrying amount. As a result, an impairment charge of RMB390,299 related to licensed copyrights (Note 7) and RMB209,701 related to produced content (Note 9), respectively, was recognized as cost of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(v)
The Group measures certain financial assets, including equity method investments at fair value on a non-recurring basis only if an impairment charge recognized. The fair values of the Group’s investments in publicly listed companies are measured using quoted market prices. For estimating the fair value of investments without observable market prices, the Group uses valuation methodologies, primarily the market approach, which requires management to use unobservable inputs (Level 3) such as selection of comparable companies and multiples, expected volatility, discount for lack of marketability and probability of exit events as it relates to liquidation and redemption preferences when applicable. When there is impairment of equity securities accounted for under the measurement alternative and equity method investments, the non-recurring fair value measurements are measured at the date of impairment. As a result of the above assessment, certain long-term investments were determined to be impaired, and the impairment charges were recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022.
(vi)
For equity investments accounted for under the measurement alternative, the equity investment is measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis when there is an orderly transaction for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. The fair values of these investments were categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of the Group’s privately held

F-59


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

investments as disclosed are determined based on the observable transaction price of recent rounds of financing and a price adjustment for the different rights and obligations between a similar instrument of the same issuer with an observable price change in an orderly transaction and the investment held by the Group. These non-recurring fair value measurements were measured as of the observable transaction dates. As a result of the above assessment, certain equity investments accounted for under the measurement alternative were re-measured to their fair values, and the total net unrealized gains (Note 4) were recognized in "Others, net" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022.
25.
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component, net of tax, were as follows:

 

 

 

Foreign currency
translation
adjustment

 

 

Unrealized gains/(losses) on
available-for-sale
debt securities

 

 

Total

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

 

2,106,219

 

 

 

499

 

 

 

2,106,718

 

Other comprehensive income before reclassification

 

 

433,497

 

 

 

14,071

 

 

 

447,568

 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
   comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

(14,169

)

 

 

(14,169

)

Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

433,497

 

 

 

(98

)

 

 

433,399

 

Other comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to
   noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

2,571

 

 

 

(8

)

 

 

2,563

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

2,542,287

 

 

 

393

 

 

 

2,542,680

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassification

 

 

168,079

 

 

 

(2,426

)

 

 

165,653

 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
   comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

(425

)

 

 

(425

)

Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

168,079

 

 

 

(2,851

)

 

 

165,228

 

Other comprehensive loss attributable to
   noncontrolling interests

 

 

1,062

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

1,094

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

2,711,428

 

 

 

(2,426

)

 

 

2,709,002

 

Other comprehensive loss before reclassification

 

 

(844,725

)

 

 

(21,091

)

 

 

(865,816

)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
   comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive loss

 

 

(844,725

)

 

 

(21,091

)

 

 

(865,816

)

Cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2020-06

 

 

24,938

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,938

 

Other comprehensive loss attributable to
   noncontrolling interests

 

 

(4,670

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4,670

)

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

 

1,886,971

 

 

 

(23,517

)

 

 

1,863,454

 

Balance at December 31, 2022 in US$

 

 

273,585

 

 

 

(3,410

)

 

 

270,175

 

 

The amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income represent realized gains on the available-for-sale debt securities upon their maturity. The amounts reclassified were determined on the basis of specific identification.

Losses in the amount of RMB1,232,683, RMB536,924 and gains in the amount of RMB2,054,601 (US$297,889) on intracompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

F-60


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

26.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In January 2023, the Company issued 535,500,000 Class A ordinary shares (76,500,000 ADS equivalent) upon the completion of a registered follow-on public offering and 69,825,000 Class A ordinary shares (9,975,000 ADS equivalent) pursuant to the underwriters’ partial exercise of their option to purchase additional ADSs, respectively. The net proceeds received by the Company for this offering amounted to US$500.0 million (equivalent to RMB3,448.6 million), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions but not considering the offering expenses in connection with the offering.

In February 2023, the convertible senior noteholder of PAG Notes exercised their option to purchase additional convertible senior notes under the same terms and conditions for US$50.0 million (equivalent to RMB344.9 million).

In March 2023, the Company issued an aggregate principal amount of US$600 million (equivalent to RMB4,138.3 million) convertible senior notes (the "2028 Notes") for cash. The net proceeds of the 2028 Notes (after deducting the initial purchasers' discounts, taking into account the estimated reimbursement from the initial purchasers for certain expenses incurred by the Company, but without deducting other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company) amounted to approximately US$591 million (equivalent to RMB4,076.2 million). The 2028 Notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, and interest is payable quarterly in cash at a rate of 6.50% per annum in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2023. The 2028 Notes will mature on March 15, 2028 unless repurchased, redeemed or converted prior to such date. The 2028 Notes may be convertible into the Company's ADS at the holder's option and subject to the terms of the 2028 Notes, at an initial conversion rate of 101.4636 ADS per US$1,000 principal amount of the 2028 Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$9.86 per ADS). Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver to such converting holders, as the case may be, cash, ADSs, or a combination of cash and ADSs, at its election. On March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes, the holders of the 2028 Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2028 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Concurrently with and shortly after the offering of the 2028 Notes, the Company also entered into separate and individually privately negotiated agreements with certain holders of the 2026 Notes to repurchase US$340 million (equivalent to RMB2,345.0 million) principal amount of such notes for cash.

F-61


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

27.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

Note

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

1,615,953

 

 

 

4,334,968

 

 

 

628,511

 

Prepayments and other assets

 

 

 

 

 

12,350

 

 

 

20,751

 

 

 

3,009

 

Amounts due from entities within the Group

 

 

 

 

 

16,285,294

 

 

 

19,925,446

 

 

 

2,888,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

 

 

 

17,913,597

 

 

 

24,281,165

 

 

 

3,520,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

17,913,597

 

 

 

24,281,165

 

 

 

3,520,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,305,447

 

 

 

1,204,177

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

70,823

 

 

 

156,807

 

 

 

22,735

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

70,823

 

 

 

8,462,254

 

 

 

1,226,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes

 

 

14

 

 

 

12,652,172

 

 

 

9,568,279

 

 

 

1,387,270

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

3,003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

12,655,175

 

 

 

9,568,279

 

 

 

1,387,270

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

12,725,998

 

 

 

18,030,533

 

 

 

2,614,182

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A ordinary shares (US$0.00001 par value; 94,000,000,000 
      shares authorized as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively;
      
2,940,101,566 and 3,246,481,443 shares issued as of December 31,
      2021 and 2022, respectively;
2,722,361,459 and 3,047,568,900
      shares outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2022,
      respectively)

 

 

19

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

194

 

 

 

28

 

Class B ordinary shares (US$0.00001 par value; 5,000,000,000 
      shares authorized as of December 31, 2021 and 2022,
      respectively;
2,876,391,396 and 3,041,097,278 shares
      issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and
      2022, respectively)

 

 

19

 

 

 

183

 

 

 

193

 

 

 

28

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

 

49,642,014

 

 

 

50,885,688

 

 

 

7,377,731

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

20

 

 

 

(47,163,773

)

 

 

(46,498,897

)

 

 

(6,741,706

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

25

 

 

 

2,709,002

 

 

 

1,863,454

 

 

 

270,175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

5,187,599

 

 

 

6,250,632

 

 

 

906,256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

17,913,597

 

 

 

24,281,165

 

 

 

3,520,438

 

 

F-62


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Loss

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

(36,408

)

 

 

(26,658

)

 

 

(66,883

)

 

 

(9,697

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share of (losses)/income of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries

 

 

(7,320,787

)

 

 

(5,807,189

)

 

 

2,076,676

 

 

 

301,090

 

Interest income

 

 

24,343

 

 

 

19,026

 

 

 

12,845

 

 

 

1,862

 

Interest expenses

 

 

(642,718

)

 

 

(889,263

)

 

 

(234,870

)

 

 

(34,053

)

Foreign exchange gain/(loss), net

 

 

913,974

 

 

 

496,669

 

 

 

(1,954,314

)

 

 

(283,349

)

Other income, net

 

 

23,235

 

 

 

37,831

 

 

 

30,334

 

 

 

4,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

(7,038,361

)

 

 

(6,169,584

)

 

 

(136,212

)

 

 

(19,749

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(7,087

)

 

 

(20,336

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders

 

 

(7,045,448

)

 

 

(6,189,920

)

 

 

(136,212

)

 

 

(19,749

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

436,068

 

 

 

169,141

 

 

 

(849,395

)

 

 

(123,151

)

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities

 

 

(106

)

 

 

(2,819

)

 

 

(21,091

)

 

 

(3,058

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax

 

 

435,962

 

 

 

166,322

 

 

 

(870,486

)

 

 

(126,209

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

 

 

(6,602,399

)

 

 

(6,003,262

)

 

 

(1,006,698

)

 

 

(145,958

)

 

F-63


Table of Contents

iQIYI, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022—continued

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”),

except for number of shares (or ADS) and per share (or ADS) data)

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

RMB

 

 

US$

 

Net cash used for operating activities

 

 

(281,636

)

 

 

(360,187

)

 

 

(157,273

)

 

 

(22,802

)

Net cash (used for)/provided by investing activities

 

 

(7,189,640

)

 

 

483,685

 

 

 

(2,462,807

)

 

 

(357,073

)

Net cash provided by/(used for) financing activities

 

 

9,804,491

 

 

 

(3,441,602

)

 

 

5,307,603

 

 

 

769,530

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and
  restricted cash

 

 

(6,203

)

 

 

(167,636

)

 

 

31,492

 

 

 

4,565

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and
  restricted cash

 

 

2,327,012

 

 

 

(3,485,740

)

 

 

2,719,015

 

 

 

394,220

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of
  the year

 

 

2,774,681

 

 

 

5,101,693

 

 

 

1,615,953

 

 

 

234,291

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year

 

 

5,101,693

 

 

 

1,615,953

 

 

 

4,334,968

 

 

 

628,511

 

 

Basis of presentation

For the presentation of the parent company only condensed financial information, the Company records its investments in subsidiaries and VIEs under the equity method of accounting as prescribed in ASC 323. The subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries losses are reported as “Share of losses/income of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries” on the condensed statements of comprehensive loss. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company’s carrying amount of its investment in subsidiaries for its share of the subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries cumulative losses was reduced to nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively and the carrying amount of “Amounts due from entities within the Group” was further adjusted as the Company committed to provide financial support to its VIEs as disclosed in Note 1.

The subsidiaries did not pay any dividends to the Company for the periods presented.

The Company does not have significant commitments or long-term obligations as of the period end other than those presented.

The parent company only financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

F-64


EX-4

 

Exhibit 4.66

iQIYI, Inc.

2021 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

The purpose of the iQIYI, Inc. 2021 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of iQIYI, Inc., a company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), by linking the personal interests of Directors, Employees, Consultants and other individuals as the Committee may authorize and approve, to those of the Company’s shareholders and, by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance, to generate superior returns to the Company’s shareholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of recipients of share incentives hereunder upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.1
Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of the corporate, securities, tax and other laws, rules, regulations and government orders, and the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
2.2
Award” means an Option or Restricted Share Unit award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
2.3
Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium.
2.4
Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 


 

2.5
Cause” with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or another applicable contract with the Participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “for cause” termination has on the Participant’s Awards) a termination of employment or service based upon a finding by the Service Recipient, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at the time, that the Participant:
(a)
has been negligent in the discharge of his or her duties to the Service Recipient, has refused to perform stated or assigned duties or is incompetent in or (other than by reason of a disability or analogous condition) incapable of performing those duties;
(b)
has been dishonest or committed or engaged in an act of theft, embezzlement or fraud, a breach of confidentiality, an unauthorized disclosure or use of inside information, customer lists, trade secrets or other confidential information;
(c)
has breached a fiduciary duty, or willfully and materially violated any other legal duty, law, administrative order, rule, regulation, public policy, public order and morality standards; or has been convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses);
(d)
has materially breached any of the provisions of any agreement with the Service Recipient, or materially violated any Service Recipient’s internal discipline, employee handbook, anti-corruption requirement or other applicable governance rules of the Service Recipient;
(e)
has engaged in unfair competition with, or otherwise acted intentionally in a manner injurious to the reputation, business or assets of, the Service Recipient; or
(f)
has improperly induced a vendor or customer to break or terminate any contract with the Service Recipient or induced a principal for whom the Service Recipient acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.

A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Committee) on the date on which the Service Recipient first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.

2.6
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of the United States, as amended.
2.7
Committee” has the meaning described in ARTICLE 9.
2.8
Consultant” means any consultant or adviser if: (a) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to a Service Recipient; (b) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (c) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Service Recipient to render such services.

2


 

2.9
Corporate Transaction”, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Committee shall determine under (d) and (e) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive:
(a)
an amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or scheme of arrangement (i) 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 or (ii) following which the holders of the voting securities of the Company do not continue to hold more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity;
(b)
the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;
(c)
the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(d)
any reverse takeover or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse takeover (including, but not limited to, a tender offer followed by a reverse takeover) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the Company’s equity securities outstanding immediately prior to such takeover are converted or exchanged by virtue of the takeover into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) 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 takeover or the initial transaction culminating in such takeover, but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction; or
(e)
acquisition in a single or series of related transactions 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 than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.
2.10
Director” means a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of any Subsidiary of the Company.
2.11
Disability”, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, means that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the Service Recipient’s long-term disability insurance program (if any), as it may be amended from time to time, to which the Participant provides services . If the Service Recipient to which the Participant provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Participant is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Participant by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. A Participant will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Service Recipient in its discretion.
2.12
Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in ARTICLE 10.1.

3


 

2.13
“Employee” means any person, including an officer or a Director, who is in the employment of a Service Recipient, subject to the control and direction of the Service Recipient as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by a Service Recipient shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Service Recipient.
2.14
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the United States, as amended.
2.15
Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Shares determined as follows:
(a)
If the Shares are listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, 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 Committee) 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 on the website maintained by such exchange or market system or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
(b)
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 Committee deems reliable; or
(c)
In the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (a) and (b), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in its discretion by reference to (i) the placing price of the latest private placement of the Shares and the development of the Company’s business operations and the general economic and market conditions since such latest private placement, (ii) other third party transactions involving the Shares and the development of the Company’s business operation and the general economic and market conditions since such transaction, (iii) an independent valuation of the Shares, or (iv) such other methodologies or information as the Committee determines to be indicative of Fair Market Value.
2.16
Group Entity” means any of the Company and Subsidiaries of the Company.
2.17
Incentive Share Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
2.18
Independent Director” means (i) if the Shares or other securities representing the Shares are not listed on a stock exchange, a Director of the Company who is a Non-Employee Director; and (ii) if the Shares or other securities representing the Shares are listed on one or more stock exchange, a Director of the Company who meets the independence standards under the applicable corporate governance rules of the stock exchange(s).

4


 

2.19
Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.
2.20
Non-Qualified Share Option” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Share Option.
2.21
Option” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to ARTICLE 5 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Share Option or a Non-Qualified Share Option.
2.22
Participant” means a person who, as a Director, Consultant or Employee has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
2.23
Parent” means a parent corporation under Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.24
Plan” means this 2021 Share Incentive Plan, of iQIYI, Inc., as amended and/or restated from time to time.
2.25
Related Entity” means any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company, a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly, or controls through contractual arrangements and consolidates the financial results according to applicable accounting standards, but which is not a Subsidiary and which the Board designates as a Related Entity for purposes of the Plan.
2.26
Restricted Share Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to ARTICLE 6.
2.27
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States, as amended.
2.28
Service Recipient” means the Company, or Subsidiary of the Company, to which a Participant provides services as an Employee, a Consultant, or a Director.
2.29
Share” means Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.00001 per share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Shares pursuant to ARTICLE 8.
2.30
Subsidiary” means, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting shares or voting power is beneficially owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company.
2.31
Trading Date” means the closing of the first sale to the general public of the Shares pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.

5


 

ARTICLE 3

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1
Number of Shares.
(a)
Subject to the provisions of ARTICLE 8 and ARTICLE 3.1(b), the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards (including Incentive Share Options) (the “Award Pool”) under the Plan shall initially be 364,000,000 Shares, provided that if Restricted Share Units are granted, each Restricted Share Unit (that entitles the holder to one Share) granted shall reduce the number of Shares in the Award Pool available for future grants by 1.3 Shares.
(b)
To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any Shares subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, Shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form or combination by a Group Entity shall not be counted against Shares available for grant pursuant to the Plan. Shares delivered by the Participant or withheld by the Company upon the exercise of any Award under the Plan, in payment of the exercise price thereof or tax withholding thereon, may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of ARTICLE 3.1(a). Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Share Option to fail to qualify as an incentive share option under Section 422 of the Code.
3.2
Shares Distributed. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares (subject to Applicable Laws) or Shares purchased on the open market. Additionally, at the discretion of the Committee, any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may be represented by American Depositary Shares. If the number of Shares represented by an American Depositary Share is other than on a one-to-one basis, the limitations of ARTICLE 3.1 shall be adjusted to reflect the distribution of American Depository Shares in lieu of Shares.
ARTICLE 4

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

4.1
Eligibility. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include Employees, Consultants, and Directors, as determined by the Committee.
4.2
Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.
4.3
Jurisdictions. In order to assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in various jurisdictions, the Committee may 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, is employed, operates or is incorporated. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate

6


 

for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions shall increase the share limitations contained in ARTICLE 3.1 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate any Applicable Laws.
ARTICLE 5

OPTIONS

5.1
General. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a)
Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement which may be a fixed price or variable price. The exercise price per Share subject to an Option may be amended or adjusted in the absolute discretion of the Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Laws or any exchange rule, a downward adjustment of the exercise prices of Options mentioned in the preceding sentence shall be effective without the approval of the Company’s shareholders or the approval of the affected Participants.
(b)
Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, including exercise prior to vesting; provided that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years, except as provided in ARTICLE 11.1. The Committee shall also determine any conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
(c)
Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation (i) cash or check denominated in U.S. Dollars, (ii) to the extent permissible under the Applicable Laws, cash or check in Chinese Renminbi, (iii) cash or check denominated in any other local currency as approved by the Committee, (iv) Shares held for such period of time as may be required by the Committee in order to avoid adverse financial accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, (v) after the Trading Date the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (vi) other property acceptable to the Committee with a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price, or (vii) any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member of the Board or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option in any method which would violate Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act. The Committee may prescribe any other method of payment (including in respect of the applicable cash currency) that it determines to be consistent with Applicable Laws and the purpose of the Plan.

7


 

(d)
Evidence of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
(e)
Effects of Termination of Employment or Service on Options. Termination of employment or service shall have the following effects on Options granted to the Participants:
(i)
Dismissal for Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Service Recipient is terminated by the Service Recipient for Cause, the Participant’s Options will terminate upon such termination, whether or not the Option is then vested and/or exercisable;
(ii)
Death or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Service Recipient terminates as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability:
(1)
the Participant (or his or her legal representative or beneficiary, in the case of the Participant’s Disability or death, respectively), will have until the date that is 180 days after the Participant’s termination of Employment to exercise the Participant’s Options (or portion thereof) to the extent that such Options were vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment on account of death or Disability;
(2)
the Options, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment or service, shall terminate upon the Participant’s termination of Employment or service on account of death or Disability; and
(3)
the Options, to the extent exercisable for the 180-day period following the Participant’s termination of Employment or service and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 180-day period.
(iii)
Other Terminations of Employment or Service. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Service Recipient terminates for any reason other than a termination by the Service Recipient for Cause or because of the Participant’s death or Disability:
(1)
the Participant will have until the date that is 90 days after the Participant’s termination of Employment or service to exercise his or her Options (or portion thereof) to the extent that such Options were vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment or service;
(2)
the Options, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment or service, shall terminate upon the Participant’s termination of Employment or service; and

8


 

(3)
the Options, to the extent exercisable for the 90-day period following the Participant’s termination of Employment or service and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 90-day period.
5.2
Incentive Share Options. Incentive Share Options may be granted to Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Incentive Share Options may not be granted to employees of a Related Entity or to Independent Directors or Consultants. The terms of any Incentive Share Options granted pursuant to the Plan, in addition to the requirements of ARTICLE 5.1, must comply with the following additional provisions of this ARTICLE 5.2:
(a)
Individual Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Share Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Share Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Share Options.
(b)
Exercise Price. The exercise price of an Incentive Share Option shall be equal to the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. However, the exercise price of any Incentive Share Option granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns Shares possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company may not be less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and such Option may not be exercisable for more than five years from the date of grant.
(c)
Transfer Restriction. The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Share Option within (i) two years from the date of grant of such Incentive Share Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant.
(d)
Expiration of Incentive Share Options. No Award of an Incentive Share Option may be made pursuant to this Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
(e)
Right to Exercise. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Share Option may be exercised only by the Participant.
ARTICLE 6

RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

6.1
Grant of Restricted Share Units. The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Share Units to Participants as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant.
6.2
Restricted Share Units Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify any vesting conditions, the number of Restricted Share Units granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

9


 

6.3
Form and Timing of Payment of Restricted Share Units. At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable. Upon vesting, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay Restricted Share Units in the form of cash, Shares or a combination thereof.
6.4
Forfeiture/Repurchase. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Share Units that are at that time unvested shall be forfeited or repurchased in accordance with the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Share Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Share Units.
ARTICLE 7

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

7.1
Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s employment or service terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.
7.2
No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions.
7.2.1
Limits on Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this ARTICLE 7.2, by applicable law and by the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended:
(a)
all Awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge;
(b)
Awards will be exercised only by the Participant; and
(c)
amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award will be delivered only to (or for the account of), and, in the case of Shares, registered in the name of, the Participant.

In addition, the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

7.2.2
Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer. The exercise and transfer restrictions in ARTICLE 7.2.1 will not apply to:
(a)
transfers to the Company or a Subsidiary;
(b)
transfers by gift to “immediate family” as that term is defined in SEC Rule 16a-1(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act;

10


 

(c)
the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits if the Participant dies or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercises by the Participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or
(d)
if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by the Participant’s duly authorized legal representative; or
(e)
subject to the prior approval of the Committee or an executive officer or director of the Company authorized by the Committee, transfer to one or more natural persons who are the Participant’s family members or entities owned and controlled by the Participant and/or the Participant’s family members, including but not limited to trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are the Participant and/or the Participant’s family members, or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee or may establish. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receives evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes and on a basis consistent with the Company’s lawful issue of securities.

Notwithstanding anything else in this ARTICLE 7.2.2 to the contrary, but subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws, Incentive Share Options and Restricted Share Units will be subject to any and all transfer restrictions under the Code applicable to such Awards or necessary to maintain the intended tax consequences of such Awards. Notwithstanding clause (b) above but subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws, any contemplated transfer by gift to “immediate family” as referenced in clause (b) above is subject to the condition precedent that the transfer be approved by the Committee or an executive officer or director of the Company authorized by the Committee in order for it to be effective.

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7.3
Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding ARTICLE 7.2, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee or an executive officer or director of the Company authorized by the Committee.
7.4
Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Committee, in its discretion, shall set performance objectives or other vesting criteria which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of the Awards that will be granted or paid out to the Participants.
7.5
Share Certificates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing the Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded. All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with all Applicable Laws, and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Share certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.
7.6
Paperless Administration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the Committee may make Awards, provide applicable disclosure and procedures for exercise of Awards by an internet website or interactive voice response system for the paperless administration of Awards.

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7.7
Foreign Currency. A Participant may be required to provide evidence that any currency used to pay the exercise price of any Award was acquired and taken out of the jurisdiction in which the Participant resides in accordance with Applicable Laws, including foreign exchange control laws and regulations. In the event the exercise price for an Award is paid in Chinese Renminbi or other foreign currency, as permitted by the Committee, the amount payable will be determined by conversion from U.S. dollars at the official rate promulgated by the People’s Bank of China for Chinese Renminbi, or for jurisdictions other than the People's Republic of China, the exchange rate as selected by the Committee on the date of exercise.
ARTICLE 8

changes in capital structure

8.1
Adjustments. In the event of any dividend, share split, combination or exchange of Shares, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to its shareholders, or any other change affecting the number of Shares or the share price of a Share, the Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in ARTICLE 3.1); (b) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (c) the grant or exercise price per Share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
8.2
Corporate Transactions. Except as may otherwise be provided in any Award Agreement or any other written agreement entered into by and between the Company and a Participant, if the Committee anticipates the occurrence, or upon the occurrence, of a Corporate Transaction, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for (i) any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give each Participant the right to exercise the vested portion of such Awards during a period of time as the Committee shall determine, or (ii) the purchase of any Award for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of such date the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (iii) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its reasonable discretion or the assumption of or substitution of such Award by the successor or surviving corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of Shares and prices, or (iv) payment of such Award in cash based on the value of Shares on the date of the Corporate Transaction plus reasonable interest on the Award through the date as determined by the Committee when such Award would otherwise be vested or have been paid in accordance with its original terms, if necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
8.3
Outstanding Awards – Other Changes. In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this ARTICLE 8, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may reasonably consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

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8.4
No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, and 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 thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
ARTICLE 9

ADMINISTRATION

Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee (the “Committee”) of one or more members of the Board to whom the Board may delegate any or all of the authority to grant or amend Awards to Participants other than any of the Committee members. Reference to the Committee shall refer to the Board in absence of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board, acting by majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan if required by Applicable Laws, and with respect to Awards granted to the Committee members and for purposes of such Awards the term “Committee” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board.

9.1
Action by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved unanimously in writing all members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of a Group Entity, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
9.2
Authority of the Committee. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
(a)
designate Participants to receive Awards;
(b)
determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(c)
determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;
(d)
determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
(e)
determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

14


 

(f)
prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(g)
decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(h)
establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i)
interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement;
(j)
amend terms and conditions of Award Agreements; and
(k)
make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, including design and adopt from time to time new types of Awards that are in compliance with Applicable Laws.
9.3
Decisions Binding. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
ARTICLE 10

EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE

10.1
Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective as of the date on which the Board adopts the Plan (the “Effective Date”).
10.2
Expiration Date. The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. Any Award that is outstanding on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 11

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

11.1
Amendment, Modification, and Termination. At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that (a) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws or stock exchange rules, the Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, unless the Company decides to follow home country practice, and (b) unless the Company decides to follow home country practice, shareholder approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that (i) increases the number of Shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by ARTICLE 8), or (ii) permits the Committee to extend the term of the Plan or the exercise period for an Option beyond ten years from the date of grant
11.2
Awards Previously Granted. Except with respect to amendments made pursuant to ARTICLE 11.1, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall

15


 

adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant.
ARTICLE 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS

12.1
No Rights to Awards. No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.
12.2
No Shareholders Rights. No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
12.3
Taxes. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Participant until such Participant has made arrangements acceptable to the Committee for the satisfaction of any income and employment tax withholding obligations under Applicable Laws. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable taxes (including the Participant’s payroll tax obligations) required or permitted by Applicable Laws to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of this Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of Shares) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of Shares which may be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of such Award after such Shares were acquired by the Participant from the Company) in order to satisfy any income and payroll tax liabilities applicable to the Participant with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall, unless specifically approved by the Committee, be limited to the number of Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for the applicable income and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.
12.4
No Right to Employment or Services. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Service Recipient to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employment or services of any Service Recipient.
12.5
Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the relevant Group Entity.
12.6
Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Laws, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts

16


 

paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
12.7
Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of any Group Entity except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
12.8
Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Group Entities.
12.9
Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
12.10
Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.
12.11
Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
12.12
Government and Other Regulations. The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Shares or otherwise shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register any of the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan under the Securities Act or any other similar law in any applicable jurisdiction. If the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act or other Applicable Laws, the Company may restrict the transfer of such Shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
12.13
Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands.
12.14
Section 409A. To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is or may become subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and the Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the U.S. Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without

17


 

limitation any such regulation or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related U.S. Department of Treasury guidance.
12.15
Appendices. Subject to ARTICLE 12.1, the Committee may approve such supplements, amendments or appendices to the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for purposes of compliance with Applicable Laws or otherwise and such supplements, amendments or appendices shall be considered a part of the Plan; provided, however, that no such supplements shall increase the share limitation contained in ARTICLE 3.1 of the Plan without the approval of the Board.

This Plan was duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on December 2, 2021 and was amended and restated on November 2, 2022.

18


EX-4

Exhibit 4.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

 

by and among

 

iQIYI, Inc

 

and

 

PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited

 

and

 

PAG Pegasus Fund LP

 

 

Dated as of August 30, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Page

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

1

Section 1.1.

Definitions.

1

Section 1.2.

General Interpretive Principles.

9

ARTICLE II SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE NOTES

9

Section 2.1.

Sale and Purchase of the Notes.

9

Section 2.2.

Closing

9

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

11

Section 3.1.

Representations and Warranties of the Company

11

Section 3.2.

Representations and Warranties of the Investors.

17

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

19

Section 4.1.

Oversubscription.

19

Section 4.2.

Exclusive Financing Right.

20

Section 4.3.

Preferred Financing Partnership.

20

Section 4.4.

Payment of Arrangement Fees.

21

Section 4.5.

Governance Rights.

21

Section 4.6.

Information Rights.

22

Section 4.7.

Financing Cooperation.

22

Section 4.8.

HKSE Listing

23

Section 4.9.

Collateral Arrangement.

24

Section 4.10.

Security Documents and Change in Law Event.

24

ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

25

Section 5.1.

Taking of Necessary Action.

25

Section 5.2.

Conduct of Business.

26

Section 5.3.

Use of Proceeds.

26

Section 5.4.

Securities Laws.

26

Section 5.5.

FPI Status.

27

Section 5.6.

Conversion Price Matters

27

Section 5.7.

Termination of Covenants.

27

ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION

27

Section 6.1.

Indemnification.

27

Section 6.2.

Third Party Action.

28

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

29

Section 7.1.

Termination.

29

Section 7.2.

Effect of Termination.

30

Section 7.3.

Survival.

30

Section 7.4.

Notices.

30

Section 7.5.

Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries; Amendment.

31

Section 7.6.

Counterparts.

32

Section 7.7.

Confidentiality; Public Announcements.

32

Section 7.8.

Expenses.

33

 

 


Section 7.9.

Successors and Assigns.

34

Section 7.10.

Governing Law; Arbitration.

35

Section 7.11.

Severability

35

Section 7.12.

Specific Performance.

35

Section 7.13.

Headings

36

Section 7.14.

Non-Recourse.

36

 

Schedule I:

List of Investor

Schedule II:

Registration Rights

Schedule III:

Collateral Arrangements

Schedule IV:

2025 Note Repurchase

Exhibit A:

Form of Indenture

Exhibit B:

Form of Joinder

 

 

 


This INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 30, 2022, is by and among:

(i)
iQIYI, Inc, a Cayman Islands incorporated company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker IQ (the “Company”);
(ii)
PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, an exempted company incorporated in Cayman Islands, with the registered address at P.O. Box 472, Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands (“PAG Asia”); and
(iii)
PAG Pegasus Fund LP, an exempted limited partnership established and registered under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with the registered address at P.O. Box 472, Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands (“PAG Pegasus”, together with PAG Asia, collectively referred to as the “Investors”, and individually, an “Investor”).

Each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined where

used shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Article I.

WHEREAS, each Investor desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company desires to issue and sell to each Investor, such Investor’s applicable portion of US$500,000,000 principal amount of the 6% convertible senior notes issued by the Company (referred to herein as the “Note” or the “Notes”), convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares (or ADSs representing Class A Ordinary Shares), in the form attached to the Indenture and to be issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Indenture and this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definitions.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

2025 Notes” shall mean the convertible senior notes issued by the Company on March 29, 2019 pursuant to the indenture dated March 29, 2019 by and between the Company and Citicorp International Limited.

Action” shall mean claim, suit, action, arbitration, cause of action, complaint, allegation, criminal prosecution, investigation, demand letter or proceeding.

ADS” means an American Depositary Share issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, each representing seven Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, and deposited with the ADS Custodian.

 

1


ADS Custodian” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with respect to the ADSs delivered pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or any successor entity thereto.

Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, excluding, with respect to the Investors, portfolio companies of PAG Asia IV LP, Baidu’s competitors, the Companies’ competitors and any Persons controlled by Baidu’s competitors or the Company’s competitors; “control” (including its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with” and including when used in the term “controlled Affiliates”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power or authority to direct or cause the direction of management and policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise).

Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Applicable Laws” shall mean with respect to any Person, any transactional, domestic or foreign, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Entity that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise.

Articles of Association” shall mean the Ninth Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company and the Ninth Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company, as each may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

Audit Committee” shall mean the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Baidu” shall mean Baidu Inc., and all of its Subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates.

Beneficially Own,” “Beneficially Owned,” “Beneficial Ownership” or “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this Agreement the words “within sixty days” in Rule 13d- 3(d)(1)(i) shall not apply, to the effect that a person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security at any time; provided, however, for purposes of this Agreement, the holders of the Notes shall at all times be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership of Company Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes held by them.

Board of Directors” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York, the PRC, Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed.

Capital Raising” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a)(ii).

 

2


Change in Law Event” shall mean a Change in Law (as defined in the Indenture) that negatively and materially affects the enforceability of the Security Documents with material impact on the Investors’ economic interest or the Investors’ right to receive amounts due under the Indenture and the Notes.

Class A Ordinary Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d)(i).

Class B Ordinary Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d)(i).

Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Collateral Arrangement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

Collateral Package” shall mean those contracts identified on Schedule III, with a value not lower than (i) 130% of the total principal amount of the convertible notes held by the Investors or their Affiliates, prior to the Investors’ exercise of the Oversubscription Right, and (ii) 120% of the total principal amount of the convertible notes held by the Investors or their Affiliates, after the exercise of the Oversubscription Right ((i) and (ii), the “Value Thresholds”).

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Company Disclosure Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Company Ordinary Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d)(i).

Compliance Laws” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p)(i).

Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.7(a). “Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture. “Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

Conversion Shares” shall mean Class A Ordinary Shares (including in the form of ADSs) issued or issuable upon conversion of the Notes.

Debt Financing Transaction” shall mean one or more debt financing or similar transactions (including swap or repurchase transactions solely for the purpose of providing liquidity and leverage) that may be entered into by any Investor or its Affiliates with a lender or counterparty prior to or

 

3


after the Closing, which may or may not be secured by a mortgage, charge or pledge of the Notes and/or the Company Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) issuable or issued upon conversion of the Notes.

Deposit Agreement” shall mean the deposit agreement dated as of March 28, 2018, by and among the Company, the ADS Custodian and the holders and beneficial owners of the ADSs delivered thereunder or, if amended or supplemented as provided therein, as so amended or supplemented.

Director Indemnification Agreement” shall mean the indemnification agreement to be entered into between the Company and the PAG Asia Director in the form reasonably satisfactory to the Investors at or prior to Closing.

Dispute” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.10(b).

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation. “Enforceability Exceptions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).

Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exclusivity Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a)(i).

Extinguishment Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(c).

Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change” shall have the meaning set forth under the Indenture.

Form F-3” shall mean such respective form of registration statement under the Securities Act or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

Fundamental Warranties” shall mean any representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.1(a) to Section 3.1(g)(i).

GAAP” shall mean U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Governmental Entity” shall mean any court, administrative agency or commission, stock exchange or other governmental authority or instrumentality, whether federal, state, local or foreign, and any applicable industry self-regulatory organization.

Governmental Order” shall mean the judgment, injunction, order, ruling, verdict, decree or other similar determinations or findings of any Governmental Entity.

Group Companies” or the “Group” shall mean the Company and all of its Subsidiaries, and “Group Company” shall mean any of them.

 

4


HKSE” shall mean the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

HKSE Listing” shall mean a secondary listing of Class A Ordinary Shares on the Main Board of the HKSE.

HK NewCo” means a limited liability company to be formed in Hong Kong by the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Hong Kong” shall mean the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

Initial Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6. “Indemnification Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a). “Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

Indenture” shall mean an indenture in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time with the consent of the Investors and the Company prior to the Closing, it being agreed that the Company and the Investors shall consent to any changes required by the Trustee that do not adversely affect the Company or the Investor, or the Investor’s financing sources, including with respect to timing and mechanics of transfers and exchanges of securities and interests therein, in any material respect.

Initial Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.

Intellectual Property” shall mean (A) all trademarks, service marks, brand names, trade names, logos, designs, slogans, taglines, domain names, rights to social media accounts, the registrations in any jurisdiction of, and applications in any jurisdiction to register, the foregoing together with all good-will associated therewith; (B) patents, applications for patents, and any renewals, extensions or reissues thereof, in any jurisdiction; (C) nonpublic information, know-how, trade secrets, technology and inventions (whether patentable or not) and confidential information; (D) copyrights, works of authorship, registrations or applications for registration of copyrights in any jurisdiction, and any renewals or extensions thereof, mask works and copyrightable works; (E) software (including source code and object code), data, databases, and documentation thereof; and (F) other intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights.

Investor” or “Investors” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Issuer Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).

Joinder” shall mean, with respect to any Person permitted to sign such document in accordance with the terms hereof, a joinder executed and delivered by such Person, providing such Person to have all or a portion of the rights and obligations of an Investor under this Agreement, in the form and substance substantially as attached hereto as Exhibit B or such other form as may be agreed to by the Company and the Investors.

Knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge, after due and reasonable inquiry within the Group, of the Company’s executive officers (as defined under Rule 405) and general counsel (or equivalent officer).

 

5


Lien” shall mean any claim, charge, easement encumbrance, lease, covenants, security interest, lien, option, mortgage, pledge, rights of others, or restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), whether imposed by contract, law, equity or otherwise.

Long Stop Date” shall mean December 31, 2022.

Losses” shall mean all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement.

Match Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b).

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, fact, condition or circumstance or any combination of them that, individually or in the aggregate with any other events, facts, conditions or circumstances, has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on any of the following: (i) the business, assets, financial condition, results of operation or prospects of the Group Companies, taken as a whole; or (ii) the ability of the Group Companies to perform their material obligations under any of the Transaction Documents; other than any event, fact, condition or circumstance resulting from (A) changes in general economic, financial market, business, social or geopolitical conditions; (B) changes or developments in any of the industries in which the Company or any other Group Company operates; (C) changes in any Applicable Laws or applicable accounting regulations or principles, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, other than any Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change (as defined in the Indenture) and any Change in Law Event; (D) any change in the price or trading volume of the ADS or any failure to meet any financial projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements (it being understood that this clause (D) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that the underlying cause of any such change or failure referred to therein (to the extent not otherwise falling within any of the exceptions provided for under clauses (A) through (H) hereof) is a Material Adverse Effect); (E) any pandemic, epidemic, disease outbreak or other public health emergency (including the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19)) or any lockdowns imposed pursuant thereto, natural disaster, or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or war or any act of terrorism; (F) the announcement of and performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents by the Company or the other Group Companies, the pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder, or the identity of the Investors or any of their Affiliates; or (H) any action taken, or failure to take action, by the Company or another Group Company that the Investors have consented to or requested in writing; provided, however, that any event, fact, condition or circumstance in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (E) may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect to the extent such event, fact, condition or circumstance has a disproportionate adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition, results of operation or prospects of the Group Companies, taken as a whole, as compared to other participants in the industry or the market in which the Group Companies operate.

Nasdaq” shall mean The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Note” or “Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Note Acceleration Repayment Price” shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture. “Offer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

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Offer Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a). “Oversubscription Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1. “Oversubscription Right” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1. “PAG Asia” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

PAG Asia Change of Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(c).

PAG Asia Director” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a). “PAG Pegasus” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. “Party” or “Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. “Permits” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(i).

Person” or “person” shall mean an individual, corporation, limited liability or unlimited liability company, association, partnership, trust, estate, joint venture, business trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or other entity of any kind or nature.

Permitted Financing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, solely for the purpose of this Agreement, excluding Hong Kong, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

Preferred Financing Partnership Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Prohibited Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p). “Public Officials” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p). “Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1. “Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule II. “Registration Requirements” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule III. “RMB” shall mean the renminbi, the official currency of the PRC.

Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such rule.

 

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Rule 144A” shall mean Rule 144A promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such rule.

Rule 405” shall mean Rule 405 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such rule.

SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Security Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule III. “Specified Persons” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.14. “Strategy Committee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(c).

Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which 50% or more of the shares of the voting securities or other voting interests are owned or controlled, or the ability to select or elect 50% or more of the directors is held, directly or indirectly, by such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such first Person, or by such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the VIE Entities and their respective Subsidiaries.

Transaction Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Indenture, the Security Documents, the Director Indemnification Agreement and all other documents, certificates or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by the aforementioned documents.

Trustee” shall mean an institutional trustee to be appointed by the Company and the Investors.

United States” or “U.S.” shall mean the United States of America.

US$” shall mean the United States dollar, the official currency of the United States.

VIE Entities” shall mean the variable interest entities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including (i) Beijing IQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“北京爱奇艺科技有限公司”), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC, (ii) Shanghai IQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd. (“上海爱奇艺文化传媒有限公司”), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC, and (iii) Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd. (“上海众源网络有限公司”), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC.

 

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Section 1.2. General Interpretive Principles.

Whenever used in this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders. The name assigned to this Agreement and the section captions used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect hereof. Whenever the words “include,” “includes,” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Unless otherwise specified, the terms “hereto,” “hereof,” “herein” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the exhibits, schedules and disclosure statements hereto), and references herein to Articles or Sections refer to Articles or Sections of this Agreement. The “transactions contemplated hereby”, “transactions contemplated hereunder” and similar terms are not intended to include potential future transactions that may be pursued by the Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the Notes will have any right to vote, or except as otherwise provided in the Indenture any right to receive any dividends or other distributions that are made or paid to the holders of the Company Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs).

ARTICLE II

SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE NOTES

Section 2.1. Sale and Purchase of the Notes.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing the Company shall issue and sell to each Investor, and each Investor shall purchase and acquire from the Company, the Notes with the applicable principal amount set forth opposite such Investor’s name under Schedule I hereto for a purchase price equal to the principal amount of the Notes (the “Purchase Price”). The obligations of each Investor to purchase its portion of the Notes are several and not joint.

 

Section 2.2. Closing.

 

(a)
The closing of the issuance and purchase of the Notes (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the fifteenth (15th) Business Day after the satisfaction (or, where permissible, waiver) of all the conditions to the closing set forth in Section 2.2(c) and Section 2.2(d) (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) or such other date as agreed by the Parties in writing, but in any event prior to the Long Stop Date. The date and time of the Closing are referred to herein as the “Closing Date”.

 

(b)
To effect the purchase and sale of Notes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing:

 

(i)
The Company shall:

 

(A)
deliver the fully executed Indenture to each Investor dated as of the Closing Date;

 

(B)
issue the Notes as set forth in Section 2.1 registered in the name of DTC or its nominee; and

 

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(C)
deliver to each Investor such other documents or deliverables that should be but have not yet been delivered as set forth in Section 2.2(c);

 

(ii)
Each Investor shall:

 

(B)
against the issuance and delivery of the items as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i), cause a wire transfer of immediately available funds in United States dollars an amount equal to such Investor’s respective Purchase Price to the account designated (notified at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date) by the Company;

 

(C)
deliver to the Company such other documents or deliverables that should be but have not yet been delivered as set forth in Section 2.2(d).

 

(c)
The obligations of each Investor to purchase the Notes are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Investor of the following conditions as of the Closing:

 

(ii)
no Governmental Order by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Entity, no law or regulation that would have the effect of prohibiting the Closing shall be in effect and no lawsuit commenced by any Governmental Entity seeking to prohibit the Closing shall be pending;

 

(iii)
(A) each of the Fundamental Warranties shall be true and accurate in all respects, (B) each of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.1 (other than the Fundamental Warranties) that contain any “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifiers therein shall be true and accurate in all respects, and (C) any other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.1 shall be true and accurate in all material respects, in each case of (A), (B) and (C), as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on such Closing Date with reference to facts and circumstances existing on the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date, which representations and warranties shall be true and accurate in such respects as described above as of such specified date);

 

(iv)
The Group Companies shall have performed and complied with, and not be in breach or default under, agreements, covenants, conditions and obligations contained in the Transaction Documents that are required to be performed or complied with by the Group Companies on or before the Closing Date in all material respects;

 

(v)
There shall have been no Material Adverse Effect from the date of this Agreement;

 

(vi)
Each of the Company and the relevant Group Companies shall have duly executed each Transaction Document to which it is a party and delivered to each Investor at or prior to Closing;

 

(vii)
The Pre-Closing Collateral Related Activities (as defined in Schedule III) shall have been completed; and

 

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(viii)
The Investors shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, duly executed by an executive officer of the Company on behalf of the Company, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 2.2(c)(i) to Section 2.2(c)(iv), and (vi) have been satisfied.

