Form 20-F
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITY 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

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

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: 001-34936

 

 

NOAH HOLDINGS LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

No. 1687 Changyang Road, Changyang Valley, Building 2

Shanghai 200090, People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices)

Ching Tao, Chief Financial Officer

Noah Holdings Limited

No. 1687 Changyang Road, Changyang Valley, Building 2

Shanghai 200090, People’s Republic of China

Phone: (86) 21 8035 9221

Facsimile: (86) 21 8035-9641

(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

 

Name of exchange on which registered

American depositary shares, two of which represent

one Class A ordinary share, par value US$0.0005 per share

  New York Stock Exchange
Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share*  

 

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on the New York Stock Exchange of the American depositary 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. 29,317,611 ordinary shares issued, with 28,071,538 ordinary shares outstanding and 1,246,073 shares in treasury stock, par value US$0.0005 per share, as of December 31, 2015.

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    x  Yes    ¨  No

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

 

Large accelerated filer ¨    Accelerated filer x    Non-accelerated filer ¨

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

 

U.S. GAAP  x   

 International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

by the International Accounting Standards Board  ¨

   Other  ¨

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

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

(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  ¨

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INTRODUCTION

     1   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     3   

PART I

     4   

ITEM 1

  IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS      4   

ITEM 2

  OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE      4   

ITEM 3

  KEY INFORMATION      4   

ITEM 4

  INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY      43   

ITEM 4A

  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS      74   

ITEM 5

  OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS      74   

ITEM 6

  DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES      99   

ITEM 7

  MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS      109   

ITEM 8

  FINANCIAL INFORMATION      113   

ITEM 9

  THE OFFER AND LISTING      113   

ITEM 10

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION      114   

ITEM 11

  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK      123   

ITEM 12

  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES      124   

PART II               

       126   

ITEM 13

  DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES      126   

ITEM 14

  MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS      126   

ITEM 15

  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES      126   

ITEM 16

  RESERVED      128   

ITEM 16A

  AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT      128   

ITEM 16B

  CODE OF ETHICS      128   

ITEM 16C

  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES      128   

ITEM 16D

  EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES      128   

ITEM 16E

  PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS      129   

ITEM 16F

  CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT      129   

ITEM 16G

  CORPORATE GOVERNANCE      129   

ITEM 16H

  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE      129   

PART III

       129   

ITEM 17

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      129   

ITEM 18

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      129   

ITEM 19

  EXHIBITS      130   


Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Unless otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F to:

 

    “active clients” for a given period refers to registered clients who obtain wealth management or asset management products or services distributed or provided by us during that given period. For clarification purposes only, “active clients” does not include white-collar professionals who obtain internet finance products or utilized internet finance services distributed or provided by us during that given period;

 

    “ADSs” refer to our American depositary shares, two of which represent one Class A ordinary share;

 

    “asset management plan” refers to an investment arrangement under which a mutual fund management company or its subsidiary (unless otherwise indicated, collectively referred to as mutual fund management company) or securities company, in its capacity as trustee, manages funds entrusted to it by multiple sources for the interest of the entrusting parties by investing the entrusted funds in pre-determined assets or projects to generate returns for the beneficiaries. Asset management plans can be traded through exchanges under the relevant PRC laws and regulations;

 

    “assets under management” or “AUM” refers to the amount of capital contributions made by investors to the funds we manage without adjustment for any gain or loss from investment, for which we are entitled to receive fees, performance-based income or general partner capital, except for secondary market equity funds of funds. For secondary market equity funds of funds, the “assets under management” or “AUM” refers to the fair value of the investments we manage, for which we are entitled to receive fees and performance-based income;

 

    “China” or the “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purpose of this annual report only, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan;

 

    “Class A ordinary shares” refer to our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share;

 

    “Class B ordinary shares” refer to our Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share;

 

    “fixed income products” refer to products that are distributed or managed by us with prospective fixed rates of return, which return is not guaranteed under PRC laws;

 

    “mutual fund” means a securities investment fund as defined under the PRC Law on Securities Investment Fund, which raises capital through public offerings of fund shares within the territory of the PRC, are managed by fund managers and placed in the custody of fund custodians, and invest in securities portfolios for the holders of fund shares;

 

    “NYSE” refers to the New York Stock Exchange;

 

    “ordinary shares” refer to our ordinary shares, which include both Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share;

 

    “OTC wealth management products” refer to products provided by third parties that we distribute and are not traded through exchanges. Such products may include fixed income products, private equity fund products, private securities investment fund products and insurance products. For purposes of clarification only, when we refer to our wealth management business, we mainly refer to our distribution-related business which may include the distribution of both wealth management products and asset management products. Mutual fund products and asset management plans are not considered OTC wealth management products;

 

    “OTC asset management products” refer to products that are not traded through exchanges and are managed by us or for which we serve as the investment advisor, primarily consisting of various types of fund of funds and real estate funds. For purposes of clarification only, when we refer to our asset management business, we mainly refer to our business related to our proprietary fund management or investment advisory business;

 

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Table of Contents
    “registered clients” refer to high net worth individuals and enterprises registered with us and wholesale clients that have entered into cooperation agreements with us. For clarification purposes only, “registered clients” does not include white-collar professionals who registered with us and utilized some of our internet finance services;

 

    “RMB” and “Renminbi” refer to the legal currency of China; and

 

    “trust plan” is a collective investment arrangement under which a trust company, in its capacity as trustee, manages funds entrusted to it by multiple sources for the interest of specified beneficiaries (often the same as the entrusting parties), by investing the entrusted funds in pre-determined assets or projects to generate returns for the beneficiaries. Investments in trust plans are referred to as trust products.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, each of “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our,” and “Noah” refer to Noah Holdings Limited, its subsidiaries and variable interest entity and the variable interest entity’s subsidiaries. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.4778 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate for December 31, 2015 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

2


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those listed under “Risk Factors,” may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

You can identify some of 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:

 

    our goals and strategies;

 

    our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;

 

    the expected growth of the wealth management, asset management and internet finance industries in China and internationally;

 

    our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of the products and services we distribute, manage or offer;

 

    our expectations regarding keeping and strengthening our relationships with key clients;

 

    relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry;

 

    our ability to attract and retain quality employees;

 

    our ability to stay abreast of market trends and technological advances;

 

    our plans to invest in research and development to enhance our product choices and service offerings;

 

    competition in the wealth management, asset management and internet finance industries in China and internationally;

 

    general economic and business conditions in China and internationally;

 

    our ability to obtain certain licenses and permits necessary to operate and expand our businesses; and

 

    our ability to effectively protect our intellectual property rights and not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others.

These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. Our actual results could be materially different from our expectations. Other sections of this annual report include additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, 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. You should read thoroughly this annual report and the documents that we refer to with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from, or worse than, what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

3


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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

 

A. Selected Financial Data

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial information for the periods and as of the dates indicated should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in this annual report.

Our selected consolidated financial data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and our balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. Our audited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our selected consolidated financial data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and our balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 have been derived from our audited financial statements not included in this annual report.