 

(d)
The obligations of the Company to sell the Notes to each Investor are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions as of the Closing:

 

(ii)
No Governmental Order by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Entity, no law or regulation that would have the effect of prohibiting the Closing shall be in effect and no lawsuit commenced by any Governmental Entity seeking to prohibit the Closing shall be pending;
(iii)
The representations and warranties of the Investor set forth in Section 3.2 that contain any “materiality”, “material adverse effect” or similar qualifiers therein shall be true and correct in all respects, and any other representations and warranties of the Investor set forth in Section 3.2 shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)
The Investor shall have performed and complied with, and not be in breach or default under, agreements, covenants, conditions and obligations contained in the Transaction Documents that are required to be performed or complied with by the Investor on or before the Closing Date in all material respects;
(v)
The Investor shall have duly executed each Transaction Document to which it is a party and delivered to the Company at or prior to Closing; and

 

(vi)
the Company shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, duly executed by an authorized signatory of the Investor on behalf of such Investor, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 2.2(d)(i) to (iii) have been satisfied.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

Except as disclosed in the documents filed with or furnished to the SEC and publicly available prior to the date hereof (excluding in each case, any disclosures set forth in the risk factors or “forward-looking statements” sections of such reports, and any other disclosures included therein to the extent they are predictive or forward-looking in nature, other than specific factual information contained therein) (the “Company Disclosure Documents”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investors, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date), as follows:

(a)
Due Formation and Qualification. The Company is a company duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Company has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company has been

 

11


duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing) under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has the requisite corporate power and authorization to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business in each jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed does not and would not have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its constitutional documents in any material respects.
(b)
Authority. Each relevant Group Company has full power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to be executed and delivered by such Group Company and to perform its obligations hereunder. Save for actions specified as post-Closing obligations in the Transaction Documents, the execution and delivery by the relevant Group Companies of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the performance by them of their obligations hereunder and thereunder have been, or will be prior to the Closing, duly authorized by all requisite actions on its part.
(c)
Valid Agreement. Each Transaction Document has been, or will be prior to the Closing, duly executed and delivered by the relevant Group Companies and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Investors, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Group Companies, enforceable against such Group Companies in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies ((i) and (ii), collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”), or (iii) for any limitation set out in Schedule III with respect to certain document(s) that were entered as part of the Collateral Package.
(d)
Capitalization.
(i)
As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$1,000,000 divided into 100,000,000,000 shares comprising (i) 94,000,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), (ii) 5,000,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”, together with the Class A Ordinary Shares, the “Company Ordinary Shares”) and (iii) 1,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the Board of Directors may determine in accordance with the Articles of Association. As of February 28 , 2022, there were (i) 2,722,823,893 Class A Ordinary Shares (excluding 217,740,107 Class A ordinary shares issued to our depositary bank for bulk issuance

of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards under our share incentive plans) and 2,876,391,396 Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding and no undesignated shares of the Company issued and outstanding.

(ii)
All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and all outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries have been issued and granted in compliance with (x) all Applicable Laws and (y) all requirements set forth in

 

12


applicable plans or contracts, without violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights.
(iii)
The Group Companies (other than the Company) are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company (including control by the Company through contractual arrangements over the VIE Entities).
(e)
Due Issuance of the Indenture. On the Closing Date, the Indenture will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the Indenture will be a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, the Indenture will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Company has available for issuance the maximum number of Company Ordinary Shares initially issuable upon conversion of the Notes into Company Ordinary Shares (including in the form of ADSs) if such conversion were to occur immediately following Closing.
(f)
Due Issuance of the Conversion Shares. The Conversion Shares, when issued to the Investors upon the conversion of the Notes, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will be issued in compliance with the registration and qualification requirements of all Applicable Laws (assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investors set forth in Section 3.2) and free and clear of any pledge, mortgage, security interest, encumbrance, lien, charge, assessment, right of first refusal, right of pre-emption, third party right or interest, claim or restriction of any kind or nature, except for restrictions arising under the Securities Act or expressly created by virtue of this Agreement, and upon delivery and entry into the register of members of the Company will transfer to the Investors good and valid title to the Conversion Shares.
(g)
Non-contravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of the Transaction Documents (except for any limitation set out in Schedule III agreed as part of the collateral arrangement), nor the consummation of the transactions and performance of the obligations contemplated hereby by the relevant Group Companies, will (i) violate any provision of the organizational documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries or violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental entity or court to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or creation of an encumbrance under, or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’

assets are subject, or (iii) result in a material violation of any Applicable Laws applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected. There is no action, suit or proceeding, pending or threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of the Company to enter into these Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

(h)
Consents and Approvals. Except for any limitation set out in Schedule III agreed as part of

 

13


the collateral arrangement, neither the execution and delivery by the relevant Group Companies of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation by the relevant Group Companies of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor the performance by the relevant Group Companies of the Transaction Documents in accordance with their terms requires the consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration with, or the giving notice to, any governmental or public body or authority or any third party, except for (i) those that have been or will have been obtained, made or given on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) any required filings pursuant to the Exchange Act or the rules of the SEC or the Nasdaq, and (iii) the Registration Requirements.
(i)
Compliance with Laws; Permits. The business of the Company or its Subsidiaries is not being conducted, and has not been conducted at any time during the three years prior to the date hereof, in violation of any Applicable Laws except for violations that do not and would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except in each case as do not and would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) except as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Documents and any limitation set out in Schedule III agreed as part of collateral arrangement for this transaction, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have, and have been in compliance with, all permits, licenses, authorizations, consents, orders and approvals (collectively, “Permits”) that are required in order to carry on their business as presently conducted, (B) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any violation of or failure to comply with any Permit or any actual or possible suspension or cancellation of any Permit and (C) each such Permit has been validly issued or obtained and is in full force and effect.
(j)
SEC Documents; Compliance with Listing Rules. The Company has timely filed or furnished, as applicable, all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC pursuant to the Applicable Laws. As of their respective filing or furnishing dates, the Company Disclosure Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as applicable, to the respective Company Disclosure Documents, and, none of the Company Disclosure Documents, at the time they were filed or furnished, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The information contained in the Company Disclosure Documents, considered as a whole and as amended as of the date hereof, do not as of the date hereof, and will not as of the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the

light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. There are no contracts, agreements, arrangements, transactions or documents which are required to be described or disclosed in the Company Disclosure Documents or to be filed as exhibits to the Company Disclosure Documents which have not been so described, disclosed or filed. The Company is in compliance with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the Nasdaq. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, delisting the ADSs from the Nasdaq. The Company has not received any notification that the SEC or the Nasdaq is contemplating suspending or terminating such listing (or the applicable registration under the Exchange Act related thereto). The Company is not in violation of any listing requirements of the

 

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Nasdaq and has no Knowledge of any facts that would reasonably be expected to lead to delisting of its ADSs from the Nasdaq in the foreseeable future, except (i) as otherwise disclosed in the Company Disclosure Documents and (ii) for legal and regulatory developments related to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act of the United States. The Company is in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in all material respects. The Company filed a Registration Statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act as a “well-known seasoned issuer” on December 15, 2020, which became automatically effective upon filing and remains effective as of the date of this Agreement.

(k)
Financial Statements.
(i)
The financial statements (including any related notes) contained in the Company Disclosure Documents (collectively, the “Financial Statements”): (A) were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except (a) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (b) in the case of unaudited interim statements, if and to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed to summary statements) and

(B) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby, in each case except as disclosed therein or in the Company Disclosure Documents and as permitted under the Exchange Act.

(ii)
The Company has established and maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15, as applicable, under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting, including policies and procedures that (A) mandate the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the material transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (B) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and the board of directors of the Company and (C) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of the Company. There are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls.
(l)
Regulation S. No directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the Securities Act) have been made by any of the Company, any of its affiliates or any person acting on its behalf with respect to any Notes that are not registered under the Securities Act; and none of such persons has taken any actions that would result in the sale of the Notes to the Investors under this Agreement requiring registration under the Securities Act; and the Company is a “foreign issuer” (as defined in Regulation S).
(m)
Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Period. Since June 30, 2022 until the date hereof and to the Closing Date, except for the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, there have not been any events that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n)
Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Company’s Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022, there are no suits, litigations, arbitrations, proceedings, hearings, inquiries, audits, examinations, claims, actions or investigations of any nature by or against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any directors or officers thereof as a party, or affecting the business or any of the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries pending before any Governmental Entity, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought by or before any Governmental Entity, that would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o)
No Other Issuances. The Company has not entered into any definitive transaction document, side letter, undertaking letter, or other similar agreement or instrument with any investors for the issuance of Company Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Company Ordinary Shares or ADSs prior to the Closing Date.
(p)
Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption; Money Laundering Laws; Economic Sanctions.
(i)
The Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, and to the Knowledge of the Company, agents and other persons acting on their behalf are and have been in compliance with all Applicable Laws relating to anti-bribery, anti- corruption, anti-money laundering, record keeping and internal control laws (collectively, the “Compliance Laws”). Furthermore, no Public Official (i) holds an ownership or other economic interest, direct or indirect, in any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or in the contractual relationship formed by this Agreement, or (ii) serves as an officer, director or employee of any of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(ii)
None of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or to the Knowledge of the Company, agents and other persons acting on their behalf has been found by a Governmental Entity to have violated any criminal or securities law or is subject to any indictment or any government investigation for bribery. None of the beneficial owners of a substantial portion of equity securities or other interest in any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the current or former directors, officers or employees of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of the Company, agents or other persons acting on the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ behalf, are or were Public Officials.
(iii)
None of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or to the Knowledge of the Company, agents and other persons acting on

their behalf is a Prohibited Person, and no Prohibited Person will be given an offer to become an employee, officer, consultant or director of any of the Company or its Subsidiaries. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries has conducted or agreed to conduct any business, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transaction with a Prohibited Person.

In this Section 3.1(p),

Prohibited Person” means any Person that is (1) a national or resident of any U.S. embargoed or restricted country, (2) included on, or affiliated with any Person on, the United States Commerce Department’s Denied Parties List, Entities and Unverified Lists; the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals, Specially Designated

 

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Narcotics Traffickers or Specially Designated Terrorists, or the Annex to Executive Order No. 13224; the Department of State’s Debarred List; UN Sanctions, (3) a member of any PRC military organization, or (4) a Person with whom business transactions, including exports and re- exports, are restricted by a U.S. governmental authority, including, in each clause above, any updates or revisions to the foregoing and any newly published rules; and

Public Official” means any executive, official, or employee of a governmental authority, political party or member of a political party, political candidate; executive, employee or officer of a public international organization; or director, officer or employee or agent of a wholly owned or partially state-owned or controlled enterprise, including a PRC state-owned or controlled enterprise.

(q)
Investment Company. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the issuance of Notes in the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds hereof, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(r)
Intellectual Property. Except as, in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Group Companies own or possesses sufficient rights to use Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of their business.
(s)
Tax. The Company believes the Company is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation.
(t)
No Additional Representation. The Company acknowledges that each Investor makes no representations or warranties as to any matter whatsoever except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by such Investor to the Company in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit any of the Company’s claims relating to fraud, intentional concealment of material facts or other willful misconduct.

Section 3.2. Representations and Warranties of the Investors.

Each Investor, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

(a)
Due Formation. Such Investor is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing in the jurisdiction of its organization. Such Investor has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted.
(b)
Authority. Such Investor has full power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and each agreement, certificate, document and instrument to be executed and delivered by such Investor and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by such Investor of the Transaction Documents and the performance by such Investor of its obligations thereunder have been, or will be prior to the Closing, duly authorized by all requisite actions on its part.

 

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(c)
Valid Agreement. The Transaction Documents have been, or will be prior to the Closing, duly executed and delivered by such Investor and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its terms, except as limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.
(d)
Non-contravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, will (i) violate any provision of the organizational documents of such Investor or violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental entity or court to which such Investor is subject, or (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or creation of an encumbrance under, or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which such Investor is a party or by which such Investor is bound or to which any of such Investor’s assets are subject. There is no action, suit or proceeding, pending or, threatened against such Investor that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of such Investor to enter into the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.
(e)
Consents and Approvals. Neither the execution and delivery by such Investor of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation by such Investor of any of the transactions contemplated thereby, nor the performance by such Investor of the Transaction Documents in accordance with their terms requires the consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration with, or the giving notice to, any governmental or public body or authority or any third party, except such as have been or will have been obtained, made or given on or prior to the Closing Date.
(f)
Securities Law Representations. The Investor acknowledges that the Notes (and the underlying ADSs issuable upon the conversion of the Notes and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) are “restricted securities” that have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law. The Investor further acknowledges that, absent an effective registration under the Securities Act, the Notes (and the underlying ADSs

issuable upon the conversion of the Notes and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) may only be offered, sold or otherwise transferred (1) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, (2) outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S of the Securities Act, (3) to a person you reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of another “qualified institutional buyer” in reliance on Rule 144A of the Securities Act, or (4) pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act, such as Rule 144 of the Securities Act (if applicable). Such Investor is either (1) not a “U.S. person” (as defined in Regulation S of the Securities Act) or (2) an accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501 of the Securities Act). Such Investor is aware that the sale of the Notes is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Such Investor is acquiring the Notes (and any ADSs issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) for its own account, and not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of any federal or state securities or

 

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“blue sky” law, or with any present intention of distributing or selling such Notes (or any ADSs issuable upon conversion of the Notes) in violation of the Securities Act.

(g)
Sufficient Experience. The Investor has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in such Notes (and any ADSs issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) and is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment. The Investor acknowledges and affirms that, with the assistance of its advisors, it has conducted and completed its own investigation, analysis and evaluation related to the investment in such Notes (and any ADSs issuance upon conversion of the Notes and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby).
(h)
Sufficient Funds. As of the Closing Date, such Investor will have access to immediately available funds necessary to consummate the Closing with respect to such Investor on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i)
Brokers and Finders. Such Investor has not retained, utilized or been represented by, or otherwise become obligated to, any broker, placement agent, financial advisor or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement whose fees the Company would be required to pay.

 

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1. Oversubscription.

 

Within two (2) months from the Closing Date (the “Oversubscription Period”), the Investors shall have the right to subscribe for additional convertible notes in a total principal amount of up to 10% of the Purchase Price paid by the Investors under the same terms and conditions as the Notes (such right to subscription, the “Oversubscription Right”). If the Investors exercise such right, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, enter into transaction documents with the Investors that are substantially the same as the Transaction Documents and

 

issue such convertible notes to the Investors or their designees (which shall be the Investors’ Affiliates), provided that no additional collateral will be provided to secure such additional convertible notes as long as the value of the Collateral Package is above 120% of the total principal amount of the convertible notes held by the Investors or their Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, after one (1) month from the Closing Date, the Company shall have the right to, by sending a written notice to the Investors, accelerate the Oversubscription Period by any number of days, or declare the Oversubscription Period expire as of a day that is no earlier than the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the notice, to the extent required to allow the Company to file Form A1 on the planned filing date established by the Company in good faith based on the requirements of HKSE. Prior to sending the written notice, the Company and the Investors (or their counsel) will use commercially reasonable efforts to first discuss with the HKSE and confirm to HKSE that the timing, terms and pricing of the oversubscription is not contingent upon or connected with the proposed offering for the HKSE Listing.

 

 

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Section 4.2. Exclusive Financing Right.

 

(a)
Subject to Section 4.2(b),

 

(i)
for a six-month period starting from the Closing Date (the “Exclusivity Period”), the Investors shall have the exclusive right to negotiate the subscription of up to US$1,300,000,000 convertible notes (or other equity or equity-linked securities as agreed between the Parties) privately placed by the Company (excluding the total principal amount of the Notes), subject to the terms and conditions to be agreed upon between the Investors and the Company; and

 

(ii)
during the Exclusivity Period, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers and representatives acting on their behalf not to, discuss or engage with any Persons other than the Investors or their Affiliates with respect to any capital raising conducted on a privately placed or negotiated basis (“Capital Raising”).

 

(b)
Nothing in this Section 4.2 shall restrict the Company or its Subsidiaries or controlled Affiliates from or affect such entities’ ability to (i) pursue transactions with Baidu, (ii) obtain RMB denominated financing for working capital (including for content production needs) that does not negatively impact the Investors’ rights under the Collateral Package, and (iii) discuss and accept proposals for investment (in RMB) in the relevant Group Companies as specifically required by Applicable Laws or Governmental Order in the PRC (collectively, “Permitted Financing”).

 

Section 4.3. Preferred Financing Partnership.

 

(a)
For a period of eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date (the “Preferred Financing Partnership Period”), if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or controlled Affiliates receives any bona fide offer to subscribe for any equity or equity linked securities issued by any Group Company on a privately placed or negotiated basis, excluding any Permitted Financing (an “Offer”), the Company shall promptly send a written notice (“Offer Notice”)

 

to the Investors setting out all of the material terms and conditions of the Offer, together with a copy of the Offer. The Investors shall have the right to match the terms of any such Offer in all material respects as set forth in Section 4.3(b).

(b)
To exercise such right, the Investors must deliver a written notice (“Match Notice”) to the Company within twenty (20) Business Days following receiving the Offer Notice and if their terms deviate from the Offer, setting forth in reasonable details such deviations and the expected impacts of such deviations. If the Investors timely deliver the Match Notice, and the terms proposed by the Investors match the Offer in all material respects or, solely with respect to the Offer from a financial investor, are no less favorable to the Company in terms of price and in terms of all other terms taken as a whole than the terms under the Offer, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, complete the issuance to the Investors in preference to the offeror of the Offer or any other third party, except for Baidu.

 

 

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(c)
During the Preferred Financing Partnership Period, if the Company issues convertible bonds or any equity or equity-linked securities through a public offering, the Investors shall have the preferred right to participate in such public offering, with the manner of such preference to be mutually agreed by the Investors and the Company.

 

Section 4.4. Payment of Arrangement Fees.

 

The Company agrees and undertakes to pay an arrangement fee of two percent (2%) of the gross amount of any financing raised by the Company or its Subsidiaries during the Preferred Financing Partnership Period from any Investor or its Affiliates or third parties that are arranged by any Investor or its Affiliates.

 

Section 4.5. Governance Rights.

 

For so long as the Notes or Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Notes Beneficially Owned by PAG Asia and its Affiliates represent no less than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes:

 

(a)
The Company shall take all necessary or desirable actions as may be required under the Applicable Laws and in accordance with the Articles of Association to cause one (1) individual designated by PAG Asia to be appointed as a director (the “PAG Asia Director”) on or prior to the Closing Date. PAG Asia shall be entitled to appoint, remove and replace the PAG Asia Director. The PAG Asia Director shall have the right to designate an alternate director or proxy to attend board meetings.
(b)
The Company shall take all necessary or desirable actions as may be required under the Applicable Law and in accordance with the Articles of Association to cause the PAG Asia Director to be elected as a non-voting member of the Audit Committee and a voting member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company’s obligations under Section 4.5(a) and this Section 4.5(b) are subject to PAG Asia’s designee for the PAG Asia Director meeting the requirements for directors and members of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee under Applicable Laws and of the securities exchange on which the shares of the Company are listed or traded.

 

(c)
The Company shall set up a strategy committee (the “Strategy Committee”), which (i) shall consist of three (3) members, including one member appointed by PAG Asia, and (ii) shall review and advise on the Group’s overall strategy, capital expenditure, and capital raising. Matters deliberated and reviewed by the Strategy Committee will be subject to the review and approval of the Board of Directors. The Strategy Committee shall meet at least once every quarter with the management.

 

(d)
For the avoidance of doubt, for the purpose of this Section 4.5 and Section 4.6, the “aggregate principal amount of the Notes” shall mean the whole US$500,000,000 principal amount initially subscribed by the Investors.

 

Section 4.6. Information Rights.

 

(a)
For so long as the Notes or Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Notes

 

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Beneficially Owned by PAG Asia and its Affiliates represent no less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, the Company shall provide PAG Asia with a consolidated balance sheet of the Company at the end of each quarter of each fiscal year, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company for the period then ended, as soon as available, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of such period, prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, and subject to the absence of footnotes and to year-end adjustments; provided, that as long as the Company stays as a public company and the Company makes the information available through public filings on the EDGAR system or any successor or replacement system of the SEC, or through public filings on the HKEXnews system or any successor or replacement system of the HKEX, the delivery of such information shall be deemed satisfied by such public filings.

 

(b)
The Company shall not provide the above documents or disclose any material non-public information concerning the Group to PAG Pegasus or its representatives, unless PAG Pegasus otherwise notifies the Company. Representatives from PAG Pegasus shall identify themselves as not from PAG Asia when communicating with representatives with the Company and shall immediately delete and notify the Company if they receive any documents or material non-public information that are not meant to be sent to them.

 

Section 4.7. Financing Cooperation.

 

(a)
If requested by either Investor, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the following cooperation in connection with such Investor obtaining any Debt Financing Transaction: (i) entering into an issuer agreement (an “Issuer Agreement”) with each lender or counterparty in customary form in connection with the Debt Financing Transaction, and subject to the consent of the Company (which will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), with such changes thereto as are reasonably requested by such lender or counterparty, (ii) if so requested by such lender or counterparty, as applicable, re-registering the pledged Notes and/or Company Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Notes, as applicable, in the name of the relevant lender, counterparty, custodian or similar party to a Debt Financing Transaction, as securities intermediary and to the extent such Investor or its Affiliates continues to Beneficially Own such pledged Notes

 

and/or Company Ordinary Shares and such re-registration does not remove any restrictions that would have remained applicable to such Notes or shares had such re-registration not occurred, (iii) entering into customary triparty agreements with each lender or counterparty and any Investor relating to the delivery of the Notes and/or Company Ordinary Shares to the relevant lender or counterparty for crediting to the relevant collateral accounts upon funding of the loan and payment of the purchase price, and/or (iv) such other cooperation and assistance as the Investor may reasonably request and subject to the consent of the Company (which will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), provided that none of the foregoing shall unreasonably disrupt the operation of the Company’s business or prejudice any of its rights hereunder.

 

(b)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company’s obligation to deliver an Issuer Agreement in connection with a Debt Financing Transaction is conditioned on the relevant Investor certifying to the Company in writing (A) that the counterparty to such Debt

 

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Financing Transaction is a bank or broker-dealer that is engaged in the business of financing debt securities and similar instruments, (B) that the execution of such Debt Financing Transaction and the terms thereof do not violate the terms of this Agreement, (C) that such Investor has pledged the Notes and/or the Company Ordinary Shares as collateral to the lenders or counterparties under such Debt Financing Transactions, (D) to the extent applicable, whether the registration rights under Schedule II are being assigned to the lenders or counterparties under the Debt Financing Transaction, and (E) that such Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Company will be relying on such certificate when entering into the Issuer Agreement and any material inaccuracy in such certificate will be deemed a breach of this Agreement. Each Investor acknowledges and agrees that the statements and agreements of the Company in an Issuer Agreement are solely for the benefit of the applicable lenders or counterparties and that in any dispute between the Company and such Investor under this Agreement, such Investor shall not be entitled to use the statements and agreements of the Company in an Issuer Agreement against the Company.

 

Section 4.8. HKSE Listing.

 

(a)
In the event that the HKSE requires in writing (including through public rules and guidance) that any of the special rights of the Investors under this Agreement be terminated or amended in connection with the Company’s application for an HKSE Listing, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to assist the Investors in preserving those special rights, and shall facilitate direct discussions and/or submissions between the Investors (and their legal counsel) and the HKSE if possible.

 

(b)
If the HKSE nevertheless requires any of the special rights of the Investors to be terminated or amended after such discussions and/or submissions, the Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to explore alternative arrangements to preserve the existing rights of the Investors. Subject to such alternative arrangements being reasonably acceptable to the Investors, the Investors’ special rights will be terminated or amended to the extent required in connection with Company’s application for the HKSE Listing.

 

(c)
In the event that the Parties agree to any termination or amendment of the special rights of the Investors, the Investors shall have the right to require such special rights to be restored if the HKSE Listing is not completed within 12 months after the first submission of the Company’s listing application, and the Company shall take all necessary or desirable actions to restore such special rights.

 

Section 4.9. Collateral Arrangement.

 

(a)
The performance by the Company and other Group Companies of their obligations to make any payments to the Investors (i) under the Indentures, the Notes, the Security Documents and Section 4.4 and Schedule IV of this Agreement, and (ii) pursuant to Article VI of this Agreement as a result of a breach of its obligations under Section 4.5, Section 4.6 and Section4.8 of this Agreement as well as their other obligations under the Security Documents, shall be secured pursuant to the collateral arrangement set forth on Schedule III (the “Collateral Arrangement”) and under the Security Documents.
(b)
The Company shall, and shall cause the applicable Group Companies to take all the actions

 

23


that are required to be taken by the Group Companies upon Closing as set forth under Schedule III, and complete the Post-Closing Collateral Related Activities (as defined in Schedule III) as soon as practicable after the Closing, and in any event within thirty (30) days after the Closing as long as the Investors provide timely cooperation. The Investors shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to complete such activities, including by providing necessary documents or taking necessary actions where applicable.

 

(c)
If the value of the Collateral Package falls below the applicable Value Threshold, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, provide additional collateral under the Collateral Arrangement such that the total value of the Collateral Package is increased to such threshold, unless the decline in value of the Collateral Package is solely attributable to fluctuations in US$/RMB exchange rates and the remaining value of the Collateral Package is at least 90% of the applicable Value Threshold.

 

(d)
The Parties shall cooperate with each other to timely release a portion of the collateral if the principal amount of Notes held by the Investors and their Affiliates substantially reduces. Following the repayment in full of all amounts due under the Notes, the conversion of all of the Notes held by the Investors and their Affiliates to Class A Ordinary Shares (including in the form of ADSs) or the Investors and its Affiliates otherwise ceasing to hold any portion of the Notes (each, a “Extinguishment Event”), the Collateral Arrangement shall terminate and the Investors shall release and discharge the collateral described in the Security Documents or to execute such other appropriate instrument evidencing such release and discharge (at the expense of the Company) within ten (10) days after the Extinguishment Event.

 

Section 4.10. Security Documents and Change in Law Event.

 

(a)
Upon the occurrence of:

 

(i)
any default by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under the Security Documents in any of its obligations under the Security Documents, which, per opinion of counsel of the Parties, materially and adversely affects the enforceability, validity or priority of the applicable Lien on the Collateral or which materially and adversely affects the condition or value of the Collateral or the security interest under the Security Documents, taken as a whole, in each case, which, is either not curable or has not been remedied within thirty (30) days after written notice from any Investor; other than any limitation set out in Schedule III agreed as part of the Collateral Arrangement; or

 

(ii)
assertion by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under the Security Documents, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable;

 

 

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any Investor shall be entitled to exercise all and any applicable remedies and rights that would be available to the Holders (as provided in the Indenture) and/or the Trustee (as provided in the Indenture) in connection with the occurrence of an event under Section 6.01 of the Indenture, against the Company under the Indenture (including the right to accelerate and demand payment of the Note Acceleration Repayment Price (as provided in the Indenture) and interest on the Notes under Section 6.02 of the Indenture) and, if applicable, other Transaction Documents, as if the relevant provisions of such Transaction Documents (other than this Agreement) have been incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the Company shall comply with such applicable terms in the Indenture and other Transaction Documents.

 

(b)
The Parties agree that a Change in Law Event shall have the same effect as a “Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change” under the Indenture. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Law Event, any Investor shall be entitled to exercise all and any applicable remedies and rights that would be available to the Holders (as provided in the Indenture) and/or the Trustee (as provided in the Indenture) in connection with the occurrence of a Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change, against the Company under the Indenture (including the right to repurchase the Notes under Section 15.02(a) of the Indenture) and, if applicable, other Transaction Documents, as if the relevant provisions of such Transaction Documents (other than this Agreement) have been incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the Company shall comply with such applicable terms in the Indenture and other Transaction Documents.

 

ARTICLE V

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

Section 5.1. Taking of Necessary Action.

 

Each Party agrees to use its reasonable efforts promptly to take or cause to be taken all action, and promptly to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under Applicable Laws (other than waive such party’s rights hereunder) to consummate and make effective the sale and purchase of the Notes hereunder, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and compliance with Applicable Laws. In case at any time before or after the Closing any further

 

action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the sale and purchase of the Notes, each Party shall cause the proper officers, managers and directors of such Party to take all such necessary action as may be reasonably requested by the requesting Party. The Company shall promptly notify the Investors of any event, condition or circumstance occurring prior to the Closing Date that would constitute a material breach of any terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

 

Section 5.2. Conduct of Business.

 

Prior to the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, except as contemplated or required by the Transaction Documents, the Company shall, and the Company shall cause each of its Group Companies to (i) conduct its business and operations in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, including customary financing arrangements and facilities; and (ii) take all actions necessary to continue the listing and trading

 

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of its ADSs on the Nasdaq and shall comply with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the rules of Nasdaq. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, except pursuant to the Transaction Documents or as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Documents as of the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not (i) issue, approve or agree to the issuance of any Company Ordinary Shares, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Company Ordinary Shares other than issuance of shares to employees upon the exercise of options or restricted share units granted or issuance to holders of convertible securities in compliance with the terms thereof, (ii) reserve for issuance any Company Ordinary Shares, (iii) repurchase or redeem, or approve or agree to the repurchase or redemption of, any Company Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Company Ordinary Shares, other than the 2025 Notes, or (iv) declare or pay any dividends or other distributions on the Company Ordinary Shares; in each case, unless for the period from the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Company provides to the Investors the same rights they have under Sections 4.2 and 4.3.

 

Section 5.3. Use of Proceeds.

 

The Company undertakes to reserve and dedicate the proceeds from the issue and sale of the Notes for the purchase or repurchase of the 2025 Notes, general and corporate purposes as approved by the Investors from time to time, and/or any other purposes as approved by the Investors from time to time. The Company agrees to comply with Schedule IV to this Agreement in connection with the purchase or repurchase of the 2025 Notes.

 

Section 5.4. Securities Laws.

 

Each Investor acknowledges and agrees that, as of the Closing Date, the Notes (and the ADSs representing Company Ordinary Shares that are issuable upon conversion of the Notes) have not been registered under the Securities Act and that they may be sold or otherwise disposed of only in one or more transactions registered under the Securities Act or as to which an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. In addition to, and without prejudice to, any applicable rights set forth in the sixth amended and restated shareholders agreement of the Company dated October 26, 2017 (the “Shareholders Agreement”), the Company hereby grants to the Investors such registration rights as set forth in Schedule II to this

 

Agreement. To the extent the grant of the registration rights under Schedule II to this Agreement to the Investors requires any consent by any Person, including any shareholder of the Company, the Company shall obtain such consent prior to the Closing (including such Person’s acknowledgement and consent with respect to their right to participate in any registration pursuant to this Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement on a pro rata basis with the Investors).

 

Section 5.5. FPI Status.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall promptly after the date hereof and reasonably prior to Closing take all necessary or desirable actions required to duly and validly rely on the exemption for foreign private issuers from applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq with respect to corporate governance to rely on “home country practice” in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (including an exemption

 

26


from any Nasdaq rules that would otherwise require seeking shareholder approval in respect of such transactions), including without limitation, to the extent necessary, making disclosures, notices and filings to or with the SEC and Nasdaq and obtaining an adequate opinion of counsel in respect of the home country practice exemption.

 

Section 5.6. Conversion Price Matters.

 

The Conversion Rate on the Closing Date (the “Initial Conversion Rate”) shall be the quotient (rounded to four decimal places) of $1,000 divided by the Conversion Price on the Closing Date; provided, that if any event shall occur between the date hereof and the Closing Date (inclusive) that would have resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 of the Indenture if the Notes had been issued and outstanding since the date hereof, the Initial Conversion Rate shall be adjusted as would have been required by Section 14.04 of the Indenture and the share amounts and ADS prices in the table set forth in Section 14.03(e) of the Indenture shall be adjusted as would have been required by Section 14.03(d) of the Indenture in each case if the Notes had been issued and outstanding since the date hereof.

 

Section 5.7. Termination of Covenants.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, ARTICLE IV and ARTICLE V shall terminate automatically upon the Investors and its Affiliates ceasing to hold any portion of the Notes or any of the Class A Ordinary Shares (including in the form of ADS) to which the Notes converted.

 

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.1. Indemnification.

 

(a)
Subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 6.1, the Investors, their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors employees and agents (each an “Indemnitee”) shall be indemnified by the Company for any and all Losses suffered by such Indemnitee as a result of or arising from (i) any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in Section 3.1; or (ii) any breach of any covenant or agreement by the Company contained in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, other than with respect to fraud, in no event shall the Company be liable for or have an obligation to indemnify the Indemnitees for Losses in connection with (A) the Fundamental Warranties, in excess of 100% of the Purchase Price paid to the Company by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement, and (B) the other representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 3.1 in excess of 50% of the Purchase Price paid to the Company by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)
In calculating the amount of any Losses hereunder, there shall be subtracted the amount of any insurance proceeds and third-party payments received by the Indemnitees with respect to such Losses, if any, net of any actual costs or expenses incurred in connection with securing or obtaining such proceeds or payments. No Party shall have any liability under any Transaction Document for any punitive, incidental, consequential or indirect damages, (including loss of profits or diminution in value), in each case, that are not a reasonably foreseeable result or consequence of the underlying breach by the relevant breaching Party,

 

27


it being understood that the foregoing shall not exclude any damages suffered by the Investors from any failure to receive the full amounts payable under the Transaction Documents, to realize the value of Company Ordinary Shares and/or ADSs issued or issuable upon conversion of the Notes or to benefit from any rights and protection provided under the Transaction Documents.

 

Section 6.2. Third Party Action.

 

(a)
Each Indemnitee shall give the Company prompt written notice (an “Indemnification Notice”) of any third party Action it has actual knowledge of that might give rise to Losses, which notice shall set forth a description of those elements of such Action of which such Indemnitee has knowledge; provided, that any delay or failure to give such Indemnification Notice shall not affect the indemnification obligations of the Company hereunder except to the extent the Company is materially prejudiced by such delay or failure.

 

(b)
The Company shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the applicable Indemnitee(s) within thirty (30) days of receipt of the applicable Indemnification Notice, to select counsel to defend and control the defense of any third party claim set forth in such Indemnification Notice; provided, that the Company shall not be entitled to so select counsel or control the defense of any claim if (i) such claim seeks primarily non-monetary or injunctive relief against the Indemnitee or alleges any violation of criminal law, (ii) the Company does not, subsequent to its assumption of such defense in accordance with this Section 6.2(b), conduct the defense of such claim actively and diligently, (iii) such claim includes as the named parties both the Company and the applicable Indemnitee(s) and such Indemnitees reasonably determine upon the advice of counsel that representation of all such Indemnitees by the same counsel would be prohibited by applicable codes of professional conduct, or (iv) in the event that, based on the reasonable advice of counsel for the applicable Indemnitee(s), there are one or more material defenses available to the applicable Indemnitee(s) that are not available to the Company. If the Company does not assume the defense of any third party claim in accordance with this Section 6.2(b), the applicable Indemnitee(s) may continue to defend such claim at the sole cost of the Company and the Company may still participate in, but not control, the defense of such third party claim at the Company’s sole cost and expense. In no event shall the Company, in connection with any Action or separate but substantially similar Actions arising out of the same general allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnitees chosen by the Investors and/or its Affiliates, except to the extent that local counsel, in addition to regular counsel, is required in order to effectively defend the Action.

 

(c)
No Indemnitee shall consent to a settlement of, or the entry of any judgment arising from, any claim for which such Indemnitee is indemnified pursuant to this Section 6.2 without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Except with the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnitee(s), the Company, in the defense of any such claim, shall not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that (i) provides for injunctive or other nonmonetary relief affecting any Indemnitee or (ii) does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by each claimant or plaintiff to each such Indemnitee(s) of an unconditional release of such Indemnitee(s) from all liability with respect to such Action. In any such third party claim where the Company has assumed control of the defense thereof

 

28


pursuant to Section 6.2(b), the Company shall keep the applicable Indemnitee(s) reasonably informed as to the status of such claim at all stages thereof (including all settlement negotiations and offers), promptly submit to such Indemnitee(s) copies of all pleadings, responsive pleadings, motions and other similar legal documents and paper received or filed in connection therewith, permit such Indemnitee(s) and their respective counsels to confer with the Company and its counsel with respect to the conduct of the defense thereof, and permit such Indemnitee(s) and their respective counsel(s) a reasonable opportunity to review all legal papers to be submitted prior to their submission.

 

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1. Termination.

 

This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date:

 

(a)
By the mutual written consent of the Parties;

 

(b)
By either the Company or any Investor upon written notice to the other, if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to the Long Stop Date; provided that the right to termination under this Section 7.1(b) shall not be available to any Party if the breach by such Party of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or the failure of such Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a principal cause of or primarily resulted in the events specified in this Section 7.1(b);
(c)
By either the Company or any Investor if any Governmental Order enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions as contemplated under the Transaction Documents shall be in effect and shall have become final and non-appealable prior to the

 

Closing Date; provided that the right to termination under this Section 7.1(c) shall not be available to any Party if the breach by such Party of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or the failure of such Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a principal cause of such Governmental Order;

 

(d)
at the election of any Investor, if there has been a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents that if continuing on the Closing Date will result in the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 2.2(c) to be satisfied, which breach has not been cured within twenty (20) Business Days after delivery of written notice to the Company of such breach; or

 

(e)
at the election of the Company, with respect to any Investor, if there has been a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of such Investor contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents that if continuing on the Closing Date will result in the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 2.2(d) to be satisfied, which breach has not been cured within twenty (20) Business Days after delivery of written notice to such Investor of such breach.

 

Section 7.2. Effect of Termination.

 

29


 

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1, (a) this Agreement shall become void and of no further force and effect, except for the provisions of Section 7.4 to Section 7.14, which shall survive the termination of this Agreement indefinitely or until the latest date permitted by law, (b) none of the Parties shall have any liability in respect of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(a) to Section 7.1(c)(other than the Party whose breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement under this Agreement precipitated a termination pursuant to Section 7.1(b)), (c) nothing shall relieve any of the Parties from liability for Losses resulting from the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(d) or Section 7.1(e), and (d) each Party’s right of termination under Section 7.1 is in addition to any other right it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of a party’s right of termination will not constitute an election or waiver of remedies.

 

Section 7.3. Survival.

 

All covenants or other agreements of the Parties shall survive until fully performed or fulfilled, unless and to the extent that non-compliance with such covenants or agreements is waived in writing by the relevant Party entitled to such performance. All Fundamental Warranties shall survive for five (5) years after the Closing. All other representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date until eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve any Party of liability for any inaccuracy or breach of such representation or warranty to the extent that any good faith allegation of such inaccuracy or breach is made in writing prior to such expiration.

 

Section 7.4. Notices.

 

All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, by facsimile, sent by overnight courier or sent via email (with receipt confirmed) as follows:

 

(a)
If to PAG Asia, to:

 

Address:

 

33/F, Three Pacific Place, 1 Queen’s Road East, Admiralty,

Hong Kong

 

 

 

Contact:

 

***

 

If to PAG Pegasus, to:

 

Address:

 

33/F, Three Pacific Place, 1 Queen’s Road East, Admiralty,

Hong Kong

 

 

 

Contact:

 

***

 

(b)
If to the Company, to:

 

 

30


Address:

 

9/F, iQIYI Innovation Building

 

 

No. 2 Haidian North First Street, Haidian District,

 

 

Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China

Attention:

 

Jun Wang

Jun Wang

 

***

 

or to such other address or addresses as shall be designated in writing. All notices shall be deemed effective (i) when delivered personally (with written confirmation of receipt, by other than automatic means, whether electronic or otherwise), (ii) when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt, by other than automatic means, whether electronic or otherwise) one (1) Business Day following the day sent by overnight courier, or (iii) when sent by electronic mail, upon such electronic mail being sent unless the sending party subsequently learns that such electronic mail was not successfully delivered.

 

Section 7.5. Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries; Amendment.

 

This Agreement, together with other Transaction Documents, sets forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matters hereof and thereof. Nothing contained in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer or shall confer upon any person other than the expressed parties hereto, any benefit, right or remedies, provided that (i) ARTICLE VI shall be for the benefit of and fully enforceable by each of the Indemnitees, and (ii) Section 7.14 shall be for the benefit of and fully enforceable by each of the Specified Persons. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part at any time by an agreement in writing between the Parties executed in the same manner as this Agreement. No failure on

 

the part of any Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party of any right preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

 

Section 7.6. Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts by wet-ink or other means (including by means of telecopied signature pages or electronic transmission in portable document format (pdf) or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com), each of which shall be deemed to constitute any original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

 

Section 7.7. Confidentiality; Public Announcements.

 

(a)
Each Party shall keep confidential any nonpublic material or information with respect to the business, technology, financial conditions, and other aspects of the other Parties which it is aware of, or have access to, in signing or performing the Transaction Documents (including written or oral information, hereinafter the “Confidential Information”). Confidential

 

31


Information shall not include any information that is (a) previously known on a non- confidential basis by the receiving Party, (b) in the public domain through no fault of such receiving Party, its Affiliates or its or its Affiliates’ officers, directors or employees, (c) received from a party other than the Company or the Company’s representatives or agents, so long as such party was not, to the knowledge of the receiving Party, subject to a duty of confidentiality to the Company or (d) developed independently by the receiving Party without reference to confidential information of the disclosing Party. No Party shall disclose such Confidential Information to any third party other than in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. Either Party may use the Confidential Information only for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary for performing this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents, and shall not use such Confidential Information for any other purposes. The Parties hereby agree, for the purpose of this Section 7.7, that the existence and terms and conditions of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and schedule hereof shall be deemed as Confidential Information until such Transaction Document has been duly filed with the SEC.

 

(b)
No press release or public announcement related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein shall be issued or made by any Party or its Affiliates without the prior written approval of the other Parties, unless required by Applicable Laws in which case such other Party shall have the right to review, comment on and have reasonable comments incorporated on such press release, announcement or communication prior to issuance, distribution or publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investors and its Affiliates shall not be restricted from communicating with their respective investors and potential investors in connection with informational or reporting activities; provided that the recipient

 

of such information is subject to a customary obligation to keep such information confidential. The Company may file this Agreement with the SEC and may provide information about the subject matter of this Agreement in connection with equity or debt issuances, share repurchases, or marketing, informational or reporting activities; provided that any description of the subject matter of this Agreement or the Investors or their Affiliates (if not previously approved by the Investors) shall be approved by the Investors in advance.

 

(c)
Each Party may disclose the Confidential Information to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, professional advisors and other representatives on a need-to-know basis in the performance of the Transaction Documents; provided that, such Party shall procure such persons are made aware of and will comply with the confidentiality obligations hereunder. A Party may disclose Confidential Information if such disclosure is required by (i) an order of any court of competent jurisdiction or any regulatory, judicial, governmental or similar body or any taxation authority of competent jurisdiction, (ii) the rules of any listing authority or stock exchange on which its shares are listed or traded, or (iii) by Applicable Law, provided that in such case, such Party shall (1) to the extent permitted by law, promptly provide the other Parties with written notice of that fact so that such other Parties may seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy and (2) shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.

 

 

32


(d)
Without the prior written consent of the Investor, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, use in advertising, publicity, announcements, or otherwise, the name of any Investor or any Affiliate of any Investor, either alone or in combination with any company name, trade name, trademark, service mark, domain name, device, design, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned or used by any Investor or any of its Affiliates; provided that the Company and its Affiliates may refer to the Investors as holders of the Notes or holders of shares or ADS of the Company in the filings or disclosure required to be made by Applicable Laws or the rules of the stock exchange on which its shares are listed or traded.

 

(e)
The confidentiality obligations of each Party hereunder shall survive the termination of this Agreement. Each Party shall continue to abide by the confidentiality clause hereof and perform the obligation of confidentiality it undertakes until the other Party approves release of that obligation or until a breach of the confidentiality clause hereof will no longer result in any prejudice to the other Party.

 

Section 7.8. Expenses.

 

(a)
Upon the Closing, the Company shall reimburse the Investors for its reasonable documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (excluding any transactions that may be agreed under Section 4.2 or 4.3), including fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, consultants, up to an aggregate amount of US$5,000,000.

 

(b)
Each Party shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transaction contemplated thereunder if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1.

 

(c)
For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be responsible for the payment of any fees of the transfer agent, Trustee, DTC or other administrative agents, relating to or arising out of the issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company as contemplated hereby.

 

Section 7.9. Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company’s successors and assigns and the Investors’ successors and assigns, and no other person.

 

(b)
Neither the Company nor the Investors may assign its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations under this Agreement (including the rights and obligations under Section 4.9), whether by operation of law or otherwise, and any assignment by the Company or the Investors in contravention hereof shall be null and void; provided, that (i) prior to the Closing, each Investor may assign all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any portion thereof to one or more Affiliates who execute and deliver a Joinder without the prior consent of the Company, and such Affiliate shall be deemed an Investor hereunder and shall have all rights and obligations of an Investor or any portion thereof (as set forth in the Joinder); provided further that no such assignment will relieve the Investor of its obligations

 

33


hereunder prior to the Closing, (ii) any Affiliate of the Investor who after the Closing Date executes and delivers a Joinder and is a permitted transferee of any Notes or Company Ordinary Shares shall be deemed an Investor hereunder and have all the rights and obligations of an Investor or any portion thereof (as set forth in the Joinder), (iii) the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities under Schedule II may be transferred but only together with the Notes or Registrable Securities in a transfer of such Notes or Registrable Securities to an Affiliate of the transferor that executes and delivers to the Company a Joinder.

 

(c)
Section 4.5 and Section 4.6(a) shall terminate automatically upon a PAG Asia Change of Control. “PAG Asia Change of Control” shall mean (A) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of (1) the beneficial ownership of securities of PAG Asia possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding securities of PAG Asia or (2) control (as defined in the definition of Affiliate) of PAG Asia; (B) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization involving PAG Asia, unless securities representing more than 50% of the total voting power of the successor company is immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Persons who beneficially owned PAG Asia’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction; or (C) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any of Baidu’s competitors or the Companies’ competitors (each based on a list of competitors provided by Baidu or the Company (by action of Board of Directors) to the Investors prior to the Closing Date, which list may be updated by Baidu or the Company (by action of Board of Directors) by written notice to PAG Asia every 6 month after the Closing) of more than 10% of the beneficial

 

ownership of equity securities of PAG Asia. For the avoidance of doubt, references to PAG Asia in this Section mean PAG Asia or its Affiliate that has the rights under Section 4.5 or Section 4.6(a) at the time of the relevant change of control event.

 

Section 7.10. Governing Law; Arbitration.

 

(a)
This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

(b)
Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination (“Dispute”) shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules then in force. There shall be three arbitrators. Each of the Parties has the right to appoint one arbitrator and the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. The language to be used in the arbitration proceedings shall be English. The seat of arbitration shall be in Hong Kong.

 

(c)
Each of the Parties irrevocably waives any immunity to jurisdiction to which it may be entitled or become entitled (including without limitation sovereign immunity, immunity to pre-award attachment, immunity to post-award attachment or otherwise) in any arbitration proceedings and/or enforcement proceedings against it arising out of or based on this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

34


 

Section 7.11. Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect provided that the economic and legal substance of, any of the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. In the event of any such determination, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement to fulfill as closely as possible the original intent and purpose hereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Parties hereby to the same extent waive any provision of law that renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.

 

Section 7.12. Specific Performance.

 

The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party agrees that in the event of any breach or threatened breach by any other Party of any covenant or obligation contained in this Agreement, the non-breaching Party shall be entitled (in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it, whether in law or equity) to obtain (i) a decree or order of specific performance to enforce the observance and performance of such covenant or obligation, and (ii) an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach. Each of the Parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that any other Party has

 

an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity. Any Party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.

 

Section 7.13. Headings.

 

The headings of Articles and Sections contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.14. Non-Recourse.

 

This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as Parties and their respective successors and assigns (including any Person that executes and delivers a Joinder). Except as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partners, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any Party (collectively, the “Specified Persons”) shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of any Party or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

35


 

 

36


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first herein above written.

 

 

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Yu Gong

Name:

 Yu Gong

Title:

Director

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Investment Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first herein above written.

 

 

INVESTOR:

 

 

 

PAGAC IV-1 (CAYMAN) LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Koichi Ito

Name:

 

Koichi Ito

Title:

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Investment Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first herein above written.

 

 

 

INVESTOR:

 

PAG PEGASUS FUND LP

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ JON ROBERT LEWIS

Name: JON ROBERT LEWIS

Title: Director of PAG Pegasus GP Limited, acting as a General Partner of PAG Pegasus Fund LP

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Investment Agreement]

 


SCHEDULE I

LIST OF INVESTORS

 


SCHEDULE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

 


SCHEDULE III

COLLATERAL ARRANGEMENTS

 

 


SCHEDULE IV

2025 NOTES REPURCHASE

 

 


Exhibit A

Form of Indenture

 

 


Exhibit B

Form of Joinder

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder dated [●] pursuant to that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of August [●], 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Investment Agreement”), by and among iQIYI, Inc, PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited (“PAG Asia”), PAG Pegasus Fund LP (“PAG Pegasus”) and any other Persons who become a party thereto in accordance with the terms thereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Investment Agreement.

The undersigned, an Affiliate of [assignor to be specified] (“Transferring Investor”), entered into [agreement to be described] with the Transferring Investor, pursuant to which the Transferring Investor [describe the rights transferred and obligations delegated].

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Investment Agreement, the undersigned hereby adopts and approves the Investment Agreement and agrees, effective commencing on the date hereof, to become a party to, and to be bound by and comply with the provisions of, the Investment Agreement applicable to the transferring Investor in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original Investor signatory to the Investment Agreement and had executed the Investment Agreement as “PAG Asia” or “PAG Pegasus”, as applicable, depending on the identity of such Transferring Investor.

The contact information of the undersigned for the purpose of Section 7.4 of the Investment Agreement is set forth below:

[contact info to be included]

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 


EX-4

Exhibit 4.68

 

DEED OF AMENDMENT

 

This DEED OF AMENDMENT (this “Deed”) is dated December 30, 2022 by and among:

 

(i)
iQIYI, Inc, a Cayman Islands incorporated company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker IQ (the “Company”);
(ii)
PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited, an exempted company incorporated in Cayman Islands, with the registered address at P.O. Box 472, Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106,

Cayman Islands (“PAG Asia”); and

 

(iii)
PAG Pegasus Fund LP, an exempted limited partnership established and registered under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with the registered address at

P.O. Box 472, Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands (“PAG Pegasus”).

Each of the parties to this Deed is referred herein individually as a “Party”, and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

RECITALS

 

A.
The Parties hereto entered into an investment agreement dated August 30, 2022 (the “Investment Agreement”).

 

B.
PAG Pegasus intends to transfer all of its rights and obligations under the Investment Agreement to PAG Asia.

 

C.
The Parties also intend to enter into this Deed to effect certain amendments to the Investment Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereto, hereby agree as follows and intend that this Deed shall take effect as a deed:

 

1.
Definitions

 

All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwisedefined shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Investment Agreement.

 

2.
Novation

 

Effective from the date hereof:

 

2.1.
PAG Pegasus transfers all its rights and obligations under the Investment Agreement to PAG Asia;

 

2.2.
PAG Asia assumes all the rights, benefits, obligations and responsibilities of PAG Pegasus under the Investment Agreement;

 

1


2.3.
PAG Pegasus ceases to be party to the Investment Agreement, and all obligations and responsibilities of PAG Pegasus towards the Company thereunder and all obligations and responsibilities of the Company towards PAG Pegasus thereunder are released.
3.
Amendment to Investment Agreement

 

3.1.
Each Party agrees that the following definitions of the Investment Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows, for the purposes of the Transaction Documents:

 

a.
Security Documents” means the list of documents as set forth in Schedule 1 of this Deed, as may be amended, restated and supplemented from time to time.

 

b.
Collateral Arrangements” shall mean all the arrangements in relation to the Collateral Package as set forth in the Security Documents.
c.
Collateral Package” shall mean the guarantee and security interests created by and constituted under the Security Documents, with a value not lower than

(i) 130% of the total principal amount of the Notes held by the Investor or its Affiliates, prior to the exercise of the Oversubscription Right, and (ii) 120% of the total principal amount of the Notes held by the Investor or its Affiliates, after the exercise of the Oversubscription Right (the thresholds under clause (i) and (ii), the “Value Thresholds”).

 

3.2.
Each Party agrees that Section 4.10(a)(i) of the Investment Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

Any default by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under the Security Documents in any of its obligations under the Security Documents, which, per opinion of counsel, materially and adversely affects the enforceability, validity or priority of the applicable Lien on the Collateral Package or which materially and adversely affects the condition or value of the Collateral Package or the security interest under the Security Documents, taken as a whole, in each case, which, is either not curable or has not been remedied within thirty (30) days after written notice from the Investor; other than any limitation set out in Schedule III agreed as part of the Collateral Arrangement.

 

3.3.
Each Party agrees that Section 4.6(b) of the Investment Agreement is no longer applicable and shall be deleted in its entirety.
4.
Miscellaneous

 

4.1.
This Deed shall have legal and binding effect on the Parties immediately upon the execution of this Deed by each Party.

 

4.2.
This Deed is supplemental to and amends the Investment Agreement. With effect from the date hereof, all references to “this Agreement” in the Investment Agreement shall be deemed as references to such Investment Agreement as amended and modified hereby. Other than as amended by this Deed, the Investment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

4.3.
This Deed shall be governed by and its provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

2


 

4.4.
Section 1.2 (General Interpretative Principles) and Article VII (Miscellaneous) of the Investment Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Deed as if references therein to “this Agreement” were references to this Deed.

 

 

[Signature pages to follow]

 

3


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Deed has been executed as a deed by or on behalf of the parties and is intended to be and is hereby delivered as a deed on the date first above written.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED by

)

 

iQIYI, Inc

)

 

a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands,

)

 

by

)

 

 

)

 

being a person who, in accordance with the laws of that jurisdiction, is acting under the

)

 

authority of the company

)

 

 

)

 

in the presence of:

)

 

 

)

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Yu Gong

 

 

Signature of authorized person

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

Office held

 

 

 

 

 

Yu Gong

 

 

Name of authorized person

 

 

 

 

Signature of witness:

/s/ Yuwei Sui

Name of witness:

Yuwei Sui

Address:

3F, iQIYI Youth Center Yoolee Plaza, No. 21, North Road of Workers Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, PRC

Occupation:

Legal Manager

 

 

[Signature Page to Deed of Amendment]

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Deed has been executed as a deed by or on behalf of the parties and is intended to be and is hereby delivered as a deed on the date first above written.

 

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED by

)

 

PAGAC IV-1 (CAYMAN) LIMITED

)

 

a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands,

)

 

by

)

 

 

)

 

being a person who, in accordance with the laws of that jurisdiction, is acting under the

)

 

authority of the company

)

 

 

)

 

in the presence of:

)

 

 

)

 

 

)

 

 

 

/s/ Koichi Ito

 

 

Signature of authorized person

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

Office held

 

 

 

 

 

Koichi Ito

 

 

Name of authorized person

 

 

Signature of witness:

/s/ Yuki Kobayashi

Name of witness:

Yuki Kobayashi

Address:

Toranomon Towers Office 20F, 4-1-28 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001 JAPAN

Occupation:

Executive Assistant

 

 

[Signature Page to Deed of Amendment]

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Deed has been executed as a deed by or on behalf of the parties and is intended to be and is hereby delivered as a deed on the date first above written.

 

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED by

)

 

PAG PEGASUS FUND LP

)

 

a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands,

)

 

by

)

 

 

)

 

being a person who, in accordance with the laws of that jurisdiction, is acting under the

)

 

authority of the company

)

 

 

)

 

in the presence of:

)

 

 

)

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JON ROBERT LEWIS

 

 

Signature of authorized person

 

 

 

 

 

DIRECTOR

 

 

Office held

 

 

 

 

 

JON ROBERT LEWIS

 

 

Name of authorized person

 

 

Signature of witness:

/s/ AGNES IP

Name of witness:

AGNES IP

Address:

33F., THREE PACIFIC PLACE, 1 QUEEN’s ROAD EAST, HONG KONG

Occupation:

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

 

 

[Signature Page to Deed of Amendment]


Schedule 1 List of Security Documents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


EX-4

Exhibit 4.69

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IQIYI, INC.

AND

CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 30, 2022

6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

PAGE

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

Definitions

 

 1

Section 1.02.

References to Interest

 

 13

 

ARTICLE 2

 

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

Designation and Amount

 

 13

Section 2.02.

Form of Notes

 

13

Section 2.03.

Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts

 

14

Section 2.04.

Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes

 

15

Section 2.05.

Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary

 

16

Section 2.06.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes

 

22

Section 2.07.

Temporary Notes

 

23

Section 2.08.

Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc

 

23

Section 2.09.

CUSIP Numbers

 

24

Section 2.10.

Additional Notes; Repurchases

 

24

Section 2.11.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

24

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

 25

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

Payment of Principal and Interest

 

 25

Section 4.02.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

 25

Section 4.03.

Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office

 

 26

Section 4.04.

Provisions as to Paying Agent

 

 26

Section 4.05.

Existence

 

 27

Section 4.06.

Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports

 

 27

Section 4.07.

Additional Amounts

 

 29

Section 4.08.

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

 

 31

Section 4.09.

Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults

 

 32

Section 4.10.

Further Instruments and Acts

 

 32

 

 

 

 

 

i


ARTICLE 5

 

LISTS OF HOLDERS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

Lists of Holders

 

 32

Section 5.02.

Preservation and Disclosure of Lists

 

 33

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Events of Default

 

 33

Section 6.02.

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

 

 34

Section 6.03.

Additional Interest

 

 35

Section 6.04.

Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor

 

 36

Section 6.05.

Application of Monies Collected by Trustee

 

 37

Section 6.06.

Proceedings by Holders

 

 38

Section 6.07.

Proceedings by Trustee

 

 39

Section 6.08.

Remedies Cumulative and Continuing

 

 39

Section 6.09.

Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders

 

 39

Section 6.10.

Notice of Defaults and Events of Default

 

 40

Section 6.11.

Undertaking to Pay Costs

 

 40

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 7

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

 

 41

Section 7.02.

Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc

 

 42

Section 7.03.

No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc

 

 45

Section 7.04.

Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents or Note Registrar May Own Notes

 

 45

Section 7.05.

Monies and ADSs to Be Held in Trust

 

 45

Section 7.06.

Compensation and Expenses of Trustee

 

 45

Section 7.07.

Officer’s Certificate as Evidence

 

 46

Section 7.08.

Eligibility of Trustee

 

 46

Section 7.09.

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

 

 47

Section 7.10.

Acceptance by Successor Trustee

 

 48

Section 7.11.

Succession by Merger, Etc

 

 48

Section 7.12.

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

 

 49

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 8

 

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 8.01.

Action by Holders

 

 49

Section 8.02.

Proof of Execution by Holders

 

 49

Section 8.03.

Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners

 

 49

Section 8.04.

Company-Owned Notes Disregarded

 

 50

Section 8.05.

Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound

 

 50

 

 

 

 

 

ii


 ARTICLE 9

 

HOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

 

 

Section 9.01.

Purpose of Meetings

 

 51

Section 9.02.

Call of Meetings by Trustee

 

 51

Section 9.03.

Call of Meetings by Company or Holders

 

 51

Section 9.04.

Qualifications for Voting

 

52

Section 9.05.

Regulations

 

52

Section 9.06.

Voting

 

52

Section 9.07.

No Delay of Rights by Meeting

 

52

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 10

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

 

 

Section 10.01.

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

 53

Section 10.02.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

54

Section 10.03.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

55

Section 10.04.

Notation on Notes

 

 55

Section 10.05.

Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee

 

 55

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 11

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

 

 

Section 11.01.

Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms

 

 56

Section 11.02.

Successor Corporation to Be Substituted

 

 56

Section 11.03.

Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee

 

 57

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 12

 

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

 

 

Section 12.01.

Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations

 

 57

 

 

 

 

 

iii


 ARTICLE 13

 

INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

 

ARTICLE 14

 

CONVERSION OF NOTES

 

 

 

 

Section 14.01.

Conversion Privilege

 

 58

Section 14.02.

Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion

 

 59

Section 14.03.

Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes

 

 61

Section 14.04.

Adjustment of Conversion Rate

 

 63

Section 14.05.

Adjustments of Prices

 

 72

Section 14.06.

Class A Ordinary Shares to Be Fully Paid

 

 72

Section 14.07.

Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Class A Ordinary Shares

 

 72

Section 14.08.

Certain Covenants

 

 74

Section 14.09.

Responsibility of Trustee

 

 74

Section 14.10.

Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case of any

 

 75

Section 14.11.

Stockholder Rights Plans

 

76

Section 14.12.

Limit on Issuance of ADSs Upon Conversion

 

 76

Section 14.13.

Termination of Depositary Receipt Program

 

 76

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 15

 

REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 15.01.

Repurchase at Option of Holders

 

 76

Section 15.02.

Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change

 

 79

Section 15.03.

Withdrawal of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice

 

 82

Section 15.04.

Deposit of Third Anniversary Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price

 

 82

Section 15.05.

Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes

 

 83

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 16

 

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

 

 

 

Section 16.01.

Optional Redemption for Changes in the Tax Law of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction

 

 84

 

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 17

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

 

 

 

Section 17.01.

Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors

 

 86

Section 17.02.

Official Acts by Successor Corporation

 

 86

Section 17.03.

Addresses for Notices, Etc

 

 86

Section 17.04.

Governing Law; Jurisdiction

 

 87

Section 17.05.

Submission to Jurisdiction; Service of Process

 

 87

 

iv


Section 17.06.

Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee

 

 88

Section 17.07.

Legal Holidays

 

 88

Section 17.08.

No Security Interest Created

 

 88

Section 17.09.

Benefits of Indenture

 

 88

Section 17.10.

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc

 

 88

Section 17.11.

Execution in Counterparts

 

 88

Section 17.12.

Severability

 

 89

Section 17.13.

Waiver of Jury Trial

 

 89

Section 17.14.

Force Majeure

 

 89

Section 17.15.

Calculations

 

 89

Section 17.16.

USA PATRIOT Act

 

 90

Section 17.17.

HKMA Stay Rules

 

 90

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT

 

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Note

 

 A-1

 

v


INDENTURE dated as of December 30, 2022 between IQIYI, INC., a Cayman Islands exempted company, as issuer (the “Company,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01) and CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Hong Kong, as trustee (the “Trustee,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its 6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed US$500,000,000 (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by Investors (as defined in the Investment Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Investment Agreement), and in order to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Form of Note, the certificate of authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Notice of Conversion, the Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Form of Repurchase Notice and the Form of Assignment and Transfer to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, as in this Indenture provided, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture and the issuance hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definitions

 

The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article include the plural as well as the singular.

 

Additional ADSs” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(a).

 

Additional Amounts” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a).

 

 

1


Additional Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03, as applicable.

 

ADS” means an American Depositary Share, issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, representing seven Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company as of the date of this Indenture, and deposited with the ADS Custodian.

 

ADS Custodian” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with respect to the ADSs delivered pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or any successor entity thereto.

 

ADS Depositary” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the ADSs, or any successor entity thereto.

 

ADS Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c).

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the determination of whether one Person is an “Affiliate” of another Person for purposes of this Indenture shall be made based on the facts at the time such determination is made or required to be made, as the case may be, hereunder.

 

Affiliate Notes” means Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes that are held or beneficially owned by one or more entities that are Affiliates of the Company.

 

Agent Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.02(l).

 

Agents” means the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Note Registrar and the Conversion Agent, in each case, unless the Company is acting in such capacity.

 

Applicable PRC Rate” means (i) in the case of deduction or withholding of PRC income tax, 10%,

(ii) in the case of deduction or withholding of PRC value added tax (including any related local levies), 6.72%, or (iii) in the case of deduction or withholding of both PRC income tax and PRC value added tax (including any related local levies), 16.72%.

 

Applicable Redemption Price” shall mean the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, the Tax Redemption Price or the Maturity Date Repayment Price, as applicable.

 

Appointment Letter” means the appointment letter, dated the date of this Indenture, by which the Agents are appointed to, and accept their appointment as, Agents.

 

Authenticating Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.11.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.

 

 

2


Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means, with respect to any Note, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York, the Cayman Islands or, in the case of a payment under the Indenture, place of payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Stock” means, for any entity, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that entity.

 

Change in Law” shall have the meaning specified in clause (e) of the definition of “Fundamental Change” below.

 

Change in Tax Law” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01(b).

 

Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.00001 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 14.07.

 

Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.00001 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 14.07.

 

Clause A Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c)(A).

 

Clause B Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c)(B).

 

Clause C Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

close of business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

 

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Equity” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.

 

Company” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and subject to the provisions of Article 11, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

Company Group” shall have the meaning specified in clause (e) of the definition of “Fundamental Change” below.

 

Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

 

Company Order” means a written order of the Company, signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

3


 

Conversion Agent” means Citibank, N.A., the conversion agent with respect to the Notes appointed pursuant to the Appointment Letter and, subject to the provisions of the Appointment Letter, shall also include any successor conversion agent.

 

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(c).

 

Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

 

Conversion Price” means as of any time, US$1,000, divided by the Conversion Rate as of such

time.

 

Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 20/F, Citi Tower, One Bay East, 83 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, Attention: Agency and Trust, Facsimile: + 852 2323 0279, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Daily VWAP” means, for any Trading Day, the per ADS volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “IQ <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one ADS on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The “Daily VWAP” shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.

 

Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.

 

Defaulted Amounts” means any amounts on any Note (including, without limitation, the Applicable Redemption Price, the Note Acceleration Repayment Price and interest) that are payable but are not punctually paid or duly provided for.

 

delivered” means, with respect to any notice to be delivered, given or mailed to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture, notice (x) given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices or procedures at the Depositary (in the case of a Global Note) or (y) mailed to such Holder by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register, in each case in accordance with Section

17.03. Notice so “delivered” shall be deemed to include any notice to be “mailed” or “given,” as applicable, under this Indenture.

 

Deposit Agreement” means the Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2018, among the Company, the ADS Depositary, and the holders and owners from time to time of the ADSs issued thereunder, delivered thereunder or, if amended or supplemented as provided therein, as so amended or supplemented.

 

 

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Depositary” means, with respect to each Global Note, the Person specified in Section 2.05(c) as the Depositary with respect to such Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

 

Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

 

Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c), except that, as used in Section 14.04 and Section 14.05, “Effective Date” means the first date on which ADSs trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

 

Eligible Trustee” means a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or Hong Kong, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, and that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities.

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which the ADSs trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from the Company or, if applicable, from the seller of the ADSs on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Expiring Rights” means any rights, options or warrants to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs that expire on or prior to the Maturity Date.

 

FATCA” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a)(i)(4).

 

Form of Assignment and Transfer” shall mean the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” attached as Attachment 4 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall mean the “Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” attached as Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Form of Note” shall mean the “Form of Note” attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Form of Notice of Conversion” shall mean the “Form of Notice of Conversion” attached as Attachment 1 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Form of Repurchase Notice” shall mean the “Form of Repurchase Notice” attached as Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change” shall mean the event as described in clause (e) in the definition of Fundamental Change.

 

 

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Fundamental Change” shall be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:

 

(a)
except as described in clause (b) below, (A) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its Subsidiaries, the employee benefit plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any Permitted Holder, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s ordinary share capital (including ordinary share capital held in the form of ADSs) representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s ordinary share capital or (B) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of more than 50% of the Company’s then outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs); provided, however, that for purposes of clause (B), in calculating the beneficial ownership percentage of the Class A Ordinary Shares held by any Permitted Holder, any Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) issued or issuable on conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares, or conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities, in any such case beneficially owned directly or indirectly by any Permitted Holder on the date hereof or issued or issuable by the Company to any Permitted Holder after the date hereof pursuant to rights attached to, or a dividend or other distribution on, any such Class B Ordinary Shares or other securities so owned on the date hereof (or any Class A Ordinary Shares into which they may convert or be exchanged or exercised) shall be excluded from both the numerator and denominator;

 

(b)
the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company or any similar transaction pursuant to which the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs will be converted into cash, securities or other property; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s ordinary share capital immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (b);

 

(c)
the shareholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(d)
the ADSs (or Class A Ordinary Shares or other Common Equity or American Depositary Shares in respect of Reference Property) cease to be listed or quoted on any of The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange, The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) and none of the ADSs, Class A Ordinary Shares, other Common Equity and American Depositary Shares in respect of Reference Property is listed or quoted on one of The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) within one Trading Day of such cessation; or

 

 

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(e)
any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations and rules of the PRC or the official interpretation or official application thereof (a “Change in Law”) that results in (x) the Company, its subsidiaries and its consolidated affiliated entities (collectively, the “Company Group”) (as in existence immediately subsequent to such Change in Law), as a whole, being legally prohibited from operating

 

substantially all of the business operations conducted by the Company Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) as of the last date of the period described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter or (y) the Company being unable to continue to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by the Company Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) in the same manner as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter.

 

provided, however, that a transaction or transactions described in clause (a) or (b) above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the ADSs, excluding cash payments for fractional ADSs and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of Common Equity or ADSs in respect of Common Equity that are listed or quoted on any of The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions and as a result of such transaction or transactions such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional ADSs, becomes Reference Property for the Notes.

 

Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(c).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(b)(i).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).

 

Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

 

Holder”, as applied to any Note, or other similar terms, shall mean any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register.

 

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented.

 

Interest Payment Date” means each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2023.

 

Investment Agreement” means the Investment Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2022, by and among the Company and the Investors (as provided therein).

 

Last Reported Sale Price” of the ADSs on any date means the closing sale price per ADS (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the ADSs are traded. If the ADSs are not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the last quoted bid price for the ADSs in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date

 

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as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the ADSs are not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the ADSs on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.

 

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” means any transaction or event described in clause (a), (b),

(d) or (e) of the definition of Fundamental Change (determined after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from such definition, including in the proviso immediately succeeding clause (e) of the definition thereof, but without regard to the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof).

 

Market Disruption Event” means, for the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion

(a) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the ADSs are listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (b) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the ADSs for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the ADSs or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the ADSs.

 

Maturity Date” means January 1, 2028.

 

Maturity Date Repayment Price” means, with respect to a Note, the principal amount and the Maturity Premium (as provided in such Note) of such Note that become due and payable by the Company on the Maturity Date.

 

Merger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

 

New Listing Reference Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b).

 

Note” or “Notes” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the recitals of this Indenture.

 

Note Acceleration Repayment Price” means, with respect to a Note, (i) 120% of the principal amount of such Note, if the relevant Event of Default that causes the Note Acceleration Repayment Price to be due occurs on or prior to third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture or (ii) 130% of the principal amount of such Note, if the relevant Event of Default that causes the Note Acceleration Repayment Price to be due occurs after the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture

 

Note Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

 

Note Registrar” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

 

Notes Fungibility Date” means the date, if any, following the Resale Restriction Termination Date on which all of the Rule 144A Notes and all of the Regulation S Notes (other than Affiliate Notes) are no longer Restricted Securities, do not bear the restrictive legend required by Section 2.05(c) are fungible for U.S. securities law purposes and are assigned an identical, unrestricted CUSIP number. “Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(b).

 

 

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Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the Chairman, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, or any Vice President (in each case, whether or not such person is designated by a number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title of such person).

 

Officer’s Certificate,” when used with respect to the Company, means a certificate that is delivered to the Trustee and that is signed by an Officer of the Company. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 17.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. The Officer giving an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 4.09 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

 

open of business” means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

 

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or other counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that is delivered to the Trustee, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications as to the matters set forth therein. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 17.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section 17.06.

 

Optional Redemption” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01.

 

Ordinary Shares” means the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares.

 

outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)
Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or accepted by the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)
Notes, or portions thereof, that have become due and payable and in respect of which monies in the necessary amount shall have been deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent);

 

(c)
Notes that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or Notes in lieu of which, or in substitution for which, other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Notes are held by protected purchasers in due course;

 

(d)
Notes converted pursuant to Article 14 and required to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.08;

 

(e)
Notes redeemed pursuant to Article 16; and

 

(f)
Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to the third sentence of Section 2.10.

 

Paying Agent” means Citibank, N.A., the paying agent with respect to the Notes appointed pursuant to the Appointment Letter and, subject to the provisions of the Appointment Letter, shall also include any successor paying agent.

 

 

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Paying Agent Office” means the designated office of the Paying Agent at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 388 Greenwich Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York, 10013, USA, Attention: Agency and Trust, Facsimile: +1 201 258 3567, or such other address as the Paying Agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated office of any successor paying agent (or such other address as such successor paying agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Permitted Holder” means (i) any holder or “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Class B Ordinary Shares as of the date hereof and permitted transferees of such holder or beneficial owner under the terms of the Class B Ordinary Shares as of the date hereof, PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited and any Affiliate of PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited and (ii) any “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act consisting of one or more Permitted Holders.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or a political subdivision thereof.

 

Physical Notes” means permanent certificated Notes in registered form issued in minimum denominations of US$1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof.

 

PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purpose of this Indenture only, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

 

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of or in exchange for a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.

 

Record Date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) (or other applicable security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) (or such other security) are exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of security holders entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors, statute, contract or otherwise).

 

Redemption Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01(b).

 

Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning specified in specified in Section 16.01(b).

 

Redemption Reference Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(g).

 

Redemption Reference Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(g).

 

Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

 

Regular Record Date,” with respect to any Interest Payment Date, shall mean the March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 (whether or not such day is a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, respectively.

 

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Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act or any successor to such regulation.

 

Regulation S Notes” means the Notes initially offered and sold outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S.

 

Relevant Jurisdiction” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a).

 

Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a).

 

Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

 

Repurchase Expiration Time” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

 

Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

 

Repurchase Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

 

Resale Restriction Termination Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

 

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A Notes” means the Notes initially offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A.

 

Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the ADSs are listed or admitted for trading. If the ADSs are not so listed or admitted for trading, “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Significant Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company that meets the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act. Each of the Company’s consolidated affiliated entities will be deemed to be a “subsidiary” for the purposes of the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

 

Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

 

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Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” should include the Company’s consolidated affiliated entities, including its variable interest entities and their Subsidiaries.

 

Successor Company” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a).

 

“Tax Redemption Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01(b).

 

Third Anniversary Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

 

Trading Day” means a day on which (i) trading in the ADSs (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on The Nasdaq Global Market or, if the ADSs (or such other security) are not then listed on The Nasdaq Global Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the ADSs (or such other security) are then listed or, if the ADSs (or such other security) are not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the ADSs (or such other security) are then traded and (ii) a Last Reported Sale Price for the ADSs (or closing sale price for such other security) is available on such securities exchange or market; provided that, if the ADSs (or such other security) are not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day; and provided, further, that for purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion only, “Trading Day” means a day on which (x) there is no Market Disruption Event and (y) trading in the ADSs generally occurs on The Nasdaq Global Market or, if the ADSs are not then listed on The Nasdaq Global Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the ADSs are then listed or, if the ADSs are not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the ADSs are then listed or admitted for trading, except that if the ADSs are not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

transfer” shall, as used in Section 2.05(c) and Section 2.05(d), have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

 

Transfer Agent” means Citibank, N.A., the transfer agent with respect to the Notes appointed pursuant to the Appointment Letter and, subject to the provisions of the Appointment Letter, shall also include any successor transfer agent.

 

Trigger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

 

unit of Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

 

Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

 

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Section 1.02. References to Interest

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note in this Indenture shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03. Unless the context otherwise requires, any express mention of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

ARTICLE 2

 

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES

 

Section 2.01. Designation and Amount

 

The Notes shall be designated as the “6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is initially limited to US$500,000,000 (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Investors (as defined in the Investment Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Investment Agreement), subject to Section 2.10 and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 10.04, Section 14.02 and Section 15.04.

 

Section 2.02. Form of Notes

 

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, the terms and provisions of which shall constitute, and are hereby expressly incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture as may be required by the Depositary, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or designated for issuance or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the Officer executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

Each Global Note shall represent such principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect redemptions, repurchases, cancellations, conversions, transfers or exchanges permitted hereby. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or

 

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the Note Registrar, at the direction of the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by the Holder of such Notes in accordance with this Indenture. Payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on a Global Note shall be made to the Holder of such Note on the date of payment, unless a record date or other means of determining Holders eligible to receive payment is provided for herein.

 

Section 2.03. Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts

 

(a)
The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of US$1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of such Note. Accrued interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed over a 30-day month.

 

(b)
The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Note) is registered on the Note Register at the close of business on any Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. Interest shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained by the Company for such purposes in the contiguous United States, which shall initially be the Paying Agent Office. The Company shall pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay (to the extent funded by the Company) the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and interest (i) on any Physical Notes to Holders holding Physical Notes by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account within the United States specified by the Holder or (ii) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

(c)
Any Defaulted Amounts shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant payment date but shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes plus seven percent, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, such relevant payment date, and such Defaulted Amounts together with such interest thereon shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

 

(i)
The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Amounts to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of the Defaulted Amounts proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee in its sole discretion shall consent to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Amounts or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Amounts as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and Holders of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor at its address as it appears in the Note Register or by electronic means to the Depositary in the case of Global Notes, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor having been so delivered, such Defaulted Amounts shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their

 

14


respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.03(c). The Trustee shall have no responsibility whatsoever for the calculation of any Defaulted Amounts.

 

(ii)
The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Amounts in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Section 2.04. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes

 

The Notes shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of any of its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary or any of its Executive or Senior Vice Presidents. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Note which has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes, without any further action by the Company hereunder; provided that, with respect to any issuance of Notes after the initial issuance of Notes on or about the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel with respect to the issuance, authentication and delivery of such Notes.

 

The Company Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated (including the initial amount of Rule 144A Notes and the initial amount of Regulation S Notes) the applicable rate at which interest will accrue on such Notes, the date on which the original issuance of such Notes is to be authenticated, the date from which interest will begin to accrue, the date or dates on which interest on such Notes will be payable and the date on which the principal of such Notes will be payable and other terms relating to such Notes. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes pursuant to the written order of the Company (as set forth in such Company Order).

 

Only such Notes as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth on the Form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto, executed manually or electronically by an authorized officer of the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Note executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Note so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Notes shall cease to be such Officer before the Notes so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Notes nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Notes had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any Note may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Note, shall be the Officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such an Officer.

 

 

15


Section 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary

 

(a)
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Paying Agent Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Such register shall be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable period of time. Citibank, N.A. is hereby initially appointed the “Note Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more co-Note Registrars in accordance with Section 4.02.

 

Prior to the Notes Fungibility Date, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Rule 144A Note or Regulation S Note, as the case may be, to the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.05, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as the case may be, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture. Following the Notes Fungibility Date, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note (other than any Affiliate Note) to the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.05, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and not bearing the restrictive legends required by Section 2.05(c).

 

Prior to the Notes Fungibility Date, Rule 144A Notes and Regulation S Notes, as the case may be, may be exchanged for other Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as the case may be, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as the case may be, to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as the case may be, are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as the case may be, that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding. Following the Notes Fungibility Date, Notes (other than any Affiliate Note) may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount but not bearing the restrictive legend required by Section 2.05(c), upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, repurchase or conversion shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.

 

 

16


No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Transfer Agent, the ADS Depositary, the Note Registrar, any co-Note Registrar or the Paying Agent for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax required in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of new Notes issued upon such exchange or registration of transfer being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer. The Company shall pay the ADS Depositary’s fees for issuance of the ADSs.

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar shall be required to exchange or register a transfer of (i) any Notes surrendered for conversion or, if a portion of any Note is surrendered for conversion, such portion thereof surrendered for conversion, (ii) any Notes, or a portion of any Note, surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in accordance with Article 15 or (iii) any Notes selected for redemption in accordance with Article 16.

 

All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with this Indenture shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(b)
So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, subject to the fourth paragraph from the end of Section 2.05(c) all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note that does not involve the issuance of a Physical Note shall be effected through the Depositary in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the applicable procedures of the Depositary therefor. Prior to the Notes Fungibility Date, the Rule 144A Notes shall be represented by one or more Global Notes and the Regulation S Notes shall be represented by one or more separate Global Notes. Following the Notes Fungibility Date, the Rule 144A Notes and the Regulation S Notes (other than any Affiliate Note) may be represented by one or more of the same Global Notes.

 

(c)
Every Note that bears or is required under this Section 2.05(c) to bear the legend set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (together with any ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) delivered upon conversion of the Notes that is required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), collectively, the “Restricted Securities”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (including the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Company, and the Holder of each such Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in this Section 2.05(c) and Section 2.05(d), the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.

 

Until the date (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) that is the later of (1) the date that is one year after the date hereof, or such shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144 or any successor provision thereto, and (2) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable law, any certificate evidencing such Note (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) issued upon conversion thereof, which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Notes have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee):

 

 

17


THIS SECURITY, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES DELIVERABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY, IF ANY, AND THE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES REPRESENTED THEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

(1)
REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS (A) A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) LOCATEDOUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND IS NOT A U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT AND THAT IT AND ANY SUCH ACCOUNT IS NOT AN AFFILIATE OF IQIYI, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) (OTHER THAN ANY ENTITY THAT BECOMES AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY FOLLOWING ITS PURCHASE OF THE NOTES), AND

 

(2)
AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A)
TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR

 

(B)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(C)
TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(D)
TO A NON-U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(E)
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE).

 

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY, THE DEPOSITARY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

18


 

NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY DURING THE THREE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING MONTHS (OTHER THAN ANY ENTITY THAT BECOMES AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY FOLLOWING ITS PURCHASE OF THE NOTES) MAY PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR OWN THIS NOTE OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.

 

No transfer of any Note prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Note Registrar unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer has been checked.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes which in whole or in part constitute Affiliate Notes shall at all times bear the foregoing legend unless removed in connection with a transfer pursuant to a registration statement that has become effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee.

 

Any Note other than an Affiliate Note (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of such Note for exchange to the Note Registrar in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.05, be exchanged for a new Note or Notes, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall be entitled to instruct the Trustee in writing to so surrender any Global Note as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms for exchange, and, upon such instruction, the Trustee shall so surrender such Global Note for exchange; and any new Global Note so exchanged therefor shall not bear the restrictive legend specified in this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing upon the occurrence of the Resale Restriction Termination Date and after a registration statement, if any, with respect to the Notes or the ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) issued upon conversion of the Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act. Any exchange pursuant to the foregoing paragraph shall be in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in this Section 2.05(c)), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole or in part except (i) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary and (ii) for exchange of a Global Note or a portion thereof for one or more Physical Notes in accordance with the second immediately succeeding paragraph.

 

The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to each Global Note. Initially, each Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee as custodian for Cede & Co.

 

If (i) the Depositary notifies the Company at any time that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and, subject to the Depositary’s applicable procedures, a beneficial owner of any Note requests

 

19


that its beneficial interest therein be issued as a Physical Note or (iv) a beneficial owner of any Affiliate Note requests that such Affiliate Note be issued as a Physical Note, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes, shall authenticate and deliver (x) in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv), a Physical Note to such beneficial owner in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Note or Affiliate Note, as applicable, corresponding to such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest and (y) in the case of clause (i) or (ii), Physical Notes to each beneficial owner of the related Global Notes (or a portion thereof) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes, and upon delivery of the Global Notes to the Trustee such Global Notes shall be canceled.

 

Physical Notes issued in exchange for all or a part of the Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, or, in the case of clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, the relevant beneficial owner, shall instruct the Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such Physical Notes to the Persons in whose names such Physical Notes are so registered.

 

At such time as all interests in a Global Note have been converted, canceled, repurchased, redeemed or transferred, such Global Note shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trustee in accordance with standing procedures and existing instructions of the Depositary. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Physical Notes, converted, canceled, repurchased, redeemed or transferred to a transferee who receives Physical Notes therefor or any Physical Note is exchanged or transferred for part of such Global Note, the principal amount of such Global Note shall, in accordance with the standing procedures and existing instructions of the Depositary, be appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Company or any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to beneficial holders, any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

(d)
Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any certificate representing ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) issued upon conversion of such Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or such ADS or the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby have been issued upon conversion of Notes that have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company with written notice thereof to the Trustee and the ADS Depositary):

 

THE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES (“SHARES”) REPRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES (THE “ADSs”) EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE ADSs AND THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR

 

20


OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION OF ADSs OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

(1)
REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS (A) A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND IS NOT A U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT AND THAT IT AND ANY SUCH ACCOUNT IS NOT AN AFFILIATE OF IQIYI, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) (OTHER THAN ANY ENTITY THAT BECOMES AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY FOLLOWING ITS PURCHASE OF THE NOTES), AND

 

(2)
AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY AND THE DEPOSITARY THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE ADSs OR THE SHARES OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A)
TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR

 

(B)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(C)
TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(D)
TO A NON-U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(E)
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE).

 

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY, THE DEPOSITARY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY DURING THE THREE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING

 

21


MONTHS (OTHER THAN ANY ENTITY THAT BECOMES AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY FOLLOWING ITS PURCHASE OF THE NOTES) MAY PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR OWN THE ADSs, THE SHARES OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN.

 

Any such ADSs as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such ADSs for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the ADS Depositary, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of ADSs, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(d).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any ADSs received upon conversion of an Affiliate Note shall at all times bear the foregoing legend unless removed in connection with a transfer pursuant to a registration statement that has become effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act or unless otherwise agreed by the Company with written notice thereof to the Trustee and the ADS Depositary.

 

(e)
Any Note or ADS (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) delivered upon the conversion or exchange of any Note (including any Affiliate Note) that is repurchased or owned by any Affiliate of the Company (or any Person who was an Affiliate of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding) may not be resold by such Affiliate (or such Person, as the case may be) unless registered under the Securities Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act in a transaction that results in such Note or ADS, as the case may be, no longer being a “restricted security” (as defined under Rule 144). The Company shall cause any Note that is repurchased or owned by it to be surrendered to the Paying Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08.

 

(f)
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any securities laws or restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(g)
Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

Section 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes

 

In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note, bearing a registration number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

 

 

22


The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the receipt of such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity as the Trustee and the Company may require. No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Transfer Agent, the ADS Depositary, the Note Registrar, any co- Note Registrar or the Paying Agent upon the issuance of any substitute Note, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax required in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new substitute Note being different from the name of the Holder of the old Note that became mutilated or was destroyed, lost or stolen. In case any Note that has matured or is about to mature or has been surrendered for required repurchase or is about to be converted in accordance with Article 14 shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, in its sole discretion, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of or convert or authorize the conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a

 

mutilated Note), as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment or conversion shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company, and the Trustee evidence of their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement, payment, redemption, conversion or repurchase of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement, payment, redemption, conversion or repurchase of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.07. Temporary Notes

 

Pending the preparation of Physical Notes, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Physical Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Physical Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee Physical Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Physical Notes. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Physical Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 2.08. Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc

 

The Company shall cause all Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, repurchase, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee

 

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(including any of the Company’s agents, Subsidiaries, consolidated affiliated entities or Affiliates), to be delivered and surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. All Notes delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled promptly by it, and except for Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange, no Notes shall be authenticated in exchange thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures and, after such disposition, shall deliver a certificate of such cancellation and disposition to the Company, at the Company’s written request in a Company Order.

 

Section 2.09. CUSIP Numbers

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in all notices issued to Holders as a convenience to such Holders;

 

provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or on such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers, as applicable. Prior to the Notes Fungibility Date, the Rule 144A Notes and the Regulation S Notes shall have different “CUSIP” numbers. Following the Notes Fungibility Date, the Rule 144A Notes and the Regulation S Notes shall have the same “CUSIP” or “ISIN” number, as applicable; provided the Company shall cause any Affiliate Notes to bear a different “CUSIP” or “ISIN” number, as applicable.

 

Section 2.10. Additional Notes; Repurchases

 

The Company may, with the consent of the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and notwithstanding Section 2.01, reopen this Indenture and issue additional Notes hereunder with the same terms as the Notes initially issued hereunder (except for any differences in the issue price, the issue date and interest accrued, if any) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount. Prior to the issuance of any such additional Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a Company Order, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to cover such matters required by Section 17.06. In addition, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Company), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Company or through its Subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties to private agreements. The Company shall cause any Notes so repurchased to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08, and they will no longer be considered “outstanding” under this Indenture upon their cancellation. The Company may also enter into cash-settled swaps or other derivatives with respect to the Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, any Notes underlying such cash-settled swaps or other derivatives shall not be required to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08 and will continue to be considered “outstanding” for purposes of this Indenture, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04.

 

Section 2.11. Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

As long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in writing, appoint with the approval of the Company an authenticating agent (an “Authenticating Agent”), which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes pursuant to this Indenture. Notes authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes by the Trustee or to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such

 

24


reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a Person that is an Eligible Trustee and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least US$50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 2.11, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

 

ARTICLE 3

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 3.01. Satisfaction and Discharge

 

This Indenture shall upon request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as reasonably requested by the Company, when (a) (i) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced, paid or converted as provided in Section 2.06 and have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation); or (ii) the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Holders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, whether on the Maturity Date, the Redemption Date, the Repurchase Date, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash, ADSs or a combination thereof, as applicable, solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion Obligation, sufficient, without consideration of reinvestment, to pay all of the outstanding Notes and all other sums due and payable under this Indenture by the Company; and (b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 shall survive.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 4.01. Payment of Principal and Interest

 

The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be paid the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes.

 

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

The Company will maintain in the contiguous United States of America, an office or agency (which will be the Paying Agent Office initially) where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or repurchase or for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be made. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made at the Paying Agent Office.

 

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate as co-Note Registrars one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the contiguous United States of America for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

 

The Company initially designates Citibank, N.A. as the Paying Agent, Note Registrar and Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent Office shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Company for each of the aforesaid purposes.

 

Section 4.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office

 

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.09, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 4.04. Provisions as to Paying Agent

 

(a)
If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:

 

(i)
that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes;

 

(ii)
that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(iii)
that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.

 

The Company shall, on or before each due date of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, or accrued and unpaid interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action; provided that such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the relevant due date. The Paying Agent shall not be bound to make payment until immediately available funds in such amount as may be required for the purpose of such payment have been received from the Company.

 

(b)
If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment

 

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Price, as applicable, and accrued and unpaid interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.

 

(c)
Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay, cause to be paid or deliver to the Trustee all sums or amounts held by the Company in trust or by any Paying Agent as required by this Section 4.04, such sums or amounts to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment or delivery by the Company or any Paying Agent to the

 

Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability but only with respect to such sums or amounts. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j), the Trustee or one of its affiliates shall automatically become the Paying Agent.

 

(d)
Subject to applicable escheatment laws, any money or property deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, or in satisfaction of its Conversion Obligation with respect to, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, or interest has become due and payable, or such Conversion Obligation became due, shall be paid or delivered, as the case may be, to the Company on request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money or property, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 4.05. Existence

 

Subject to Article 11, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

 

Section 4.06. Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports

 

(a)
At any time the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall, so long as any of the Notes, any ADSs deliverable upon conversion thereof or any Class A Ordinary Shares underlying ADSs deliverable upon conversion thereof shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and shall, upon written request, provide to any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or the ADSs deliverable upon conversion of such Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or ADSs pursuant to Rule 144A. The Company shall take such further action as any Holder or beneficial owner of such Notes or such ADSs may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such Holder or beneficial owner to sell such Notes or ADSs in accordance with Rule 144A, as such rule may be amended from time to time.

 

(b)
The Company shall provide to the Trustee within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the Commission, copies of any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (giving effect to any applicable grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act). Any such document or report that the

 

27


Company files with the Commission via the Commission’s EDGAR system or any successor thereof shall be deemed to be provided to the Trustee for purposes of this Section 4.06(b) at the time such documents are filed via the EDGAR system or such successor, it being understood that the Trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made. If the Notes become convertible into Reference Property consisting in whole or in part of shares of Capital Stock of any parent company of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Indenture described under Section 14.07 and such parent company provides a full and unconditional guarantee of the notes, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reports of such parent company shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing reporting requirements.

 

(c)
Delivery of the reports and documents described in subsection (b) above to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or

 

constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).

 

(d)
If, at any time during the six-month period beginning on, and including, the date that is six months after the date hereof, the Company fails to timely file any document or report that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable (after giving effect to all applicable grace periods thereunder and other than reports on Form 6-K), or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes), the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes. Such Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes at the rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during such period for which the Company’s failure to file has occurred and is continuing or the period during which the Notes are not freely tradable, as the case may be. As used in this Section 4.06(d), documents or reports that the Company is required to “file” with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act do not include documents or reports that the Company furnishes to the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(e)
If, and for so long as, the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(c) has not been removed, the Notes are assigned a restricted CUSIP or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders thereof other than, in each case by or with respect to, the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes) as of the 376th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding until the restrictive legend has been removed from the Notes in accordance with Section 2.05(c), the Notes have been assigned an unrestricted CUSIP and the Notes are freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes).