During the past three years, we have gradually transitioned from a wealth management consulting services provider to an integrated financial group with capabilities in wealth management, asset management and internet finance. Prior to 2013, we derived our revenues primarily from our wealth management business. In 2013, our asset management business began contributing a significant portion of our revenues, and we derived our revenues primarily from our wealth management and asset management businesses. In the second quarter of 2014, we launched our internet finance platform as a part of our internet finance business, and since then, we have derived our revenues from our wealth management, asset management as well as internet finance businesses. In order to better reflect such transition, we have adjusted our internal organizational and corporate structures in the fourth quarter of 2014. In line with current business operations and corporate strategy, starting from the fourth quarter of 2014, we separately present breakdowns of our financial information into three business segments: wealth management, asset management and internet finance, in addition to the consolidated financial information for the group. Financial results for each segment in prior years are also presented accordingly, in order to allow for better comparison with the 2014 and 2015 breakdowns. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”

 

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Starting from the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company changed its reporting currency from the U.S. dollar (“US$”) to the Renminbi (“RMB”). Comparable data of prior periods have also been adjusted accordingly.

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2011
RMB
    2012
RMB
    2013
RMB
    2014
RMB
    2015
RMB
    2015
US$
 

Revenues

           

Third-party revenues:

           

One-time commissions(1)

    —          249,107,329        356,123,887        423,218,934        391,188,385        60,389,080   

Recurring service fees(1)

    —          159,746,256        202,437,468        319,933,077        401,292,465        61,948,882   

Performance-based income(1)

    —          —          —          24,632,724        193,939,030        29,939,027   

Other service fees(1)

    —          6,131,473        31,049,933        29,979,126        128,290,261        19,804,604   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Third-party revenues

    411,288,204        414,985,058        589,611,288        797,763,861        1,114,710,141        172,081,593   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Related party revenues:

           

One-time commissions(1)

    —          59,251,198        128,209,082        180,943,785        428,687,491        66,177,945   

Recurring service fees(1)

    —          104,663,415        340,757,637        560,071,763        634,913,375        98,013,735   

Performance-based income(1)

    —          —          —          76,342,053        53,825,293        8,309,193   

Other service fees(1)

    —          —          6,042,345        2,036,800        559,806        86,419   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Related-party revenues

    82,236,982        163,914,613        475,009,064        819,394,401        1,117,985,965        172,587,292   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Revenues

    493,525,186        578,899,671        1,064,620,352        1,617,158,262        2,232,696,106        344,668,885   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: business taxes and related surcharges

    (27,126,393     (31,972,401     (58,643,752     (88,673,371     (112,768,265     (17,408,420
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Revenues

    466,398,793        546,927,270        1,005,976,600        1,528,484,891        2,119,927,841        327,260,465   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating cost and expenses:

           

Compensation and benefits

    (192,769,035     (267,326,477     (448,737,377     (737,460,338     (1,164,492,379     (179,766,646

Selling expenses

    (62,914,788     (84,847,017     (102,198,334     (147,265,810     (263,815,409     (40,726,081

General and administrative expenses

    (40,741,314     (56,154,930     (110,020,644     (151,626,278     (170,929,513     (26,386,970

Other operating expenses

    (11,375,037     (2,648,489     (5,445,385     (29,961,830     (94,624,304     (14,607,475

Government subsidies

    3,634,414        27,095,620        32,644,120        90,931,462        132,709,712        20,486,849   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating cost and expenses

    (304,165,760     (383,881,293     (633,757,620     (975,382,794     (1,561,151,893     (241,000,323
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations:

    162,233,033        163,045,977        372,218,980        553,102,097        558,775,948        86,260,142   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expenses):

           

Interest expenses

    —          —          —          —          (16,050,359     (2,477,748

Interest income

    12,626,435        15,466,990        20,272,408        38,901,980        39,698,790        6,128,437   

Investment income

    8,843,835        19,208,779        24,141,820        23,552,297        51,954,918        8,020,456   

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    20,803,917        (1,140,948     1,892,383        706,881        (1,211,502     (187,023

Other income (expense), net

    830,024        698,299        14,723        (14,668,188     1,666,532        257,268   

Total other income

    43,104,211        34,233,120        46,321,334        48,492,970        76,058,379        11,741,390   

Income before taxes and income from equity in affiliates

    205,337,244        197,279,097        418,540,314        601,595,067        634,834,327        98,001,532   

Income tax expense

    (50,279,092     (56,649,014     (100,081,866     (151,293,021     (129,885,747     (20,050,903

(Loss) income from equity in affiliates

    (137,968     3,894,684        7,290,800        13,583,865        21,352,767        3,296,299   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

    154,920,184        144,524,767        325,749,248        463,885,911        526,301,347        81,246,928   

Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests

    —          521,797        9,821,510        17,333,060        (9,522,737     (1,470,057
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of Noah Holdings Limited

    154,920,184        144,002,970        315,927,738        446,552,851        535,824,084        82,716,985   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share

           

Basic

    5.56        5.17        11.50        16.02        19.08        2.95   

Diluted

    5.42        5.11        11.28        15.82        18.31        2.83   

Net income per ADS(2)

           

Basic

    2.78        2.59        5.75        8.01        9.54        1.47   

Diluted

    2.71        2.56        5.64        7.91        9.15        1.41   

Weighted average number of shares used in computation:

           

Basic

    27,894,953        27,751,335        27,480,150        27,873,501        28,085,521        28,085,521   

Diluted

    28,521,272        28,073,731        28,008,386        28,227,823        30,145,976        30,145,976   

Dividends declared per share

    1.76        1.74        —          —          —          —     

 

Note:

 

(1) Such numbers are not available for 2011 on a basis that is consistent with the consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and cannot be obtained without unreasonable effort or expense.
(2) Two ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

 

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Table of Contents
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011
RMB
     2012
RMB
     2013
RMB
     2014
RMB
     2015
RMB
     2015
US$
 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

     861,378,975         744,877,933         1,187,211,176         1,750,204,915         2,132,923,674         329,266,676   

Total assets

     1,138,833,113         1,279,472,322         1,835,812,712         2,674,803,438         4,096,994,415         632,466,952   

Total current liabilities

     105,710,173         164,005,626         380,251,113         692,754,366         966,830,381         149,252,893   

Total liabilities

     125,391,079         186,053,482         412,013,025         734,931,625         1,562,997,866         241,285,293   

Total equity

     1,013,442,035         1,093,418,840         1,423,799,687         1,939,871,813         2,533,996,549         391,181,659   

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted net income attributable to Noah shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the income statement effects of all forms of share-based compensation.

The non-GAAP financial measure disclosed by us should not be considered a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The financial results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results should be carefully evaluated. The non-GAAP financial measure used by us may be prepared differently from and, therefore, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

When evaluating our operating performance in the periods presented, management reviewed non-GAAP net income results reflecting an adjustment to exclude the impact of share-based compensation. As such, we believe that the presentation of the non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Noah shareholders provides important supplemental information to investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our results of operations in a manner consistent with that used by management. Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, we recognized significant amounts of expenses for all forms of share-based compensation. To make our financial results comparable period by period, we utilize the non-GAAP adjusted net income to better understand our historical business operations.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Results (unaudited)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011
RMB
     2012
RMB
     2013
RMB
     2014
RMB
     2015
RMB
     2015
US$
 

Net income attributable to Noah shareholders

     154,920,184         144,002,970         315,927,738         446,552,851         535,824,084         82,716,985   

Adjustment for share-based compensation related to:

                 

Share options

     12,966,759         9,066,726         1,265,555         9,043,829         33,912,040         5,235,117   

Restricted shares

     914,042         16,158,514         30,983,610         23,647,858         33,760,448         5,211,715   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted net income attributable to Noah shareholders (non-GAAP)(1)

     168,800,985         169,228,210         348,176,903         479,244,538         603,496,572         93,163,817   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note:

 

(1) The non-GAAP adjustments do not take into consideration the impact of taxes on such adjustments.

Exchange Rate Information

We have prepared our consolidated financial statements in RMB. Our business is primarily conducted in China in RMB. The conversion of RMB into U.S. dollars in this annual report is based on the certified exchange rate published by the Federal Reserve Board. For your convenience, this annual report contains translations of some RMB or U.S. dollar amounts for 2015 at US$1.00: RMB6.4778, which was the certified exchange rate in effect as of December 31, 2015. The certified exchange rate on April 15, 2016 was US$1.00: RMB6.4730. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, the rates stated below, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange.

 

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The following table sets forth information concerning exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar for the periods indicated. The exchange rate refers to the exchange rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. These rates are provided solely for your convenience and are not necessarily the exchange rates that we used in this annual report or will use in the preparation of our periodic reports or any other information to be provided to you.

 

     Noon Buying Rate  
Period    Period-End      Average (1)      Low      High  

2011

     6.2939         6.4620         6.2939         6.6364   

2012

     6.2301         6.3086         6.2221         6.3879   

2013

     6.0537         6.1475         6.0537         6.2438   

2014

     6.2046         6.1612         6.0402         6.2591   

2015

     6.4778         6.2823         6.1870         6.4896   

October

     6.3180         6.3493         6.3180         6.3591   

November

     6.3883         6.3641         6.3180         6.3945   

December

     6.4778         6.4501         6.3883         6.4896   

2016

           

January

     6.5752         6.5664         6.4778         6.5932   

February

     6.5525         6.5508         6.5154         6.5795   

March

     6.4480         6.5008         6.4480         6.5500   

April (through April 15, 2016)

     6.4730         6.4710         6.4580         6.4810   

 

(1) Annual averages are calculated using the average of month-end rates of the relevant year. Monthly averages are calculated using the average of the daily rates during the relevant period.

 

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.

 

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

 

D. Risk Factors

We may not be able to continue to grow at our historical rate of growth, and if we fail to manage our growth effectively, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

We commenced our business in 2005 and have experienced a period of growth in recent years. Our net revenues grew at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 46.0% from 2011 to 2015. We anticipate continuing growth in the foreseeable future. However, we cannot assure you that we will grow at our historical rate of growth, especially since we recently expanded our business to include asset management and internet finance on top of our core wealth management business. Our growth has placed, and will continue to place, a significant strain on our management, personnel, systems and resources. To accommodate our growth, we may need to establish additional branch offices, in some cases in new cities and regions where we have no previous presence, and recruit, train, manage and motivate relationship managers and other employees and manage our relationships with an increasing number of registered clients. Moreover, as we introduce new products and services or enter into new markets, we may face unfamiliar market and technological and operational risks and challenges which we may fail to successfully address. We may be unable to manage our growth effectively, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The laws and regulations governing wealth management and asset management industry in China are developing and subject to further changes.

To date, provision of wealth management and distribution of over-the-counter, or OTC, wealth management products or OTC asset management products by third-party providers have not been explicitly regulated in China. The PRC government has not adopted a unified regulatory framework governing the distribution of OTC wealth management products or OTC asset management products or the provision of wealth management services, although there are ad hoc laws and regulations related to several types of wealth management products or asset management products that we distribute or manage, such as private equity products, private securities investment funds, asset management plans managed by securities companies or mutual fund management companies, trust products and insurance products.

 

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As for our asset management business, as a result of a governmental reorganization in June 2013, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, is now in charge of the supervision and regulation of private funds, including, without limitation, private equity funds, venture capital funds, private securities investment funds and other forms of private funds. In February 2014, Asset Management Association of China, or AMAC, firstly promulgated the Measures for the Registration of Private Investment Fund Managers and Filling of Private Investment Funds (for Trial Implementation) which specify the procedure for registration of fund managers and record-filing of private funds. In August 2014, CSRC promulgated new regulations on private funds, which officially set up a qualified investor regime and a registration regime for fund managers before conducting fund management business as well as set up a system for the filing of records after the completion of fund raising. In April 2016, AMAC issued the Measures for the Administration of the Fund Raising Conducts of the Private Investment Funds, or Fund Raising Measures, which will take effect on July 15, 2016. The Fund Raising Measures clearly stated that no institution or individual shall conduct fund raising activities except for (i) private fund managers registered with AMAC to raise fund for their own established or managed private fund, or (ii) the fund distributors which have obtained the fund distribution license and become members of the AMAC. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Private Funds.” We cannot assure you that these regulations will not materially impact our business operations. In addition, CSRC and AMAC may adopt further detailed regulations and implementing policies that govern private funds and private fund managers. Since fund management business is a significant part of our asset management business, our asset management business is subject to such regulations on private funds and related implementation rules thereof.

As the wealth management and asset management industry in China is at an early stage of development, applicable laws and regulations may be adopted to address new issues that arise from time to time or to require additional licenses and permits other than those we currently have obtained. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the evolution of the regulatory regime and the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to the wealth management and asset management industry. To date, nineteen subsidiaries of our PRC variable interest entity, Shanghai Noah Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Noah Investment, have successfully completed the registration with AMAC, while other subsidiaries of Noah Investment engaged in fund management business are now in the process of registration with AMAC. As we develop our business, the products we manage or distribute might be subject to detailed regulations and implementing policies to be issued by CSRC in the future.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to fully comply with all the relevant regulatory requirements, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business.

If the relevant supervisory authorities enhance their regulation over asset management plans, our business could be materially and adversely affected.

Asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies and securities companies are at an early stage of development and not heavily regulated by the relevant supervisory authorities in the PRC. Applicable laws and regulations may be adopted to address new issues that arise from time to time and impose more requirements or restrictions on the establishment, distribution or the investment scope of asset management plans. For example, in late 2012 and early 2013, the relevant PRC supervisory authorities adopted a series of rules and regulations which provided new ways for mutual fund management companies and securities companies to engage in the asset management business. In early 2014, CSRC and the Shanghai Branch of CSRC respectively promulgated new circulars, pursuant to which subsidiaries of mutual fund management companies are prohibited from serving as the channel-through asset management plans for multiple clients or engaging in the fund pool business.

Substantial uncertainties exist regarding the evolution of the regulatory regime and the interpretation and implementation of current and any future laws and regulations applicable to asset management plans in China. Since asset management plans are part of our asset management products and wealth management products, we cannot assure you that our asset management or wealth management business will not be materially and adversely affected if any supervisory authority enhances its regulation over asset management plans.

 

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Our internet finance business involves a relatively new business model and may not be successful.

Our recently launched internet finance business currently includes internet finance platform, small short-term loans, peer-to-peer lending platform and online payment and related services. Many elements of our internet finance business are relatively unproven, and the internet finance market in China is relatively new, rapidly developing and subject to significant challenges. Although we intend to devote significant resources to expanding our internet finance business and develop and offer more innovative products to our clients, we have limited experience with this business model and cannot assure you of its future success. If we fail to address the needs of internet finance customers, adapt to rapidly evolving market trends or continue to offer innovative products and services, there may not be significant market demand for our internet finance products and services. In addition, our internet finance business will continue to encounter risks and difficulties that early stage businesses frequently experience, including the potential failure to cost-effectively expand the size of our customer base, maintain adequate management of risks and expenses, implement our customer development strategies and adapt and modify them as needed, develop and maintain our competitive advantages and anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in China’s internet financing industry resulting from mergers and acquisitions involving our competitors or other significant changes in economic conditions, competitive landscape and market dynamics. We have not yet proven the essential elements of profitable operations in our internet finance business, and you will bear the risk of complete loss of your investment if we are not successful.