 

(f)
Additional Interest will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes and subject to Section 4.06(d).

 

 

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(g)
The Additional Interest that is payable in accordance with Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e) shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any Additional Interest that may be payable as a result of the Company’s election pursuant to Section 6.03. In no event shall Additional Interest accrue on any day under the terms of this Indenture (including any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d) and Section 4.06(e) together with any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 6.03) at an annual rate in excess of 0.50%, in the aggregate, for any violation or Default caused by the Company’s failure to be current in respect of its Exchange Act reporting obligations.

 

(h)
If Additional Interest is payable by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to that effect stating (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such Additional Interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Additional Interest is payable. If the Company has paid such Additional Interest directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

 

Section 4.07. Additional Amounts

 

(a)
All payments and deliveries made by, or on behalf of, the Company or any successor to the Company under or with respect to this Indenture and the Notes, including payments of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, payments of interest and payments of cash and/or deliveries of ADSs (together with payments of cash for any fractional ADS) upon conversion of the Notes, shall be made without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or within any jurisdiction in which the Company or any successor to the Company is, for tax purposes, organized or resident or doing business (each, as applicable, a “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”) or through which payment is made or deemed made (together with each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, a “Relevant Jurisdiction,” and in each case, any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), unless such withholding or deduction is required by law or by regulation or governmental policy having the force of law. In the event that any such withholding or deduction is so required, the Company or any successor to the Company shall pay to each Holder such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by the Holders after such withholding or deduction (and after deducting any taxes on the Additional Amounts) will equal the amounts that would have been received by such Holders had no such withholding or deduction been required; provided that no Additional Amounts shall be payable:

 

(i)
for or on account of:

 

(1)
any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for:

 

(A)
the existence of any present or former connection between the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note and the Relevant Jurisdiction, other than merely holding such Note or the receipt of payments thereunder, including such Holder or beneficial owner being or having been a national, domiciliary or resident of such Relevant Jurisdiction or treated as a resident thereof or being or having been physically present or engaged in a trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein;

 

 

29


(B)
the presentation of such Note (in cases in which presentation is required) more than 30 days after the later of the date on which the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of and interest on such Note or the payment of cash and/or the delivery of ADSs (together with payment of cash for any fractional ADS) upon conversion of such Note became due and payable pursuant to the terms thereof or was made or duly provided for, unless the Holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on the last day of the 30-day period;

 

(C)
the failure of the Holder or beneficial owner to comply with a timely request from the Company or any successor of the Company, addressed to the Holder, to provide certification, information, documents or other evidence concerning such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Relevant Jurisdiction, or to make any declaration or satisfy any other reporting requirement relating to such matters, if and to the extent that due and timely compliance with such request is required by statute, regulation or administrative practice of the Relevant Jurisdiction in order to reduce

 

or eliminate any withholding or deduction as to which Additional Amounts would have otherwise been payable; or

 

(D)
the presentation of such Note (in cases in which presentation is required) for payment in the Relevant Jurisdiction, unless such Note could not have been presented for payment elsewhere;

 

(2)
any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, excise, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(3)
any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments or deliveries under or with respect to the Notes;

 

(4)
any tax, assessment, withholding or deduction required by sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (“FATCA”), any current or future Treasury Regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder, any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any jurisdiction implementing FATCA, any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other jurisdiction to implement FATCA or any law enacted by such other jurisdiction to give effect to such agreement, or any agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under FATCA; or

 

(5)
any combination of taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges referred to in the preceding clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D); or

 

 

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(ii)
with respect to any payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of and interest on such Note or the payment of cash and/or the delivery of ADSs (together with payment of cash for any fractional ADS) upon conversion of such Note to a Holder, if the Holder is a fiduciary, partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of that payment to the extent that such payment would be required to be included in the income under the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a partner or member of that partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had that beneficiary, settlor, partner, member or beneficial owner been the Holder thereof.

 

(b)
The Trustee and Paying Agent shall also be entitled to make any withholding or deduction pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to FATCA and any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof. If any withholding or deduction is so required under this clause (b) or the preceding clause (a), the Trustee and Paying Agent will not bear any liability in respect of such withholding or deduction.

 

(c)
Any reference in this Indenture or the Notes in any context to the payment of cash and/or the delivery of ADSs (together with payments of cash for any fractional ADS), as applicable, upon conversion of any Note or the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of and interest on any Note or any other amount payable with respect to such Note, shall be deemed to include payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable with respect to that amount pursuant to this Section 4.07.

 

(d)
If the Company or its successor is required to make any deduction or withholding from any payments or deliveries with respect to the Notes, it shall deliver to the Trustee, the Paying Agent

 

and the Holders official tax receipts evidencing the remittance to the relevant tax authorities of the amounts so withheld or deducted.

 

(e)
The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine whether any Additional Amounts are payable under the Indenture or the amount thereof.

 

(f)
The foregoing obligations shall survive termination or discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 4.08. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

 

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Section 4.09. Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2022) an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company under this Indenture and the Company has fulfilled all obligations under this Indenture, and whether the authorized Officers thereof have knowledge of any Default that occurred during the previous year that is then continuing and, if so, specifying each such Default and the nature thereof.

 

In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any such Default under this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Default, its status and the action that the Company is taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.

 

Section 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts

 

Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture. The Company shall also provide to the Trustee and/or the Agents (as the case may be), upon written request, information reasonably required by the Trustee and/or the Agents (as the case may be) to comply with any Applicable Law; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide any information pursuant to this Section 4.10 to the extent that: (i) any such information is not reasonably available to the Company and cannot be obtained by the Company using reasonable efforts; or (ii) doing so would or might in the reasonable opinion of the Company constitute a breach of any Applicable Law, fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. For the purpose of this section, “Applicable Law” means law or regulation including, but not limited to: (a) any domestic or foreign statue or regulation; (b) any rule or practice of any Authority with which Company or any Agent is bound or accustomed to comply; and (c) any agreement entered into by the Company or Agents and any Authority or between any two or more Authorities. “Authority” means any competent regulatory, prosecuting, tax or governmental authority in any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

LISTS OF HOLDERS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 5.01. Lists of Holders

 

The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, semi-annually, not more than 5 days after each January 1 and July 1 in each year beginning with July 1, 2023, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 5 days after receipt by the Company of any such request (or such lesser time as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to enable it to timely provide any notice to be provided by it hereunder), a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15 days (or such other date as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to so provide any such notices) prior to the time such information is furnished, except that no such list need be furnished so long as the Trustee is acting as Note Registrar.

 

 

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Section 5.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or maintained by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01. Events of Default

 

The following events shall be “Events of Default” with respect to the Notes:

 

(a)
default in any payment of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(b)
default in the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of any Note when due and payable on the Maturity Date, upon Optional Redemption, upon any required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

(c)
failure by the Company to comply with its obligation to convert the Notes in accordance with this Indenture upon exercise of a Holder’s conversion right and such failure continues for a period of five Business Days;

 

(d)
failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 15.02(c), or notice of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change in accordance with Section 14.03(a), in each case, when due and such failure continues for a period of five Business Days;

 

(e)
failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 11;

 

(f)
failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or by the Trustee at the request of the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then

outstanding has been received by the Company to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture;

 

(g)
default by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of US$100 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) in the aggregate by the Company and/or any such Significant Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise and in each case, such indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not otherwise cured or rescinded, within 30 days;

 

 

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(h)
a final judgment for the payment of US$100 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) rendered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, which judgment is not paid, bonded or otherwise discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

 

(i)
the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

 

(j)
an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive days.

 

Section 6.02. Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

 

If one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries), unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee may by notice in writing to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, by notice in writing to the Company and to the Trustee may, at its sole discretion and without further notice, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders accompanied by security, pre-funding and/or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee and otherwise subject to the limitations set forth in this Indenture, shall, declare the Note Acceleration Repayment Price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and

 

payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries occurs and is continuing, the Note Acceleration Repayment Price of and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the Trustee. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Agents and any other agents of the Company appointed under this Indenture will be required to act on the direction of the Trustee.

 

The immediately preceding paragraph, however, is subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the

 

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Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum in immediately available funds sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest upon all Notes and the principal of any and all Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, and on such principal at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time plus seven percent) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06, and if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) any and all existing Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of and accrued and unpaid interest on Notes that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured pursuant to Section 6.01 or waived pursuant to Section 6.09, then and in every such case (except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence) the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Notes and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences and such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any Default or Event of Default resulting from (i) the nonpayment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any Notes, (ii) a failure to repurchase any Notes when required or (iii) a failure to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes.

 

Section 6.03. Additional Interest

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary, to the extent the Company elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) shall after the occurrence of such an Event of Default (which will be the 60th day after written notice is provided to the Company pursuant to Section 6.01(f)) consist exclusively of the right to receive Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to:

 

(a)
0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the period beginning on, and including, the date on which such an Event of Default first occurs and ending on the earlier of (i) the date on which such Event of Default is cured or validly waived and (ii) the 180th day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred; and

 

(b)
if such Event of Default has not been cured or validly waived prior to the 181st day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred, 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the period beginning on,

 

and including, the 181st day immediately following, and including, the date on which such an Event of Default first occurred and ending on the earlier of (i) the date on which such Event of Default is cured or validly waived and (ii) the 360th day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred.

 

Interest payable pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e). In no event shall Additional Interest accrue on the Notes on any day under this Indenture (including any Additional Interest payable pursuant to this Section 6.03 together with any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d) and Section 4.06(e)) at an annual rate accruing in excess of 0.50%, in the aggregate, for any violation or Default caused by the

 

35


Company’s failure to be current in respect of its Exchange Act reporting obligations. If the Company so elects, such Additional Interest shall be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Notes. On the 361st day after such Event of Default (if the Event of Default with respect to the Company’s obligations under Section 4.06(b) is not cured or waived prior to such day), the Notes will be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02. In the event the Company does not elect to pay Additional Interest following an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 6.03 or the Company elected to make such payment but does not pay the Additional Interest when due, the Notes shall be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02.

 

In order to elect to pay Additional Interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company must notify in writing all Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Paying Agent of such election prior to the beginning of such 180-day period. Upon the Company’s failure to timely give such written notice, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02.

 

Section 6.04. Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor

 

If an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 shall have occurred, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and interest, if any, with interest accruing on any overdue Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and interest, if any, at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time plus seven percent, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06. If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may at its sole discretion and without further notice institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated; provided that the Trustee will not be bound to make any such proceeding unless (i) it shall have been so directed by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (ii) it shall have been indemnified, pre-funded and/or secured to its satisfaction and (iii) the Trustee is satisfied that the act or exercise of any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture will not result in any of its directors, officers, employees or agents incurring personal liability.

 

In the event there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes under Title 11 of the United States Code, or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or such other obligor, the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the event of any other judicial proceedings relative to

 

the Company or such other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.04, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such other actions as it may deem necessary or advisable in order

 

36


to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Notes, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, custodian or similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Holders to make such payments to the Trustee, as administrative expenses, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including agents and counsel fees, and including any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, monies, securities and other property that the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting such Holder or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.

 

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of any waiver pursuant to Section 6.09 or any rescission and annulment pursuant to Section 6.02 or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Holders, and the Trustee shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Holders, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 6.05. Application of Monies Collected by Trustee

 

Any monies or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 6 with respect to the Notes shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

 

First, to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 and any payments due to the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar;

 

 

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Second, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time, plus seven percent (including, without duplication, any additional interest on such overdue payments pursuant to Section 6.04), such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

 

Third, in case the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue amount and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time plus seven percent, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such Applicable Redemption Price or such Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and interest without preference or priority of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, over interest, or of interest over such amount or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such Applicable Redemption Price or such Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and accrued and unpaid interest; and

 

Fourth, to the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

Section 6.06. Proceedings by Holders

Except to enforce the right to receive payment of the Applicable Redemption Price, the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, or interest when due, or the right to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no Holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(a)
such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof, as herein provided;

 

(b)
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c)
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred therein or thereby;

 

(d)
the Trustee does not comply with such written request within 60 days after the later of its receipt of such written request and the offer of security, pre-funding and/or indemnity; and

 

(e)
no direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee by the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding within such 60-day period pursuant to Section 6.09,

 

it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any

 

38


manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder (it being further understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to any other Holder), or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders (except as otherwise provided herein). For the protection and enforcement of this Section 6.06, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right of any Holder to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of (x) the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, (y) accrued and unpaid interest on, and (z) the consideration due upon conversion of, such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note or in this Indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, on or after such respective dates against the Company shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.07. Proceedings by Trustee

 

In case of an Event of Default, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law; provided that the Trustee will not be bound to make any such proceeding unless (i) it shall have been so directed by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (ii) it shall have been indemnified, pre-funded and/or secured to its satisfaction and (iii) the Trustee is satisfied that the act or exercise of any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture will not result in any of its directors, officers, employees or agents incurring personal liability.

 

Section 6.08. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing

 

Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article 6 to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or any acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, every power and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

 

Section 6.09. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders

 

The Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Holders of more than

 

39


50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except (i) a default in the payment of accrued and unpaid interest on, or the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, the Notes when due that has not been cured pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, (ii) a failure by the Company to pay or deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes or (iii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 10 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.09, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.10. Notice of Defaults and Events of Default

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is notified in writing to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after the Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives such written notice or obtains such knowledge, send to all Holders (at the Company’s expense) as the names and addresses of such Holders appear upon the Note Register, notice of all Defaults known to a Responsible Officer, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided that the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any of the Notes or a Default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee (in its sole discretion) in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

Section 6.11. Undertaking to Pay Costs

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 6.11 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, on or after the due date expressed or provided for in such Note or to any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Note, or receive the consideration due upon conversion, in accordance with the provisions of Article 14.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

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Section 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

 

In case an Event of Default has occurred that has not been cured or waived, and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice or actual knowledge of such event, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)
prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice or actual knowledge of and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:

 

(i)
the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture to the extent of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(ii)
in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and each Agent may conclusively and without liability rely, and will be protected in acting, or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval, security, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in original, email or any other form of electronic communication or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee and each Agent need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);

 

(b)
the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(c)
the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined as provided in Section 8.04 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;

 

(d)
whether or not therein provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section;

 

(e)
the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Company or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any co-Note Registrar with respect to the Notes;

 

 

41


(f)
if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively and without liability rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred;

 

(g)
in the absence of written investment direction from the Company, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing trust account, and in no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investments prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investment to provide timely written investment direction, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held hereunder in the absence of such written investment direction from the Company;

 

(h)
in the event that the Trustee or any of its affiliates is also acting as Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Transfer Agent hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article 7 shall also be afforded to such Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Transfer Agent; and

 

(i)
under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

 

Section 7.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

 

(a)
any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

(b)
the Trustee may consult with counsel or other professional advisors of its selection and require an Opinion of Counsel and any other written or verbal advice of such counsel or other professional advisors, and such advice (including an Opinion of Counsel) shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(c)
the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(d)
in connection with the exercise by it of its trusts, powers, authorities or discretions (including, without limitation, any modification, waiver, authorization or determination), the Trustee shall have regard to the general interests of the Holders as a class but shall not have regard to any interests arising from circumstances particular to individual Holders (whatever their number) and in particular, but without limitation, shall not have regard to the consequences of the exercise of its trusts, powers, authorities or

 

42


discretions for individual Holders (whatever their number) resulting from their being for any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject to the jurisdiction of, any country, state or territory and a Holder shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Holder be entitled to claim, from the Company, the Trustee or any other Person any indemnification or payment in respect of any tax consequence of any such exercise upon individual Holders except to the extent already provided in Section 4.07 or Section 14.02(e) and/or any undertaking given in addition to, or in substitution for, Section 4.07 or Section 14.02(e) pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(e)
the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, delegates, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, delegate, representative, custodian, nominee or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;

 

(f)
the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;

 

(g)
the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;

 

(h)
the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(i)
in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any consequential, punitive, special or indirect loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(j)
the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the covenants contained herein. The Trustee may assume without inquiry in the absence of written notice to the contrary that the Company is duly complying with its obligations contained in this Indenture required to be performed and observed by it, and that no Default or Event of Default or other event which would require repayment of the Notes has occurred. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, unless either (1) in the case of the Trustee, a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) it has received express written notice of such Default or Event of Default;

 

(k)
the Trustee shall treat information provided hereunder as confidential, but (unless consent is prohibited by law) the Company hereby consents to the processing, transfer and disclosure by the Trustee of any information relating to it provided hereunder to and between branches, subsidiaries, representative offices, affiliates and agents of the Trustee solely in connection with the discharge of the Trustee’s trusts, powers, authorities, duties and obligations under this Indenture, wherever situated, for confidential use (including to service providers selected by the Trustee with due care for data processing, statistical and risk analysis purposes and for compliance with applicable law). The Trustee and any such branch, subsidiary, representative office, affiliate, agent or third party may transfer and disclose any such information only to the extent required or requested by any applicable law, regulatory authority, court or legal process, including any auditor of the Company and including any payor or payee as required by applicable law, and may use (and its performance will be subject to the rules of) any communications, clearing or payment systems, intermediary bank or other system. The Company acknowledges that the transfers permitted by this Section 7.02(k) may include transfers to jurisdictions which do not have strict data protection or data privacy laws;

 

 

43


(l)
the Company hereby irrevocably waives, in favor of the Trustee and the Agents, any conflict of interest that may arise by virtue of the Trustee and/or the Agents acting in various capacities under the Notes or this Indenture or for other customers of the Trustee and the Agents. The Company acknowledges that the Trustee and the Agents and their respective affiliates (together, the “Agent Parties”) may have interests in, or may be providing or may in the future provide financial or other services to other parties with interests which the Company may regard as conflicting with its interests and may possess information (whether or not material to the Company) other than as a result of the Trustee and/or the Agents acting as the Trustee and/or the Agents hereunder, that the Trustee and/or the Agents may not be entitled to share with the Company. The Trustee and the Agents will not disclose confidential information obtained from the Company (without its consent) to any of the Trustee and/or the Agents’ other customers or affiliates nor will it use on behalf of the Company any confidential information obtained from any other customer. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Company agrees that the Agent Parties may deal (whether for its own or its customers’ account) in, or advise on, securities of any party and that such dealing or giving of advice, will not constitute a conflict of interest for the purposes of the Notes or this Indenture;

 

(m)
the Trustee shall be entitled to take any action or to refuse to take any action which the Trustee regards as necessary for the Trustee to comply with any applicable law, regulation or fiscal requirement, court order, or the rules, operating procedures or market practice of any relevant stock exchange or other market or clearing system;

 

(n)
notwithstanding anything else contained in this Indenture, each of the Trustee and the Agents may refrain without liability from (i) doing anything which would or might in its opinion (after consultation with counsel and reasonably taking into account of the advice or opinion of such counsel) be illegal or contrary to, or would result in the Trustee or any Agent being in breach of, any law of any state or jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, any laws of England and Wales, Hong Kong, and the United States of America or any jurisdiction forming a part of it) or any directive, rule, regulation, request, direction, notice, announcement or similar action of any agency, regulatory authority, stock exchange or self-regulatory organization of any jurisdiction (including, without limitation, Section 619 of the Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act), or which would or might otherwise render it liable to any person and may without liability do anything which is, in its opinion, necessary to comply with any such law, directive or regulation or (ii) doing anything which may cause the Trustee to be considered a sponsor of a covered fund under Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, the Trustee may also refrain from taking any action if, in its opinion based upon advice of counsel, it would not have the power to do the relevant thing in the relevant jurisdiction by virtue of any applicable law in such jurisdiction or if it is determined by any court or other competent authority in such jurisdiction that it does not have such power; and

 

(o)
The Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that it in good faith determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to any other Holder), or if it is not provided with security, pre-funding and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the losses, costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. In addition, the Trustee will not be required to expend its own funds under any circumstances.

 

Section 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc

 

The recitals, statements, warranties and representations contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the accuracy or correctness of the same or the execution, legality, effectiveness, adequacy, genuineness,

 

44


validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each Holder shall be solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of, and investigation into, the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status and nature of the Company, and the Trustee shall not at any time have any responsibility for the same and each Holder shall not rely on the Trustee in respect thereof.

 

Section 7.04. Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents or Note Registrar May Own Notes

 

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Note Registrar, and nothing herein shall obligate any of them to account for any profits earned from any business or transactional relationship.

 

Section 7.05. Monies and ADSs to Be Held in Trust

 

All monies and ADSs received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money and ADSs held by the Trustee in trust or by the Paying Agent hereunder need not be segregated from other funds or property except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be under any liability for interest on any money or ADSs received by it hereunder.

 

Section 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee

 

(a)
The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, in any capacity under this Indenture, from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to in writing between the Trustee and the Company, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture in any capacity thereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have been caused by its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee in any capacity under this Indenture and any other document or transaction entered into in connection herewith and its officers, directors, attorneys, employees and agents, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim (provided that the Company need not pay for settlement of any such claim made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), damage, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, its officers, directors, agents, attorneys or employees, as the case may be, as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a senior lien to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except, subject to the effect of Section 6.05, funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company. The indemnity under this Section 7.06(a) is payable upon demand by the Trustee. The obligation of the Company under this Section 7.06(a) shall survive the

 

45


satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture and payment of the Notes, the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The indemnification provided in this Section 7.06(a) shall extend to the officers, directors, attorneys, agents and employees of the Trustee. Subject to Section 7.02(e), any negligence or misconduct of any agent, delegate, attorney or representative, in each case, of the Trustee, shall not affect indemnification of the Trustee.

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee and its agents incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws. If a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or if the Trustee finds it expedient or necessary or is requested by the Company and/or the Holders to undertake duties which are of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the Trustee’s normal duties under this Indenture, the Company will pay such additional remuneration calculated by reference to the Trustee's normal hourly rates in force at such time.

 

(b)
The Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar shall be entitled to the compensation to be agreed upon in writing with the Company for all services rendered by it under this Indenture, and the Company agrees promptly to pay such compensation and to reimburse the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar for its out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by it in connection with the services rendered by it under this Indenture. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar and their respective officers, directors, agents and employees and any successors thereto for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with its acting as the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this paragraph (b) shall survive the payment of the Notes, the termination of the Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar.

 

Section 7.07. Officer’s Certificate as Evidence

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

Section 7.08. Eligibility of Trustee

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is an Eligible Trustee and has a combined capital and surplus of at least US$50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

 

46


Section 7.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee

 

(a)
The Trustee may at any time resign by giving 30 days’ written notice of such resignation to the Company. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Company, the resigning Trustee may appoint a successor trustee on behalf of and at the expense of the Company or it may, upon ten Business Days’ notice to the Company and the Holders and at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

 

(b)
In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

 

(i)
the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(ii)
the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in either case, the Company may by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

 

(c)
The Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, as determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may remove the Trustee by giving 30 days written notice to the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee that shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless within ten days after notice to the Company of such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Holder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in Section 7.09(a) provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.

 

(d)
Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.09 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee

 

Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.09 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and

 

47


thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due to it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a senior lien to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by such trustee as such, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Notes, to secure any amounts then due to it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.

 

No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.

 

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.10, each of the Company and the successor trustee, at the written direction and at the expense of the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. If the Company fails to deliver such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be delivered at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 7.11. Succession by Merger, Etc

 

Any corporation or other entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that in the case of any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee such corporation or other entity shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.

 

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the

 

Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

Section 7.12. Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

 

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the Holders

 

48


of the Notes under this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date such application is deemed to have been given to any Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 17.03, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date), unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of any omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in accordance with this Indenture in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

 

ARTICLE 8

 

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

 

Section 8.01. Action by Holders

 

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action, the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders. Whenever the Company or the Trustee solicits the taking of any action by the Holders of the Notes, the Company or the Trustee may fix, but shall not be required to, in advance of such solicitation, a date as the record date for determining Holders entitled to take such action. The record date if one is selected shall be not more than fifteen days prior to the date of commencement of solicitation of such action.

 

Section 8.02. Proof of Execution by Holders

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 9.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register or by a certificate of the Note Registrar. The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.

 

Section 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners

 

The Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Transfer Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Note Registrar may deem the Person in whose name a Note shall be registered upon the Note Register to be, and may treat it as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by any Person other than the Company or any Note Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of and (subject to Section 2.03) accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, for the purpose of conversion of such Note and for all other purposes under this Indenture; and none of the Company, the Trustee, any Transfer Agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent or any Note Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The sole registered holder of a Global Note shall be the Depositary or its nominee. All such payments or deliveries so made to any Holder for the time being, or upon its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sums or ADSs so paid or delivered, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for monies payable or ADSs deliverable upon any

 

49


such Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes following an Event of Default, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may directly enforce against the Company, without the consent, solicitation, proxy, authorization or any other action of the Depositary or any other Person, such owner’s right to exchange such beneficial interest for a Note in certificated form in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 8.04. Company-Owned Notes Disregarded

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (excluding any Investor (as defined in the Investment Agreement)) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action only Notes in respect of which a Responsible Officer is notified in writing shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section

8.04 if the pledgee shall establish its right to so act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Subsidiary thereof or an Affiliate of the Company or a Subsidiary thereof (excluding any Investor (as defined in the Investment Agreement)). Within five days of acquisition of the Notes by any of the above described persons or entities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

 

Section 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound

 

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Note that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Notes the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Note or any Note issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

HOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 9.01. Purpose of Meetings

 

A meeting of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article 9 for any of the following purposes:

 

(a)
to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee or to give any directions to the Trustee permitted under this Indenture, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default

 

50


hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Holders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article 6;

 

(b)
to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7;

 

(c)

 

(d)
to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee

 

The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting and the establishment of any record date pursuant to Section 8.01, shall be delivered to Holders of such Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Such notice shall also be delivered to the Company. Such notices shall be delivered not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

Any meeting of Holders shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all Notes then outstanding are present in person or by proxy or if notice is waived before or after the meeting by the Holders of all Notes then outstanding, and if the Company and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have, before or after the meeting, waived notice.

 

Section 9.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Holders

 

In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Holders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have delivered the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by delivering notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.

 

Section 9.04. Qualifications for Voting

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 9.05. Regulations

 

 

51


Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders, in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

 

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, at any meeting of Holders each Holder or proxyholder shall be entitled to one vote for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him or her; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by it or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating it as the proxy to vote on behalf of other Holders. Any meeting of Holders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or Section 9.03 may be adjourned from time to time by the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Minutes shall be made of all resolutions and proceedings at every meeting and, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of that meeting or of the next succeeding meeting of Holders of the Notes, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters in them. Until the contrary is proved every meeting for which minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and all resolutions passed or proceedings transacted at it to have been duly passed and transacted.

 

Section 9.06. Voting

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was delivered as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall show the aggregate principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

 

Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated. Section 9.07. No Delay of Rights by Meeting

 

Nothing contained in this Article 9 shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such

 

52


call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 10.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

The Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense and direction, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

 

(a)
to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b)
to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article 11;

 

(c)
to add guarantees with respect to the Notes;

 

(d)
to secure the Notes;

 

(e)
to add to the covenants or Events of Default of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Indenture or the Notes;

 

(f)
upon the occurrence of any transaction or event described in Section 14.07(a), to

 

(i)
provide that the Notes are convertible into Reference Property, subject to Section 14.03, and

 

(ii)

 

(g)
to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder in any material respect; or

 

(h)
to make changes in connection with an acceptance for listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, as contemplated under Section 14.01(b).

 

Upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 10.02.

 

Section 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

 

53


With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 8) of the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article 8 and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes), the Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders; provided, however, that, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no such supplemental indenture shall:

 

(a)
reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

 

(b)
reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

(c)
reduce the principal or premium of or extend the Maturity Date of any Note;

 

(d)
make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Notes;

 

(e)
reduce Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Holders the Company’s obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

 

(f)
make any Note payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars;

 

(g)
change the ranking of the Notes;

 

(h)
impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of any Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Note;

 

(i)
change the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts on any Note; or

 

(j)
make any change in this Article 10 that requires each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions in Section 6.02 or Section 6.09.

 

Upon the written request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the requisite Holders as aforesaid and subject to Section 10.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless (i) the Trustee has not received an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture is authorized and permitted by the terms of this Indenture and not contrary to law or (ii) such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

Holders do not need under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture. It shall be sufficient if such Holders approve the substance thereof. After any supplemental indenture becomes effective under Section 10.01 or Section 10.02, the Company shall send to the Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the supplemental indenture.

 

54


 

Section 10.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 10.04. Notation on Notes

 

Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 may, at the Company’s expense, bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may, at the Company’s expense, be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated upon receipt of a Company Order, by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Notes then outstanding, upon surrender of such Notes then outstanding.

 

Section 10.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee

 

In addition to the documents required by Section 17.06, the Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article 10 and is permitted or authorized by this Indenture and with respect to such Opinion of Counsel, that such supplemental indenture is the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.

 

 

55


ARTICLE 11

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

Section 11.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Company shall not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another Person, unless:

 

(a)
the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”), if not the Company, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda or Hong Kong and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.07); and

 

(b)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture.

 

For purposes of this Section 11.01, the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to another Person.

 

Section 11.02. Successor Corporation to Be Substituted

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and upon the assumption by the Successor Company, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee of the due and punctual payment of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Amounts), the due and punctual delivery or payment, as the case may be, of any consideration due upon conversion of the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Amounts) and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, such Successor Company (if not the Company) shall succeed to and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets, shall be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Notes that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the Officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Notes that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Notes so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Notes theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Notes had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or transfer (but not in the case of a lease), upon compliance with

 

56


this Article 11 the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture (or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article 11) may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and, except in the case of a lease, such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Notes and from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Notes thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

Section 11.03. Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee

 

No consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease shall be effective unless the Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, complies with the provisions of this Article 11.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 12.01. Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations

 

No recourse for the payment of the Applicable Redemption Price of, the Note Acceleration Repayment Price of or accrued and unpaid interest on any Note, nor for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Note, nor because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, Officer or director or Subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Notes.

 

 

57


ARTICLE 13

INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

 

ARTICLE 14

CONVERSION OF NOTES

 

Section 14.01. Conversion Privilege

 

(a)
Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article 14, each Holder of a Note shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is US$1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) of such Note at any time prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, at an initial conversion rate of 216.9668 ADSs (subject to adjustment as provided in this Article 14, the “Conversion Rate”) per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (subject to, and in accordance with, the settlement provisions of Section 14.02, the “Conversion Obligation”); provided that if the Company calls all of the Notes for redemption pursuant to Article 16, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Tax Redemption Price, in which case a Holder of Notes may convert its Notes until the Tax Redemption Price has been paid or duly provided for.

 

(b)
If the Company’s ADSs continue to be listed and quoted on any of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) and the Company’s Ordinary Shares have been accepted for listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, then, after the date of such acceptance for listing (the “New Listing Reference Date”), the Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to amend the Indenture no later than three calendar months after the New Listing Reference Date to provide the Holders the right to elect to receive Ordinary Shares in lieu of any ADSs deliverable upon conversion (provided that the number of Ordinary Shares the holder is entitled to receive will be equal to the number of ADSs deliverable upon conversion (without taking into account any fractional ADS) multiplied by the number of Ordinary Shares represented by one ADS immediately after the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date), including such other provisions that the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) determines in good faith are appropriate to give effect to the election by the Holders described above. The Company will notify Holders and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of such amendment. If the Company does not elect to make such amendment to the Indenture within three calendar months of the New Listing Reference Date, with respect to any conversion of the Notes following three calendar months of the New Listing Reference Date, the Company shall reimburse a Holder any fees it pays to the ADS Depositary in connection with the Holder’ election to withdraw the Ordinary Shares underlying the ADSs received by the Holder immediately following such conversion.

 

 

58


Section 14.02. Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion

 

(a)
Upon conversion of any Note, the Company shall deliver to the converting Holder, in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate, together with a cash payment, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional ADSs in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section 14.02 on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date.

 

(b)
Subject to Section 14.02(e), before any Holder of a Note shall be entitled to convert a Note as set forth above, such Holder shall (i) in the case of a Global Note, comply with the procedures of the Depositary in effect at that time and, if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(h) and (ii) in the case of a Physical Note (1) complete, manually sign and deliver a duly completed irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent as set forth in the Form of Notice of Conversion (or a facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission thereof) (a “Notice of Conversion”) at the office of the Conversion Agent and state in writing therein the principal amount of Notes to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such Holder wishes the certificate or certificates for any ADSs to be delivered upon settlement of the Conversion Obligation to be registered, (2) surrender such Notes, duly endorsed to the Company or in blank (and accompanied by appropriate endorsement and transfer documents), at the office of the Conversion Agent, (3) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and (4) if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(h). The Trustee (and if different, the Conversion Agent) shall notify the Company of any conversion pursuant to this Article 14 on the Conversion Date, or promptly following instructions for such conversion. No Notice of Conversion with respect to any Notes may be delivered, and no Notes may be surrendered for conversion, by a Holder thereof if such Holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or Repurchase Notice to the Company in respect of such Notes and has not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 15.03.

 

If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the Conversion Obligation with respect to such Notes shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted thereby) so surrendered.

 

(c)
A Note shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the Holder has complied with the requirements set forth in subsection (b) above. If any ADSs are due to a converting Holder, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, and deliver (if applicable) to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, the full number of ADSs to which such Holder shall be entitled, in book-entry format through the Depositary or, in the case of ADSs bearing restrictive legends substantially in the form required by Section 2.05(d), in book-entry format recorded in the registration system maintained by the ADS Depositary (whether the Note so converted is in the form of a Global Note or Physical Note), in satisfaction of the Company’s Conversion Obligation.

 

 

59


(d)
In case any certificated Note shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder of the Note so surrendered a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Note, without payment of any service charge by the converting Holder but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or similar governmental charge required by law or that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such conversion being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such conversion.

 

(e)
If a Holder submits a Note for conversion, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp, issue, transfer or similar tax due on the delivery of any ADSs upon conversion of the Notes or the issuance of the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares, unless the tax is due because the Holder requests such ADSs (or the Class A Ordinary Shares) to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name, in which case the Holder shall pay that tax. The Company shall pay the ADS Depositary’s fees for the issuance of the ADSs.

 

(f)
Except as provided in Section 14.04, no adjustment shall be made for dividends on any ADSs issued upon the conversion of any Note as provided in this Article 14.

 

(g)
Upon the conversion of an interest in a Global Note, the Trustee, or the ADS Custodian at the direction of the Trustee, shall make a notation on such Global Note as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversion of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.

 

(h)
Upon conversion, a Holder shall not receive any separate cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest, if any, except as set forth below. The Company’s settlement of the full Conversion Obligation shall be deemed to satisfy in full its obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date. As a result, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Notes are converted after the close of business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the open of business on the corresponding Interest Payment Date, Holders of such Notes as of the close of business on such Regular Record Date will receive the full amount of interest payable on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion. However, Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the open of business on the immediately following Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by an amount in U.S. dollars equal to the amount of interest payable on the Notes so converted (regardless of whether the converting Holder was the holder of record on the corresponding Regular Record Date); provided that no such payment shall be required (1) for conversions following the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date; (2) if the Company has specified a Redemption Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the second Business Day immediately succeeding the corresponding Interest Payment Date (or, if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the third Business Day immediately succeeding such Interest Payment Date); (3) if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately succeeding the corresponding Interest Payment Date (or, if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second Business Day immediately succeeding such Interest Payment Date); or (4) to the extent of any Defaulted Amounts, if any Defaulted Amounts exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) will have any duty to determine or verify determination by the Company of whether any of the conditions to conversion have been satisfied.

 

60


 

(i)
The Person in whose name any ADSs shall be issuable upon conversion shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date. Upon a conversion of Notes, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Notes surrendered for conversion.

 

(j)
The Company shall not issue any fractional ADSs upon conversion of the Notes and shall instead pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional ADS issuable upon conversion based on the Daily VWAP for the relevant Conversion Date.

 

Section 14.03. Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes

 

(a)
If a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the Maturity Date and a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall, under the circumstances described below, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional ADSs (the “Additional ADSs”), as described below. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-Whole Fundamental Change if the relevant Notice of Conversion is received by the Conversion Agent from, and including, the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change up to, and including, the second Business Day immediately prior to the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or, in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that would have been a Fundamental Change but for the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof, the 35th Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change). The Company shall provide written notification to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change and issue a press release announcing such Effective Date no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date.

 

(b)
Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall cause to be delivered ADSs, including the Additional ADSs, in accordance with Section 14.02; provided, however, that if, at the effective time of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Reference Property following such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Obligation shall be calculated based solely on the ADS Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per US$1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the Conversion Rate (including any adjustment for Additional ADSs), multiplied by such ADS Price. In such event, the Conversion Obligation shall be paid to Holders in cash on the second Business Day following the Conversion Date.

 

(c)
The number of Additional ADSs, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) and the price (the “ADS Price”) paid (or deemed to be paid) per ADS in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. If the holders of the ADSs receive in exchange for their ADSs only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the ADS Price shall be the cash amount paid per ADS. Otherwise, the ADS Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs over the five Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

 

 

61


(d)
The ADS Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate of the Notes is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted ADS Prices shall equal the ADS Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the ADS Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional ADSs set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 14.04.

 

(e)
The following table sets forth the number of Additional ADSs to be received per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 14.03 for each ADS Price and Effective Date set forth below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADS price

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective date

US$3.8408

US$4.00

US$4.50

US$4.6090

US$5.00

US$5.50

US$6.00

US$7.00

US$8.00

US$9.00

US$10.00

US$11.00

December 30,

2022

95.4662

83.0313

49.6980

47.0377

40.5833

34.1293

29.1273

21.9769

17.1903

13.8076

11.3130

9.4098

January 1, 2024

95.4662

83.0313

49.6980

49.6526

42.0793

34.6639

29.0528

21.2933

16.3108

12.9099

10.4705

8.6491

January 1, 2025

95.4662

83.0313

49.6980

52.2385

42.9629

34.1889

27.8111

19.4625

14.4479

11.2010

8.9634

7.3415

January 1, 2026

95.4662

83.0808

49.6980

46.7507

38.0933

29.8286

23.7826

15.8966

11.2782

8.4144

6.5399

5.2493

January 1, 2027

121.5025

108.0313

71.9202

65.0906

37.8401

26.9095

19.3235

10.3776

5.9966

3.7918

2.6315

1.9808

January 1, 2028

121.5025

108.0313

71.9202

65.0906

43.0313

19.3949

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADS price

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective date

US$12.00

US$13.00

US$14.00

US$15.00

US$16.00

US$17.00

US$18.00

US$19.00

US$20.00

US$21.00

US$22.00

US$23.00

December 30,

2022

7.9176

6.7216

5.7455

4.9370

4.2973

3.7187

3.2243

2.7988

2.4305

2.1100

1.8300

1.5847

January 1, 2024

7.2442

6.1316

5.2314

4.4902

3.8825

3.3575

2.9097

2.5246

2.1913

1.9011

1.6476

1.4251

January 1, 2025

6.1174

5.1629

4.3990

3.7746

3.2748

2.8345

2.4593

2.1366

1.8568

1.6130

1.3994

1.2115

January 1, 2026

4.3184

3.6187

3.0736

2.6361

2.2849

1.9817

1.7233

1.5005

1.3066

1.1365

0.9864

0.8535

January 1, 2027

1.5848

1.3214

1.1305

0.9821

0.8622

0.7590

0.6694

0.5902

0.5195

0.4558

0.3981

0.3454

January 1, 2028

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

The exact ADS Prices and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

 

(i)
if the ADS Price is between two ADS Prices in the table above or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional ADSs shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional ADSs set forth for the higher and lower ADS Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year;

 

(ii)
if the ADS Price is greater than US$23.00 per ADS (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the ADS Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional ADSs shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and

 

(iii)
if the ADS Price is less than US$3.8408 per ADS (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the ADS Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional ADSs shall be added to the Conversion Rate.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 338.4693 ADSs, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04.

 

(f)
Nothing in this Section 14.03 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04.

 

 

62


(g)
If the Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with the Company’s election to redeem the Notes in respect of a Change in Tax Law pursuant to Section 16.01, the Conversion Rate shall be increased by a number of additional ADSs determined pursuant to this Section 14.03(g). The Company shall settle conversions of Notes as described in Section 14.02 and, for the avoidance of doubt, pay Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any such conversion.

 

A conversion shall be deemed to be “in connection with” the Company’s election to redeem the Notes in respect of a Change in Tax Law if the relevant Notice of Conversion is received by the Conversion Agent during the period from, and including, the date the Company provides the related Redemption Notice to Holders until the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date (or, if the Company fails to pay the Tax Redemption Price, such later date on which the Company pays the Tax Redemption Price).

 

Simultaneously with providing such Redemption Notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time.

 

The number of additional ADSs by which the Conversion Rate will be increased in the event the Company elects to redeem the Notes in respect of a Change in Tax Law will be determined by reference to the table in clause (e) above based on the Redemption Reference Date and the Redemption Reference Price (each as defined below), but determined for purposes of this Section 14.03(g) as if (x) the Holder had elected to convert its Notes in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, (y) the applicable “Redemption Reference Date” were the “Effective Date” as specified in clause (c) above and (z) the applicable “Redemption Reference Price” were the “ADS price” as specified in clause (c) above. For this purpose, the date on which the Company delivers a Redemption Notice is a “Redemption Reference Date” and the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs over the five Trading Day immediately preceding, the date the Company delivers such Redemption Notice is the “Redemption Reference Price.”

 

Section 14.04. Adjustment of Conversion Rate

 

If the number of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs is changed, after the date of this Indenture, for any reason other than one or more of the events described in this Section 14.04, the Company shall make an appropriate adjustment to the Conversion Rate such that the number of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs upon which conversion of the Notes is based remains the same.

 

 

63


Notwithstanding the adjustment provisions described in this Section 14.04, if the Company distributes to holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares any cash, rights, options, warrants, shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interest, evidences of indebtedness or other assets or property of the Company (but excluding Expiring Rights) and a corresponding distribution is not made to holders of the ADSs, but, instead, the ADSs shall represent, in addition to Class A Ordinary Shares, such cash, rights, options, warrants, shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interest, evidences of indebtedness or other assets or property of the Company, then an adjustment to the Conversion Rate described in this Section 14.04 shall not be made until and unless a corresponding distribution (if any) is made to holders of the ADSs, and such adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be based on the distribution made to the holders of the ADSs and not on the distribution made to the holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares. However, in the event that the Company issues or distributes to all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares any Expiring Rights, notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall adjust the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04(b) (in the case of Expiring Rights described in clause (b) below entitling holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs) or Section 14.04(c) (in the case of all other Expiring Rights).

 

For the avoidance of doubt, if any event described in this Section 14.04 results in a change to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs, then such a change shall be deemed to satisfy the Company’s obligation to effect the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Rate on account of such an event to the extent to which such change reflects what a corresponding change to the Conversion Rate would have been on account of such event.

 

The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company if any of the following events occurs, except that the Company shall not make any adjustments to the Conversion Rate if Holders of the Notes participate (other than in the case of a (x) share split or share combination or (y) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the ADSs and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in any of the transactions described in this Section 14.04, without having to convert their Notes, as if they held a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any responsibility to monitor the accuracy of any calculation of adjustment of the Conversion Rate and the same shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders, absent manifest error. Notice of such adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be given by the Company promptly in writing to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent and shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders, absent manifest error.

 

(a)
If the Company exclusively issues Class A Ordinary Shares as a dividend or distribution on the Class A Ordinary Shares, or if the Company effects a share split or share combination, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img16074009_0.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect after the close of business on such Record Date or

immediately after the open of business on such Effective Date, as applicable;

 

64


OS0

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the close of business on such Record Date or immediately prior to the open of business on such Effective Date, as applicable (before giving effect to any such dividend, distribution, split or combination) ; and

OS1

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.

 

Any adjustment made under this Section 14.04(a) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the Effective Date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 14.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(b)
If the Company issues to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) (other than in connection with a stockholder rights plan) any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) at a price per Ordinary Share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs, as the case may be (divided by, in the case of the ADSs, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS), for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img16074009_1.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such issuance;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on such Record Date;

OS0

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the close of business on such Record Date;

X

=

the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) deliverable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

Y

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares equal to (i) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by (ii) the quotient of (a) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants divided by (b) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS.

 

Any increase made under this Section 14.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such issuance. To the extent that Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights,

 

65


options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of Class A Ordinary Shares actually delivered (directly or in the form of ADSs). If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Record Date for such issuance had not occurred.

 

For purposes of this Section 14.04(b), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) at a price per Ordinary Share that is less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs, as the case may be (divided by, in the case of the ADSs, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS), for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)
If the Company distributes shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness, other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire its Capital Stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), excluding (i) dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(a) or Section 14.04(b), (ii) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(d), and (iii) Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 14.04(c) shall apply (any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, other assets or property or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock or other securities of the Company, the “Distributed Property”), then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img16074009_2.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the

Record Date for such distribution;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on such

Record Date;

SP0

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and

FMV

=

the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of the Distributed Property with respect to each outstanding Class A Ordinary Share (directly or in the form of ADSs) on the Record Date for such distribution.

 

 

66


Any increase made under the portion of this Section 14.04(c) above shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the ADSs receive the Distributed Property, the amount and kind of Distributed Property such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date for the ADSs for the distribution.

 

With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 14.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img16074009_3.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the end of the Valuation Period;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the end of the Valuation Period;

FMV0

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) applicable to one Class A Ordinary Share (determined by reference to the definition of Last Reported Sale Price as set forth in Section 1.01 as if references therein to the ADSs were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period after, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and

MP0

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the Valuation Period.

 

The increase to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph shall occur at the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period; provided that if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the Valuation Period, references to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate.