The laws and regulations governing the internet finance industry in China are developing and evolving and subject to changes.

Due to the relatively short history of the internet finance industry in China, the PRC government has not adopted a clear regulatory framework governing the industry. There are ad hoc laws and regulations applicable to elements of internet finance-related businesses, such as laws and regulations governing online payment and value-added telecommunication services. For example, applicable laws and regulations in the PRC require a payment business license to operate online payment and related services. We are in the process of applying for such payment business license, and intend to engage in providing online payments and related services after we obtain such license; in the meantime, we are cooperating with qualified third parties to provide such services. There is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain the requisite licenses for all elements of our internet finance business. In addition, according to applicable laws and regulations, we may be required to obtain an internet content provider license, or ICP license, for our internet finance services. We have made efforts to obtain all the applicable licenses and permits that we believe are necessary for the conducting of our internet finance business, including the ICP license, but we cannot guarantee you that we will be able to successfully obtain all such licenses in a timely manner, or at all. On July 18, 2015, the People’s Bank of China together with nine other PRC regulatory agencies jointly issued a series of policy measures applicable to the internet finance industry titled the Guidelines on Promoting the Healthy Development of Internet Finance, or the Guidelines. The Guidelines introduced formally for the first time the regulatory framework and basic principles for internet finance industry in China, including but not limited to internet payment, online lending, equity crowd-funding, internet fund sales, internet insurance, internet trust and Internet consumer finance. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Internet Finance.” However, the Guidelines only set out the basic principles for internet finance industry, and new detailed rules and regulations will be adopted by the relevant regulatory agencies to implement and enforce the principles set out in the Guidelines. As the implementing rules of the Guidelines have not been published, there is uncertainty as to how the requirements in the Guidelines will be interpreted and implemented. We cannot assure you that these rules and regulations will not materially impact our internet finance business.

We continually innovate our internet finance products on our internet finance platform, and related regulatory regime applicable to wealth management products and asset management products might be applicable to our internet finance products depending on the product structures. We have taken measures to comply with the laws and regulations that are applicable to our business operations. However, due to the lack of detailed regulations and guidance in the area of internet finance services and the possibility that the PRC government authority may promulgate new laws and regulations regulating internet finance services in the future, we cannot assure you that our practice would not be deemed to violate any PRC laws or regulations and that our internet finance products will comply with the related regulatory regime.

In addition, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the regulatory regime and the interpretation and implementation of current and future laws and regulations applicable to the internet finance services industry in China. As the internet finance business in China is new and rapidly evolving, new laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time and we may be required to obtain additional licenses and permits beyond those we currently hold or are applying for. If new PRC internet finance-related laws and regulations require us to comply with additional requirements in order to continue to conduct any aspect of our business operations, we may not be able to comply with such additional requirements in a timely fashion, or at all. In addition, although we have utilized different measures to reduce such risks, we cannot guarantee that our current practices comply with all the regulations that may be or have been promulgated, and we may be fined or penalized by regulators, required to comply with additional requirements or ordered to cease operations due to any non-compliance in the future. If any of these situations occur, our business, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.

 

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If we fail to maintain or renew existing licenses or obtain additional licenses and permits necessary to conduct our operations in China, our business would be materially and adversely affected.

The current regulations under which we operate do not impose license or qualification requirements on non-financial institutions engaged in wealth management or the distribution of OTC wealth management /asset management products, such as our company, except that certain licenses and qualifications are required in order to engage in insurance brokerage, the sale of mutual funds and asset management plans managed by mutual fund management companies or securities companies, and private fund rasing. In late 2012 and early 2013, relevant PRC regulatory authorities adopted a series of rules and regulations which provide new ways for mutual fund management companies and securities companies to engage in asset management business. Those new rules and regulations also impose license or qualification requirements on the distribution of assets management plans. In April 2016, AMAC issued the Fund Raising Measures, which impose the license or qualification requirement on fund raising and will take effect on July 15, 2016. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations.” Since 2014, we have been required to complete our registration with AMAC before conducting fund management business, which is a significant part of our asset management business. Currently, fifteen affiliated institutions managed by Tianjin Gopher and Gopher Asset have completed the private investment fund manager registration with AMAC, and Noah Upright got the mutual fund distribution license. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to fully comply with all the relevant regulatory requirements, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business. And due to the limited history and the lack of clear implementation rules, it is uncertain how this Fund Raising Measures will impact our current fund raising practices. In addition, currently, no specific internet finance licenses or permits are necessary to the conducting of our internet finance platform business in China, except that certain licenses are required to operate value-added telecom services and online payment and related services, such as ICP license and payment business license. New applicable laws and regulations and new interpretation of the existing laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to address new issues that arise and additional licenses and permits may be required as the relevant government authorities implement additional regulations for the industry. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our existing licenses and permits, renew any of them when their current term expires, or obtain additional licenses requisite for our future business expansion. If we are unable to maintain and renew one or more of our current licenses and permits, or obtain such renewals or additional licenses requisite for our future business expansion on commercially reasonable terms, our operations and prospects could be materially disrupted. We have engaged in frequent dialogues with relevant regulatory authorities in China in an effort to stay abreast of developments of the regulatory environment. However, if new PRC regulations promulgated in the future require that we obtain additional licenses or permits in order to continue to conduct our business operations, there is no guarantee that we would be able to obtain such licenses or permits in a timely fashion, or at all. If any of these situations occur, our business, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.

The wealth management and asset management products that we distribute or manage involve various risks and any failure to identify or fully appreciate such risks may negatively affect our reputation, client relationships, operations and prospects.

We distribute and manage a broad variety of wealth management and asset management products including fixed income products, private equity fund products, insurance products and mutual fund products. These products often have complex structures and involve various risks, including default risks, interest risks, liquidity risks, market risks, counterparty risks, fraud risks and other risks. For example, in June 2014, Wanjia Win-Win Assets Management Co. Ltd, or Wanjia Win-Win, a joint venture in which our consolidated affiliated entity, Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd., or Gopher Asset, holds a 35% equity interest, established asset management plans and joined Shenzhen Jingtai Investment Fund I Limited Liability Partnership, or Jingtai Fund I, as limited partner representing asset management plans. A third party, Shenzhen Jingtai Fund Management Co., Ltd., or Jingtai Management, serves as the general partner of Jingtai Fund I. Our subsidiary, Noble Equity Investment Fund (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd, or Noble, was the investment advisor for the asset management plans. Shortly after the establishment of the plans and investment of the funds thereof to Jingtai Fund I, Wanjia Win-Win and Noble discovered that Jingtai Management had violated the terms and agreed investment strategy outlined in the Limited Partnership Agreement of Jingtai Fund I by using funds Wanjia Win-Win invested in Jingtai Fund I for other investment projects. Wanjia Win-Win and Noble immediately reported Jingtai Management’s potential fraudulent actions to the relevant local public security bureau and the local branch of CSRC. Although we do not currently expect this incident to have any material adverse effect on our business operations or financial results, incidents like this could adversely affect our reputation and subject us to administrative or legal proceedings which, even if unmerited, could be distracting to our management and may affect our reputation and may expose us to potential risks and losses. See “—Our business is subject to risks related to lawsuits and other claims brought by our clients.” For the year ended December 31, 2015, the aggregate value of wealth management products we distributed was RMB$99.0 billion (approximately US$ 15.8 billion), a 56.2% increase from the year ended December 31, 2014, and total assets under management of our asset management business were RMB86.7 billion (approximately US$ 13.6 billion), a 74.3% increase from the end of 2014.

 

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Our success in distributing, managing and offering our products and services depends, in part, on our ability to successfully identify the risks associated with such products and services, and failure to identify or fully appreciate such risks may negatively affect our reputation, client relationships, operations and prospects. Not only must we be involved in the design and development of products and services, we must also accurately describe the products and services to, and evaluate them for, our clients. Although we enforce and implement strict risk management policies and procedures, such risk management policies and procedures may not be fully effective in mitigating the risk exposure of all of our clients in all market environments or against all types of risks. For example, some investors may not be fully aware that income generated from investing in trust plans or contract-based private funds is subject to individual income tax. In April 2011, relevant PRC tax authorities announced that they would strengthen the collection of income taxes on income generated from investing in trust plans, which may discourage these investors from investing in trust plans and therefore affect our business. Under current PRC tax laws, the fund manager is not obligated to withhold individual taxes for investors in contract-based private funds. However, if new rules require such an obligation, it may discourage these investors from investing in contract-based private funds and therefore affect our business.

Poor performance of the funds we manage and products and services we distribute, manage or offer could also make it more difficult for us to raise new capital. If we fail to identify and fully appreciate the risks associated with the products and services we distribute, manage and offer, or fail to disclose such risks to our clients, and as a result our clients suffer financial loss or other damages resulting from their purchase of the wealth management, asset management and internet finance products that we distribute, manage or offer, our reputation, client relationships, business and prospects will be materially and adversely affected. Also see “—If we breach our fiduciary duty as the general partner of the funds or the funds we manage perform poorly, our results of operations will be adversely impacted” and “—Our business is subject to risks related to lawsuits and other claims brought by our clients.”

If we breach our fiduciary duty as the general partner or fund managers of the funds, or the funds we manage perform poorly, our results of operations will be adversely impacted.

Our asset management business involves inherent risks. Because we serve as the general partner or manager for the funds, we are required to manage the funds for the limited partners or the investors. If we are deemed to breach our fiduciary duty, for example by failing to establish and/or implement appropriate controls for the handling and processing of our clients’ cash investments, we may be exposed to risks and losses. We also could experience losses on our principal for funds invested by us and an entity of which we are the general partner as the general partner shall bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of any fund managed by it out of all its assets. Furthermore, as PRC laws and regulations are silent on the legal segregation of losses or liabilities incurred by contract-based private funds and assets of the fund manager, it is unclear whether our assets will be subject to third-party claims arising out of losses or liabilities incurred by contract-based private funds we manage and we cannot assure you that our assets will not be exposed to such claims. We cannot assure you that our efforts to further develop the asset management business will be successful. If our asset management business fails, our future growth will be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Our reputation and brand recognition is crucial to our business. Any harm to our reputation or failure to enhance our brand recognition may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our reputation and brand recognition, which depends on earning and maintaining the trust and confidence of individuals or enterprises that are current or potential clients, is critical to our business. Our reputation and brand are vulnerable to many threats that can be difficult or impossible to control, and costly or impossible to remediate. Regulatory inquiries or investigations, lawsuits initiated by clients or other third parties, employee misconduct, misconduct or allegations of misconduct by the managers of third-party funds that we distribute, perceptions of conflicts of interest and rumors, among other things, could substantially damage our reputation, even if they are baseless or satisfactorily addressed. In addition, any perception that the quality of our wealth management, asset management or internet finance services may not be the same as or better than that of other advisory firms or product distributors or internet finance service providers can also damage our reputation. For example, if the performance of our fund of funds products or real estate fund products falls below expectations, they may be linked to negative perceptions that may damage our reputation and brand recognition. Moreover, any misconduct or allegations of misconduct by managers of third-party funds that we distribute could result in negative media publicity that could affect our reputation and erode the confidence of our clients. Furthermore, any negative media publicity about the financial service industry in general or product or service quality problems of other firms in the industry, including our competitors, may also negatively impact our reputation and brand. If we are unable to maintain a good reputation or further enhance our brand recognition, our ability to attract and retain clients, wealth management product providers and key employees could be harmed and, as a result, our business and revenues would be materially and adversely affected.

Misconduct of our relationship managers or other employees, including potential misuse of client funds, could harm our reputation or lead to regulatory sanctions or litigation costs.

Misconduct of our relationship managers or other employees could result in violations of law by us, regulatory sanctions, litigation or serious reputational or financial harm, among other consequences. Misconduct could include:

 

    engaging in misrepresentation or fraudulent activities when marketing or distributing wealth management, asset management or internet finance products or services to clients;

 

    improperly using or disclosing confidential information of our clients, third-party wealth management product providers or other parties;

 

    concealing unauthorized or unsuccessful activities, resulting in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses;

 

    accessing and misusing client funds, especially those maintained in segregated accounts for our newly launched contract-based private funds; or

 

    otherwise not complying with laws and regulations or our internal policies or procedures.

In addition, in 2014, we developed our own fund management business by launching and managing contract-based private funds, which are new forms of funds and fund of funds. We have set up segregated accounts to hold client funds in relation to this business, and the funds held in such accounts are strictly segregated from the rest of our cash holdings.

Although we have established an internal compliance system to supervise service quality and regulatory compliance, we cannot always deter misconduct of our relationship managers or other employees, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect misconduct may not be effective in all cases. Any of the abovementioned misconduct could impair our ability to attract, serve and retain clients and may lead to significant legal liability, reputational harm, and material adverse effects on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

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Our business is subject to risks related to lawsuits and other claims brought by our clients.

We are subject to lawsuits and other claims in the ordinary course of our business. In particular, we may face arbitration claims and lawsuits brought by our clients who have bought wealth management products, asset management or internet finance products and services that we distribute which turned out to be unsuitable for any reason, such as misconduct by the managers of third-party funds that we have recommended or made available to our clients. In connection with our provision of small short-term loans, we may encounter complaints alleging breach of contract or potentially usury claims in our ordinary course of business. We may also encounter complaints alleging misrepresentation on the part of our relationship managers or other employees or that we have failed to carry out a duty owed to them. This risk may be heightened during periods when credit, equity or other financial markets are deteriorating in value or are volatile, or when clients or investors are experiencing losses. Actions brought against us may result in settlements, awards, injunctions, fines, penalties or other results adverse to us, including harm to our reputation. The contracts between us and third-party wealth management product providers do not provide for indemnification of our costs, damages or expenses resulting from such lawsuits. Even if we are successful in defending against these actions, we may incur significant expenses in the defense of such matters. Predicting the outcome of such matters is inherently difficult, particularly where claimants seek substantial or unspecified damages, or when arbitration or legal proceedings are at an early stage. A substantial judgment, award, settlement, fine, or penalty could be materially adverse to our operating results or cash flows for a particular future period, depending on our results for that period.

We face significant competition and if we are unable to compete effectively with our existing and potential competitors, we could lose our market share and our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

Each of the wealth management market, asset management market and internet finance industry in China is at a relatively early stage of development and is fragmented and highly competitive, and we expect competition to persist and intensify. Our future success in each of these areas of our business will depend in part on our ability to continue to anticipate and meet market needs on a timely and cost-effective basis. In distributing wealth management products and insurance products, we face competition primarily from other third party wealth management companies, PRC commercial banks, insurance companies and foreign private banks with an in-house sales force and private banking functions in China. Because a portion of the products we distribute are fixed income products in the form of investment in collective trust plans sponsored by trust companies, we also compete with trust companies that provide such products. As we distribute products in the form of investment in asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies or securities companies, we may face competition from other qualified distributors. In our asset management business, we also face competition from other asset management firms in the market. In addition, our internet finance business faces competition from other internet finance platforms of banking institutions, insurance companies and other financial service companies in China.