 

For purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and subject in all respect to Section 14.11), rights, options or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, including Class A Ordinary Shares (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (i) are deemed to be transferred with such Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs); (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an

 

67


appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 14.04(c). If any such right, option or warrant, including any such existing rights, options or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and Record Date with respect to new rights, options or warrants with such rights (in which case the existing rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to terminate and expire on such date without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the immediately preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights, options or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or purchased without exercise by any holders thereof, upon such final redemption or purchase (x) the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options or warrants had not been issued and (y) the Conversion Rate shall then again be readjusted to give effect to such distribution, deemed distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per Ordinary Share redemption or purchase price received by a holder or holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights, options or warrants), made to all holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) as of the date of such redemption or purchase, and (2) in the case of such rights, options or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options and warrants had not been issued.

 

For purposes of Section 14.04(a), Section 14.04(b) and this Section 14.04(c), if any dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable also includes one or both of:

 

(A)
a dividend or distribution of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) to which Section 14.04(a) is applicable (the “Clause A Distribution”); or

 

(B)
a dividend or distribution of rights, options or warrants to which Section 14.04(b) is applicable (the “Clause B Distribution”),

 

then (1) such dividend or distribution, other than the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution, shall be deemed to be a dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable (the “Clause C Distribution”) and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 14.04(c) with respect to such Clause C Distribution shall then be made, and (2) the Clause A Distribution and Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause C Distribution and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 14.04(a) and Section 14.04(b) with respect thereto shall then be made, except that, if determined by the Company (I) the “Record Date” of the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to be the Record Date of the Clause C Distribution and (II) any Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) included in the Clause A Distribution or Clause B Distribution shall be deemed not to be “outstanding immediately prior to the close of business on such Record Date or immediately after the open of business on such Effective Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(a) or “outstanding immediately prior to the close of business on such Record Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(b).

 

 

68


(d)
If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img16074009_4.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;

SP0

=

the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and

C

=

the amount in cash per Class A Ordinary Share the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs).

 

Any increase pursuant to this Section 14.04(d) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the ADSs, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate on the Record Date for such cash dividend or distribution.

 

(e)
If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries make a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per Ordinary Share exceeds the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img16074009_5.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;

 

69


AC

=

the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, purchased in such tender or exchange offer;

OS0

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

OS1

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

SP1

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.

 

The increase to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(e) shall occur at the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires; provided that if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the date that such tender or exchange offer expires and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate.

 

(f)
[Reserved.]

 

(g)
Except as stated herein, the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate for the issuance of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or the right to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or such convertible or exchangeable securities.

 

(h)
In addition to those adjustments required by clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 14.04, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Global Market and any other securities exchange on which any of the Company’s securities are then listed, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days if the Board of Directors determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest, and the Company may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs or rights to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs in connection with a dividend or distribution of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs (or rights to acquire Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs) or similar event.

 

(i)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 14, the Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted:

 

(i)
upon the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs under any plan;

 

 

70


(ii)
upon the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or options or rights to purchase those Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

(iii)
upon the repurchase of any Ordinary Shares pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program or other buyback transaction that is not a tender offer or exchange offer of the nature described in clause (e) of this Section 14.04 above;

 

(iv)
upon the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this subsection and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;

 

(v)
solely for a change in the par value of the Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs; or

 

(vi)
for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

 

(j)
All calculations and other determinations under this Article 14 shall be made by the Company and shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000) of an ADS.

 

(k)
Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Trustee (and the Conversion Agent if not the Trustee) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the adjusted Conversion Rate, (ii) the subsection of this Section 14.04 pursuant to which such adjustment has been made, showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and (iii) the date as of which such adjustment is effective, and such Officer’s Certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such adjustment absent manifest error. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and shall deliver such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate to each Holder at its last address appearing on the Note Register of this Indenture. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate or the information and calculations contained therein.

 

(l)
For purposes of this Section 14.04, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares at any time outstanding shall not include Class A Ordinary Shares held in the treasury of the Company (directly or in the form of ADSs) so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on Class A Ordinary Shares held in the treasury of the Company (directly or in the form of ADSs), but shall include Class A Ordinary Shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

 

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Section 14.05. Adjustments of Prices

 

Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, or the ADS Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or the Redemption Reference Price for purposes of our election to redeem the notes in connection with changes in tax laws over a span of multiple days, the Board of Directors shall make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective pursuant to Section 14.04, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 where the Ex-Dividend Date, Effective Date or expiration date, as the case may be, of the event occurs, at any time during the period when such Last Reported Sale Prices, ADS Prices or the Daily VWAPs are to be calculated.

 

Section 14.06. Class A Ordinary Shares to Be Fully Paid

 

The Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares or Class A Ordinary Shares held in treasury, a sufficient number of Class A Ordinary Shares that corresponds to the number of ADSs due upon conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion (assuming delivery of the maximum number of Additional ADSs pursuant to Section 14.03 and that at the time of computation of such number of Class A Ordinary Shares, all such Notes would be converted by a single Holder).

 

Section 14.07. Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Class A Ordinary

Shares

 

(a)
In the case of:

 

(i)
any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),

 

(ii)
any consolidation, merger, combination or similar transaction involving the Company,

 

(iii)
any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety or

 

 

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(iv)
any statutory share exchange,

 

in each case, as a result of which the ADS or the Class A Ordinary Shares would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “Merger Event”), then, prior to or at the effective time of such Merger Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture permitted under Section 10.01(f) providing that, at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, the right to convert each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property,” with each “unit of Reference Property” meaning the kind and amount of Reference Property that a holder of one ADS is entitled to receive) upon such Merger Event; provided, however, that at and after the effective time of the Merger Event the number of ADSs otherwise deliverable upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall instead be deliverable in the amount and type of Reference Property that a holder of that number of ADSs would have received in such Merger Event.

 

If the Merger Event causes the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of holder election), then (i) the Reference Property into which the Notes will be convertible shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of ADSs, and (ii) the unit of Reference Property for purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph shall refer to the consideration referred to in clause (i) attributable to one ADS. If the holders of the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares receive only cash in such Merger Event, then for all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs after the effective date of such Merger Event (A) the consideration due upon conversion of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date (as may be increased by any Additional ADSs pursuant to Section 14.03), multiplied by the price paid per ADS or Class A Ordinary Share, as applicable, in such Merger Event and (B) the Company shall satisfy the Conversion Obligation by paying cash to converting Holders on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date. The Company shall provide written notice to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

 

Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceding paragraph shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article 14 (it being understood that no such adjustments shall be required with respect to any portion of the Reference Property that does not consist of shares of Common Equity (however evidenced) or depositary receipts in respect thereof). If, in the case of any Merger Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) of a Person other than the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, in such Merger Event, then such other Person shall also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Notes, including the right of Holders to require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon a Fundamental Change pursuant to Section 15.02 and the right of Holders to require the Company to repurchase their Notes during the Repurchase Period pursuant to Section 15.01, as the Board of Directors shall consider necessary by reason of the foregoing.

 

(b)
[RESERVED]

 

 

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(c)
The Company shall not become a party to any Merger Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 14.07. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a holder of Notes to convert its Notes into ADSs as set forth in Section 14.01 and Section 14.02 prior to the effective date of such Merger Event.

 

(d)
The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Merger

Events.

 

Section 14.08. Certain Covenants

 

(a)
The Company covenants that all ADSs delivered upon conversion of Notes, and all Class A Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs, will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

 

(b)
The Company covenants that, if any ADSs to be provided for the purpose of conversion of Notes hereunder, or any Class A Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs, require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or state law before such ADSs may be validly issued upon conversion, the Company will, to the extent then permitted by the rules and interpretations of the Commission, secure such registration or approval, as the case may be.

 

(c)
The Company further covenants that if at any time the ADSs shall be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system the Company will list and keep listed, so long as the ADSs shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, any ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes.

 

(d)
The Company further covenants to take all actions and obtain all approvals and registrations required with respect to the conversion of the Notes into ADSs and the issuance, and deposit into the ADS facility, of the Class A Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs. The Company also undertakes to maintain, as long as any Notes are outstanding, the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form F-6 relating to the ADSs and an adequate number of ADSs available for issuance thereunder such that ADSs can be delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Notes and the Deposit Agreement upon conversion of the Notes.

 

Section 14.09. Responsibility of Trustee

 

The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any ADSs, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any ADSs or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion, the accuracy or inaccuracy of any mathematical calculation or formulae under this Indenture, whether by the Company or any Person so authorized by the Company for such purpose under this Indenture or the failure by the Company to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental

 

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indenture entered into pursuant to Section 14.07 relating either to the kind or amount of ADSs or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 14.07 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate (which the Company shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by Section 14.01(b) has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in Section 14.01(b) with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notices to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event or at such other times as shall be provided for in Section 14.01(b). Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, neither the Trustee nor any other agent acting under this Indenture (other than the Company, if acting in such capacity) shall have any obligation to make any calculation.

 

Section 14.10. Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case of any:

 

(a)
action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 or Section 14.11;

 

(b)
Merger Event; or

 

(c)
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; then, in each case (unless notice of such event is otherwise required pursuant to another provision of this Indenture), the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) and to be delivered to each Holder at its address appearing on the Note Register, as promptly as possible but in any event at least 20 days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, of record are to be determined for the purposes of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) the date on which such Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding- up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, of record shall be entitled to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, for securities or other property deliverable upon such Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

 

 

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Section 14.11. Stockholder Rights Plans

 

To the extent that the Company has a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Notes, each ADS, if any, delivered upon such conversion shall be entitled to receive (either directly or in respect of the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying such ADSs) the appropriate number of rights, if any, and the certificates representing the ADSs delivered upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any such stockholder rights plan, as the same may be amended from time to time. However, if, prior to any conversion of Notes, the rights have separated from the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the ADSs in accordance with the provisions of the applicable stockholder rights plan, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares Distributed Property as provided in Section 14.04(c), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

 

Section 14.12. Limit on Issuance of ADSs Upon Conversion

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, if an event occurs that would result in an increase in the Conversion Rate by an amount in excess of limitations imposed by any shareholder approval rules or listing standards of any national or regional securities exchange that are applicable to the Company, the Company will, at its option, either obtain stockholder approval of any issuance of ADSs upon conversion of the Notes in excess of such limitations or pay cash in lieu of delivering any ADSs otherwise deliverable upon conversions in excess of such limitations based on the Daily VWAP on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

Section 14.13. Termination of Depositary Receipt Program

 

If the Class A Ordinary Shares cease to be represented by ADSs issued under a depositary receipt program sponsored by the Company, all references in this Indenture to the ADSs shall be deemed to have been replaced by a reference to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares (and other property, if any) represented by the ADSs on the last day on which the ADSs represented the Class A Ordinary Shares and as if the Class A Ordinary Shares and the other property had been distributed to holders of the ADSs on that day. In addition, all references to the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs will be deemed to refer to the Last Reported Sale Price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, and other appropriate adjustments, including adjustments to the Conversion Rate, will be made to reflect such change. In making such adjustments, where currency translations between U.S. dollars and any other currency are required, the exchange rate in effect on the date of determination will apply. The Company shall provide written notice to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) upon the occurrence of the foregoing.

 

ARTICLE 15

 

REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 15.01. Repurchase at Option of Holders

 

(a)
Each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash on any Business Day during the three-month period commencing on the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture (the “Repurchase Period”) (the Business Day specified by such Holder on which the Notes are required to be repurchased, at the election of each Holder, pursuant to this Section 15.01, the “Repurchase Date”), all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is an integral multiple of US$1,000 principal amount, at a repurchase price (the “Third Anniversary Repurchase Price”) that is equal to the sum of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, (ii) a premium equal to 20% of the principal amount thereof, and (iii) accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the

 

76


Repurchase Date; provided (i) that any such accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid not to the Holders submitting the Notes for repurchase on the Repurchase Date but instead to the Holders of such Notes at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Repurchase Date and (ii) any Repurchase Date shall not be earlier than the 20th Business Day immediately following the delivery of the relevant Repurchase Notice. Not later than 20 Business Days prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the Company shall mail a notice (the “Company Notice”) by first class mail to the Trustee, to the Paying Agent and to each Holder at its address shown in the Note Register of the Note Registrar (and to beneficial owners as required by applicable law). The Company Notice shall include a form of Repurchase Notice to be completed by a holder and shall state:

 

(i)
[reserved];

 

(ii)
the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price;

 

(iii)
the Repurchase Period;

 

(iv)
the name and address of the Conversion Agent and Paying Agent;

 

(v)
that the Notes with respect to which a Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

(vi)
that the Holder shall have the right to withdraw any Notes surrendered prior to the Repurchase Expiration Time; and

 

(vii)
the procedures a Holder must follow to exercise its repurchase rights under this Section 15.01 and a brief description of those rights.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

 

Simultaneously with providing the Company Notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing the information included in the Company Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time.

 

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 15.01.

 

 

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Repurchases of Notes under this Section 15.01 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

 

(A)
delivery to the Paying Agent by the Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth in Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Physical Notes, or in compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for surrendering interests in global notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in each case during the period beginning at any time from the open of business on the date that is 20 Business Days prior to the first day of the Repurchase Period until the close of business on the date that is 20 Business Days prior to the last day of the Repurchase Period;

 

(B)
delivery of the Notes, if the Notes are Physical Notes, to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at the Paying Agent Office, or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price therefor.

 

Each Repurchase Notice shall state:

 

(A)
in the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

 

(B)
the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, which must be US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof;

 

(C)
[reserved];

 

(D)
the Repurchase Date; and

 

(E)
that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

 

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 15.01 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Repurchase Date (the “Repurchase Expiration Time”) by delivery of a duly completed written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 15.03.

 

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

 

 

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No Repurchase Notice with respect to any Notes may be delivered and no Note may be surrendered for repurchase pursuant to this Section 15.01 by a Holder thereof to the extent such Holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note in accordance with Section 15.02 and not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 15.03.

 

(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders on the Repurchase Date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such Repurchase Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company in the payment of the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

 

Section 15.02. Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change

 

(a)
If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time, each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is equal to US$1,000 or an integral multiple of US$1,000, on the Business Day (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) notified in writing by the Company as set forth in Section 15.02(c) that is not less than 3 Business Days or more than 35 Business Days following the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice, at a repurchase price equal to, (A) in the case of a Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change, the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, (ii) a premium equal to an amount that would yield a return on the principal amount thereof at the rate of 6% per annum, compounded annually, from the date hereof to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and (iii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, or (B) in the case of any Fundamental Change other than a Fundamental Adverse Regulatory Change, (x) if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is on or prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the sum of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, (ii) a premium equal to 20% of the principal amount thereof, and (iii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, or (y) if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the sum of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, (ii) a premium equal to 30% of the principal amount thereof, and (iii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the purchase price under (A) or (B), the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”), unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which such Regular Record Date relates, in which case the Company shall instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to Holders of record as of such Regular Record Date on such Interest Payment Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, plus any premium thereon, in each case, pursuant to this Article 15.

 

(b)
Repurchases of Notes under this Section 15.02 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

 

(i)
delivery to the Paying Agent by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth in Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Physical Notes, or in compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for surrendering interests in Global Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in each case on or before the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and

 

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(ii)
delivery of the Notes, if the Notes are Physical Notes, to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements for transfer) or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor.

 

The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in respect of any Notes to be repurchased shall state:

 

(i)
in the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

 

(ii)
the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

 

(iii)
that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

 

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 15.02 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 15.03.

 

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

 

No Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to any Notes may be delivered and no Note may be surrendered for repurchase pursuant to this Section 15.02 by a Holder thereof to the extent such Holder has also delivered a Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note in accordance with Section

15.01
and not validly withdrawn such Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 15.03.

 

(c)
On or before the 20th calendar day after the occurrence of the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders, the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) a written notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of the occurrence of the effective date of the Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof. In the case of Physical Notes, such notice shall be by first class mail or, in the case of Global Notes, such notice shall be delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary. Simultaneously with providing such notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing the information set forth in the Fundamental Change Company Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time. Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:

 

(i)
the events causing the Fundamental Change;

 

(ii)
the date of the Fundamental Change;

 

 

80


(iii)
the last date on which a Holder may exercise the repurchase right pursuant to this Section 15.02;

 

(iv)
the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

 

(v)
the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

 

(vi)
the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(vii)
if applicable, the Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the Conversion

Rate;

 

(viii)
that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

 

(ix)
the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes.

 

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 15.02.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Fundamental Change Company

 

Notice shall be prepared by the Company and delivered to the Trustee no later than 2 Business Days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date the Fundamental Change Company Notice is to be sent.

 

(d)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company on any date at the option of the Holders upon a Fundamental Change if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

 

 

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Section 15.03. Withdrawal of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice

 

A Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn (in whole or in part) by means of a duly completed written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 15.03 at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Repurchase Date or prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, specifying:

 

(i)
the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, which principal amount must be in principal amounts of US $1,000 or an integral multiple of US $1,000,

 

(ii)
if Physical Notes have been issued, the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and

 

(iii)
the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, which portion must be in principal amounts of US$1,000 or an integral multiple of US$1,000;

 

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the notice must comply with appropriate procedures of the Depositary.

 

Section 15.04. Deposit of Third Anniversary Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price

 

(a)
The Company will deposit with the Paying Agent, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04(b) on or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, an amount of money sufficient to repurchase all of the Notes to be repurchased at the appropriate Third Anniversary Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Paying Agent, payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn in accordance with Section 15.03) will be made on the later of (i) the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions in Section 15.01 or Section 15.02, as the case may be) and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 15.01 or Section, as applicable, by mailing checks for the amount payable to the Holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register; provided, however, that payments to the Depositary shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Paying Agent shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be.

 

 

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(b)
If by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, the Paying Agent holds money sufficient to make payment on all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be repurchased on such Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, then, with respect to the Notes that have been properly surrendered for repurchase to the Paying Agent and not validly withdrawn, on such Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, (i) such Notes will cease to be outstanding, (ii) interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Paying Agent) and (iii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate (other than the right to receive the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be).

 

(c)
Upon surrender of a certificated Note that is to be repurchased in part pursuant to Section 15.01 or Section 15.02, the Company shall execute and instruct the Trustee who shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new certificated Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unrepurchased portion of the certificated Note surrendered.

 

Section 15.05. Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes

 

In connection with any repurchase offer, the Company will, if required:

 

(a)
comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act;

 

(b)
file a Schedule TO or other required schedule under the Exchange Act; and

 

(c)
otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by the Company to repurchase the Notes;

 

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article 15 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Article 15.

 

The Company shall not be required to purchase, or to make an offer to purchase, the Notes upon a Fundamental Change if a third party makes such an offer in the same manner, at the same time, for the same or greater price and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company as set forth above in this Section 15.05 and such third party purchases all Notes properly surrendered and not validly withdrawn under its offer in the same manner, at the same time, for the same or greater price and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company as set forth above in this Section 15.05.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, to the extent that the provisions of any federal or state securities laws or other applicable laws or regulations adopted after the date on which the Notes are first issued conflict with the provisions of this Indenture relating to the Company’s obligations to repurchase the Notes upon a Fundamental Change, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 

 

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ARTICLE 16

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

Section 16.01. Optional Redemption for Changes in the Tax Law of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction

Other than as described in this Article 16, the Notes may not be redeemed by the Company at its option prior to maturity. If the Company has, or on the next Interest Payment Date would, become obligated to pay to the Holder of any Note Additional Amounts, as a result of:

(a)
any change or amendment on or after December 30, 2022 (or, in the case of a jurisdiction that becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction on a date that is after December 30, 2022, after such later date) in the laws or any rules or regulations of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction; or
(b)
any change on or after December 30, 2022 (or, in the case of a jurisdiction that becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction on a date that is after December 30, 2022, after such later date) in an interpretation, administration or application of such laws, rules or regulations by any legislative body, court, governmental agency, taxing authority or regulatory or administrative authority of such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (including the enactment of any legislation and the announcement or publication of any judicial decision or regulatory or administrative interpretation or determination); (each, a “Change in Tax Law”), the Company may, at its option, redeem all but not part of the Notes (an “Optional Redemption”) (except in respect of certain Holders that elect otherwise as described below) at a “Tax Redemption Price” equal to (x) if the date on which the Notes are redeemed (the “Redemption Date”) is on or prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, (ii) a premium equal to 20% of the principal amount thereof, and (iii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, or (y) if the Redemption Date is after the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, (ii) a premium equal to 30% of the principal amount thereof, and (iii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, in each case of (x) and (y), including, any Additional Amounts with respect to such Tax Redemption Price; provided that the Company may only redeem the Notes if: (i) the Company cannot avoid such obligations by taking commercially reasonable measures available to the Company (provided that changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company shall be deemed not to be a commercially reasonable measure); and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of outside legal counsel or a tax advisor of recognized standing in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and an Officer’s Certificate attesting to such Change in Tax Law and obligation to pay Additional Amounts.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Company nor any successor Person may redeem any of the Notes in the case that Additional Amounts are payable in respect of PRC withholding tax at the Applicable PRC Rate or less solely as a result of the Company or its successor Person being considered a PRC tax resident.

If the Redemption Date occurs after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay on the Interest Payment Date the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date to the record holder of the Notes on the Regular Record Date corresponding to such Interest Payment Date, and the Tax Redemption Price payable to the Holder who presents a Note for redemption shall be equal to (x) if the Redemption Date is on or prior to

the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) a premium equal to 20% of the principal amount thereof or (y) if the Redemption Date is after the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the sum of (i) 100% of

 

84


the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) a premium equal to 30% of the principal amount thereof, in each case of (x) and (y), including, any Additional Amounts with respect to such Tax Redemption Price of such Note.

The Company shall give Holders of Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) not less than 25 Scheduled Trading Days’ but no more than 40 Scheduled Trading Days’ notice (a “Redemption Notice”) prior to the Redemption Date. Simultaneously with providing such notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time. The Redemption Date must be a Business Day and cannot fall after the Maturity Date.

Upon receiving such Redemption Notice, each Holder shall have the right to elect to not have its Notes redeemed, in which case the Company shall not be obligated to pay any Additional Amounts on any payment with respect to such Notes solely as a result of such Change in Tax Law that resulted in the obligation to pay such Additional Amounts (whether upon conversion, required repurchase, maturity or otherwise, and whether in cash, ADSs, or a combination thereof, Reference Property or otherwise) after the Redemption Date (or, if the Company fails to pay the Tax Redemption Price on the Redemption Date, such later date on which the Company pays the Tax Redemption Price), and all future payments with respect to such Notes shall be subject to the deduction or withholding of such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and taxes required by law to be deducted or withheld as a result of such Change in Tax Law; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Holder electing not to have its Notes redeemed converts its Notes in connection with the Company’s election to redeem the Notes in respect of such Change in Tax Law pursuant to Section 14.03(g) the Company shall be obligated to pay Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such conversion.

Subject to the applicable procedures of DTC in the case of Global Notes, a Holder electing to not have its Notes redeemed must deliver to the Company, with a copy to the Paying Agent a written notice of election so as to be received by the Company and the Paying Agent or otherwise by complying with the requirements for conversion in Section 14.02(b) prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date. A Holder may withdraw any notice of election (other than such a deemed notice of election in connection with a conversion) by delivering to the Company and the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date (or, if the Company fail to pay the Tax Redemption Price on the Redemption Date, such later date on which the Company pays the Tax Redemption Price). If no election is made, the Holder shall have its Notes redeemed without any further action.

No Notes may be redeemed if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date.

 

 

85


ARTICLE 17

 

MISCELLANEOUSPROVISIONS

 

Section 17.01. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors

 

All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 17.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation

 

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or Officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.

 

Section 17.03. Addresses for Notices, Etc

 

Any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders on the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to iQIYI, Inc., 3/F, iQIYI Youth Center, Yoolee Plaza, No. 21 North Road of Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District Beijing, 100027, People’s Republic of China, Attention: Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Paying Agent shall be deemed to have been given or made by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Paying Agent Office or sent electronically in PDF format. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given or made by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Corporate Trust Office or sent electronically in PDF format. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, notices to the Trustee shall only be deemed received upon actual receipt thereof by a Responsible Officer.

 

So long as and to the extent that the Notes are represented by Global Notes and such Global Notes are held by DTC, notices to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes may be given by delivery of the relevant notice to DTC for communication by it to entitled account holders.

 

The Trustee, by notice to the Company, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication delivered to a Holder shall be mailed to it by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register or delivered by electronic mail and shall be sufficiently given to it if so delivered within the time prescribed.

 

Failure to mail or deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given under this Indenture shall be in English.

 

 

86


Section 17.04. Governing Law; Jurisdiction

 

THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF).

 

The Company irrevocably consents and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Notes and the Trustee, that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Indenture or the Notes may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and, until amounts due and to become due in respect of the Notes have been paid, hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.

 

The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Indenture brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any immunity to jurisdiction to which it may be entitled or become entitled (including without limitation sovereign immunity, immunity to pre-award attachment, immunity to post-award attachment or otherwise) in any proceedings against it arising out of or based on this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 17.05. Submission to Jurisdiction; Service of Process

 

The Company irrevocably appoints Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc., 801 2nd Avenue, Suite 403, New York, New York, 10017, as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Company by the person serving the same to iQIYI, Inc., 3/F, iQIYI Youth Center, Yoolee Plaza, No. 21 North Road of Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District Beijing, 100027, People’s Republic of China, Attention: Secretary, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of six years from the date of this Indenture. If for any reason such agent shall cease to be such agent for service of process, the Company shall forthwith appoint a new agent of recognized standing for service of process in the State of New York and deliver to the Holders and the Trustee a copy of the new agent’s acceptance of that appointment within ten Business Days of such acceptance. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Trustee, any Agent or any Holder to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Company in any other court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any sovereign or other immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Company irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations hereunder or under any Note.

 

 

87


Section 17.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee

 

Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such action is permitted by the terms of this Indenture.

 

Each Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for, by or on behalf of the Company in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with this Indenture (other than the Officer’s Certificates provided for in Section 4.09) shall include (a) a statement that the person signing such certificate is familiar with the requested action and this Indenture; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement contained in such certificate is based; (c) a statement that, in the judgment of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed judgment as to whether or not such action is permitted by this Indenture; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the judgment of such person, such action is permitted by this Indenture and that all covenants and conditions precedent in the Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 17.06, if any provision in this Indenture specifically provides that the Trustee shall or may receive an Opinion of Counsel in connection with any action to be taken by the Trustee or the Company hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to such Opinion of Counsel.

 

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Redemption Date, Repurchase Date, Conversion Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

 

Section 17.08. No Security Interest Created

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.

 

Section 17.09. Benefits of Indenture

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the Holders, the parties hereto, any Agent and their successors hereunder, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 17.10. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc

 

The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

 

88


Section 17.11. Execution in Counterparts

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 17.12. Severability

 

In the event any provision of this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

Section 17.13. Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 17.14. Force Majeure

 

In no event shall the Trustee or the Agents be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee or the Agents, as the case may be, shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 17.15. Calculations

 

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs, the Daily VWAPs, Applicable Redemption Price, the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, accrued interest payable on the Notes, the number of Additional ADSs to be added to the Conversion Rate upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, if any, and the Conversion Rate of the Notes. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Holders. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee, the Paying Agent. The Conversion Agent shall have no duty to monitor or verify the accuracy of the Company’s calculations, and shall be entitled to rely conclusively and without liability upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Company’s calculations to any registered Holder of Notes upon the written request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company.

 

 

89


Section 17.16. USA PATRIOT Act

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

Section 17.17. HKMA Stay Rules

 

If this Indenture is or becomes a “covered contract” (within the meaning of the Financial Institutions (Resolution) (Contractual Recognition of Suspension of Termination Rights – Banking Sector) Rules (Cap. 628C) of Hong Kong (the “Stay Rules”)), each party hereto agrees that, despite any other term or conditions of this Indenture or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, each party hereto will be bound by a suspension of a “termination right” (within the meaning of the Stay Rules) in relation to this Indenture imposed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority under section 90(2) of the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Ordinance (Cap. 628) of Hong Kong.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 

 

 

90


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

IQIYI, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ Yu Gong

Name:

Yu Gong

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, as Trustee

 

 

By:

/s/ Terence Yeung

Name:

Terence Yeung

Title:

Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 


EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

 

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A GLOBAL NOTE]

 

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREUNDER IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

 

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A RESTRICTED SECURITY]

 

[THIS SECURITY, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES DELIVERABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY, IF ANY, AND THE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES REPRESENTED THEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

(1)
REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS (A) A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND IS NOT A U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT AND THAT IT AND ANY SUCH ACCOUNT IS NOT AN AFFILIATE OF IQIYI, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) (OTHER THAN ANY ENTITY THAT BECOMES AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY FOLLOWING ITS PURCHASE OF THE NOTES), AND

 

(2)
AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A)
TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR

 

(B)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(C)
TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(D)
TO A NON-U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

A-1


 

(E)
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE).

 

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY, THE DEPOSITARY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY DURING THE THREE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING MONTHS (OTHER THAN ANY ENTITY THAT BECOMES AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY FOLLOWING ITS PURCHASE OF THE NOTES) MAY PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR OWN THIS NOTE OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.]

 

 

A-2


IQIYI, INC.

 

6.00% Convertible Senior Note due 2028

 

No. [ ] [Initially]1 US$

 

CUSIP No. [ ]

 

ISIN No. [ ]

 

iQIYI, Inc., a company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company,” which term includes any successor company or corporation or other entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to [CEDE & CO.] [ 2]3, or registered assigns, the principal sum [as set forth in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Notes” attached hereto]4 [of US$[]]5, which amount of the principal sum, taken together with the principal amounts of all other outstanding Notes, shall not, unless permitted by the Indenture, exceed US$500,000,000 in aggregate at any time (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by Investors (as defined in the Investment Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Investment Agreement), in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary, on January 1, 2028, plus a premium that equals to 30% of such principal sum (the “Maturity Premium”), and interest thereon as set forth below.

 

This Note shall bear interest at the rate of 6.00% per year from December 30, 2022, or from the most recent date to which interest had been paid or provided for to, but excluding, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date until January 1, 2028. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, commencing on April 1, 2023, to Holders of record at the close of business on the preceding March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), respectively. Additional Interest will be payable as set forth in Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03 of the within-mentioned Indenture, and any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note therein shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of such Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) or Section 6.03, and any express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision therein shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions thereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Any Defaulted Amounts shall accrue interest per annum at the rate per annum borne by the Notes plus seven percent, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, the relevant payment date to, but excluding, the date on which such Defaulted Amounts shall have been paid by the Company, at its election, in accordance with Section 2.03(c) of the Indenture.

 

The Company shall pay Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and interest on this Note, so long as such Note is a Global Note, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such Note. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall pay the principal of and premium (if any) on any Notes (other than Notes that are Global Notes) at the office or agency designated by the Company for that purpose. The Company has initially designated Citibank, N.A.

 

1 Include if a Global Note.

2 Include if a Global Note.

3 Include if a Physical Note.

4 Include if a Global Note.

5 Include if a Physical note.

 


as its Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Note Registrar in respect of the Notes and the Paying Agent Office as a place where Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer.

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, including, without limitation, provisions giving the Holder of this Note the right to convert this Note into ADSs, on the terms and subject to the limitations set forth in the Indenture. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Note, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Note, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York (without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof).

 

In the case of any conflict between this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control and govern.

 

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed manually or electronically by the Trustee under the Indenture.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.

 

 

IQIYI, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

 

 

 

CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,

 

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized signatory

 

 

 


[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE] IQIYI, INC.

6.00% Convertible Senior Note due 2028

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”), limited to the aggregate principal amount of US$500,000,000 (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Investors (as defined in the Investment Agreement) pursuant to the exercise of its option to purchase additional Notes as set forth in Section 4.1 of the Investment Agreement), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of December 30, 2022 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Citicorp International Limited (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Additional Notes may, with the consent of the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, be issued with the same terms as the Notes initially issued under the Indenture (except for any differences in the issue price, the issue date and interest accrued, if any) and in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture. The Rule 144A Notes and the Regulation S Notes initially have separate CUSIP numbers and will initially not be fungible. Capitalized terms used in this Notes and not defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

In case certain Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes may be declared, by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture. In case certain Events of Default relating to a bankruptcy (or similar proceeding) with respect to the Company or a Significant Subsidiary of the Company shall have occurred, the Note Acceleration Repayment Price and interest on, all Notes shall automatically become immediately due and payable, as set forth in the Indenture.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, to the Holder who surrenders a Note to the Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, Additional Amounts will be paid in connection with any payments made and deliveries caused to be made by the Company or any successor to the Company under or with respect to the Indenture and the Notes, including, but not limited to, payments of the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, payments of interest and the payment of cash and/or deliveries of ADSs (together with payments for any fractional ADS) upon conversion of the Notes to ensure that the net amount received by the beneficial owner after any applicable withholding or deduction (and after deducting any taxes on the Additional Amounts) will equal the amount that would have been received by such beneficial owner had no such withholding or deduction been required.

 

 


The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, and in certain other circumstances, with the consent of the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures modifying the terms of the Indenture and the Notes as described therein. It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain exceptions, the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and the consideration due upon conversion of, this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the lawful money or ADSs, as the case may be, herein prescribed.

 

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of US$1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, without payment of any service charge but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer or similar tax that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such exchange of Notes being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such exchange.

 

The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to the Maturity Date, except in the event of certain Changes in Tax Law as described in Section 16.01 of the Indenture. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.

 

The Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of US$1,000 or integral multiples thereof) on the Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of US$1,000 or integral multiples thereof) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder hereof has the right, at its option, prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert any Notes or portion thereof that is US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, into ADSs at the Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Indenture.

 

 


ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM = as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT = Uniform Gifts to Minors Act CUST = Custodian

 

TEN ENT = as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN = joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 


SCHEDULE A6

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

IQIYI, INC.

6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

 

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is [ ] UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$[ ]). The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of exchange

 

Amount of decrease in principal amount of this Global Note

 

Amount of increase in principal amount of this Global Note

 

Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase

 

Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Include if a global note.

 

 


ATTACHMENT 1

 

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

 

To: IQIYI, INC.

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Depositary for the ADSs CITIBANK, N.A., as Conversion Agent

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (that is US$1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, into ADSs in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that any ADSs deliverable upon such conversion, together with any cash payable for any fractional ADS, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any ADSs or any portion of this Note not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes, if any in accordance with Section 14.02(d) and Section 14.02(e) of the Indenture. Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

 

In connection with the conversion of this Note, or the portion hereof below designated, the undersigned acknowledges, represents to and agrees with the Company that the undersigned is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and has not been an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company during the three months immediately preceding the date hereof

 

OR

 

The undersigned is an entity affiliated with the Company that purchased Notes and holds or beneficially owns an Affiliate Note.

 

[The undersigned further certifies:

 

1.
The undersigned acknowledges (and if the undersigned is acting for the account of another person, that person has confirmed that it acknowledges) that the Restricted Securities received upon conversion of this Note (or securities represented thereby) have not been and are not expected to be registered under the Securities Act.

 

2.
The undersigned further certifies that either:

 

(a)
The undersigned is, and at the time any ADSs are delivered in conversion of its Notes will be, the holder of the ADSs and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby, and (i) the undersigned is not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) and is located outside the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S) and acquired, or have agreed to acquire and will have acquired, the Notes being converted and the ADSs and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby being delivered in the conversion outside the United States and (ii) the undersigned is not in the business of buying and selling securities or, if the undersigned is in such business, the undersigned did not acquire the Notes being converted from the Company or any affiliate thereof in the initial distribution of the Notes.

 

OR

 


 

(b)
The undersigned is a broker-dealer acting on behalf of its customer; its customer has confirmed to the undersigned that it is, and at the time any ADSs are delivered in conversion of our Notes will be, the holder of the ADSs and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby, and (i) it is not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) and it is located outside the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S) and acquired, or have agreed to acquire and will have acquired, the Notes being converted and the ADSs and the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby being delivered in the conversion outside the United States and (ii) it is not in the business of buying and selling securities or, if it is in such business, it did not acquire the Notes being converted from the Company or any affiliate thereof in the initial distribution of the Notes.

 

OR

 

(c)
The undersigned is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) acting for its own account or for the account of one or more qualified institutional buyers and the undersigned is (or such account or accounts are) the sole beneficial owner(s) of any ADSs to be received upon conversion of the Notes.

 

3.
The undersigned acknowledges that the undersigned (and any such other account) may not continue to hold or retain any interest in Restricted Securities received upon conversion of this Note if the undersigned (or such other account) becomes an Affiliate of the Company (except an entity affiliated with the Company that purchased Notes, to the extent of any ADSs received upon conversion bears the restrictive legend set forth in Section 2.05(d) of the Indenture).

 

4.
The undersigned agrees (and if the undersigned is acting for the account of another person, that person has confirmed that it agrees) that, unless and until the undersigned (or such other account) is notified by the Depositary that the restrictive legend on such Restricted Security has been removed from such security, the undersigned (and such other account) will not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Restricted Security (or securities represented by such Restricted Security) except in accordance with the restrictions set forth in that legend and any applicable securities laws of the United States and any state thereof.]7

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

Signature Guarantee

 

 

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and

loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if ADSs

 

 

 

7 Include if a Restricted Security.

 

are to be issued, or Notes are to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

 

 

 


Fill in for registration of ADSs if to be issued, and Notes if to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder:

 

 

 

 

 

(Name)

 

 

 

 

 

(Street Address)

 

 

 

 

 

(City, State and Zip Code)

 Please print name and address

 

 

 

 

Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): US$ ,000

 

 

 

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

 

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

 

 

 


ATTACHMENT 2

 

[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE]

 

To:

IQIYI, INC.

 

Citibank, N.A., as Paying Agent

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from iQIYI, Inc. (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with Section 15.02 of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the Applicable Redemption Price or the Note Acceleration Repayment Price, as applicable, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not fall during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

 

In the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be repurchased are as set forth

below:

 

 

Certificate Number(s):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

 

 

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if ADSs are to be issued, or Notes are to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

 

 

Fill in for registration of ADSs if to be issued, and Notes if to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder:

 

 

 

 

 

(Name)

 

 

 

 

 

(Street Address)

 

 

 

 


 

 

(City, State and Zip Code)

 

 Please print name and address

 

 

 

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

 

 

 

Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): US$ ,000

 

 

 

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 


ATTACHMENT 3

 

[FORM OF REPURCHASE NOTICE]

 

To: iQIYI, Inc.

 

Citibank, N.A., as Paying Agent

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from iQIYI, Inc. (the “Company”) regarding the right of Holders to elect to require the Company to repurchase the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is US$1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture referred to in this Note, to the registered Holder hereof. The undersigned hereby directs the Company to repurchase the designated principal amount of its Note at the Third Anniversary Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Date, each as described below, in accordance with the Indenture. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

 

In the case of certificated Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be purchased are as set forth below:

 

Certificate Number(s):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): US$ ,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever:

 

 

 


ATTACHMENT 4

 

To: Citicorp International Limited, as Trustee and Citibank, N.A., as Note Registrar

 

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

 

For value received hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

In connection with any transfer of the within Note occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Indenture governing such Note, the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:

 

To iQIYI, Inc. or a subsidiary thereof; or

 

Pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended [(“Rule 144A”), and the undersigned confirms that the undersigned reasonably believes that the transferee of such Note is a “qualified institutional buyer” (within the meaning of Rule 144A) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of another qualified institutional buyer and the undersigned has provided such transferee notice that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A]8; or

 

Outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (if available).

 

Whether occurring prior to, on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the undersigned represents and warrants that the Note being transferred hereunder [is/is not] an Affiliate Note.

 

Dated:

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved

 

 

8 Include if Regulation S Note.

 

 

 

 

 

 

signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if Notes are to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

 

 

NOTICE: The signature on the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 


EX-4

Exhibit 4.70

 

 

Confirmation Letter

 

 

Beijing QIYI Century Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“QIYI Century”) and _______ have entered into _____________ dated _____________ (the “_____ Agreement”), whereby it is provided that the term of the agreement shall commence on ________ and end on ________, which term shall be renewable upon confirmation thereof by QIYI Century in writing. Based on the above provision, it is hereby confirmed by QIYI Century that the term of the agreement shall be renewed for a period of 10 years and end on _________.

 

 

(No text below)

 

 

 

 

/s/ Beijing QIYI Century Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (seal)

 

Dated: February 10, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Schedule A

 

The following schedule sets forth similar Confirmation Letters QIYI Century entered into with other parties. Other than the information set forth below, there is no material difference between such other Confirmation Letters and this exhibit.

 

Original Agreement

Counterparties of Original Agreement

Execution Date of Original Agreement

Initial Term of Original Agreement

Updated Termination Date of Original Agreement

Exclusive Technology Consulting and Services Agreement

Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd.

October 25, 2013

October 25, 2013 –

October 25, 2023

October 25, 2033

Business Cooperation Agreement

Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd., Xiaohua Geng, Yu Gong

October 25, 2013

October 25, 2013 –

October 25, 2023

October 25, 2033

Loan Agreement

Xiaohua Geng, Yu Gong

October 25, 2013

December 12, 2012 –

October 25, 2023

October 25, 2033

Exclusive Technology Consulting and Services Agreement

Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd.

January 14, 2014

January 14, 2014 –

January 14, 2024

January 14, 2034

Business Cooperation Agreement

Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd., Yu Gong

January 14, 2014

January 14, 2014 –

January 14, 2024

January 14, 2034

Loan Agreement

Yu Gong

January 14, 2014

January 14, 2014 –

January 14, 2024

January 14, 2034

 

 

 

2


EX-4

Exhibit 4.71

 

Confirmation Letter

 

Qiyi.com, Inc. (“QIYI Cayman”, which has been renamed to iQIYI, Inc. as of November 30, 2017) and _______ have entered into an Exclusive Call Option Agreement dated _____________ (the “Agreement”), whereby it is provided that the Agreement shall become effective on ________for a term of ten years, which term shall be renewable upon confirmation thereof by QIYI Cayman in writing prior to its expiration. Based on the above provision and considering the Agreement shall expire on ________, it is hereby confirmed by QIYI Cayman that the term of the Agreement shall be renewed for a period of 10 years and expire on ________.

 

(No text below)

 

On behalf of

 

 

 

iQIYI, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/GONG Yu

Dated:

 

February 10, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Schedule A

 

The following schedule sets forth similar Confirmation Letters iQIYI, Inc. entered into with other parties. Other than the information set forth below, there is no material difference between such other Confirmation Letters and this exhibit.

 

Original Agreement

Counterparties of Original Agreement

Execution Date of Original Agreement

Initial Term of Original Agreement

Updated Termination Date of Original Agreement

Exclusive Call Option Agreement

Beijing QIYI Century Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd., Xiaohua Geng, Yu Gong

October 25, 2013

October 25, 2013 –

October 25, 2023

October 25, 2033

Exclusive Call Option Agreement

Beijing QIYI Century Science & Technology Co., Ltd. , Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd., Xiaohua Geng, Yu Gong

January 14, 2014

January 14, 2014 –

January 14, 2024

January 14, 2034

 

 

2


EX-4

Exhibit 4.72

Supplementary Agreement to the Trademark License Agreement

This Supplementary Agreement to the Trademark License Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Supplementary Agreement") was entered into by the following parties on February 10, 2023:

Licensor: Beijing QIYI Century Science &Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: Floor 10 and Floor 11, No. 2, Haitao North Street, Haitao District, Beijing

Licensee: Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (former name: Beijing Xinlian Xinde Advertising Media Co., Ltd.)

Address: Room 1101, Floor 11, No. 2 Haitao North Street, Haitao District, Beijing

The parties have entered into this Supplementary Agreement as a supplemental to the Trademark Licensing Agreement (dated December 1, 2011 with actual signing date February 15, 2012, hereinafter referred to as the "Original Agreement") as below:

1. Both parties agree that the trademark list as shown in Schedule I under the Original Agreement only reflects the status as of the signing date of the Original Agreement, and does not constitute a limitation on the actual licensed scope that the parties actually agree to license. In the term of the Original Agreement, the license scope shall be updated from time to time in accordance with the scope actual owned by the licensor and actually used by the licensee.

2. Both parties agree that this Supplementary Agreement shall be executed and become effective on the date first stated above. Upon effective, this Supplementary Agreement shall constitute a part of the Original Agreement and have the same legal effect as the Original Agreement. For terms have not amended by this Supplementary Agreement, the Original Agreement remains apply.

(No text below)

 

 


(Signature Page to the Supplementary Agreement

to the Trademark License Agreement)

 

 

 

 

Licensor: Beijing QIYI Century Science &Technology Co., Ltd.

(Company seal: /s/ Beijing QIYI Century Science &Technology Co., Ltd.)

 

 

 

Licensee: Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd.

(Company seal: /s/ Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd.)


EX-4

 

Exhibit 4.73

IQIYI, INC.

 

 

 

AND

 

 

 

CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

 

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

 

 

Dated as of March 7, 2023

6.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

 

 

 

 


 

CONTENTS

Page

Article I. Definitions

1

Section 1.01

Definitions

1

Section 1.02

References to Interest

16

Article II. Issue, Description, Execution, Registration and Exchange of Notes

16

Section 2.01

Designation and Amount

16

Section 2.02

Form of Notes

16

Section 2.03

Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts

17

Section 2.04

Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes

18

Section 2.05

Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary

19

Section 2.06

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes

26

Section 2.07

Temporary Notes

27

Section 2.08

Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc

28

Section 2.09

CUSIP Numbers

28

Section 2.10

Additional Notes; Repurchases

28

Section 2.11

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

28

Article III. Satisfaction and Discharge

29

Section 3.01

Satisfaction and Discharge

29

Article IV. Particular Covenants of the Company

29

Section 4.01

Payment of Principal and Interest

29

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

29

Section 4.03

Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office

30

Section 4.04

Provisions as to Paying Agent

30

Section 4.05

Existence

31

Section 4.06

Rule 144A Information Requirement

31

Section 4.07

Additional Amounts

32

Section 4.08

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

35

Section 4.09

Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults

36

Section 4.10

Further Instruments and Acts

36

Article V. Lists of Holders and Reports by the Company and the Trustee

37

Section 5.01

Lists of Holders

37

Section 5.02

Preservation and Disclosure of Lists

37

Article VI. Defaults and Remedies

37

Section 6.01

Events of Default

37

Section 6.02

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

38

Section 6.03

[Reserved].