We also face competition from other wealth management firms, asset management firms and internet finance companies that have emerged or will emerge in China in the foreseeable future. For example, an increasing portion of wealth management and asset management products are distributed through online or mobile platforms, and we expect such trend to continue.

Historically, we primarily focused on distribution of third-party wealth management products. In May 2010, we began offering asset management services by starting our own fund of funds business, and in the second half of 2012, we began managing and distributing real estate funds and funds of real estate funds. Our asset management business has experienced rapid growth and is expected to continue to grow in the future. As a result, we face significant competition from other asset management service providers, including managers of private equity funds, real estate funds or fixed income funds. In addition, the relevant PRC authorities adopted and may continue to adopt new rules and regulations to allow more entities to conduct asset management businesses. For example, in late 2012 and early 2013, relevant PRC supervisory authorities adopted a series of rules and regulations, which provided new ways for securities companies, mutual fund management companies and insurance asset management companies to engage in asset management business. On August 21, 2014, CSRC promulgated the Interim Provisions for the Supervision and Management of Private Equity Funds, which further clarified the self-regulatory requirements for private funds. In late 2015 and early 2016, AMAC promulgated a series of detailed measures and guidance which enhance the supervision in private fund industry. In 2015, we completed the private fund manager registration and filing of private funds under our management with AMAC for the relevant entities that act as private fund managers. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Private Funds.”

As a result, we may face competition from securities companies, mutual fund management companies and insurance asset management companies when they start raising funds for their clients and providing asset management services.

In addition, we launched our internet finance business in 2014, and the failure of our internet finance business to achieve or maintain more widespread market acceptance against our competitors could harm our business and results of operations.

 

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Many of our competitors have greater financial and marketing resources or broader customer relationships than we do. For example, the commercial banks we compete with tend to enjoy significant competitive advantages due to their nationwide distribution networks, longer operating histories, broader client bases and settlement capabilities. Moreover, many wealth management product providers with whom we currently have relationships, such as trust companies, are also engaged in, or may in the future engage in, the distribution of wealth management products and may benefit from the integration of wealth management products with their other product offerings. Given our relatively recent entry into the asset management and internet finance businesses, we also face competition from asset management service providers and internet finance platforms that have longer operating histories than we do.

Distribution of OTC wealth management products, OTC asset management products and internet finance products in China has relatively low entry barriers because these businesses do not require government approvals and regulatory licenses in most cases under the currently effective regulatory framework governing such industries, nor do they require intensive capital investment, except for the distribution of certain products, such as insurance products and the provision of certain internet information services. In addition, there are no restrictions on foreign ownership of companies engaged in the distribution of OTC wealth management products in China. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations.” As a result, we face increasing competition from new competitors, including overseas commercial banks with private banking functions or overseas professional wealth management firms, which are emerging in the PRC market.

Certain real estate funds we manage, asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies or securities companies and trust plans, providing investors with prospective fixed rates of return, constitute a substantial portion of the fixed income products we distribute. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the total value of fixed income products that we distributed accounted for 80.3%, 63.7% and 37.0%, respectively, of the total value of all products we distributed. If we are unable to compete effectively against existing and future competitors, especially competitors distributing fixed income products, we may lose clients and our financial results may be materially and adversely affected.

Our business is subject to the risks associated with international operations.

Although we currently derive very limited amount of revenues from countries and regions outside of China, international expansion is an important component of our growth strategy. We started conducting business in Hong Kong in 2011 and have expanded to Taiwan in 2014. Expanding our business internationally exposes us to a number of risks, including:

 

    fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

    our ability to select the appropriate geographical regions for international expansion;

 

    difficulty in identifying appropriate partners and establishing and maintaining good cooperative relationships with them;

 

    difficulty in understanding local markets and culture and complying with unfamiliar laws and regulations; and

 

    increased costs associated with doing business in foreign jurisdictions.

We face uncertainty from our entry into the small short-term loan business, a part of our internet finance business.

At the end of 2013, we began offering small short-term loans to our registered clients, and our involvement exposes us to new risks. The small short-term loan business currently constitutes part of our internet finance business. For example, we are exposed to risk of default by our borrowers, although we mitigate this risk by making only secured loans to our registered clients with good credit. We also strictly limit the total amount of loans available to each borrower. However, if we are unable to appropriately manage default risk in the future, our financial results may be adversely affected. In 2015, small short-term loans contributed RMB11.1 million (US$1.75 million), or approximately 0.5% of our total revenues.

In addition, our involvement in the small short-term loans business and internet finance business subjects us to new laws and regulations with which we have limited previous experience. We cannot assure you that we have fully complied with and will fully comply with all the relevant laws and regulations. If we fail to comply with any such laws or regulations, or if we otherwise become subject to enforcement actions under such laws or regulations, we may face significant monetary, reputational or other harm to our business. In addition, since we have little track record in offering small short-term loans and other internet finance products, any perceived shortcomings in our operations in this area in the future may cause reputational harm to us.

 

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We must obtain approvals or licenses in order to provide small short-term loans, and the small short-term loans business should be conducted within certain restricted territory under current regulations. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Small Short-Term Loan Business.” These laws, rules and regulations are issued by different central, provincial and local governments and enforced by different local authorities. Furthermore, the local authorities have broad discretion in implementing and enforcing the applicable laws, rules, regulations and governmental policies. As a result, there are uncertainties in the interpretation and implementation of such laws, rules, regulations and governmental policies, and occasionally, we have to depend on verbal clarifications from local government authorities. These laws and regulations and governmental policies are subject to change, which may impose significant costs or limitations on the way we conduct or expand our small short-term loans business, and we may not be able to adapt to all such changes on a timely basis and may not be able to fully comply with the current and future laws, rules and regulations at all times. Failure to comply with the applicable laws and regulations and other governmental policies may result in fines, restrictions on our activities or revocation of our licenses.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our existing licenses and permits, renew any of them when their current term expires or obtain additional licenses required for our future small short-term loan business expansion. If new PRC regulations promulgated in the future require us to obtain additional licenses or permits in order to continue to conduct our business operations in this area, there is no guarantee that we would be able to obtain such licenses or permits in a timely fashion, or at all. If any of these situations occur, we may be forced to stop engaging in the relevant business area.

A significant portion of our wealth management, asset management businesses and internet finance businesses have real estate or real estate-related business as underlying assets. These products and services are subject to the risks inherent in the ownership and operation of real estate and the construction and development of real estate as well as regulatory and policy changes in the real estate industry in China.