40

Section 6.04

Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor

40

Section 6.05

Application of Monies Collected by Trustee

41

Section 6.06

Proceedings by Holders

42

Section 6.07

Proceedings by Trustee

43

Section 6.08

Remedies Cumulative and Continuing

43

Section 6.09

Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders

44

i


 

Section 6.10

Notice of Defaults and Events of Default

44

Section 6.11

Undertaking to Pay Costs

44

Article VII. Concerning the Trustee

45

Section 7.01

Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

45

Section 7.02

Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc.

47

Section 7.03

No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc.

50

Section 7.04

Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes

50

Section 7.05

Monies and ADSs to Be Held in Trust

50

Section 7.06

Compensation and Expenses of Trustee

50

Section 7.07

Officer’s Certificate as Evidence

52

Section 7.08

Eligibility of Trustee

52

Section 7.09

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

52

Section 7.10

Acceptance by Successor Trustee

53

Section 7.11

Succession by Merger, Etc.

54

Section 7.12

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

54

Article VIII. Concerning the Holders

55

Section 8.01

Action by Holders

55

Section 8.02

Proof of Execution by Holders

55

Section 8.03

Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners

55

Section 8.04

Company-Owned Notes Disregarded

56

Section 8.05

Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound

56

Article IX. Holders’ Meetings

56

Section 9.01

Purpose of Meetings

56

Section 9.02

Call of Meetings by Trustee

57

Section 9.03

Call of Meetings by Company or Holders

57

Section 9.04

Qualifications for Voting

57

Section 9.05

Regulations

57

Section 9.06

Voting

58

Section 9.07

No Delay of Rights by Meeting

59

Article X. Supplemental Indentures

59

Section 10.01

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

59

Section 10.02

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

60

Section 10.03

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

61

Section 10.04

Notation on Notes

61

Section 10.05

Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished to the Trustee

61

Article XI. Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Conveyance and Lease

62

Section 11.01

Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms

62

Section 11.02

Successor Corporation to Be Substituted

62

Section 11.03

Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee

63

Article XII. Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors

63

Section 12.01

Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations

63

Article XIII. Intentionally Omitted

63

Article XIV. Conversion of Notes

63

Section 14.01

Conversion Privilege

63

ii

 

 


 

Section 14.02

Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion

67

Section 14.03

Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes

73

Section 14.04

Adjustment of Conversion Rate

75

Section 14.05

Adjustments of Prices

86

Section 14.06

Class A Ordinary Shares to Be Fully Paid

86

Section 14.07

Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Class A Ordinary Shares

87

Section 14.08

Certain Covenants

88

Section 14.09

Responsibility of Trustee

89

Section 14.10

Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions

90

Section 14.11

Stockholder Rights Plans

90

Section 14.12

Limit on Issuance of ADSs Upon Conversion

91

Section 14.13

Termination of Depositary Receipt Program

91

Section 14.14

Exchange In Lieu Of Conversion

91

Article XV. Repurchase of Notes at Option of Holders

92

Section 15.01

Repurchase at Option of Holders

92

Section 15.02

Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change

94

Section 15.03

Withdrawal of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice

97

Section 15.04

Deposit of Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price

98

Section 15.05

Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes

99

Article XVI. Optional Redemption

99

Section 16.01

Optional Redemption for Changes in the Tax Law of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction

99

Section 16.02

Optional Redemption by the Company

101

Section 16.03

Election to be redeemed

103

Section 16.04

No redemption upon acceleration

103

Article XVII. Miscellaneous Provisions

103

Section 17.01

Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors

103

Section 17.02

Official Acts by Successor Corporation

103

Section 17.03

Addresses for Notices, Etc.

103

Section 17.04

Governing Law; Jurisdiction

104

Section 17.05

Submission to Jurisdiction; Service of Process

105

Section 17.06

Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee

105

Section 17.07

Legal Holidays

106

Section 17.08

No Security Interest Created

106

Section 17.09

Benefits of Indenture

106

Section 17.10

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

106

Section 17.11

Execution in Counterparts.

106

Section 17.12

Severability

106

Section 17.13

Waiver of Jury Trial

106

iii

 

 


 

Section 17.14

Force Majeure

107

Section 17.15

Calculations

107

Section 17.16

USA PATRIOT Act

107

Section 17.17

HKMA Stay Rules

107

 

EXHIBIT

Exhibit A Form of Note A-1

iv

 

 


 

INDENTURE dated as of March 7, 2023 between IQIYI, INC., a Cayman Islands exempted company, as issuer (the “Company,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01) and CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Hong Kong, as trustee (the “Trustee,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its 6.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed US$600,000,000, and in order to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Form of Note, the certificate of authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Notice of Conversion, the Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Form of Repurchase Notice and the Form of Assignment and Transfer to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, as in this Indenture provided, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture and the issuance hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

Article I.

Definitions

Section 1.01 Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article include the plural as well as the singular.

Additional ADSs” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(a).

Additional Amounts” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a).

Additional Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 4.06(e).

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ADS” means an American Depositary Share, issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, representing seven Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company as of the date of this Indenture, and deposited with the ADS Custodian.

ADS Custodian” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with respect to the ADSs delivered pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or any successor entity thereto.

ADS Depositary” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the ADSs, or any successor entity thereto.

ADS Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c).

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the determination of whether one Person is an “Affiliate” of another Person for purposes of this Indenture shall be made based on the facts at the time such determination is made or required to be made, as the case may be, hereunder.

Agent Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.02(l).

Agents” means the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Note Registrar, the Conversion Agent and the Bid Solicitation Agent, in each case, unless the Company is acting in such capacity.

Applicable PRC Rate” means (i) in the case of deduction or withholding of PRC income tax, 10%, (ii) in the case of deduction or withholding of PRC value added tax (including any related local levies), 6.72%, or (iii) in the case of deduction or withholding of both PRC income tax and PRC value added tax (including any related local levies), 16.72%.

Authenticating Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.11.

Bid Solicitation Agent” means the Company or any Person appointed by the Company to solicit bids for the Trading Price in accordance with Section 14.01(b)(i). The Company shall initially act as the Bid Solicitation Agent.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

2

 

 


 

Business Day” means, with respect to any Note, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the Cayman Islands or, in the case of a payment under the Indenture, place of payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close; provided that, with respect to any payment or delivery upon conversion of any Note set forth in Section 14.02(c), a “Business Day” shall exclude days on which banking institutions in the Cayman Islands or Hong Kong are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Called Notes” means Notes called for redemption pursuant to Article XVI or subject to a Deemed Redemption.

Capital Stock” means, for any entity, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that entity.

Cash Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).

Change in Law” shall have the meaning specified in clause (e) of the definition of “Fundamental Change” below.

Change in Tax Law” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01(b).

Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.00001 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 14.07.

Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.00001 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 14.07.

Clause A Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

Clause B Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

Clause C Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

close of business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Combination Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Equity” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.

Company” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

3

 

 


 

Company Group” shall have the meaning specified in clause (e) of the definition of “Fundamental Change” below.

Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

Company Order” means a written order of the Company, signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

Compliance Period End Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

Conversion Agent” means Citibank, N.A., the conversion agent with respect to the Notes appointed pursuant to a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar Appointment Letter dated as of the date of this Indenture and, subject to the provisions of such Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar Appointment Letter, shall also include any successor conversion agent.

Conversion Consideration” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.14(a).

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(c).

Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

Conversion Price” means as of any time, US$1,000, divided by the Conversion Rate as of such time.

Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 20/F, Citi Tower, One Bay East, 83 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, Attention: Agency and Trust, Facsimile: + 852 2323 0279, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

Daily Conversion Value” means, for each of the 40 consecutive Trading Days during the Observation Period, 2.5% of the product of (a) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on such Trading Day and (b) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day.

Daily Measurement Value” means the Specified Dollar Amount (if any), divided by 40.

Daily Settlement Amount,” for each of the 40 consecutive Trading Days during the Observation Period, shall consist of:

(a)
cash in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Daily Measurement Value and (ii) the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day; and

4

 

 


 

(b)
if the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day exceeds the Daily Measurement Value, a number of ADSs equal to (i) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and the Daily Measurement Value, divided by (ii) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day.

Daily VWAP” means, for each of the 40 consecutive Trading Days during the relevant Observation Period, the per ADS volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “IQ <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one ADS on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The “Daily VWAP” shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.

Deemed Redemption” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b).

Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.

Default Settlement Method” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iii).

Defaulted Amounts” means any amounts on any Note (including, without limitation, the Redemption Price, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, the Repurchase Price, principal and interest) that are payable but are not punctually paid or duly provided for.

delivered” means, with respect to any notice to be delivered, given or mailed to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture, notice (x) given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices or procedures at the Depositary (in the case of a Global Note) or (y) mailed to such Holder by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register, in each case in accordance with Section 17.03. Notice so “delivered” shall be deemed to include any notice to be “mailed” or “given,” as applicable, under this Indenture.

Deposit Agreement” means the Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2018, among the Company, the ADS Depositary, and the holders and owners from time to time of the ADSs issued thereunder, delivered thereunder or, if amended or supplemented as provided therein, as so amended or supplemented.

Depositary” means, with respect to each Global Note, the Person specified in Section 2.05(c) as the Depositary with respect to such Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

Designated Financial Institution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.14(a).

Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

5

 

 


 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c), except that, as used in Section 14.04 and Section 14.05, “Effective Date” means the first date on which ADSs trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which the ADSs trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from the Company or, if applicable, from the seller of the ADSs on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Election” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.14(a).

Existing Substantial Holder” means PAGAC IV-1 (Cayman) Limited and any other “person” or “group” subject to aggregation or attribution of the Company’s share capital with such person under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

Expiring Rights” means any rights, options or warrants to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs that expire on or prior to the Maturity Date.

FATCA” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a)(i)D.

Force Majeure Event” shall mean any event (including but not limited to an act of God, fire, epidemics, explosion, floods, earthquakes, typhoons, accidents, nuclear or natural catastrophes; riot, civil or military commotion or unrest, insurrection, terrorism, war, work stoppages including strikes or lockouts; nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any law, order or regulation of a governmental, supranational or regulatory body; regulation of the banking or securities industry including changes in market rules, currency restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets; and breakdown, failure or malfunction of any utilities, telecommunications, computer services or systems (software and hardware), or other causes) beyond the control of any party which restricts or prohibits the performance of the obligations of such party contemplated by this Indenture.

Form of Assignment and Transfer” shall mean the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” attached as Attachment 4 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall mean the “Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” attached as Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

6

 

 


 

Form of Note” shall mean the “Form of Note” attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Form of Notice of Conversion” shall mean the “Form of Notice of Conversion” attached as Attachment 1 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Form of Repurchase Notice” shall mean the “Form of Repurchase Notice” attached as Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Fundamental Change” shall be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:

(a)
except as described in clause (b) below, (A) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its Subsidiaries, the employee benefit plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any Permitted Holder, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s ordinary share capital (including ordinary share capital held in the form of ADSs) representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s ordinary share capital or (B) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Existing Substantial Shareholder, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of more than 50% of the Company’s then outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs); provided, however, that for purposes of clause (B), in calculating the beneficial ownership percentage of the Class A Ordinary Shares held by any Permitted Holder, any Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) issued or issuable on conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares, or conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities, in any such case beneficially owned directly or indirectly by any Permitted Holder on March 1, 2023 or issued or issuable by the Company to any Permitted Holder after March 1, 2023 pursuant to rights attached to, or a dividend or other distribution on, any such Class B Ordinary Shares or other securities so owned on March 1, 2023 (or any Class A Ordinary Shares into which they may convert or be exchanged or exercised) shall be excluded from both the numerator and denominator, or (C) the Existing Substantial Holder files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of more than 75% of the Company’s the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs);
(b)
the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company or any similar transaction pursuant to which the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs will be converted into cash, securities or other property; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or

7

 

 


 

consolidated affiliated entities; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s ordinary share capital immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (b);
(c)
the shareholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(d)
the ADSs (or Class A Ordinary Shares or other Common Equity or American Depositary Shares in respect of Reference Property) cease to be listed or quoted on any of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or The New York Stock Exchange, (or any of their respective successors) and none of the ADSs, Class A Ordinary Shares, other Common Equity and American Depositary Shares in respect of Reference Property is listed or quoted on one of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or The New York Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) within one Trading Day of such cessation; or
(e)
any change in or any amendment to, the laws, regulations and rules of the PRC or the official interpretation or official application thereof (a “Change in Law”) that results in (x) the Company, its Subsidiaries and its consolidated affiliated entities (collectively, the “Company Group”) (as in existence immediately subsequent to such Change in Law), as a whole, being legally prohibited from operating substantially all of the business operations conducted by the Company Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) as of the last date of the period described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter and (y) the Company being unable to continue to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by the Company Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) in the same manner as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter;

provided, however, that a transaction or transactions described in clause (a) or (b) above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the ADSs, excluding cash payments for fractional ADSs and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of Common Equity or ADSs in respect of Common Equity that are listed or quoted on any of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or The New York Stock Exchange (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions and as a result of such transaction or transactions such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional ADSs, becomes Reference Property for the Notes.

Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(c).

8

 

 


 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(b)(i).

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).

Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

Holder,” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms, shall mean any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented.

Interest Payment Date” means each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2023.

Last Reported Sale Price” of the ADSs on any date means the closing sale price per ADS (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the ADSs are traded. If the ADSs are not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the last quoted bid price for the ADSs in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the ADSs are not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the ADSs on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” means any transaction or event described in clause (a), (b), (d) or (e) of the definition of Fundamental Change (determined after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from such definition, including in the proviso immediately succeeding clause (e) of the definition thereof, but without regard to the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof).

Market Disruption Event” means, for the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion (a) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the ADSs are listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (b) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the ADSs for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the ADSs or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the ADSs.

9

 

 


 

Maturity Date” means March 15, 2028.

Measurement Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b)(i).

Merger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

New Listing Reference Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(e).

Note” or “Notes” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the recitals of this Indenture.

Note Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

Note Registrar” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

Notes Fungibility Date” means the date, if any, following the Resale Restriction Termination Date on which all of the Notes are no longer Restricted Securities, do not bear the restrictive legend required by Section 2.05(c), are fungible for U.S. securities law purposes and are assigned an identical, unrestricted CUSIP number.

Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(b).

Observation Period” with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion means: (i) subject to clause (ii), if the relevant Conversion Date occurs prior to September 15, 2027, the 40 consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the second Trading Day immediately succeeding such Conversion Date; (ii) if the relevant Conversion Date for any Called Notes occurs on or after the date of the Company’s issuance of a Redemption Notice with respect to the Notes pursuant to Article XVI and prior to the relevant Redemption Date, the 40 consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the 41st Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date; and (iii) subject to clause (ii), if the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after September 15, 2027, the 40 consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the 41st Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.

Offering Memorandum” means the preliminary offering memorandum dated March 1, 2023, as supplemented by the pricing term sheet dated March 1, 2023, relating to the offering and sale of the Notes.

Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the Chairman, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, or any Vice President (in each case, whether or not such person is designated by a number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title of such person).

Officer’s Certificate,” when used with respect to the Company, means a certificate that is delivered to the Trustee and that is signed by an Officer of the Company. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 17.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. The Officer giving an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 4.09 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

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open of business” means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or other counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that is delivered to the Trustee, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications as to the matters set forth therein. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 17.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section 17.06.

Optional Redemption” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01.

“Optional Redemption Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(b).

Optional Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(b).

Ordinary Shares” means the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares.

outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

(a)
Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or accepted by the Trustee for cancellation;
(b)
Notes, or portions thereof, that have become due and payable and in respect of which monies in the necessary amount shall have been deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent);
(c)
Notes that have been paid pursuant to ‎Section 2.06 or Notes in lieu of which, or in substitution for which, other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of ‎Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Notes are held by protected purchasers in due course;
(d)
Notes converted pursuant to Article XIV and required to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.08;
(e)
Notes redeemed pursuant to Article XVI; and
(f)
Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to the third sentence of Section 2.10.

Paying Agent” means Citibank, N.A., the paying agent with respect to the Notes appointed pursuant to a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar Appointment Letter dated as of the date of this Indenture and, subject to the provisions of such Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar Appointment Letter, shall also include any successor paying agent.

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Paying Agent Office” means the designated office of the Paying Agent at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 388 Greenwich Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York, 10013, USA, Attention: Agency and Trust, Facsimile: +1 201 258 3567, or such other address as the Paying Agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated office of any successor paying agent (or such other address as such successor paying agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

Permitted Exchange” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, The London Stock Exchange or The Stock Exchange of Singapore.

Permitted Holder” means (i) any holder or “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Class B Ordinary Shares as of March 1, 2023 and permitted transferees of such holder or beneficial owner under the terms of the Class B Ordinary Shares as of March 1, 2023 and (ii) any “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act consisting of one or more Permitted Holders.

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or a political subdivision thereof.

Physical Notes” means permanent certificated Notes in registered form issued in minimum denominations of US$200,000 principal amount and integral multiples of US$200,000 in excess thereof.

Physical Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).

PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purpose of this Indenture only, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law” means the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China, adopted on March 16, 2007 (as subsequently amended or substituted).

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of or in exchange for a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.

Record Date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of the ADSs (or other applicable security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the ADSs (or such other security) are exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of the ADSs entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors, statute, contract or otherwise).

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Redemption Date” means a Tax Redemption Date or an Optional Redemption Date, as the context requires.

Redemption Notice” means a Tax Redemption Notice or an Optional Redemption Notice, as the context requires.

Redemption Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b)(v).

Redemption Price” means a Tax Redemption Price or an Optional Redemption Price, as the context requires.

Redemption Reference Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(g).

Redemption Reference Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(g).

Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

Regular Record Date,” with respect to any Interest Payment Date, shall mean the March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1 (whether or not such day is a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, respectively.

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act or any successor to such regulation.

Relevant Jurisdiction” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a).

Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a).

Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

Repurchase Expiration Time” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

Resale Restriction Termination Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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Restricted Issuance Agreement” means the restricted issuance agreement dated as of or about the date hereof by and among the Company, the ADS Depositary and the holders and beneficial owners of the restricted ADSs delivered thereunder or, if amended or supplemented as provided therein, as so amended or supplemented.

Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

Rule 144” means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.

Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the ADSs are listed or admitted for trading. If the ADSs are not so listed or admitted for trading, “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Settlement Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iv).

Settlement Method” means, with respect to any conversion of Notes, Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement, as elected (or deemed to have been elected) by the Company.

Settlement Method Election Deadline” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iii).

Settlement Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iii).

Significant Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company that meets the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act. Each of the Company’s consolidated affiliated entities will be deemed to be a “subsidiary” for the purposes of the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

Specified Dollar Amount” means the maximum cash amount per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes to be received upon conversion as specified in the Settlement Notice related to any converted Notes (or deemed specified pursuant to Section 14.02(a)(iii)).

Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of

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such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” should include the Company’s consolidated affiliated entities, including its variable interest entities and their Subsidiaries.

Successor Company” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a).

“Tax Redemption Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01(b).

“Tax Redemption Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.01(b).

Trading Day” means a day on which (i) trading in the ADSs (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if the ADSs (or such other security) are not then listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the ADSs (or such other security) are then listed or, if the ADSs (or such other security) are not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the ADSs (or such other security) are then traded and (ii) a Last Reported Sale Price for the ADSs (or closing sale price for such other security) is available on such securities exchange or market; provided that, if the ADSs (or such other security) are not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day; and provided, further, that for purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion only, “Trading Day” means a day on which (x) there is no Market Disruption Event and (y) trading in the ADSs generally occurs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if the ADSs are not then listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the ADSs are then listed or, if the ADSs are not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the ADSs are then listed or admitted for trading, except that if the ADSs are not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Trading Price” means, with respect to the Notes on any date of determination, the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent for US$1,000,000 principal amount of Notes at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects for this purpose; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for US$1,000,000 principal amount of Notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer on any determination date, then the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes on such determination date shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs and the Conversion Rate.

transfer” shall, as used in Section 2.05(c) and Section 2.05(d), have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

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Transfer Agent” means Citibank, N.A., the transfer agent with respect to the Notes appointed pursuant to a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar Appointment Letter dated as of the date of this Indenture and, subject to the provisions of such Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar Appointment Letter, shall also include any successor transfer agent.

Trigger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

unit of Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

Section 1.02 References to Interest. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note in this Indenture shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to Section 4.06(e). Unless the context otherwise requires, any express mention of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

Article II.

Issue, Description, Execution, Registration and Exchange of Notes

Section 2.01 Designation and Amount. The Notes shall be designated as the “6.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is initially limited to US$600,000,000, subject to Section 2.10 and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 10.04, Section 14.02 and Section 15.04.

Section 2.02 Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, the terms and provisions of which shall constitute, and are hereby expressly incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture as may be required by the Depositary, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or designated for issuance or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

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Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the Officer executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

Each Global Note shall represent such principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect redemptions, repurchases, cancellations, conversions, transfers or exchanges permitted hereby. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Registrar, at the direction of the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by the Holder of such Notes in accordance with this Indenture. Payment of principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, a Global Note shall be made to the Holder of such Note on the date of payment, unless a record date or other means of determining Holders eligible to receive payment is provided for herein.

Section 2.03 Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts. (a) The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of US$200,000 principal amount and integral multiples of US$200,000 in excess thereof. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of such Note. Accrued interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed over a 30-day month.

(b)
The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Note) is registered on the Note Register at the close of business on any Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. Interest shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained by the Company for such purposes in the contiguous United States, which shall initially be the Paying Agent Office. The Company shall pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay (to the extent funded by the Company) the principal amount of, and interest (i) on any Physical Notes to Holders holding Physical Notes by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account within the United States specified by the Holder or (ii) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

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(c)
Any Defaulted Amounts shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant payment date but shall accrue interest per annum at the rate per annum borne by the Notes plus one percent, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, such relevant payment date, and such Defaulted Amounts together with such interest thereon shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
(i)
The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Amounts to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of the Defaulted Amounts proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee in its sole discretion shall consent to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Amounts or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Amounts as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and Holders of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor at its address as it appears in the Note Register or by electronic means to the Depositary in the case of Global Notes, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor having been so delivered, such Defaulted Amounts shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.03(c). The Trustee shall have no responsibility whatsoever for the calculation of any Defaulted Amounts.
(ii)
The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Amounts in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.04 Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes. The Notes shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or electronic signature of any of its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary or any of its Executive or Senior Vice Presidents. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Note which has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

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At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes, without any further action by the Company hereunder; provided that, with respect to any issuance of Notes after the initial issuance of Notes on or about the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel with respect to the issuance, authentication and delivery of such Notes.

The Company Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated, the applicable rate at which interest will accrue on such Notes, the date on which the original issuance of such Notes is to be authenticated, the date from which interest will begin to accrue, the date or dates on which interest on such Notes will be payable and the date on which the principal of such Notes will be payable and other terms relating to such Notes. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes pursuant to the written order of the Company (as set forth in such Company Order).

Only such Notes as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth on the Form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto, executed manually or electronically by an authorized officer of the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Note executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Note so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Notes shall cease to be such Officer before the Notes so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Notes nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Notes had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any Note may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Note, shall be the Officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such an Officer.

Section 2.05 Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary. (a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Paying Agent Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Such register shall be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable period of time. Citibank, N.A. is hereby initially appointed the “Note Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more co-Note Registrars in accordance with Section 4.02.

Prior to the Notes Fungibility Date, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.05, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more

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Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture. Following the Notes Fungibility Date, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.05, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and not bearing the restrictive legends required by Section 2.05(c).

Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, repurchase or conversion shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Transfer Agent, the ADS Depositary, the Note Registrar, any co-Note Registrar or the Paying Agent for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax required in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of new Notes issued upon such exchange or registration of transfer being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer. The Company shall pay the ADS Depositary’s fees for issuance of the ADSs.

None of the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar shall be required to exchange or register a transfer of (i) any Notes surrendered for conversion or, if a portion of any Note is surrendered for conversion, such portion thereof surrendered for conversion, (ii) any Notes, or a portion of any Note, surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in accordance with Article XV or (iii) any Notes selected for redemption in accordance with Article XVI.

All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with this Indenture shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(b)
So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, subject to the fourth paragraph from the end of Section 2.05(c) all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary. The transfer and

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exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note that does not involve the issuance of a Physical Note shall be effected through the Depositary in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the applicable procedures of the Depositary therefor.
(c)
Every Note that bears or is required under this Section 2.05(c) to bear the legend set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (together with any ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) delivered upon conversion of the Notes that is required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), collectively, the “Restricted Securities”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (including the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Company, and the Holder of each such Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in this ‎Section 2.05(c) and Section 2.05(d), the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.

Until the date (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) that is the later of (1) the date that is one year after the last date of original issuance of the Notes, or such shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144 or any successor provision thereto, and (2) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable law, any certificate evidencing such Note (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) issued upon conversion thereof, which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Notes have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee):

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.

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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD END DATE”) THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE HEREOF, ONLY (A) TO IQIYI. INC. (THE “COMPANY”) OR ONE OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR (B) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY DURING THE THREE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING MONTHS MAY PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR OWN THIS NOTE OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.

No transfer of any Note prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Note Registrar unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer has been checked.

Any Note (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of such Note for exchange to the Note Registrar in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.05, be exchanged for a new Note or Notes, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall be entitled to instruct the Trustee in writing to so surrender any Global Note as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms for exchange, and, upon such instruction, the Trustee shall so surrender such Global Note for exchange; and any new Global Note so exchanged therefor shall not bear the restrictive legend specified in this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing upon the occurrence of the Resale Restriction Termination Date and after a registration statement, if any, with respect to the Notes or the ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) issued upon conversion of the Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act. Any exchange pursuant to the foregoing paragraph shall be in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.

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Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in this Section 2.05(c)), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole or in part except (i) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary and (ii) for exchange of a Global Note or a portion thereof for one or more Physical Notes in accordance with the second immediately succeeding paragraph.

The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to each Global Note. Initially, each Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee as custodian for Cede & Co.

If (i) the Depositary notifies the Company at any time that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as securities depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and, subject to the Depositary’s applicable procedures, a beneficial owner of any Note requests that its beneficial interest therein be issued as a Physical Note, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes, shall authenticate and deliver (x) in the case of clause (iii), a Physical Note to such beneficial owner in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Note corresponding to such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest and (y) in the case of clause (i) or (ii), Physical Notes to each beneficial owner of the related Global Notes (or a portion thereof) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes, and upon delivery of the Global Notes to the Trustee such Global Notes shall be canceled.

Physical Notes issued in exchange for all or a part of the Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, or, in the case of clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, the relevant beneficial owner, shall instruct the Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such Physical Notes to the Persons in whose names such Physical Notes are so registered.

At such time as all interests in a Global Note have been converted, canceled, repurchased, redeemed or transferred, such Global Note shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trustee in accordance with standing procedures and existing instructions of the Depositary. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Physical Notes, converted, canceled, repurchased, redeemed or transferred to a transferee who receives Physical Notes therefor or any Physical Note is exchanged or transferred for part of such Global Note, the principal amount of such Global Note shall, in accordance with the standing procedures and existing instructions of the Depositary, be appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.

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None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Company or any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to beneficial holders, any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

(d)
Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any certificate representing ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) issued upon conversion of such Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such ADSs (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or such ADS or the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby have been issued upon conversion of Notes that have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company with written notice thereof to the Trustee and the ADS Depositary):

THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY AND THE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES REPRESENTED THEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

(1)
REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS (a) A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (b) LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND IS NOT A U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT AND THAT IT AND ANY SUCH ACCOUNT IS NOT, AND HAS NOT BEEN FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THREE MONTHS, AN AFFILIATE OF IQIYI, INC. (THE “COMPANY”), AND
(2)
AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY, THE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES REPRESENTED THEREBY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN OR THEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTES UPON CONVERSION OF WHICH THIS SECURITY HAS BEEN ISSUED OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

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(A)
TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR
(B)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(C)
TO A NON-U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(D)
TO A PERSON REASONABLY BELIEVED TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(E)
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR OTHER EXEMPTIONS FROM, OR TRANSACTIONS NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE DEPOSITARY RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY DURING THE THREE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING MONTHS MAY PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR OWN THIS SECURITY, OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN OR THEREIN.

THE LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER, PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY AND THE DEPOSITARY RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE LEGEND IS BEING REMOVED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

Any such ADSs as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such ADSs for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the ADS Depositary and the Restricted Issuance Agreement, as applicable, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of ADSs, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(d).

(e)
Any Note or ADS (including the Class A Ordinary Shares represented thereby) delivered upon the conversion or exchange of any Note that is repurchased or owned by any Affiliate of the Company (or any Person who was an Affiliate of the Company at any time

25

 

 


 

during the three months immediately preceding) may not be resold by such Affiliate (or such Person, as the case may be) unless registered under the Securities Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act in a transaction that results in such Note or ADS, as the case may be, no longer being a “restricted security” (as defined under Rule 144). The Company shall cause any Note that is repurchased or owned by it to be surrendered to the Paying Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08.
(f)
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any securities laws or restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
(g)
Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

Section 2.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note, bearing a registration number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the receipt of such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity as the Trustee and the Company may require. No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Transfer Agent, the ADS Depositary, the Note Registrar, any co-Note Registrar or the Paying Agent upon the issuance of any substitute Note, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax required in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new substitute Note being different from the name of the Holder of the old Note that became mutilated or was destroyed, lost or stolen. In case any Note that has matured or is about to mature or has been surrendered for required repurchase or is about to be converted in accordance with Article XIV shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, in its sole discretion, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of or convert or authorize the conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note), as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment or conversion shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost

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or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company, and the Trustee evidence of their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement, payment, redemption, conversion or repurchase of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement, payment, redemption, conversion or repurchase of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.07 Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Physical Notes, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Physical Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Physical Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee Physical Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Physical Notes. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Physical Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.08 Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc. The Company shall cause all Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, repurchase, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee (including any of the Company’s agents, Subsidiaries, consolidated affiliated entities or Affiliates), to be delivered and surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. All Notes delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled promptly by it, and except for Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange, no Notes shall be authenticated in exchange thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures and, after such disposition, shall deliver a certificate of such cancellation and disposition to the Company, at the Company’s written request in a Company Order.

Section 2.09 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in all notices issued to Holders as a convenience to such Holders; provided that any such notice may

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state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or on such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers, as applicable.

Section 2.10 Additional Notes; Repurchases. The Company may, without the consent of the Holders and notwithstanding Section 2.01, reopen this Indenture and issue additional Notes hereunder with the same terms as the Notes initially issued hereunder (except for any differences in the issue price, the issue date and interest accrued, if any) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially issued hereunder for U.S. federal income tax or securities law purposes, such additional Notes shall have a separate CUSIP number. Prior to the issuance of any such additional Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a Company Order, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to cover such matters required by Section 17.06. In addition, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Company), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Company or through its Subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties to private agreements. The Company shall cause any Notes so repurchased to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08, and they will no longer be considered “outstanding” under this Indenture upon their cancellation. The Company may also enter into cash-settled swaps or other derivatives with respect to the Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, any Notes underlying such cash-settled swaps or other derivatives shall not be required to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08 and will continue to be considered “outstanding” for purposes of this Indenture, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04.

Section 2.11 Appointment of Authenticating Agent. As long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in writing, appoint with the approval of the Company an authenticating agent (an “Authenticating Agent”), which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes pursuant to this Indenture. Notes authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes by the Trustee or to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a Person that is eligible to act as such and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least US$50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 2.11, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

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Article III.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Section 3.01 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall upon request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as reasonably requested by the Company, when (a) (i) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced, paid or converted as provided in Section 2.06 and have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation); or (ii) the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Holders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, whether on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date, the Repurchase Date, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash, ADSs or a combination thereof, as applicable, solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion Obligation, sufficient, without consideration of reinvestment, to pay all of the outstanding Notes and all other sums due and payable under this Indenture by the Company; and (b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 shall survive.

Article IV.

Particular Covenants of the Company

Section 4.01 Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be paid the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the contiguous United States of America, an office or agency (which will be the Paying Agent Office initially) where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or repurchase or for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be made. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made at the Paying Agent Office.

The Company may also from time to time designate as co-Note Registrars one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the contiguous United States of America for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in

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the location of any such other office or agency. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

The Company initially designates Citibank, N.A. as the Paying Agent, Note Registrar and Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent Office shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Company for each of the aforesaid purposes.

Section 4.03 Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.09, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

Section 4.04 Provisions as to Paying Agent. (a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:

(i)
that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes;
(ii)
that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and
(iii)
that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will as soon as reasonably practicable pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.

The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) or accrued and unpaid interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action; provided that such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the relevant due date. The Paying Agent shall not be bound to make payment until immediately available funds in such amount as may be required for the purpose of such payment have been received from the Company.

(b)
If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and accrued and unpaid interest so becoming due and

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will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.
(c)
Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay, cause to be paid or deliver to the Trustee all sums or amounts held by the Company in trust or by any Paying Agent as required by this Section 4.04, such sums or amounts to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment or delivery by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability but only with respect to such sums or amounts. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j), the Trustee or one of its affiliates shall automatically become the Paying Agent.
(d)
Subject to applicable escheatment laws, any money or property deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company in trust, for the payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, or in satisfaction of its Conversion Obligation with respect to, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) or interest has become due and payable, or such Conversion Obligation became due, shall be paid or delivered, as the case may be, to the Company on request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money or property, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 4.05 Existence. Subject to Article XI, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

Section 4.06 Rule 144A Information Requirement. (a) If the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, at any time prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, promptly provide to the Trustee and shall, upon written request, provide to any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of any ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such ADSs pursuant to Rule 144A. The Company shall take such further action as any Holder or beneficial owner of such ADSs may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such Holder or beneficial owner to sell such ADSs in accordance with Rule 144A, as such rule may be amended from time to time. This Section 4.06(a) shall cease to apply on the Resale Restriction Termination Date.

(b)
[Reserved]
(c)
Delivery of the reports and documents described in this Section 4.06 to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute

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actual or constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).
(d)
[Reserved]
(e)
If, and for so long as, the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(c) has not been removed, the Notes are assigned a restricted CUSIP or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders thereof other than, in each case by or with respect to, the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes) as of the 376th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding until the restrictive legend has been removed from the Notes in accordance with Section 2.05(c), the Notes have been assigned an unrestricted CUSIP and the Notes are freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes).
(f)
Additional Interest will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes.
(g)
[Reserved]
(h)
If Additional Interest is payable by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06(e), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to that effect stating (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such Additional Interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Additional Interest is payable. If the Company has paid such Additional Interest directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

Section 4.07 Additional Amounts. (a) All payments and deliveries made by, or on behalf of, the Company or any successor to the Company under or with respect to this Indenture and the Notes, including payments of principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), payments of interest and payments of cash and/or deliveries of ADSs or any other consideration due upon conversion of the Notes (together with payments of cash for any fractional ADS), shall be made without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or within any jurisdiction in which the Company or any successor to the Company is, for tax purposes, organized or resident or doing business (each, as applicable, a “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”) or through which payment is made or deemed made (together with each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, a “Relevant Jurisdiction,” and in each case, any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein),

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unless such withholding or deduction is required by law or by regulation or governmental policy having the force of law. In the event that any such withholding or deduction is so required, the Company or any successor to the Company shall pay to each Holder such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by the Holders after such withholding or deduction (and after deducting any taxes on the Additional Amounts) will equal the amounts that would have been received by such Holders had no such withholding or deduction been required; provided that no Additional Amounts shall be payable:

(i)
for or on account of:
A.
any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for:
i)
the existence of any present or former connection between the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note and the Relevant Jurisdiction, other than merely holding such Note, receiving cash and/or ADSs (together with payments of cash for any fractional ADS or other consideration) due upon conversion of a Note or the receipt of payments thereunder, including such Holder or beneficial owner being or having been a national, domiciliary or resident of such Relevant Jurisdiction or treated as a resident thereof or being or having been physically present or engaged in a trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein;
ii)
the presentation of such Note (in cases in which presentation is required) more than 30 days after the later of the date on which the payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and interest on such Note or the payment of cash and/or the delivery of ADSs (together with payment of cash for any fractional ADS or other consideration) upon conversion of such Note became due and payable pursuant to the terms thereof or was made or duly provided for, unless the Holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on the last day of the 30-day period;
iii)
the failure of the Holder or beneficial owner to comply with a timely request from the Company or any successor of the Company, addressed to the Holder, to provide certification, information, documents or other evidence concerning such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Relevant Jurisdiction, or to make any declaration or satisfy any other reporting requirement relating to such matters, if and to the extent that due and timely compliance with such request is required by statute, regulation or administrative practice of the Relevant Jurisdiction in order to

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reduce or eliminate any withholding or deduction as to which Additional Amounts would have otherwise been payable; or
iv)
the presentation of such Note (in cases in which presentation is required) for payment in the Relevant Jurisdiction, unless such Note could not have been presented for payment elsewhere;
B.
any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, excise, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
C.
any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction from payments or deliveries under or with respect to the Notes;
D.
any tax, assessment, withholding or deduction required by sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (“FATCA”), any current or future Treasury regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder, any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted or issued in any jurisdiction implementing FATCA, any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other jurisdiction to implement FATCA or any law enacted by such other jurisdiction to give effect to such agreement, or any agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under FATCA; or
E.
any combination of taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges referred to in the preceding clauses A, B, C or D; or
(ii)
with respect to any payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and interest on such Note or the payment of cash and/or the delivery of ADSs or other consideration (together with payment of cash for any fractional ADS) upon conversion of such Note to a Holder, if the Holder is a fiduciary, partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of that payment to the extent that such payment would be required to be included in the income under the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a partner or member of that partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had that beneficiary, settlor, partner, member or beneficial owner been the Holder thereof.
(b)
The Trustee and Paying Agent shall also be entitled to make any withholding or deduction pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to FATCA and any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof. If any withholding or deduction is so required under this clause (b) or the preceding clause (a), the Trustee and Paying Agent will not bear any liability in respect of such withholding or deduction.
(c)
Any reference in this Indenture or the Notes in any context to the payment of cash and/or the delivery of ADSs (together with payments of cash for any fractional ADS), as

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applicable, upon conversion of any Note or the payment of principal of (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and interest on any Note or any other amount payable with respect to such Note, shall be deemed to include payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable with respect to that amount pursuant to this Section 4.07.
(d)
If the Company or its successor is required to make any deduction or withholding from any payments or deliveries with respect to the Notes, it shall deliver to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Holders official tax receipts evidencing the remittance to the relevant tax authorities of the amounts so withheld or deducted.
(e)
The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine whether any Additional Amounts are payable under the Indenture or the amount thereof.
(f)
The foregoing obligations shall survive termination or discharge of this Indenture.

Section 4.08 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

Section 4.09 Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2023) an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review has been conducted of the Company’s activities under this Indenture and the Company has fulfilled its obligations hereunder, and whether the authorized Officers thereof have knowledge of any Default by the Company that occurred during the previous year that is then continuing and, if so, specifying each such Default and the nature thereof.

In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default and if such events are then continuing, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Default, its status and the action that the Company is taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.

Section 4.10 Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture. The Company shall also provide to the Trustee and/or the Agents (as the case may be), upon written request, information reasonably required by the Trustee and/or the Agents (as the case may be) to comply with any Applicable Law; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide any information pursuant to this Section 4.10 to the extent that: (i) any such information is not

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reasonably available to the Company and cannot be obtained by the Company using reasonable efforts; or (ii) doing so would or might in the reasonable opinion of the Company constitute a breach of any Applicable Law, fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. For the purpose of this section, “Applicable Law” means law or regulation including, but not limited to: (a) any domestic or foreign statue or regulation; (b) any rule or practice of any Authority with which Company or any Agent is bound or accustomed to comply; and (c) any agreement entered into by the Company or Agents and any Authority or between any two or more Authorities. “Authority” means any competent regulatory, prosecuting, tax or governmental authority in any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.

Article V.

Lists of Holders and Reports by the Company and the Trustee

Section 5.01 Lists of Holders. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, quarterly, not more than 5 days after each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 in each year beginning with June 15, 2023, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 5 days after receipt by the Company of any such request (or such lesser time as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to enable it to timely provide any notice to be provided by it hereunder), a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15 days (or such other date as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to so provide any such notices) prior to the time such information is furnished, except that no such list need be furnished so long as the Trustee is acting as Note Registrar.

Section 5.02 Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or maintained by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Article VI.

Defaults and Remedies

Section 6.01 Events of Default. The following events shall be “Events of Default” with respect to the Notes:

(a)
default in any payment of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b)
default in the payment of principal of any Note when due and payable on the Maturity Date, upon Optional Redemption, upon any required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;
(c)
failure by the Company to comply with its obligation to convert the Notes in accordance with this Indenture upon exercise of a Holder’s conversion right and such failure continues for a period of five Business Days;

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(d)
failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 15.02(c), a notice of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change in accordance with Section 14.03(a) or notice of a specified corporate event in accordance with Section 14.01(b)(ii) or 14.01(b)(iii), in each case, when due and such failure continues for a period of five Business Days;
(e)
failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article XI;
(f)
failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or by the Trustee at the request of the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding has been received by the Company to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture;
(g)
default by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of US$60 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) in the aggregate by the Company and/or any such Significant Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness being declared due and payable or accelerated prior to its stated maturity or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise and in the case of (i) and (ii), such indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not otherwise cured or rescinded, within 30 days;
(h)
a final judgment for the payment of US$60 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) rendered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, which judgment is not paid, bonded or otherwise discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;
(i)
the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or
(j)
an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or

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any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days.

Section 6.02 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment. If one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries), unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee may by notice in writing to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, by notice in writing to the Company and to the Trustee may, at its sole discretion and without further notice, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders accompanied by security, pre-funding and/or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee and otherwise subject to the limitations set forth in this Indenture, shall, declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any further action on part of the Trustee, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries occurs and is continuing, 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the Trustee. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Agents and any other agents of the Company appointed under this Indenture will be required to act on the direction of the Trustee.

The immediately preceding paragraph, however, is subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum in immediately available funds sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest upon all Notes and the principal of any and all Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, and on such principal at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time plus one percent) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06, and if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) any and all existing Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on Notes that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured pursuant to Section 6.01 or waived pursuant to Section 6.09, then and in every such case (except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence) the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Notes and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences and such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any Default or Event of Default resulting from (i) the nonpayment of the principal (including the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any Notes, (ii) a failure to repurchase any Notes when required or (iii) a failure to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes.

Section 6.03 [Reserved].

Section 6.04 Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor. If an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 shall have occurred, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on any overdue principal and interest, if any, at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time plus one percent, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06. If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may as provided under this Indenture and without further notice institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated; provided that the Trustee will not be bound to make any such proceeding unless (i) it shall have been so directed by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (ii) it shall have been indemnified, pre-funded and/or secured to its satisfaction and (iii) the Trustee is satisfied that the act or exercise of any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture will not result in any of its directors, officers, employees or agents incurring personal liability.

In the event there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes under Title 11 of the United States Code, or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or such other obligor, the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the event of any other judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.03, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such other actions as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the properly incurred compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Notes, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any monies

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or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, custodian or similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Holders to make such payments to the Trustee, as administrative expenses, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for properly incurred compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including agents and counsel fees, and including any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of properly incurred compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, monies, securities and other property that the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting such Holder or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of any waiver pursuant to Section 6.09 or any rescission and annulment pursuant to Section 6.02 or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Holders, and the Trustee shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Holders, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 6.05 Application of Monies Collected by Trustee. Any monies or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI with respect to the Notes shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

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First, to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 and any payments due to the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar;

Second, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time, plus one percent (including, without duplication, any additional interest on such overdue payments pursuant to Section 6.03), such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

Third, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount (including, if applicable, the payment of the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum borne by the Notes at such time plus one percent, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and the cash due upon conversion) and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and accrued and unpaid interest; and

Fourth, to the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

Section 6.06 Proceedings by Holders. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) or interest when due, or the right to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no Holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a)
such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof, as herein provided;
(b)
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c)
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security, pre-funding and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred therein or thereby;

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(d)
the Trustee does not comply with such written request within 60 days after the later of its receipt of such written request and the offer of security, pre-funding and/or indemnity; and
(e)
no direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee by the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding within such 60-day period pursuant to Section 6.09,

it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder (it being further understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to any other Holder), or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders (except as otherwise provided herein). For the protection and enforcement of this Section 6.06, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right of any Holder to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of (x) the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, (y) accrued and unpaid interest on, and (z) the consideration due upon conversion of, such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note or in this Indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, on or after such respective dates against the Company shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.07 Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default, the Trustee may proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law; provided that the Trustee will not be bound to make any such proceeding unless (i) it shall have been so directed by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (ii) it shall have been indemnified, pre-funded and/or secured to its satisfaction and (iii) the Trustee is satisfied that the act or exercise of any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture will not result in any of its directors, officers, employees or agents incurring personal liability.

Section 6.08 Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes,

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by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or any acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.09 Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders. The Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except (i) a default in the payment of accrued and unpaid interest on, or the principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) of, the Notes when due that has not been cured pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, (ii) a failure by the Company to pay or deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes or (iii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article X cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.09, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.10 Notice of Defaults and Events of Default. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is notified in writing to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after the Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives such written notice or obtains such knowledge, send to all Holders (at the Company’s expense) as the names and addresses of such Holders appear upon the Note Register, notice of all Defaults known to a Responsible Officer, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided that the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice and such notice references this Indenture, the Notes, the Company and circumstances constituting such Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), or accrued and unpaid interest on, any of the Notes or a Default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee (in its sole discretion) in good

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faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such notice is in the interests of the Holders).

Section 6.11 Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 6.11 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on any Note (including, but not limited to, the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to the Notes being repurchased as provided in this Indenture) on or after the due date expressed or provided for in such Note or to any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Note, or receive the consideration due upon conversion, in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.

Article VII.

Concerning the Trustee

Section 7.01 Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred that has not been cured or waived, and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice or actual knowledge of such event, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered (and, if requested, provided) to the Trustee indemnity, pre-funding or security satisfactory to it against the losses, costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a)
prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice or actual knowledge of and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:
(i)
the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture

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to the extent of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii)
in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and each Agent may conclusively and without liability rely, and will be protected in acting, or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval, security, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in original, email or any other form of electronic communication or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee and each Agent need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);
(b)
the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(c)
the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined as provided in Section 8.04 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;
(d)
whether or not therein provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section;
(e)
the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Company or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any co-Note Registrar with respect to the Notes;
(f)
if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively and without liability rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred;
(g)
in the absence of written investment direction from the Company, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing trust account, and in no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its

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maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investments prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investment to provide timely written investment direction, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held hereunder in the absence of such written investment direction from the Company;
(h)
in the event that the Trustee or any of its affiliates is also acting as Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Transfer Agent hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article VII shall also be afforded to such Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Transfer Agent; and
(i)
under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes.

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

Section 7.02 Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

(a)
any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(b)
the Trustee may consult with counsel or other professional advisors of its selection and require an Opinion of Counsel and any other written or verbal advice of such counsel or other professional advisors, and such advice (including an Opinion of Counsel) shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(c)
the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;
(d)
in connection with the exercise by it of its trusts, powers, authorities or discretions (including, without limitation, any modification, waiver, authorization or determination), the Trustee shall have regard to the general interests of the Holders as a class but shall not have regard to any interests arising from circumstances particular to individual Holders (whatever their number) and in particular, but without limitation, shall not have regard to the consequences of the exercise of its trusts, powers, authorities or discretions for individual Holders (whatever their number) resulting from their being for any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject to the jurisdiction of, any country, state or territory and a Holder shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Holder be entitled to claim, from the Company, the Trustee or any other Person any indemnification or payment in respect of any tax consequence of any such exercise upon individual Holders except to the extent already provided

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in Section 4.07 or Section 14.02(e) and/or any undertaking given in addition to, or in substitution for, Section 4.07 or Section 14.02(e) pursuant to this Indenture;
(e)
the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, delegates, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, delegate, representative, custodian, nominee or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;
(f)
the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;
(g)
the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;
(h)
the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture;
(i)
in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any consequential, punitive, special or indirect loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(j)
the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the covenants contained herein. The Trustee may assume without inquiry in the absence of written notice to the contrary that the Company is duly complying with its obligations contained in this Indenture required to be performed and observed by it, and that no Default or Event of Default or other event which would require repayment of the Notes has occurred. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, unless either (1) in the case of the Trustee, a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) it has received express written notice of such Default or Event of Default;
(k)
the Trustee shall treat information provided hereunder as confidential, but (unless consent is prohibited by law) the Company hereby consents to the processing, transfer and disclosure by the Trustee of any information relating to it provided hereunder to and between branches, subsidiaries, representative offices, affiliates and agents of the Trustee solely in connection with the discharge of the Trustee’s trusts, powers, authorities, duties and obligations under this Indenture, wherever situated, for confidential use (including to service providers selected by the Trustee with due care for data processing, statistical and risk analysis purposes and for compliance with applicable law). The Trustee and any such branch, subsidiary, representative office, affiliate, agent or third party may transfer and disclose any such information only to the extent required or requested by any applicable law, regulatory authority, court or legal process, including any auditor of the Company and including any payor or payee as required by applicable law, and may use (and its performance will be subject to the rules of) any communications, clearing or payment systems, intermediary bank or other system. The

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Company acknowledges that the transfers permitted by this‎ Section 7.02(k) may include transfers to jurisdictions which do not have strict data protection or data privacy laws;
(l)
the Company hereby irrevocably waives, in favor of the Trustee and the Agents, any conflict of interest that may arise by virtue of the Trustee and/or the Agents acting in various capacities under the Notes or this Indenture or for other customers of the Trustee and the Agents. The Company acknowledges that the Trustee and the Agents and their respective affiliates (together, the “Agent Parties”) may have interests in, or may be providing or may in the future provide financial or other services to other parties with interests which the Company may regard as conflicting with its interests and may possess information (whether or not material to the Company) other than as a result of the Trustee and/or the Agents acting as the Trustee and/or the Agents hereunder, that the Trustee and/or the Agents may not be entitled to share with the Company. The Trustee and the Agents will not disclose confidential information obtained from the Company (without its consent) to any of the Trustee and/or the Agents’ other customers or affiliates nor will it use on behalf of the Company any confidential information obtained from any other customer. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Company agrees that the Agent Parties may deal (whether for its own or its customers’ account) in, or advise on, securities of any party and that such dealing or giving of advice, will not constitute a conflict of interest for the purposes of the Notes or this Indenture;
(m)
the Trustee shall be entitled to take any action or to refuse to take any action which the Trustee regards as necessary for the Trustee to comply with any applicable law, regulation or fiscal requirement, court order, or the rules, operating procedures or market practice of any relevant stock exchange or other market or clearing system;
(n)
notwithstanding anything else contained in this Indenture, each of the Trustee and the Agents may refrain without liability from (i) doing anything which would or might in its opinion (after consultation with counsel and reasonably taking into account of the advice or opinion of such counsel) be illegal or contrary to, or would result in the Trustee or any Agent being in breach of, any law of any state or jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, any laws of England and Wales, Hong Kong, and the United States of America or any jurisdiction forming a part of it) or any directive, rule, regulation, request, direction, notice, announcement or similar action of any agency, regulatory authority, stock exchange or self-regulatory organization of any jurisdiction (including, without limitation, Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act), or which would or might otherwise render it liable to any person and may without liability do anything which is, in its opinion, necessary to comply with any such law, directive or regulation or (ii) doing anything which may cause the Trustee to be considered a sponsor of a covered fund under Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, the Trustee may also refrain from taking any action if, in its opinion based upon advice of counsel, it would not have the power to do the relevant thing in the relevant jurisdiction by virtue of any applicable law in such jurisdiction or if it is determined by any court or other competent authority in such jurisdiction that it does not have such power; and
(o)
The Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that it in good faith determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to

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any other Holder), or if it is not provided with security, pre-funding and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the losses, costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. In addition, the Trustee will not be required to expend its own funds under any circumstances.
(p)
None of the Trustee nor the Agents shall have any contractual obligation under this Indenture to monitor, assist with or ensure any filing of the requisite information and documents with the National Development and Reform Commission of the PRC or its local counterparts (the “NDRC”), compliance with any other obligations of the Company to comply with all applicable PRC laws and regulations in relation to any such filing, or any other filing required by the NDRC or obligation promulgated thereunder from time to time including all obligations under the Administrative Rules for the Rules and Registration of Medium- to Long-Term Foreign Debt of Enterprises(企業中長期外債審核登記管理辦法) which took effect on 10 February 2023 (the “NDRC New Rules”) and its guidance rules in connection therewith as issued by the NDRC, and any implementation rules, regulations, certificates, circulars or notices in connection therewith as issued by the NDRC from time to time (the “NDRC Circular”) on or before the relevant deadline or to verify the accuracy, validity and/or genuineness of any documents in relation to or in connection with any NDRC filing or any translation or certification thereof or to give notice to the Holders confirming the submission of any NDRC filing or compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations in relation to any required NDRC filing promulgated thereunder from time to time including all obligations under the NDRC New Rules and NDRC Circular, and shall not be liable to the Holders or the Company for not doing so.

Section 7.03 No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. The recitals, statements, warranties and representations contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the accuracy or correctness of the same or the execution, legality, effectiveness, adequacy, genuineness, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each Holder shall be solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of, and investigation into, the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status and nature of the Company, and the Trustee shall not at any time have any responsibility for the same and each Holder shall not rely on the Trustee in respect thereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company or any Affiliate thereof) or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar, and nothing herein shall obligate any of them to account for any profits earned from any business or transactional relationship.

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Section 7.05 Monies and ADSs to Be Held in Trust. All monies and ADSs received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money and ADSs held by the Trustee in trust or by the Paying Agent hereunder need not be segregated from other funds or property except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be under any liability for interest on any money or ADSs received by it hereunder.

Section 7.06 Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. (a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, in any capacity under this Indenture, from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to in writing between the Trustee and the Company, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all expenses, disbursements and advances properly incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture in any capacity thereunder (including the properly incurred compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have been caused by its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee in any capacity under this Indenture and any other document or transaction entered into in connection herewith and its officers, directors, attorneys, employees and agents, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim (provided that the Company need not pay for settlement of any such claim made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), damage, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, its officers, directors, agents, attorneys or employees, as the case may be, as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a senior lien to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except, subject to the effect of Section 6.05, funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company. The indemnity under this Section 7.06(a) is payable upon demand by the Trustee. The obligation of the Company under this Section 7.06(a) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture and payment of the Notes, the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The indemnification provided in this Section 7.06(a) shall extend to the officers, directors, attorneys, agents and employees of the Trustee. Subject to Section 7.02(e), any negligence or misconduct of any agent, delegate, attorney or representative, in each case, of the Trustee, shall not affect indemnification of the Trustee.

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee and its agents incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are

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intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws. If a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or if the Trustee finds it expedient or necessary or is requested by the Company and/or the Holders to undertake duties which are of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the Trustee’s normal duties under this Indenture, the Company will pay such additional remuneration calculated by reference to the Trustee's normal hourly rates in force at such time.

(b)
The Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar shall be entitled to the compensation to be agreed upon in writing with the Company for all services rendered by it under this Indenture, and the Company agrees promptly to pay such compensation and to reimburse the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar for its out-of-pocket expenses (including properly incurred fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by it in connection with the services rendered by it under this Indenture. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar and their respective officers, directors, agents and employees and any successors thereto for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including properly incurred fees and expenses of counsel) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with its acting as the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this paragraph (b) shall survive the payment of the Notes, the termination of the Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Conversion Agent and the Note Registrar.

Section 7.07 Officer’s Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.08 Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least US$50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 7.09 Resignation or Removal of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may at any time resign by giving 30 days’ written notice of such resignation to the Company. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days

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after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Company, the resigning Trustee may appoint a successor trustee on behalf of and at the expense of the Company or it may, upon ten Business Days’ notice to the Company and the Holders and at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b)
In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(i)
the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or
(ii)
the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in either case, the Company may by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c)
The Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, as determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may remove the Trustee by giving 30 days written notice to the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee that shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless within ten days after notice to the Company of such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Holder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in Section 7.09(a) provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.
(d)
Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.09 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.10.

Section 7.10 Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.09 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally

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named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due to it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a senior lien to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by such trustee as such, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Notes, to secure any amounts then due to it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.

No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.10, each of the Company and the successor trustee, at the written direction and at the expense of the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. If the Company fails to deliver such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be delivered at the expense of the Company.

Section 7.11 Succession by Merger, Etc. Any corporation or other entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that in the case of any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee such corporation or other entity shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

Section 7.12 Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the Holders

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of the Notes under this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date such application is deemed to have been given to any Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 17.03, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date), unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of any omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in accordance with this Indenture in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

Article VIII.

Concerning the Holders

Section 8.01 Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action, the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders. Whenever the Company or the Trustee solicits the taking of any action by the Holders of the Notes, the Company or the Trustee may fix, but shall not be required to, in advance of such solicitation, a date as the record date for determining Holders entitled to take such action. The record date if one is selected shall be not more than fifteen days prior to the date of commencement of solicitation of such action.

Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Holders. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 9.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register or by a certificate of the Note Registrar. The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.

Section 8.03 Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Transfer Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Note Registrar may deem the Person in whose name a Note shall be registered upon the Note Register to be, and may treat it as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by any Person other than the Company or any Note Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal (including any Redemption Price, Repurchase Price and any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) of and (subject to Section 2.03) accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, for the purpose of conversion of such Note and for all other purposes under this Indenture; and none of the Company, the Trustee, any Transfer Agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion

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Agent or any Note Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The sole registered holder of a Global Note shall be the Depositary or its nominee. All such payments or deliveries so made to any Holder for the time being, or upon its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sums or ADSs so paid or delivered, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for monies payable or ADSs deliverable upon any such Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes following an Event of Default, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may directly enforce against the Company, without the consent, solicitation, proxy, authorization or any other action of the Depositary or any other Person, such owner’s right to exchange such beneficial interest for a Note in certificated form in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 8.04 Company-Owned Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action only Notes in respect of which a Responsible Officer is notified in writing shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.04 if the pledgee shall establish its right to so act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Subsidiary thereof or an Affiliate of the Company or a Subsidiary thereof. Within five days of acquisition of the Notes by any of the above described persons or entities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

Section 8.05 Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Note that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Notes the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Note or any Note issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof.

Article IX.

Holders’ Meetings

Section 9.01 Purpose of Meetings. A meeting of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX for any of the following purposes:

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(a)
to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee or to give any directions to the Trustee permitted under this Indenture, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Holders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VI;
(b)
to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VII;
(c)
to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Article X; or
(d)
to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

Section 9.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting and the establishment of any record date pursuant to Section 8.01, shall be delivered to Holders of such Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Such notice shall also be delivered to the Company. Such notices shall be delivered not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

Any meeting of Holders shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all Notes then outstanding are present in person or by proxy or if notice is waived before or after the meeting by the Holders of all Notes then outstanding, and if the Company and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have, before or after the meeting, waived notice.

Section 9.03 Call of Meetings by Company or Holders. In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Holders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have delivered the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by delivering notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.

Section 9.04 Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 9.05 Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of

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Holders, in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, at any meeting of Holders each Holder or proxyholder shall be entitled to one vote for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him or her; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by it or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating it as the proxy to vote on behalf of other Holders. Any meeting of Holders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or Section 9.03 may be adjourned from time to time by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Minutes shall be made of all resolutions and proceedings at every meeting and, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of that meeting or of the next succeeding meeting of Holders of the Notes, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters in them. Until the contrary is proved every meeting for which minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and all resolutions passed or proceedings transacted at it to have been duly passed and transacted.

Section 9.06 Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was delivered as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall show the aggregate principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

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Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

Section 9.07 No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing contained in this Article IX shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.

Article X.

Supplemental Indentures

Section 10.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. The Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense and direction, may from time to time and at any time amend or supplement the indenture or the Notes without notice to or the consent of any Holder of the Notes for one or more of the following purposes:

(a)
to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(b)
to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article XI;
(c)
to add guarantees with respect to the Notes;
(d)
to secure the Notes;
(e)
to add to the covenants or Events of Default of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Indenture or the Notes;
(f)
upon the occurrence of any transaction or event described in Section 14.07(a), to (i) provide that the Notes are convertible into Reference Property, subject to Section 14.03, and (ii) effect the related changes to the terms of the Notes described under Section 14.07(a), in each case, in accordance with Section 14.07;
(g)
to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder in any material respect;
(h)
to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes to the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum, as certified by the Company in an Officer’s Certificate;
(i)
to irrevocably elect a Settlement Method and/or a Specified Dollar Amount, or eliminate the Company’s right to elect a Settlement Method; or
(j)
to make changes in connection with an acceptance for listing on a Permitted Exchange, as contemplated under Section 15.02(e).

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Upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the written notice to or the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 10.02.

Section 10.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. Subject to certain exceptions and except as otherwise contemplated in the immediately succeeding paragraph of this Section, with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article VIII and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes), the Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders; provided, however, that, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no such supplemental indenture shall:

(a)
reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;
(b)
make any Note payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars;
(c)
impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Note; or
(d)
make any change in this Article X that requires each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions in Section 6.02 or Section 6.09.

Other than with the consent of at least 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article VIII and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes), no amendment may, among other things:

(a)
reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;
(b)
reduce the principal of or change the Maturity Date of any Note;
(c)
make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Notes;
(d)
reduce the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Holders the

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Company’s obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;
(e)
change the ranking of the Notes; or
(f)
change the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts on any Note.

Upon the written request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the requisite Holders as aforesaid and subject to Section 10.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless (i) the Trustee has not received an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture is authorized and permitted by the terms of this Indenture and not contrary to law or (ii) such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

Holders do not need under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture. It shall be sufficient if such Holders approve the substance thereof. After any supplemental indenture becomes effective under Section 10.01 or Section 10.02, the Company shall send to the Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the supplemental indenture.

Section 10.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article X, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 10.04 Notation on Notes. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article X may, at the Company’s expense, bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may, at the Company’s expense, be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated upon receipt of a Company Order, by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Notes then outstanding, upon surrender of such Notes then outstanding.

Section 10.05 Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished to the Trustee. In addition to the documents required by Section 17.06, the Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article X and is

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permitted or authorized by this Indenture and with respect to such Opinion of Counsel, that such supplemental indenture is the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.

Article XI.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Conveyance and Lease

Section 11.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Company shall not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another Person, unless:

(a)
the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”), if not the Company, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda or Hong Kong and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.07); and
(b)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture.

For purposes of this Section 11.01, the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to another Person.

Section 11.02 Successor Corporation to Be Substituted. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and upon the assumption by the Successor Company, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Amounts), the due and punctual delivery or payment, as the case may be, of any consideration due upon conversion of the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Amounts) and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, such Successor Company (if not the Company) shall succeed to and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets, shall be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Notes that previously shall have been

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signed and delivered by the Officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Notes that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Notes so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Notes theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Notes had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or transfer (but not in the case of a lease), upon compliance with this Article XI the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture (or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article XI) may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and, except in the case of a lease, such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Notes and from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Notes thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

Section 11.03 Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee. No consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease shall be effective unless the Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, complies with the provisions of this Article XI.

Article XII.

Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors

Section 12.01 Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on any Note, nor for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Note, nor because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, Officer or director or Subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Notes.

Article XIII.

Intentionally Omitted

Article XIV.
Conversion of Notes

Section 14.01 Conversion Privilege.

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(a)
Holders may not convert the Notes at any time on or prior to the 40th day following the last date of original issuance of the Notes (such date, the “Compliance Period End Date”). After the Compliance Period End Date, subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article XIV, each Holder of a Note shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is US$200,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of US$200,000) of such Note (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions described in Section 14.01(b), at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2027 under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 14.01(b), and (ii) regardless of the conditions described in Section 14.01(b), on or after September 15, 2027 and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, at an initial conversion rate of 101.4636 ADSs (subject to adjustment as provided in this Article XIV, the “Conversion Rate”) per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (subject to, and in accordance with, the settlement provisions of Section 14.02, the “Conversion Obligation”).
(b)
(i) After the Compliance Period End Date and prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time during the five Business Day period immediately after any ten consecutive Trading Day period (the “Measurement Period”) in which the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, as determined following a written request by a Holder of Notes in accordance with this subsection (b)(i), for each Trading Day of the Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs on each such Trading Day and the Conversion Rate on each such Trading Day. The Trading Prices shall be determined by the Bid Solicitation Agent pursuant to this subsection (b)(i) and the definition of Trading Price set forth in this Indenture. The Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes unless the Company has requested such determination in writing, and the Company shall have no obligation to make such request (or, if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes) unless a Holder provides the Company with reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes on any Trading Day would be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs on such Trading Day and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day, at which time the Company shall instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) in writing to determine, or if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall determine, the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs and the Conversion Rate. At such time as the Company directs the Bid Solicitation Agent in writing to solicit bid quotations, the Company will provide the Bid Solicitation Agent with the names and contact details of the three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects, and the Company will direct those securities dealers to provide bids to the Bid Solicitation Agent. If (x) the Company is not acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company does not, when the Company is required to, instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent to determine the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes when obligated as provided in the preceding sentence, or if the Company instructs the Bid Solicitation Agent in writing to obtain bids and the Bid Solicitation Agent fails to make such determination, or (y) the Company is

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acting as Bid Solicitation Agent and the Company fails to make such determination when obligated as provided in the preceding sentence, then, in either case, the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs and the Conversion Rate on each Trading Day of such failure. If the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Company shall so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing. If, at any time after the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Trading Price per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs and the Conversion Rate for such date, the Company shall so notify in writing the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) that the Trading Price condition set forth in this Section 14.01(b)(i) is no longer met and thereafter neither the Company nor the Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall be required to solicit bids again until another qualifying request is made as provided above. Neither the Trustee nor any of the Agents shall have any duty to appoint or monitor the Bid Solicitation Agent.
(ii)
If, prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, the Company elects to:
A.
issue to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs, divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS, for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or
B.
distribute to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) the Company’s assets, securities or rights to purchase securities of the Company, which distribution has a per share value, as determined by the Board of Directors, exceeding 10% of (i) the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs on the Trading Day preceding the date of announcement for such distribution, divided by (ii) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS,

then, in either case, the Company shall notify all Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing at least 45 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution. Once the Company has given such notice, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time from, and including, the later of (x) the date the Company provides such notice or (y) the Compliance Period End Date, until the earlier of (1) the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution and (2) the Company’s announcement that such issuance or

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distribution will not take place, in each case, even if the Notes are not otherwise convertible at such time.

(iii)
If a transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, regardless of whether a Holder has the right to require the Company to repurchase the Notes pursuant to Section 15.02, or if the Company is a party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of its assets that occurs prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, in each case, pursuant to which the ADSs would be converted into cash, securities or other assets, all or any portion of a Holder’s Notes may be surrendered for conversion at any time from or after the actual effective date of such transaction until 35 Trading Days after the actual effective date of such transaction or, if such transaction also constitutes a Fundamental Change, until the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing as promptly as practicable following the date the Company publicly announces such transaction.
(iv)
After the Compliance Period End Date and prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2023 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the Conversion Price on each applicable Trading Day. The Company shall notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing if the Notes become convertible in accordance with this clause (iv).
(v)
If the Company calls all of the Notes for redemption pursuant to Article XVI, then a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Called Notes (in principal amounts of US$200,000 or integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof) for conversion at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the Tax Redemption Date, as applicable, or the Optional Redemption, even if the Notes are not otherwise convertible at such time. After that time, the right to convert such Called Notes on account of the Company’s delivery of a Tax Redemption Notice or Optional Redemption Notice shall expire under this clause (v), unless the Company defaults in the payment of the related Redemption Price, in which case a Holder may convert all or any portion of its Called Notes (in principal amounts of US$200,000 or integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof) until the Redemption Price has been paid or duly provided for.

If a Holder of any Note (or any owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note) is reasonably not able to determine, before the close of business on the 42nd Scheduled trading Day immediately before the relevant Redemption Date, whether such Note or beneficial interest, as

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applicable, is to be redeemed pursuant to such redemption, then such Holder or owner, as applicable, will be entitled to convert such Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, at any time before the close of business on the second Business Day immediately prior to such Redemption Date, as applicable, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the related Redemption Price, in which case such Holder or owner, as applicable, will be entitled to convert such Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, until the Redemption Price has been paid or duly provided for, and in each case each such conversion will be deemed to be of a note called for redemption (a “Deemed Redemption”).

If a Holder elects to convert Called Notes from, and including, the date of issuance of a the Tax Redemption Notice or Optional Redemption Notice, as the case may be, with respect to such Called Notes until the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the relevant Redemption Date (or, if the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, until the Redemption Price has been paid or duly provided for) (any such period, a “Redemption Period”), the Company will, under certain circumstances, increase the Conversion Rate for such Called Notes as described under Section 14.03. Accordingly, if the Company elects to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Notes as described under Section 16.02, Holders of the Notes that are not Called Notes will not be entitled to convert such Notes on account of the relevant Redemption Notice and will not be entitled to an increased Conversion Rate on account of the relevant Redemption Notice for conversions of such Notes during the related Redemption Period if such Notes are otherwise convertible.

Section 14.02 Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion.

(a)
Subject to this Section 14.02, Section 14.03(b) and Section 14.07(a), upon conversion of any Note, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting Holder, in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, cash (“Cash Settlement”), ADSs, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional ADSs in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section 14.02 (“Physical Settlement”) or a combination of cash and ADSs, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional ADS in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section 14.02 (“Combination Settlement”), at its election, as set forth in this Section 14.02.
(i)
All conversions of Called Notes for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the related Redemption Period, and all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after September 15, 2027 shall be settled using the same Settlement Method.
(ii)
Except for any conversions of Called Notes for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the relevant Redemption Period, and any conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after September 15, 2027 , the Company shall use the same Settlement Method for all conversions with the same Conversion Date, but the Company shall not have any obligation to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions with different Conversion Dates.
(iii)
If, in respect of any Conversion Date (or the period described in the third immediately succeeding set of parentheses, as the case may be), the Company elects a

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Settlement Method, the Company shall deliver a written notice (the “Settlement Notice”) of the relevant Settlement Method in respect of such Conversion Date (or such period, as the case may be) to converting Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) no later than the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date (or, in the case of any conversions of Called Notes for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the relevant Redemption Period, in such Redemption Notice, or in the case of any conversions of Notes for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after September 15, 2027, no later than September 15, 2027) (in each case, the “Settlement Method Election Deadline”). If the Company does not elect a Settlement Method prior to the Settlement Method Election Deadline, the Company shall no longer have the right to elect Cash Settlement or Physical Settlement and the Company shall be deemed to have elected Combination Settlement in respect of its Conversion Obligation (such settlement method, the “Default Settlement Method”), and the Specified Dollar Amount per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be equal to US$1,000. Such Settlement Notice shall specify the relevant Settlement Method and in the case of an election of Combination Settlement, the relevant Settlement Notice shall indicate the Specified Dollar Amount per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes. If the Company delivers a Settlement Notice electing Combination Settlement in respect of its Conversion Obligation but does not indicate a Specified Dollar Amount per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes in such Settlement Notice, the Specified Dollar Amount per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be US$1,000.
(iv)
The Company may, by written notice to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee), on or before September 15, 2027, change the Default Settlement Method to any Settlement Method that the Company is then permitted to elect or irrevocably elect to satisfy its Conversion Obligation with respect to the Notes through any Settlement Method that the Company is then permitted to elect (including Combination Settlement with a Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes of $1,000 or with an ability to continue to set the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes at or above any specific amount set forth in such election notice), or eliminate its right to elect a Settlement Method, in each case, that will apply for all Conversion Dates occurring subsequent to delivery of such notice. If the Company changes the Default Settlement Method or elects to irrevocably fix the Settlement Method, in either case, to Combination Settlement with an ability to continue to set the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes at or above a specific amount, the Company shall, after the date of such change or election, as the case may be, inform Holders converting their Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of such Specified Dollar Amount in respect of the relevant conversion or conversions no later than the relevant Settlement Method Election Deadline for such conversion or conversions, or, if the Company does not timely inform the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of the Specified Dollar Amount, such Specified Dollar Amount shall be the specific amount set forth in the change or election notice or, if no specific amount was set forth in the change or election notice, such Specified Dollar Amount shall be deemed to be $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. If the Company changes the Default Settlement Method or irrevocably fixes the Settlement Method, the Company shall concurrently with providing notice to all Holders

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of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee), issue a report on Form 6-K (or any successor form) or press release announcing that the Company has elected to change the Default Settlement Method or irrevocably fix the Settlement Method. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such change in the Default Settlement Method or irrevocable election will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Conversion Date pursuant to this Section 14.02. For the avoidance of doubt, such irrevocable election or change (as the case may be), if made, will be effective without the need to amend this Indenture or the Notes, including pursuant to Section 10.01(i). However, the Company may nonetheless choose to execute such an amendment at the Company’s option.
(v)
The cash, ADSs or a combination of cash and ADSs, as applicable, in respect of any conversion of Notes (the “Settlement Amount”) shall be computed as follows:
A.
if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Physical Settlement, the Company shall deliver to the converting Holder in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date;
B.
if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Cash Settlement, the Company shall pay to the converting Holder in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the 40 consecutive Trading Days during the related Observation Period; and
C.
if the Company elects (or is deemed to have elected) to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Combination Settlement, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, a Settlement Amount equal to the sum of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the 40 consecutive Trading Days during the related Observation Period.
(vi)
The Daily Settlement Amounts (if applicable) and the Daily Conversion Values (if applicable) shall be determined by the Company promptly following the last day of the Observation Period. Promptly after such determination of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash payable in lieu of delivering any fractional ADS, the Company shall notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash payable in lieu of delivering fractional ADSs. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have no responsibility for any such determination.

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(b)
Subject to Section 14.02(e), before any Holder of a Note shall be entitled to convert a Note as set forth above, such Holder shall (i) in the case of a Global Note, comply with (w) the DTC’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a Global Note, (x) the Restricted Issuance Agreement with respect to any ADSs delivered upon conversion of the Notes prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date or the Deposit Agreement, as applicable, in effect at that time and, (y) if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(h) and (ii) in the case of a Physical Note (1) complete, manually or electronically sign and deliver a duly completed irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent as set forth in the Form of Notice of Conversion (or a facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission thereof) (a “Notice of Conversion”) at the office of the Conversion Agent and state in writing therein the principal amount of Notes to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such Holder wishes the certificate or certificates for any ADSs to be delivered upon settlement of the Conversion Obligation to be registered, (2) surrender such Notes, duly endorsed to the Company or in blank (and accompanied by appropriate endorsement and transfer documents), at the office of the Conversion Agent, (3) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and (4) if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(h). The Trustee (and if different, the Conversion Agent) shall notify the Company of any conversion pursuant to this Article XIV on the Conversion Date, or promptly following receipt of instructions for such conversion. No Notice of Conversion with respect to any Notes may be delivered, and no Notes may be surrendered for conversion, by a Holder thereof if such Holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or Repurchase Notice to the Company in respect of such Notes and has not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 15.03.

By converting a beneficial interest in a Global Note into ADSs, the Holder is deemed to represent to the Company and the ADS Depositary that such Holder is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company and has not been an “affiliate” of the Company during the three months immediately preceding the Conversion Date.

If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the Conversion Obligation with respect to such Notes shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted thereby) so surrendered.

(c)
A Note shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the Holder has complied with the requirements set forth in subsection (b) above. Except as set forth in ‎Section 14.03(b) and Section 14.07(a), the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due in respect of the Conversion Obligation on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, if the Company elects Physical Settlement, or on the second Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period, in the case of any other Settlement Method; provided that in respect of all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after the 41st Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date (if the Company elects any Settlement Method other than Physical Settlement) and all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after March

69

 

 


 

1, 2028 (if the Company elects Physical Settlement), the Company will deliver the consideration due in respect of such conversions on the Maturity Date. If any ADSs are due to a converting Holder, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, and deliver (if applicable) to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, the full number of ADSs to which such Holder shall be entitled, (i) in book-entry format through the Depositary if the Conversion Date occurs on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date, or (ii) in book-entry format through the ADS Depositary in accordance with the Restricted Issuance Agreement if the Conversion Date occurs prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, in each case, in satisfaction of the Company’s Conversion Obligation.
(d)
In case any certificated Note shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder of the Note so surrendered a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Note, without payment of any service charge by the converting Holder but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or similar governmental charge required by law or that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such conversion being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such conversion.
(e)
If a Holder submits a Note for conversion, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp, issue, transfer or similar tax due on the delivery of any ADSs upon conversion of the Notes or the issuance of the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares, unless the tax is due because the Holder requests such ADSs (or the Class A Ordinary Shares) to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name, in which case the Holder shall pay that tax. The Company shall pay the ADS Depositary’s fees for the issuance of the ADSs.
(f)
Except as provided in Section 14.04, no adjustment shall be made for dividends on any ADSs issued upon the conversion of any Note as provided in this Article 14.
(g)
Upon the conversion of an interest in a Global Note, the Trustee shall make a notation on such Global Note as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversion of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.
(h)
Upon conversion, a Holder shall not receive any separate cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest, if any, except as set forth below. The Company’s settlement of the full Conversion Obligation shall be deemed to satisfy in full its obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date. As a result, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. Upon a conversion of Notes into a combination of cash and ADSs, accrued and unpaid interest will be deemed to be paid first out of the cash paid upon such conversion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Notes are converted after the close of business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the open of business on the corresponding Interest Payment Date, Holders of such Notes as of the close of business on such Regular Record Date will receive the

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full amount of interest payable on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion. However, Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the open of business on the immediately following Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by an amount in U.S. dollars equal to the amount of interest payable on the Notes so converted (regardless of whether the converting Holder was the holder of record on the corresponding Regular Record Date); provided that no such payment shall be required (1) for conversions following the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date; (2) with respect to conversions of any Called Notes, if the Company has specified a Redemption Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the second Business Day immediately succeeding the corresponding Interest Payment Date (or, if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the third Business Day immediately succeeding such Interest Payment Date); (3) if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately succeeding the corresponding Interest Payment Date (or, if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second Business Day immediately succeeding such Interest Payment Date); or (4) to the extent of any Defaulted Amounts, if any Defaulted Amounts exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note.
(i)
The Person in whose name any ADSs shall be issuable upon conversion shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date (if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation by Physical Settlement) or the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period (if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation by Combination Settlement), as the case may be. Upon a conversion of Notes, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Notes surrendered for conversion.
(j)
The Company shall not issue any fractional ADSs upon conversion of the Notes and shall instead pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional ADS issuable upon conversion based on the Daily VWAP for the relevant Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or based on the Daily VWAP for the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period (in the case of Combination Settlement). For each Note surrendered for conversion, if the Company has elected (or is deemed to have elected) Combination Settlement, the full number of ADSs that shall be issued upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate Daily Settlement Amounts for the relevant Observation Period and any fractional shares remaining after such computation shall be paid in cash.

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Section 14.03 Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes. (a) If a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the Maturity Date and a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall, under the circumstances described below, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional ADSs (the “Additional ADSs”), as described below. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-Whole Fundamental Change if the relevant Notice of Conversion is received by the Conversion Agent from, and including, the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change up to, and including, the second Business Day immediately prior to the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or, in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that would have been a Fundamental Change but for the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof, the 35th Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change). The Company shall provide written notification to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change and issue a press release announcing such Effective Date no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date.

(b)
Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall, at its option, satisfy the related Conversion Obligation by Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement in accordance with Section 14.02; provided, however, that if, at the effective time of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Reference Property following such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Obligation shall be calculated based solely on the ADS Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per US$1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the Conversion Rate (including any adjustment for Additional ADSs), multiplied by such ADS Price. In such event, the Conversion Obligation will be determined and paid to Holders in cash on the second Business Day following the Conversion Date.
(c)
The number of Additional ADSs, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) and the price (the “ADS Price”) paid (or deemed to be paid) per ADS in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. If the holders of the ADSs receive in exchange for their ADSs only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the ADS Price shall be the cash amount paid per ADS. Otherwise, the ADS Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs over the five Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

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(d)
The ADS Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate of the Notes is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted ADS Prices shall equal the ADS Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the ADS Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional ADSs set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 14.04.
(e)
The following table sets forth the number of Additional ADSs to be received per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 14.03 for each ADS Price and Effective Date set forth below:

 

 

ADS price

Effective date

7.73

8.80

9.85575

11.50

12.81248

15.50

18.50

23.0

30.0

37.5

50.0

70.0

 

27.9030

21.7784

17.5278

13.0191

10.5405

7.1665

4.8632

2.8122

1.1747

0.3744

0

0

 

27.9030

21.7091

17.0804

12.3904

9.9208

6.6826

4.5351

2.6409

1.1207

0.3699

0

0

 

27.9030

20.9557

15.8588

11.0774

8.7274

5.8052

3.9411

2.3148

0.9943

0.3283

0

0

 

27.9030

17.6795

13.1020

8.8278

6.7988

4.4206

2.9984

1.7830

0.7750

0.2491

0

0

 

27.9030

15.2807

9.9059

5.6157

3.9797

2.4548

1.6859

1.0352

0.4603

0.1381

0

0

 

27.9030

12.1727

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0

0

 

The exact ADS Prices and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

(i)
if the ADS Price is between two ADS Prices in the table above or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional ADSs shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional ADSs set forth for the higher and lower ADS Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year;
(ii)
if the ADS Price is greater than US$50.0 per ADS (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the ADS Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional ADSs shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and
(iii)
if the ADS Price is less than US$7.73 per ADS (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the ADS Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional ADSs shall be added to the Conversion Rate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 129.3666 ADSs, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04.

(f)
Nothing in this Section 14.03 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04.
(g)
If the Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with a Tax Redemption or an Optional Redemption pursuant to Article XVI, the Conversion Rate shall be increased by a number of additional ADSs determined pursuant to this Section 14.03(g). The Company shall

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settle conversions of Notes as described in Section 14.02 and, for the avoidance of doubt, pay Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any such conversion.

A conversion shall be deemed to be “in connection with” a Tax Redemption or an Optional Redemption pursuant to Article XVI if such Notes are Called Notes with respect to the relevant Redemption Notice and the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the relevant Redemption Period.

Simultaneously with providing such Redemption Notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time.

The number of additional ADSs by which the Conversion Rate will be increased with respect to any conversion of Called Notes during the relevant Redemption Period will be determined by reference to the table in clause (e) above based on the Redemption Reference Date and the Redemption Reference Price (each as defined below), but determined for purposes of this Section 14.03(g) as if (x) the Holder had elected to convert its Notes in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, (y) the applicable “Redemption Reference Date” were the “Effective Date” as specified in clause (c) above and (z) the applicable “Redemption Reference Price” were the “ADS price” as specified in clause (c) above. For this purpose, the date on which the Company delivers a Redemption Notice is a “Redemption Reference Date” and the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs over the five Trading Day immediately preceding, the date the Company delivers such Redemption Notice is the “Redemption Reference Price.”

Section 14.04 Adjustment of Conversion Rate. If the number of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs is changed after March 1, 2023 for any reason other than one or more of the events described in this Section 14.04, the Company shall make an appropriate adjustment to the Conversion Rate such that the number of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs upon which conversion of the Notes is based remains the same.

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Notwithstanding the adjustment provisions described in this Section 14.04, if the Company distributes to holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares any cash, rights, options, warrants, shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interest, evidences of indebtedness or other assets or property of the Company (but excluding Expiring Rights) and a corresponding distribution is not made to holders of the ADSs, but, instead, the ADSs shall represent, in addition to Class A Ordinary Shares, such cash, rights, options, warrants, shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interest, evidences of indebtedness or other assets or property of the Company, then an adjustment to the Conversion Rate described in this Section 14.04 shall not be made until and unless a corresponding distribution (if any) is made to holders of the ADSs, and such adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be based on the distribution made to the holders of the ADSs and not on the distribution made to the holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares. However, in the event that the Company issues or distributes to all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares any Expiring Rights, notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall adjust the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04(b) (in the case of Expiring Rights described in clause (b) below entitling holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs) or Section 14.04(c) (in the case of all other Expiring Rights).

For the avoidance of doubt, if any event described in this Section 14.04 results in a change to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs, then such a change shall be deemed to satisfy the Company’s obligation to effect the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Rate on account of such an event to the extent such change reflects what a corresponding change to the Conversion Rate would have been on account of such event.

The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company if any of the following events occurs, except that the Company shall not make any adjustments to the Conversion Rate if Holders of the Notes participate (other than in the case of a (x) share split or share combination or (y) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the ADSs and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in any of the transactions described in this Section 14.04, without having to convert their Notes, as if they held a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any responsibility to monitor or verify the accuracy of any calculation of adjustment of the Conversion Rate and the same shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders, absent manifest error. Notice of such adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be given by the Company promptly in writing to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent and shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders, absent manifest error.

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(a)
If the Company exclusively issues Class A Ordinary Shares as a dividend or distribution on the Class A Ordinary Shares, or if the Company effects a share split or share combination, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img39162034_0.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date, as applicable;

OS0

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date, as applicable (before giving effect to any such dividend, distribution, split or combination) ; and

OS1

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.

 

Any adjustment made under this Section 14.04(a) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the Effective Date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 14.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

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(b)
If the Company issues to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) any rights (other than in connection with a stockholder rights plan), options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) at a price per Ordinary Share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs, as the case may be (divided by, in the case of the ADSs, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS), for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img39162034_1.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

OS0

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

X

=

the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) deliverable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

Y

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares equal to (i) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by (ii) the quotient of (a) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants divided by (b) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS.

 

Any increase made under this Section 14.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance. To the extent that Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of Class A Ordinary Shares actually delivered (directly or in the form of ADSs). If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to

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the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance had not occurred.

For purposes of this Section 14.04(b) and Section 14.01(b)(ii)A, in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) at a price per Class A Ordinary Share that is less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs, as the case may be (divided by, in the case of the ADSs, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS), for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

(c)
If the Company distributes shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness, other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire its Capital Stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), excluding (i) dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(a) or Section 14.04(b), (ii) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(d), and (iii) Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 14.04(c) shall apply (any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, other assets or property or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock or other securities of the Company, the “Distributed Property”), then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img39162034_2.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

SP0

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and

FMV

=

the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of the Distributed Property with respect to each outstanding Class A Ordinary Share (directly or in the form of ADSs) on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

 

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Any increase made under the portion of this Section 14.04(c) above shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each US$1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the ADSs receive the Distributed Property, the amount and kind of Distributed Property such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date for the ADSs for the distribution.

With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 14.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img39162034_3.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the end of the Valuation Period;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the end of the Valuation Period;

FMV0

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) applicable to one Class A Ordinary Share (determined by reference to the definition of Last Reported Sale Price as set forth in Section 1.01 as if references therein to the ADSs were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period after, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and

MP0

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the Valuation Period.

 

The increase to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph shall occur at the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period; provided that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Physical Settlement is applicable, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the Valuation Period, references to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate

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and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement is applicable, for any Trading Day that falls within the relevant Observation Period for such conversion and within the Valuation Period, references to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and such Trading Day in determining the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day.

For purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and subject in all respect to Section 14.11), rights, options or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, including Class A Ordinary Shares (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (i) are deemed to be transferred with such Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs); (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 14.04(c). If any such right, option or warrant, including any such existing rights, options or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and Ex-Dividend Date with respect to new rights, options or warrants with such rights (in which case the existing rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to terminate and expire on such date without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the immediately preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights, options or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or purchased without exercise by any holders thereof, upon such final redemption or purchase (x) the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options or warrants had not been issued and (y) the Conversion Rate shall then again be readjusted to give effect to such distribution, deemed distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per Ordinary Share redemption or purchase price received by a holder or holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights, options or warrants), made to all holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) as of the date of such redemption or purchase, and (2) in the case of such rights, options or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options and warrants had not been issued.

For purposes of Section 14.04(a), Section 14.04(b) and this Section 14.04(c), if any dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable also includes one or both of:

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(A)
a dividend or distribution of Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) to which Section 14.04(a) is applicable (the “Clause A Distribution”); or
(B)
a dividend or distribution of rights, options or warrants to which Section 14.04(b) is applicable (the “Clause B Distribution”),

then (1) such dividend or distribution, other than the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution, shall be deemed to be a dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable (the “Clause C Distribution”) and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 14.04(c) with respect to such Clause C Distribution shall then be made, and (2) the Clause A Distribution and Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause C Distribution and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 14.04(a) and Section 14.04(b) with respect thereto shall then be made, except that, if determined by the Company (I) the “Ex-Dividend Date” of the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to be the Ex-Dividend Date of the Clause C Distribution and (II) any Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs) included in the Clause A Distribution or Clause B Distribution shall be deemed not to be “outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(a) or “outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(b).

(d)
If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img39162034_4.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

SP0

=

the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and

C

=

the amount in cash per Class A Ordinary Share the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs).

 

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Any increase pursuant to this Section 14.04(d) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the ADSs, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate on the Record Date for such cash dividend or distribution.

(e)
If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities make a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for the Class A Ordinary Shares (directly or in the form of ADSs), to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per Class A Ordinary Share exceeds the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img39162034_5.jpg 

 

where,

 

CR0

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;

CR1

=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;

AC

=

the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, purchased in such tender or exchange offer;

OS0

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

OS1

=

the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all Class A

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Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

SP1

=

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs (divided by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then represented by one ADS) over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.

 

The increase to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(e) shall occur at the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires; provided that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Physical Settlement is applicable, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the date that such tender or exchange offer expires and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement is applicable, for any Trading Day that falls within the relevant Observation Period for such conversion and within the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the expiration date of such tender or exchange offer and such Trading Day in determining the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day.

(f)
Notwithstanding this Section 14.04 or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, if a Conversion Rate adjustment becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date, and a Holder that has converted its Notes on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or prior to the related Record Date would be treated as the record holder of the ADSs as of the related Conversion Date as described under Section 14.02(i) based on an adjusted Conversion Rate for such Ex-Dividend Date, then, notwithstanding the Conversion Rate adjustment provisions in this Section 14.04, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date shall not be made for such converting Holder. Instead, such Holder shall be treated as if such Holder were the record owner of the ADSs on an unadjusted basis and participate in the related dividend, distribution or other event giving rise to such adjustment. Notwithstanding this Section 14.04 or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, the Company will not be required to adjust the Conversion Rate unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent; provided, however, that any such minor adjustments that are not required to be made will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment, and provided, further, that any such adjustment of less than one percent that has not been made shall be made upon the occurrence of (i) the Effective Date for any Fundamental Change or Make-Whole Fundamental Change and (ii) in the case of any Note to which Physical Settlement applies, the relevant Conversion Date, and, in the case of any Note to which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies, each Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period. In addition, the Company shall not account for such deferrals when determining whether any of the conditions to the conversion have been satisfied or what number of Ordinary Shares or ADSs a Holder would have held on a given day had it converted its Notes.