To date, a significant portion of the wealth management, asset management and internet finance products and services that we distribute or offer have real estate or real estate-related business in China as their underlying assets. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the total value of wealth management products with real estate or real estate-related business as the underlying assets that we distributed accounted for 64.0%, 51.0% and 31.6% of the total value of all the products we distributed, respectively. In the second half of 2012, we began distributing real estate funds and funds of real estate funds under our management. In 2013, we began distributing asset management plans with real estate or real estate-related business as the underlying assets sponsored by mutual fund management companies or securities companies. These businesses have experienced rapid growth and are expected to continue to grow in the future. In 2014, we began distributing contract-based private funds with real estate or real estate-related business as the ultimate underlying assets. In the same year, we also began distributing internet finance products with real estate or real estate-related business as the ultimate underlying assets. The net revenues, including one-time commissions, recurring service fees and other services fees, that we generated from wealth management, asset management and internet finance products with real estate or real estate-related business as the underlying assets accounted for 61.5%, 64.4% and 36.7% of our total net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Such products include, for example, investment in collective trust plans linked to real estate development projects or real estate funds. Such products are subject to the risks inherent in the ownership and operation of real estate and real estate-related businesses and assets. These risks include those associated with the burdens of ownership of real property, general and local economic conditions, changes in supply of and demand for competing properties in an area, natural disasters, changes in government regulations, changes in real property tax rates, changes in interest rates, the reduced availability of mortgage funds, which may render the sale or refinancing of properties difficult or impracticable and other factors that are beyond our control.

 

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In particular, the PRC real estate industry is subject to extensive governmental regulation and is susceptible to policy changes. The PRC government exerts considerable direct and indirect influence on the development of the PRC real estate sector by imposing industry policies and other economic measures. Such measures may depress the real estate market, reduce transaction volume, cause a decline in selling prices, prevent developers from raising the capital they need and increase developers’ costs to start new projects. In early 2013, the PRC central government adopted several rules to further strengthen its control over the real estate market, improve the local government’s ability to stabilize housing prices, curb speculative housing investment, increase the supply of land for low income housing, accelerate the planning and construction of low income housing and strengthen market supervision. In late 2014, the central government adopted new rules and began relaxing control on the real estate market by loosening the credit limits applicable to loans for the purchase of second homes, introducing new policies on housing provident fund credits and other measures. In addition, except for big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, other cities in China have gradually rescinded local sale suspension policies applicable to housing purchases. In November 2014, the State Council promulgated the Interim Regulations on Real Estate Registration, which became effective on March 1, 2015. In 2015, relevant authorities adopted several rules that in favor of the real estate market, such as decline of loan interest rates, reduce of down- payment rate, etc. However, due to the rapid increase of housing prices in certain cities such as Shanghai, new strengthen policies are adopted in Shanghai in early 2016. We cannot assure you that the PRC government will not adopt new measures in the future that may result in lower growth rates in the real estate industry. Frequent changes in government policies may also create uncertainty that could discourage investment in real estate. These policies and regulations may affect the viability, cash flow, or prospect of real estate development projects that constitute the underlying assets of certain of the wealth management products, asset management products and internet finance products distributed by us or managed by us in all respects.

If any of the risks associated with ownership and operation of real estate and real estate-related businesses in China are realized, they may result in decreased value and increased default rates of the wealth management, asset management and internet finance products linked to real estate that we distribute or manage, and reduce the interest of our clients in purchasing such products, which account for a significant portion of our product choices. As a result, our commissions and recurring service fees from such products could be adversely affected. In addition, if clients who purchased such wealth management, asset management or internet finance products experience financial loss, they may lose their trust and confidence in us and our reputation may be harmed, which may result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The determination of the investment portfolio under asset management and the amount to be taken on certain investments is subject to management’s evaluation and judgment.

We plan to enhance our asset management services by developing our investment portfolio capabilities focusing on fund of funds in real estate, private equity, hedge funds, secondary market equity funds and credit funds. The determination of the investment portfolio and the investment amount varies by investment type and will be based upon our periodic evaluation and assessment of inherent and known risks associated with the respective asset class. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.

The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on management’s case-by-case evaluation of the underlying reasons for the decline in fair value that takes into consideration a wide range of factors about the security issuer or borrower, and management uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in the estimated fair value of the security or loan and in assessing the prospects for recovery. Assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential are inherent in management’s evaluation of the security or loan.

Our failure to respond to rapid product innovation in the financial industry in a timely and cost-effective manner may have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

The financial industry is increasingly influenced by frequent new product and service introductions and evolving industry standards. We believe that our future success will depend on our ability to continue to anticipate product and service innovations and to offer additional products and services that meet evolving standards on a timely and cost-effective basis. There is a risk that we may not successfully identify new product and service opportunities or develop and introduce these opportunities in a timely and cost-effective manner. In addition, products and services that our competitors develop or introduce may render our products and services less competitive. As a result, failure to respond to product and service innovation that may affect our industry in the future may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

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Our operating history may not provide an adequate basis to judge our future prospects and results of operations.

We commenced our business in 2005 as a service provider focusing on distributing wealth management products. We focused exclusively on marketing and distributing third-party wealth management products until May 2010, when we started our asset management business by distributing funds managed by ourselves. In 2014, we began offering internet finance products and services through the Company’s online platform for white-collar professionals, online peer-to-peer lending services for high net worth individuals and online payment and related services. We seek to develop new wealth management, asset management and internet finance products, but it is difficult to predict whether our new products will be well-accepted by our customers. Although we recorded net income in prior years, we cannot assure you that our results of operations will not be adversely affected in any future period. We have limited operating history and as a result limited experience in delivering services, which makes the prediction of future results of operations difficult, and therefore, past results of operations achieved by us should not be taken as indicative of the rate of growth, if any, that can be expected in the future. As a result, you should consider our future prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties experienced by early stage companies in a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive market in China.

Any failure to ensure and protect the confidentiality of our clients’ personal data and the improper use or disclosure of such data could lead to legal liability, adversely affect our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our services involve the exchange of information, including detailed personal and financial information regarding our clients, through a variety of electronic and non-electronic means. In particular, with the growth of our internet finance business, our internet finance platform generates and processes an increasingly larger quantity of transactions and data, especially our customers’ demographic data and financial data.

We face risks inherent in handling large volumes of data and in protecting the security of such data. In particular, we face a number of data-related challenges concerning transactions and other activities that take place on our platform, including but not limited to:

 

    protecting the data on our system, including against attacks on our system by outside parties or fraudulent behavior by our employees;

 

    addressing concerns related to privacy and data-sharing, safety, security and other factors; and

 

    complying with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the collection, use, disclosure or security of personal information, including any requests from regulatory and government authorities relating to such data.

Any systems failure or security breach or lapse that results in the leaking of user data could harm our reputation and brand and, consequently, our business, in addition to exposing us to potential legal liability. We rely on a complex network of process and software controls to protect the confidentiality of data provided to us or stored on our systems. If we do not maintain adequate internal controls or fail to implement new or improved controls as necessary, this data could be misappropriated or confidentiality could otherwise be breached. We could be subject to liability if we inappropriately disclose any client’s personal information, or if third parties are able to penetrate our network security or otherwise gain access to any client’s name, address, portfolio holdings, or other personal information stored by us. Any such event could subject us to claims for identity theft or other similar fraud claims or claims for other misuses of personal information, such as unauthorized marketing or unauthorized access to personal information. In addition, such events would cause our clients to lose their trust and confidence in us, which may result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, since we are still in the process of applying for payment business license, some online payments for our products are settled through third-party online payment services. We may have to share certain personal information about our clients with contracted third-party online payment service providers, such as their names, addresses, phone numbers and transaction records. We have limited control or influence over the security policies or measures adopted by such third-party providers of online payment services. Any compromise or failure of the information security measures of our third-party online payment service providers could also have a material and adverse effect on our reputation, business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Any significant failure in our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business and profitability.