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(g)
Except as stated herein, the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate for the issuance of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or the right to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or such convertible or exchangeable securities.
(h)
In addition to those adjustments required by clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 14.04, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Global Select Market and any other securities exchange on which any of the Company’s securities are then listed, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days if the Board of Directors determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest, and the Company may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares or the ADSs or rights to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs in connection with a dividend or distribution of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs (or rights to acquire Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs) or similar event.
(i)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XIV, the Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted:
(i)
upon the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs under any plan;
(ii)
upon the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs or options or rights to purchase those Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and the Company’s consolidated affiliated entities;
(iii)
upon the repurchase of any Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program or other buyback transaction that is not a tender offer or exchange offer of the nature described in clause (e) of this Section 14.04 above;
(iv)
upon the repurchase of any existing convertible senior notes issued by the Company at the holder’s option pursuant to the terms of the related indenture, including pursuant to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO dated February 16, 2023 in respect of the Company’s 2.00% convertible senior notes due 2025;
(v)
upon the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this subsection and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued (other than any rights under a rights plan);
(vi)
solely for a change in the par value of the Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs; or
(vii)
for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

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(j)
All calculations and other determinations under this Article XIV shall be made by the Company and shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000) of an ADS.
(k)
Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Trustee (and the Conversion Agent if not the Trustee) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the adjusted Conversion Rate, (ii) the subsection of this Section 14.04 pursuant to which such adjustment has been made, showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and (iii) the date as of which such adjustment is effective, and such Officer’s Certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such adjustment absent manifest error. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and shall deliver such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate to each Holder at its last address appearing on the Note Register of this Indenture. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate or the information and calculations contained therein.
(l)
For purposes of this Section 14.04, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares at any time outstanding shall not include Class A Ordinary Shares held in the treasury of the Company (directly or in the form of ADSs) so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on Class A Ordinary Shares held in the treasury of the Company (directly or in the form of ADSs), but shall include Class A Ordinary Shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of Class A Ordinary Shares.

Section 14.05 . Adjustments of Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values, the Daily Settlement Amounts, the ADS Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or the Redemption Reference Price for purposes of the Company’s election to redeem the Notes in accordance with Article XVI over a span of multiple days, the Board of Directors shall make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective pursuant to Section 14.04, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 where the Ex-Dividend Date, Effective Date or expiration date, as the case may be, of the event occurs, at any time during the period when such Last Reported Sale Prices, ADS Prices, the Redemption Reference Price, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values or the Daily Settlement Amounts are to be calculated.

Section 14.06 Class A Ordinary Shares to Be Fully Paid. The Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares or Class A Ordinary Shares held in treasury, a sufficient number of Class A Ordinary Shares that corresponds to the number of ADSs due upon conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion (assuming delivery of the maximum number of Additional ADSs pursuant to Section 14.03 and that at the time of computation of such number of Class A

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Ordinary Shares, all such Notes would be converted by a single Holder and that Physical Settlement were applicable).

Section 14.07 Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Class A Ordinary Shares.

(a)
In the case of:
(i)
any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),
(ii)
any consolidation, merger, combination or similar transaction involving the Company,
(iii)
any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities substantially as an entirety, or
(iv)
any statutory share exchange,

in each case, as a result of which the ADS or the Class A Ordinary Shares would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “Merger Event”), then, prior to or at the effective time of such Merger Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture permitted under Section 10.01(f) providing that, at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, the right to convert each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of ADSs equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property,” with each “unit of Reference Property” meaning the kind and amount of Reference Property that a holder of one ADS is entitled to receive) upon such Merger Event; provided, however, that at and after the effective time of the Merger Event (A) the Company shall continue to have the right to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 and (B) (I) any amount payable in cash upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall continue to be payable in cash, (II) any ADSs that the Company would have been required to deliver upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall instead be deliverable in the amount and type of Reference Property that a holder of that number of ADSs would have been entitled to receive in such Merger Event and (III) the Daily VWAP shall be calculated based on the value of a unit of Reference Property that a holder of one ADS would have received in such transaction.

If the Merger Event causes the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of holder election), then (i) the Reference Property into which the Notes will be convertible shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of ADSs, and (ii) the unit of Reference Property

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for purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph shall refer to the consideration referred to in clause (i) attributable to one ADS. If the holders of the ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares receive only cash in such Merger Event, then for all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs after the effective date of such Merger Event (A) the consideration due upon conversion of each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date (as may be increased by any Additional ADSs pursuant to Section 14.03), multiplied by the price paid per ADS or Class A Ordinary Share, as applicable, in such Merger Event and (B) the Company shall satisfy the Conversion Obligation by paying cash to converting Holders on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date. The Company shall provide written notice to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceding paragraph shall (i) provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article XIV (it being understood that no such adjustments shall be required with respect to any portion of the Reference Property that does not consist of shares of Common Equity (however evidenced) or depositary receipts in respect thereof) and (ii) contain such other provisions that the Board of Directors determines in good faith are appropriate to preserve the economic interests of the Holders and to give effect to the provisions described in this Section 14.07. If, in the case of any Merger Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) of a Person other than the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, in such Merger Event, then such other Person shall also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Notes, including the right of Holders to require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon a Fundamental Change pursuant to Section 15.02 and the right of Holders to require the Company to repurchase their Notes on March 16, 2026 pursuant to Section 15.01, as the Board of Directors shall consider necessary by reason of the foregoing.

(b)
[Reserved]
(c)
The Company shall not become a party to any Merger Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 14.07. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a holder of Notes to convert its Notes into cash, ADSs or a combination of cash and ADSs, as applicable, as set forth in Section 14.01 and Section 14.02 prior to the effective date of such Merger Event.
(d)
The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events.

Section 14.08 Certain Covenants. (a) The Company covenants that all ADSs delivered upon conversion of Notes, and all Class A Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs, will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

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(b)
The Company covenants that, if any ADSs to be provided for the purpose of conversion of Notes hereunder, or any Class A Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs, require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or state law before such ADSs may be validly issued upon conversion, the Company will, to the extent then permitted by the rules and interpretations of the Commission, secure such registration or approval, as the case may be.
(c)
The Company further covenants that if at any time the ADSs shall be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system the Company will list and keep listed, so long as the ADSs shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, any ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes.
(d)
The Company further covenants to take all actions and obtain all approvals and registrations required with respect to the conversion of the Notes into ADSs and the issuance, and deposit into the ADS facility, of the Class A Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs. The Company has reserved and will keep available at all times an adequate number of the Class A Ordinary Shares for the purposes of enabling the Company to satisfy its obligation to deliver ADSs. The Company also undertakes to maintain, as long as any Notes are outstanding, the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form F-6 relating to the ADSs and an adequate number of ADSs available for issuance thereunder such that ADSs can be delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Notes and the Deposit Agreement or Restricted Issuance Agreement, as applicable, upon conversion of the Notes.

Section 14.09 Responsibility of Trustee. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any ADSs, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any ADSs or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion, the accuracy or inaccuracy of any mathematical calculation or formulae under this Indenture, whether by the Company or any Person so authorized by the Company for such purpose under this Indenture or the failure by the Company to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 14.07 relating either to the kind or amount of ADSs or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 14.07 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate (which the Company

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shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining or verifying whether any event has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in Section 14.01(b) with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notices to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event or at such other times as shall be provided for this Article XIV. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, neither the Trustee nor any other agent acting under this Indenture (other than the Company, if acting in such capacity) shall have any obligation to make any calculation or to determine or verify whether the Notes may be surrendered for conversion pursuant to this Indenture, or to notify the Company or the Depositary or any of the Holders if the Notes have become convertible pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Section 14.10 Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case of any:

(a)
action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 or Section 14.11;
(b)
Merger Event; or
(c)
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

then, in each case (unless notice of such event is otherwise required pursuant to another provision of this Indenture), the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) and to be delivered to each Holder at its address appearing on the Note Register, as promptly as possible but in any event at least 20 days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, of record are to be determined for the purposes of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) the date on which such Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, of record shall be entitled to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, for securities or other property deliverable upon such Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

Section 14.11 Stockholder Rights Plans. To the extent that the Company has a rights plan in effect, upon conversion of the Notes, each ADS, if any, delivered upon such conversion shall be entitled to receive (either directly or in respect of the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying such ADSs) the appropriate number of rights, if any, and the certificates representing the ADSs delivered upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any such stockholder rights plan, as the same may be amended from

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time to time. However, if, prior to any conversion of Notes, the rights have separated from the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the ADSs in accordance with the provisions of the applicable stockholder rights plan, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all or substantially all holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares Distributed Property as provided in Section 14.04(c), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

Section 14.12. Limit on Issuance of ADSs Upon Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, if an event occurs that would result in an increase in the Conversion Rate by an amount in excess of limitations imposed by any shareholder approval rules or listing standards of any national or regional securities exchange that are applicable to the Company, the Company will, at its option, either obtain stockholder approval of any issuance of ADSs upon conversion of the Notes in excess of such limitations or pay cash in lieu of delivering any ADSs otherwise deliverable upon conversions in excess of such limitations based on the Daily VWAP for each Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period in respect of which, in lieu of delivering ADSs, the Company pays cash pursuant to this Section 14.12.

Section 14.13. Termination of Depositary Receipt Program. If the Class A Ordinary Shares cease to be represented by ADSs issued under a depositary receipt program sponsored by the Company, all references in this Indenture to the ADSs shall be deemed to have been replaced by a reference to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares (and other property, if any) represented by the ADSs on the last day on which the ADSs represented the Class A Ordinary Shares and as if the Class A Ordinary Shares and the other property had been distributed to holders of the ADSs on that day. In addition, all references to the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs will be deemed to refer to the Last Reported Sale Price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, and other appropriate adjustments, including adjustments to the Conversion Rate, will be made to reflect such change. In making such adjustments, where currency translations between U.S. dollars and any other currency are required, the exchange rate in effect on the date of determination will apply. The Company shall provide written notice to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) upon the occurrence of the foregoing.

Section 14.14 Exchange In Lieu Of Conversion. (a) When a Holder surrenders its Notes for conversion, the Company may, at its election (an “Exchange Election”), cause, on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date, such Notes to be transferred to one or more financial institutions designated by the Company (each, a “Designated Financial Institution”) for exchange in lieu of conversion. In order to accept any Notes surrendered for conversion, the Designated Financial Institution(s) must agree to timely pay and/or deliver, as the case may be, in exchange for such Notes, the cash, ADSs or a combination thereof, at the Company’s election, that would otherwise be due upon conversion pursuant to Section 14.02 or such other amount agreed to by such Holder and the Designated Financial Institution(s) (the “Conversion Consideration”). If the Company makes an Exchange Election, the Company shall, by the close of business on the Business Day following the relevant Conversion Date, notify in writing the Trustee, the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) and the Holder surrendering Notes for conversion that the Company has made the Exchange Election and the Company shall promptly notify the Designated Financial Institution(s) of the relevant deadline for delivery of the Conversion Consideration and the type of Conversion Consideration to be paid and/or delivered, as the case may be.

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(b)
Any Notes delivered to the Designated Financial Institution(s) shall remain outstanding, subject to applicable procedures of the Depositary. If the Designated Financial Institution(s) agree(s) to accept any Notes for exchange but does not timely pay and/or deliver, as the case may be, the related Conversion Consideration, or if such Designated Financial Institution(s) does not accept the Notes for exchange, the Company shall pay and/or deliver, as the case may be, the relevant Conversion Consideration, as, and at the time, required pursuant to this Indenture as if the Company had not made the Exchange Election.
(c)
The Company’s designation of any Designated Financial Institution(s) to which the Notes may be submitted for exchange does not require such Designated Financial Institution(s) to accept any Notes.
(d)
The Conversion Agent will be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon the Company’s instructions in connection with effecting any Exchange Election.

Article XV.

Repurchase of Notes at Option of Holders

Section 15.01 Repurchase at Option of Holders. (a) Each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash on March 16, 2026 (the “Repurchase Date”), all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is equal to US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof, at a repurchase price (the “Repurchase Price”) that is equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Repurchase Date; provided that any such accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid not to the Holders submitting the Notes for repurchase on the Repurchase Date but instead to the Holders of such Notes at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Repurchase Date. Not later than 20 Business Days prior to the Repurchase Date, the Company shall mail a notice (the “Company Notice”) by first class mail to the Trustee, to the Paying Agent and to each Holder at its address shown in the Note Register of the Note Registrar (and to beneficial owners as required by applicable law). The Company Notice shall include a form of Repurchase Notice to be completed by a holder and shall state:

(i)
the last date on which a Holder may exercise its repurchase right pursuant to this Section 15.01 (the “Repurchase Expiration Time”);
(ii)
the Repurchase Price;
(iii)
the Repurchase Date;
(iv)
the name and address of the Conversion Agent and Paying Agent;
(v)
that the Notes with respect to which a Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(vi)
that the Holder shall have the right to withdraw any Notes surrendered prior to the Repurchase Expiration Time; and

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(vii)
the procedures a Holder must follow to exercise its repurchase rights under this Section 15.01 and a brief description of those rights.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

Simultaneously with providing the Company Notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing the information included in the Company Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time.

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 15.01.

Repurchases of Notes under this Section 15.01 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

A.
delivery to the Paying Agent by the Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth in Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Physical Notes, or in compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for surrendering interests in global notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in each case during the period beginning at any time from the open of business on the date that is 20 Business Days prior to the Repurchase Date until the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Repurchase Date; and
B.
delivery of the Notes, if the Notes are Physical Notes, to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at the Paying Agent Office, or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Repurchase Price therefor.

Each Repurchase Notice shall state:

C.
in the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;
D.
the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, which must be US$200,,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof; and
E.
that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

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provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 15.01 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Repurchase Date by delivery of a duly completed written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 15.03.

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

No Repurchase Notice with respect to any Notes may be delivered and no Note may be surrendered for repurchase pursuant to this Section 15.01 by a Holder thereof to the extent such Holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note in accordance with Section 15.02 and not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 15.03.

(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders on the Repurchase Date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such Repurchase Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company in the payment of the Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Section 15.02 Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change. (a) If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time, each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is equal to US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof, on the Business Day (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) notified in writing by the Company as set forth in Section 15.02(c) that is not less than 20 Business Days or more than 35 Business Days following the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”), unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which such Regular Record Date relates, in which case the Company shall instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to Holders of record as of such Regular Record Date on such Interest Payment Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased pursuant to this Article XV.

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(b)
Repurchases of Notes under this Section 15.02 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:
(i)
delivery to the Paying Agent by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth in Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Physical Notes, or in compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for surrendering interests in Global Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in each case on or before the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and
(ii)
delivery of the Notes, if the Notes are Physical Notes, to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements for transfer) or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor.

The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in respect of any Notes to be repurchased shall state:

(i)
in the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;
(ii)
the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 thereof; and
(iii)
that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 15.02 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 15.03.

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

No Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to any Notes may be delivered and no Note may be surrendered for repurchase pursuant to this Section 15.02 by a Holder thereof to the extent such Holder has also delivered a Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note in accordance with Section 15.01 and not validly withdrawn such Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 15.03.

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(c)
On or before the 20th calendar day after the occurrence of the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders, the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) a written notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of the occurrence of the effective date of the Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof. In the case of Physical Notes, such notice shall be by first class mail or, in the case of Global Notes, such notice shall be delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary. Simultaneously with providing such notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing the information set forth in the Fundamental Change Company Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time. Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:
(i)
the events causing the Fundamental Change;
(ii)
the date of the Fundamental Change;
(iii)
the last date on which a Holder may exercise the repurchase right pursuant to this Article XV;
(iv)
the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;
(v)
the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;
(vi)
the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(vii)
if applicable, the Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the Conversion Rate;
(viii)
that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and
(ix)
the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes.

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 15.02.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Fundamental Change Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company and delivered to the Trustee no later than 2 Business Days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date the Fundamental Change Company Notice is to be sent.

(d)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company on any date at the option of the Holders upon a Fundamental Change if the principal amount of the

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Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
(e)
If a Fundamental Change described in clause (d) of the definition thereof has occurred and the Class A Ordinary Shares have been accepted for listing on a Permitted Exchange, then, on and after the later to occur of (x) the date of such acceptance for listing on a Permitted Exchange or (y) the effective date of such Fundamental Change (the “New Listing Reference Date”), ‎Section 14.07 shall be deemed to apply mutatis mutandis as if the Reference Property for the Notes were the Class A Ordinary Shares; provided that the supplemental indenture required in ‎Section 14.07 to reflect the replacement of the ADSs with the Class A Ordinary Shares and other protections described therein shall be executed no later than five Business Days after the New Listing Reference Date. The Company shall notify Holders and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date the Company executes such supplemental indenture and shall concurrently with such notice either post such supplemental indenture on the Company’s website or disclose the same in a current report on Form 6-K (or any successor form) that is filed with the Commission. For the avoidance of doubt, such amendments described under this Section 15.02(e) shall not affect the right of Holders to require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon a Fundamental Change in accordance with the rest of this Section 15.02.

Section 15.03 Withdrawal of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. A Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn (in whole or in part) by means of a duly completed written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 15.03 at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Repurchase Date or prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, specifying:

(a)
the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, which principal amount must be in principal amounts of US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof,
(b)
if Physical Notes have been issued, the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and

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(c)
the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, which portion must be in principal amounts of US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof;

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the notice must comply with appropriate procedures of the Depositary.

Section 15.04 Deposit of Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. (a) The Company will deposit with the Paying Agent, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04(b) on or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, an amount of money sufficient to repurchase all of the Notes to be repurchased at the appropriate Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Paying Agent, payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn in accordance with Section 15.03) will be made on the later of (i) the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions in Section 15.01 or Section 15.02, as the case may be) and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 15.01 or Section 15.02, as applicable, by mailing checks for the amount payable to the Holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register; provided, however, that payments to the Depositary shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Paying Agent shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be.

(b)
If by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, the Paying Agent holds money sufficient to make payment on all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be repurchased on such Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, then, with respect to the Notes that have been properly surrendered for repurchase to the Paying Agent and not validly withdrawn, on such Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, (i) such Notes will cease to be outstanding, (ii) interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Paying Agent) and (iii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate (other than the right to receive the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be).
(c)
Upon surrender of a certificated Note that is to be repurchased in part pursuant to Section 15.01 or Section 15.02, the Company shall execute and instruct the Trustee who shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new certificated Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unrepurchased portion of the certificated Note surrendered.

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Section 15.05 Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes. In connection with any repurchase offer, the Company will, if required:

(a)
comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act;
(b)
file a Schedule TO or other required schedule under the Exchange Act; and
(c)
otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by the Company to repurchase the Notes;

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article XV to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Article XV.

The Company shall not be required to purchase, or to make an offer to purchase, the Notes upon a Fundamental Change if a third party makes such an offer in the same manner, at the same time, for the same or greater price and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us as set forth above in this Section 15.05 and such third party purchases all Notes properly surrendered and not validly withdrawn under its offer in the same manner, at the same time, for the same or greater price and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us as set forth above in this Section 15.05.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, to the extent that the provisions of any federal or state securities laws or other applicable laws or regulations adopted after the date on which the Notes are first issued conflict with the provisions of this Indenture relating to the Company’s obligations to repurchase the Notes upon a Fundamental Change, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

Article XVI.

Optional Redemption

Section 16.01 Optional Redemption for Changes in the Tax Law of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction. Other than as described in this Article XVI, the Notes may not be redeemed by the Company at its option prior to maturity. If the Company or any successor to the Company has, or on the next Interest Payment Date would, become obligated to pay to the Holder of any Note Additional Amounts, as a result of:

(a)
any change or amendment on or after March 1, 2023 that is not publicly announced before such date (or, in the case of a jurisdiction that becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction on a date that is after March 1, 2023, any change or amendment after such later date) in the laws or any rules or regulations of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction; or

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(b)
any change on or after March 1, 2023 that is not publicly announced before such date (or, in the case of a jurisdiction that becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction on a date that is after March 1, 2023, any change or amendment after such later date) in an interpretation, administration or application of such laws, rules or regulations by any legislative body, court, governmental agency, taxing authority or regulatory or administrative authority of such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (including the enactment of any legislation and the announcement or publication of any judicial decision or regulatory or administrative interpretation or determination) (each of (a) or (b), a “Change in Tax Law”):

the Company (or a successor to the Company) may, at its option, redeem all but not part of the Notes (such redemption, the “Tax Redemption”) (except in respect of certain Holders that elect otherwise as described below) at a “Tax Redemption Price” equal to 100% of the principal amount (the “Tax Redemption Price”) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date fixed by the Company for such Tax Redemption (the “Tax Redemption Date”), including, any Additional Amounts with respect to such Tax Redemption Price; provided that the Company (or a successor to the Company) may only redeem the Notes if: (i) the Company (or a successor to the Company) cannot avoid such obligations by taking commercially reasonable measures available to the Company (provided that changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company shall be deemed not to be a commercially reasonable measure); and (ii) the Company (or a successor to the Company) delivers to the Trustee an opinion of outside legal counsel or a tax advisor of recognized standing in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and an Officer’s Certificate attesting to such Change in Tax Law and obligation to pay Additional Amounts.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Company nor any successor Person may redeem any of the Notes in the case that Additional Amounts are payable in respect of PRC withholding tax at the Applicable PRC Rate or less solely as a result of the Company or its successor Person being considered a PRC tax resident under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law.

If the Tax Redemption Date occurs after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay on the Interest Payment Date the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date to the record holder of the Notes on the Regular Record Date corresponding to such Interest Payment Date, and the Tax Redemption Price payable to the Holder who presents a Note for redemption shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Note, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Amounts with respect to such Redemption Price.

The Company shall give Holders of Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) not less than 45 Scheduled Trading Days’ but no more than 60 Scheduled Trading Days’ notice (a “Tax Redemption Notice”) prior to the Tax Redemption Date. Simultaneously with providing such notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time. The Tax Redemption Date must be a Business Day and cannot fall after the Maturity Date.

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Upon receiving such Tax Redemption Notice, each Holder shall have the right to elect to not have its Notes redeemed, in which case the Company shall not be obligated to pay any Additional Amounts on any payment with respect to such Notes solely as a result of such Change in Tax Law that resulted in the obligation to pay such Additional Amounts (whether upon conversion, required repurchase, maturity or otherwise, and whether in cash, ADSs, or a combination thereof, Reference Property or otherwise) after the Tax Redemption Date (or, if the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price on the Tax Redemption Date, such later date on which the Company pays the Redemption Price), and all future payments with respect to such Notes shall be subject to the deduction or withholding of such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and taxes required by law to be deducted or withheld as a result of such Change in Tax Law; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Holder electing not to have its Called Notes redeemed converts its Called Notes in connection with the Company’s election to redeem the Notes in respect of such Change in Tax Law pursuant to Section 14.03(g), the Company shall be obligated to pay Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such conversion.

Subject to the applicable procedures of DTC in the case of Global Notes, a Holder electing to not have its Notes redeemed must deliver to the Company, with a copy to the Paying Agent a written notice of election so as to be received by the Company and the Paying Agent or otherwise by complying with the requirements for conversion in Section 14.02(b) prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Tax Redemption Date. A Holder may withdraw any notice of election (other than such a deemed notice of election in connection with a conversion) by delivering to the Company and the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal prior to the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Tax Redemption Date (or, if the Company fail to pay the Redemption Price on the Tax Redemption Date, such later date on which the Company pays the Redemption Price). If no election is made, the Holder shall have its Notes redeemed without any further action.

Section 16.02 Optional Redemption by the Company. The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to March 20, 2026, except under the circumstances described in Section 16.01.

(a)
On or after March 20, 2026, the Company may redeem for cash all or part of the Notes, at its option, if the Last Reported Sale Price of the ADSs has been at least 130% of the Conversion Price then in effect on (i) each of at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately prior to the date the Company provides the Optional Redemption Notice and (ii) the Trading Day immediately preceding the date the Company provides the Optional Redemption Notice (such redemption, an “Optional Redemption”).
(b)
In case the Company exercises its option to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Note, it shall fix a date for redemption (the “Optional Redemption Date”) and shall give the Trustee, Conversion Agent, Paying Agent and each Holder of the Notes not less than 45 Scheduled Trading Days’ but no more than 60 Scheduled Trading Days’ notice (an “Optional Redemption Notice”) prior to the Optional Redemption Date, and the redemption price (the “Optional Redemption Price”) will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Optional Redemption Date (unless the Optional Redemption Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the immediately succeeding Interest Payment Date, in which case the Company shall pay on the

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Interest Payment Date the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the holder of record as of the close of business on such Regular Record Date, and the Optional Redemption Price shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed). The Optional Redemption Date must be a Business Day. Each Optional Redemption Notice shall specify:
(i)
the Optional Redemption Date;
(ii)
the Optional Redemption Price;
(iii)
the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date the Company sends such Optional Redemption Notice and before the close of business on the second Business Day immediately before the related Optional Redemption Date;
(iv)
that on the Optional Redemption Date, the Optional Redemption Price will become due and payable for each Note to be redeemed, and that interest thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on and after the Optional Redemption Date unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Optional Redemption Price;
(v)
the place or places where the Notes subject to such redemption are to be surrendered for payment of the Optional Redemption Price;
(vi)
that Holders of Called Notes may surrender their Called Notes for conversion at any time prior to the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the relevant Optional Redemption Date (unless the Company fails to pay the Optional Redemption Price, in which case a Holder of Notes may convert such Notes until the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which the Optional Redemption Price has been paid or duly provided for);
(vii)
the Conversion Rate and, if applicable, the number of Additional ADSs added to the Conversion Rate in accordance with Section 14.03(g);
(viii)
the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if any, assigned to such Notes and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
(ix)
in case any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and that upon surrender of such Note, a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued.

An Optional Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable. At the Company’s prior written request, the Trustee shall give the Optional Redemption Notice in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee not later than the close of business five Business Days prior to the date the Optional Redemption Notice is to be sent (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate and a Company Order requesting that the Trustee give such Optional Redemption Notice together with the Optional Redemption Notice to be given setting forth the information to be stated therein as provided in the preceding paragraph. The Optional Redemption Notice, if given in the manner

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herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such Optional Redemption Notice or any defect in the Optional Redemption Notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the Optional Redemption of any other Note.

If the Company decides to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Notes, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes called for Optional Redemption must be US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof, and, in the case of Physical Notes, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed (in principal amounts of $200,000 or integral multiples of US$200,000 in excess thereof) by lot, on a pro rata basis or by another method the Trustee considers to be fair and appropriate and, in the case of a Global Note, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with, and subject to, DTC’s applicable procedures.

If a portion of the Notes is selected (or deemed selected) for partial Optional Redemption and such Holder converts a portion of such Notes, the converted portion shall be deemed to be from the portion selected (or deemed selected) for Optional Redemption. In the event of any Optional Redemption in part, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for Optional Redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Note being redeemed in part.

Section 16.03 Election to be redeemed. If the Company has designated a Tax Redemption Date or an Optional Redemption Date, a Holder that complies with the requirements for conversion under Section 14.02(b) will be deemed to have delivered a notice of its election to not have its Notes so redeemed.

Section 16.04 No redemption upon acceleration. No Notes may be redeemed if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the relevant Redemption Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company in the payment of the Redemption Price with respect to such Notes).

Article XVII.

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 17.01 Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

Section 17.02 Official Acts by Successor Corporation. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or Officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.

Section 17.03 Addresses for Notices, Etc. Any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders on the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all

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purposes if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to iQIYI, Inc., 4/F, iQIYI Youth Center Yoolee Plaza, No. 21, North Road of Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100027, People’s Republic of China, Attention: Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Paying Agent shall be deemed to have been given or made by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Paying Agent Office or sent electronically in PDF format. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given or made by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Corporate Trust Office or sent electronically in PDF format. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, notices to the Trustee shall only be deemed received upon actual receipt thereof by a Responsible Officer.

So long as and to the extent that the Notes are represented by Global Notes and such Global Notes are held by DTC, notices to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes may be given by delivery of the relevant notice to DTC for communication by it to entitled account holders.

The Trustee, by notice to the Company, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice or communication delivered to a Holder shall be mailed to it by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register or delivered by electronic mail and shall be sufficiently given to it if so delivered within the time prescribed.

Failure to mail or deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given under this Indenture shall be in English.

Section 17.04 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF).

The Company irrevocably consents and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Notes and the Trustee, that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Indenture or the Notes may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and, until amounts due and to become due in respect of the Notes have been paid, hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.

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The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Indenture brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any immunity to jurisdiction to which it may be entitled or become entitled (including without limitation sovereign immunity, immunity to pre-award attachment, immunity to post-award attachment or otherwise) in any proceedings against it arising out of or based on this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 17.05 Submission to Jurisdiction; Service of Process. The Company irrevocably appoints Cogency Global Inc., 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168, as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Company by the person serving the same to iQIYI, Inc., 4/F, iQIYI Youth Center Yoolee Plaza, No. 21, North Road of Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100027, People’s Republic of China, Attention: Secretary, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of five and a half years from the date of this Indenture. If for any reason such agent shall cease to be such agent for service of process, the Company shall forthwith appoint a new agent of recognized standing for service of process in the State of New York and deliver to the Holders and the Trustee a copy of the new agent’s acceptance of that appointment within ten Business Days of such acceptance. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Trustee, any Agent or any Holder to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Company in any other court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any sovereign or other immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Company irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations hereunder or under any Note.

Section 17.06 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such action is permitted by the terms of this Indenture.

Each Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for, by or on behalf of the Company in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with this Indenture (other than the Officer’s Certificates provided for in Section 4.09) shall include (a) a statement that the person signing such certificate is familiar with the requested action and this Indenture; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement contained in such certificate is based; (c) a statement that, in the

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judgment of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed judgment as to whether or not such action is permitted by this Indenture; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the judgment of such person, such action is permitted by this Indenture and that all covenants and conditions precedent in the Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 17.06, if any provision in this Indenture specifically provides that the Trustee shall or may receive an Opinion of Counsel in connection with any action to be taken by the Trustee or the Company hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to such Opinion of Counsel.

Section 17.07 Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Redemption Date, Repurchase Date, Conversion Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

Section 17.08 No Security Interest Created. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.

Section 17.09 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the Holders, the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 17.10 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 17.11 Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 17.12 Severability. In the event any provision of this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

Section 17.13 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED

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BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 17.14 Force Majeure. The Trustee and the Agents shall not be responsible for any loss or damage, or failure to comply or delay in complying with any duty or obligation, under or pursuant to this Indenture arising as a direct or indirect result of any Force Majeure Event; it being understood that the Trustee or the Agents, as the case may be, shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 17.15 Calculations. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the ADS Price, the Redemption Reference Price, the Last Reported Sale Prices of the ADSs, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values, the Daily Settlement Amounts, accrued interest payable on the Notes, the number of Additional ADSs to be added to the Conversion Rate with respect to Notes converted in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change and with respect to Called Notes converted in connection with a Tax Redemption or an Optional Redemption, and the Conversion Rate of the Notes. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Holders. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent shall have no duty to monitor or verify the accuracy of the Company’s calculations, and shall be entitled to rely conclusively and without liability upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Company’s calculations to any registered Holder of Notes upon the written request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company.

Section 17.16 USA PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Section 17.17 HKMA Stay Rules. If this Indenture is or becomes a “covered contract” (within the meaning of the Financial Institutions (Resolution) (Contractual Recognition of Suspension of Termination Rights – Banking Sector) Rules (Cap. 628C) of Hong Kong (the “Stay Rules”)), each party hereto agrees that, despite any other term or conditions of this Indenture or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, each party hereto will be bound by a suspension of a “termination right” (within the meaning of the Stay Rules) in relation to this Indenture imposed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority under section 90(2) of the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Ordinance (Cap. 628) of Hong Kong.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

IQIYI, INC.

 

By:

/s/ Jun Wang

Name:

 

Jun Wang

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, as Trustee

 

By:

/s/ John Kane

Name:

 

John Kane

Title:

 

Vice President

 

[Signature page to Indenture]


 

Exhibit A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A GLOBAL NOTE]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREUNDER IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD END DATE”) THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE HEREOF, ONLY (A) TO IQIYI. INC. (THE “COMPANY”) OR ONE OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR (B) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY DURING THE THREE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING MONTHS MAY PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR OWN THIS NOTE OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.

 

 

 


 

IQIYI, INC.

6.50% Convertible Senior Note due 2028

No. [_____] [Initially] US$_________

CUSIP No. [_____]

ISIN No. [_____]

iQIYI, Inc., a company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company,” which term includes any successor company or corporation or other entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to [CEDE & CO.] [_______], or registered assigns, the principal sum [as set forth in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Notes” attached hereto] [of US$[_______]], which amount, taken together with the principal amounts of all other outstanding Notes, shall not, unless permitted by the Indenture, exceed US$600,000,000 in aggregate at any time, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary, on March 15, 2028, and interest thereon as set forth below.

This Note shall bear interest at the rate of 6.50% per year from March 7, 2023, or from the most recent date to which interest had been paid or provided for to, but excluding, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date until March 15, 2028. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing on June 15, 2023, to Holders of record at the close of business on the preceding March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), respectively. Additional Interest will be payable as set forth in Section 4.06(e) of the within-mentioned Indenture, and any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note therein shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to Section 4.06(e), and any express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision therein shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions thereof where such express mention is not made.

Any Defaulted Amounts shall accrue interest per annum at the rate per annum borne by the Notes plus one percent, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, the relevant payment date to, but excluding, the date on which such Defaulted Amounts shall have been paid by the Company, at its election, in accordance with Section 2.03(c) of the Indenture.

The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on this Note, so long as such Note is a Global Note, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such Note. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall pay the principal of any Notes (other than Notes that are Global Notes) at the office or agency designated by the Company for that purpose. The Company has initially designated Citibank, N.A. as its Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Note Registrar in respect of the Notes and the Paying Agent Office as a place where Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer.

 

 


 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, including, without limitation, provisions giving the Holder of this Note the right to convert this Note into cash, ADSs or a combination of cash and ADSs, as applicable, on the terms and subject to the limitations set forth in the Indenture. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Note, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Note, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York (without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof).

In the case of any conflict between this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control and govern.

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed manually or electronically by the Trustee under the Indenture.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.

IQIYI, INC.

By:

 

Name:

Title:

 

Dated:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

CITICORP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes described

in the within-named Indenture.

By:

 

 

Authorized signatory

 

 

 


 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

IQIYI, INC.
6.50% Convertible Senior Note due 2028

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 6.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”), limited to the aggregate principal amount of US$600,000,000, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of March 7, 2023 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Citicorp International Limited (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Additional Notes may be issued in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture. Capitalized terms used in this Notes and not defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.

In case certain Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes may be declared, by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture. In case certain Events of Default relating to a bankruptcy (or similar proceeding) with respect to the Company or a Significant Subsidiary of the Company shall have occurred, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes shall automatically become immediately due and payable, as set forth in the Indenture.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the principal amount on the Maturity Date, the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, to the Holder who surrenders a Note to the Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, Additional Amounts will be paid in connection with any payments made and deliveries caused to be made by the Company or any successor to the Company under or with respect to the Indenture and the Notes, including, but not limited to, payments of principal (including, if applicable the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), payments of interest and the payment of cash and/or deliveries of ADSs (together with payments for any fractional ADS) upon conversion of the Notes to ensure that the net amount received by the beneficial owner after any applicable withholding or deduction (and after deducting any taxes on the Additional Amounts) will equal the amount that would have been received by such beneficial owner had no such withholding or deduction been required.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, and in certain circumstances, with the consent of the Holders of, as applicable pursuant to the Indenture, more than 50% or more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures modifying the terms of the

 

 


 

Indenture and the Notes as described therein. It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain exceptions, the Holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, the principal (including the Redemption Price, the Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and the consideration due upon conversion of, this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the lawful money or ADSs, as the case may be, herein prescribed, except to the extent any of the foregoing has been amended in the Indenture pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture.

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of US$200,000 principal amount and integral multiples of US$200,000 in excess thereof. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, without payment of any service charge but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer or similar tax that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such exchange of Notes being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such exchange.

The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to March 20, 2026, except in the event of certain Changes in Tax Law as described in Section 16.01 of the Indenture. The Notes shall be redeemable at the Company’s option on or after March 20, 2026 in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions specified in Article XVI of the Indenture. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.

The Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of US$200,000 or integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof) on the Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Repurchase Price.

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of US$200,000 or integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder hereof has the right, at its option, during certain periods and upon the occurrence of certain conditions specified in the Indenture, prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert any Notes or portion thereof that have an aggregate principal amount of US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof, into cash, ADSs or a combination of cash and ADSs, as applicable, at the Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Indenture.

 

 


 

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM = as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT = Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

CUST = Custodian

TEN ENT = as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN = joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 


 

Schedule A6

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

IQIYI, INC.
6.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is [_______] UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$[_________]). The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

Date of exchange

Amount of decrease in principal amount of this Global Note

Amount of increase in principal amount of this Global Note

Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase

Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Include if a global note.

 

 


 

ATTACHMENT 1

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

To: IQIYI, INC.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Depositary for the ADSs

CITIBANK, N.A., as Conversion Agent

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (that is US$200,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of US$200,000 thereof) below designated, into cash, ADSs or a combination of cash and ADSs, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that any cash payable and ADSs deliverable upon such conversion, together with any cash payable for any fractional ADS, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any ADSs or any portion of this Note not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes, if any in accordance with Section 14.02(d) and Section 14.02(e) of the Indenture. Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

In connection with the conversion of this Note, or the portion hereof below designated, the undersigned acknowledges, represents to and agrees with the Company that the undersigned is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and has not been an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company during the three months immediately preceding the date hereof

[The undersigned further certifies:

1. The undersigned acknowledges (and if the undersigned is acting for the account of another person, that person has confirmed that it acknowledges) that the Restricted Securities received upon conversion of this Note (or securities represented thereby) have not been and are not expected to be registered under the Securities Act.

3. The undersigned acknowledges that the undersigned (and any such other account) may not continue to hold or retain any interest in Restricted Securities received upon conversion of this Note if the undersigned (or such other account) becomes an Affiliate of the Company.

4. The undersigned agrees (and if the undersigned is acting for the account of another person, that person has confirmed that it agrees) that, unless and until the undersigned (or such other account) is notified by the Depositary that the restrictive legend on such Restricted Security has been removed from such security, the undersigned (and such other account) will not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Restricted Security (or securities represented by such Restricted Security) except in accordance with the restrictions set forth in that legend and any applicable securities laws of the United States and any state thereof.]

 

A-6

 

 


 

Dated: _____________________ ________________________________

________________________________

Signature(s)

 

___________________________

Signature Guarantee

Signature(s) must be guaranteed
by an eligible Guarantor Institution
(banks, stock brokers, savings and
loan associations and credit unions)
with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program
pursuant to Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if ADSs
are to be issued, or Notes are to be
delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder.

Fill in for registration of ADSs if
to be issued, and Notes if to
be delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder:

_________________________

(Name)

_________________________

(Street Address)

_________________________

(City, State and Zip Code)

Please print name and address

A-7

 

 


 

Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): US$______,000

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

_________________________

Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number

A-8

 

 


 

ATTACHMENT 2

[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE]

To: IQIYI, INC.

CITIBANK, N.A., as Paying Agent

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from iQIYI, Inc. (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with Section 15.02 of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is US$200,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not fall during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

In the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be repurchased are as set forth below:

Certificate Number(s): _____________________

 

 

Dated: _____________________

________________________________

Signature(s)

 

___________________________

Signature Guarantee

Signature(s) must be guaranteed
by an eligible Guarantor Institution
(banks, stock brokers, savings and
loan associations and credit unions)
with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program
pursuant to Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if ADSs
are to be issued, or Notes are to be
 

A-9

 

 


 

delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder.

Fill in for registration of ADSs if
to be issued, and Notes if to
be delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder:

_________________________

(Name)

_________________________

(Street Address)

_________________________

(City, State and Zip Code)

Please print name and address

 

_________________________

Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number

Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): US$______,000

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

A-10

 

 


 

ATTACHMENT 3

[FORM OF REPURCHASE NOTICE]

To: iQIYI, Inc.

Citibank, N.A., as Paying Agent

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from iQIYI, Inc. (the “Company”) regarding the right of Holders to elect to require the Company to repurchase the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is US$200,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of US$200,000 in excess thereof) below designated, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture referred to in this Note, at the Repurchase Price to the registered Holder hereof. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

In the case of certificated Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be purchased are as set forth below:

Certificate Number(s): _____________________

 

 

 

Dated: _____________________

________________________________

Signature(s)

 

_________________________

Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number

Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): US$______,000

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

A-11

 

 


 

ATTACHMENT 4

To: Citicorp International Limited, as Trustee and Citibank, N.A., as Note Registrar

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

For value received ____________________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _________________ (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints _____________________ attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

In connection with any transfer of the within Note occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Indenture governing such Note, the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:

□ To iQIYI, Inc. or a subsidiary thereof; or

□ Pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

□ Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 144A”), and the undersigned confirms that the undersigned reasonably believes that the transferee of such Note is a “qualified institutional buyer” (within the meaning of Rule 144A) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of another qualified institutional buyer and the undersigned has provided such transferee notice that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A; or

□ Outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

□ Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (if available).

A-12

 

 


 

Dated: ________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

Signature(s)

_____________________________________

Signature Guarantee

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an
eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock
brokers, savings and loan associations and
credit unions) with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program pursuant
to Securities and Exchange Commission
Rule 17Ad-15 if Notes are to be delivered, other
than to and in the name of the registered holder.

NOTICE: The signature on the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

A-13

 

 


EX-8

 

Exhibit 8.1

 

List of Significant Subsidiaries and Variable Interest Entities of iQIYI, Inc.

 

Subsidiaries

 

Place of Incorporation

Beijing QIYI Century Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

Beijing iQIYI Interactive Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

iQIYI Film Group HK Limited

 

Hong Kong

iQIYI HK Limited

 

Hong Kong

iQIYI International Singapore Pte, Ltd.

 

Singapore

iQIYI Media Limited

 

Cayman Islands

 

 

 

Variable Interest Entities and their Subsidiaries

 

Place of Incorporation

Beijing iQIYI Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

Shanghai iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

Shanghai Zhong Yuan Network Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

Chengdu Skymoons Interactive Network Game Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

Hainan iQIYI Culture Media Co., Ltd.

 

Mainland China

 

 

 


EX-12

EXHIBIT 12.1

Certification by the Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Yu Gong, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of iQIYI, Inc.;
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 functions):

(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:

 

March 22, 2023

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Yu Gong

Name:

 

Yu Gong

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 


EX-12

EXHIBIT 12.2

Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Jun Wang, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of iQIYI, Inc.;
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 functions):

(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:

 

March 22, 2023

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Jun Wang

Name:

 

Jun Wang

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

 


EX-13

EXHIBIT 13.1

Certification by the Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of iQIYI, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Yu Gong, 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:

March 22, 2023

 

 

By:

/s/ Yu Gong

Name:

Yu Gong

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 


EX-13

EXHIBIT 13.2

Certification by the Principal Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of iQIYI, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Jun Wang, 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:

March 22, 2023

 

 

By:

/s/ Jun Wang

Name:

Jun Wang

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 


EX-15

 

EXHIBIT 15.1

NASD/WLEE/BYTL/Q0149-H05009

22 March 2023

 

iQIYI, Inc.

Maples Corporate Services Limited

P. O. Box 309 Ugland House

South Church Street, George Town

Grand Cayman KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

Dear Sirs

iQIYI, Inc.

We consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Item 10.B. Additional Information—Memorandum and Articles of Association” and “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation—Cayman Islands Taxation” in iQIYI, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2022 (the “Annual Report”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in the month of March 2023. We further consent to the incorporation by reference of the summary of our opinion under the heading “Item 10.B. Additional Information—Memorandum and Articles of Association” and “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation—Cayman Islands Taxation” in the Annual Report, into (a) iQIYI, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.333-225165) pertaining to iQIYI, Inc.’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2017 Share Incentive Plan, (b) iQIYI, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No.333-251359), and (c) iQIYI, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.333-263891) pertaining to iQIYI, Inc.’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2021 Share Incentive Plan.

We also consent to the filing with the SEC of this consent letter as an exhibit to the Annual Report.

In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Yours faithfully,

 

 

/s/ Walkers (Hong Kong)

Walkers (Hong Kong)

 

 

 


EX-15

 

EXHIBIT 15.2

https://cdn.kscope.io/b0f5026c46383d6d5c7938aa358fe83a-img18879170_0.jpg 

34/F, Tower 3, China Central Place, 77 Jianguo Road, Beijing 100025, China
Telephone: (86-10) 5809-1000 Facsimile: (86-10) 5809-1100

To: iQIYI, Inc.
PO Box 309, Ugland House
Grand Cayman KY1-1104
Cayman Islands

March 22, 2023

Dear Sir/Madam:

We hereby consent to the reference of our name under the heading “Item 4.C. Information on the Company—Organizational Structure” and “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation” in iQIYI, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “Annual Report”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in the month of March 2023, and further consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-225165) pertaining to iQIYI, Inc.’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2017 Share Incentive Plan, Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-263891) pertaining to iQIYI, Inc.’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2021 Share Incentive Plan, and the Registration Statement (Form F-3 No. 333-251359) of the summary of our opinion under the heading “Item 4.C. Information on the Company—Organizational Structure” and “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation” in the Annual Report. We also consent to the filing of this consent letter with the SEC as an exhibit to the Annual Report.

In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Jingtian & Gongcheng

Jingtian & Gongcheng

 

 


EX-15

 

Exhibit 15.3

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

(1) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-225165) pertaining to the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2017 Share Incentive Plan of iQIYI, Inc.,

(2) Registration Statement (Form F-3 No. 333-251359) of iQIYI, Inc., and

(3) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-263891) pertaining to the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2021 Share Incentive Plan of iQIYI, Inc.;

of our reports dated March 22, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of iQIYI, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of iQIYI, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 20-F) of iQIYI, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2022.

/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP

Beijing, The People’s Republic of China

March 22, 2023