Our business is highly dependent on the ability of our information technology systems to timely process a large amount of information relating to wealth management products, asset management products, internet finance products, clients and transactions. The proper functioning of our financial control, accounting, product database, client database, client service and other data processing systems, together with the communication systems between our various branch offices and our headquarters in Shanghai, is critical to our business and to our ability to compete effectively. In particular, we rely on the online service platform provided through our website www.noahwm.com to provide our clients with updated information about their historical purchases, the status of the products they purchased and various other notifications. Any failure to maintain satisfactory performance, reliability, security and availability of our network infrastructure may cause significant harm to our reputation and our ability to attract and maintain users. We maintain our backup system hardware and operate our back-end infrastructure. Server interruptions, breakdowns or system failures in the cities where we maintain our servers and system hardware, including failures that may be attributable to sustained power shutdowns, or other events within or outside our control that could result in a sustained shutdown of all or a material portion of our services, could adversely impact our ability to service our users. Our network systems are also vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, fire, flood, earthquake, power loss, telecommunications failures, computer hacking and similar events, and we do not have business interruption insurance. Although we have not experienced system failures, we cannot assure you that our business activities would not be materially disrupted in the event of a partial or complete failure of any of these information technology or communication systems, which could be caused by, among other things, software malfunction, computer virus attacks or conversion errors due to system upgrading. In addition, a prolonged failure of our information technology system could damage our reputation and materially and adversely affect our future prospects and profitability.

Because a significant portion of the one-time commissions and recurring service fees we earn on the distribution and management of wealth management products and asset management products are based on commission and fee rates set by the wealth management product and asset management product providers or underlying corporate borrowers, any decrease in these commission and fee rates may have an adverse effect on our revenues, cash flow and results of operations.

We derive a significant portion of our revenues from recurring fees and commissions paid by wealth management or asset management product providers or underlying corporate borrowers whose products our clients purchase. The recurring fees and commission rates are set based on the negotiation we had with such product providers or underlying corporate borrowers, and vary from product to product. Recurring fees and commission rates can change based on the prevailing political, economic, regulatory, taxation and competitive factors that affect the product providers or underlying corporate borrowers. These factors, which are not within our control, include the capacity of product providers to place new business, profits of product providers, client demand and preference for wealth management products and asset management products, the availability of comparable products from other product providers at a lower cost, the availability of alternative wealth management products and asset management products to clients and the tax deductibility of commissions and fees. In addition, the historical volume of wealth management products and asset management products that we distributed or managed may have a significant impact on our bargaining power with third-party providers of wealth management products and asset management products or underlying corporate borrowers in relation to the commission and fee rates for future products. Because we do not determine, and cannot predict, the timing or extent of commission and fee rate changes with respect to the wealth management products and asset management products, it is difficult for us to assess the effect of any of these changes on our operations. Any decrease in commission and fee rates would significantly affect our revenues, cash flow and results of operations.

 

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The wealth management products we distribute are supplied by a small number of third-party wealth management product providers; and the renegotiation or termination of our relationships with such third-party product providers could significantly impact our business.

The wealth management products we distribute are supplied by a small number of third-party wealth management product providers, including mutual fund management companies, private equity firms, real estate fund managers, securities investment fund managers, trust companies, commercial banks and insurance companies. Among the various product providers, trust companies once supplied the majority of the wealth management products distributed by us. Trust companies in China are a type of financial institution required by PRC law to sponsor trust plans. In late 2012 and early 2013, relevant PRC supervisory authorities adopted a series of rules and regulations, which provided new ways for mutual fund management companies and securities companies to engage in the asset management business. As a result, we increased our cooperation with mutual fund management companies in 2013, and contributions from trust products in terms of total transaction value decreased. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, our top three third-party product providers accounted for approximately 19.0%, 12.7% and 16.7% of the aggregate value of all the products we distributed through our wealth management business, respectively. Our relationships with third-party wealth management product providers are governed by contracts between us and such product providers. These contracts establish, among other things, the scope of our responsibility and our commission rates with respect to the distribution of particular products. These contracts typically are entered into on a product by product basis and expire at the expiration date of the relevant wealth management product. For any new wealth management products, new contracts need to be negotiated and entered into. Our third-party wealth management product providers may agree to enter into contracts with us for any new products only with lower commission rates or other terms less favorable to us, which could reduce our revenues. Although we believe that substitute third-party providers for most of the wealth management products that we distribute are generally available, if wealth management product providers that in the aggregate account for a significant portion of our business decide not to enter into contracts with us for their wealth management products, or our relationships with them are otherwise impacted, our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Poor investment performance may lead to a decrease in assets under management and reduce revenues from and the profitability of our asset management business.

A portion of our revenues from our asset management business comes from performance-based fees. Performance-based fees are typically based on how much the returns on our managed accounts exceed a certain threshold return for each investor. We do not earn performance-based fees if our managed accounts do not generate cumulative performance that surpasses the relevant target thresholds or if a fund experiences losses.

In addition, investment performance is one of the most important factors in retaining existing investors and competing for new asset management business. Investment performance for our asset management business may be poor as a result of downturns in the market or economic conditions, including but not limited to changes in interest rates, inflation, terrorism, political uncertainty, our investment style and the particular investments that we make. Poor investment performance may result in a decline in our revenues and income by causing (i) the net asset value of the assets under our management to decrease, which would result in lower management fees to us, (ii) lower investment returns, resulting in a reduction of incentive fee income to us, and (iii) increase in investor redemptions, which would in turn lead to fewer assets under management and lower fees for us.

To the extent our future investment performance is perceived to be poor in either relative or absolute terms, the revenues and profitability of our asset management business will likely be reduced and our ability to grow existing funds and raise new funds in the future will likely be impaired.

The historical returns of our funds may not be indicative of the future results of our funds.

The historical returns of our funds should not be considered indicative of the future results that should be expected from such funds or from any future funds we may raise. Our rates of return reflect unrealized gains as of the applicable measurement dates. Such gains may never be realized due to various factors beyond our control, such as changes in market conditions that may adversely affect the ultimate value realized from the investments in a fund. The returns of our funds may have also benefited from unique investment opportunities and general market conditions that may not reoccur, and there can be no assurance that our current or future funds will be able to effectively avail themselves of profitable investment opportunities. Furthermore, the historical and potential future returns of the funds we manage also may not necessarily bear any relationship to potential returns on our shares.

 

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Some of our asset management clients may redeem their investments from time to time, which could reduce our asset management fee revenues.

Certain of our asset management fund agreements may permit fund of mutual funds and fund of private funds’ investors to redeem their investments with us at quarterly or annual intervals, after an initial “lockup” period during which redemptions are restricted or penalized. However, any such “lockup” restrictions may be waived by us. If the return on the assets under our management does not meet investors’ expectations, investors may elect to redeem their investments and invest their assets elsewhere, including with our competitors. Our recurring service fee revenues correlate directly to the amount of our AUM; therefore, redemptions may cause our recurring service fee revenues to decrease. Investors may decide to reallocate their capital away from us and to other asset managers for a number of reasons, including poor relative investment performance, changes in prevailing interest rates which make other investment options more attractive, changes in investor perception regarding our focus or alignment of interest, dissatisfaction with changes in or a broadening of a fund’s investment strategy, changes in our reputation, and departures of, or changes in responsibilities of, key investment professionals. For these and other reasons, the pace of investor redemptions and the corresponding reduction in our assets under management could accelerate. In addition, redemptions could ultimately require us to liquidate assets under unfavorable circumstances, which would further harm our reputation and results of operations.

We work with prime brokers, custodians, administrators and other agents in our asset management business, whose performance may have material effects on our results of operations.

Our asset management business and funds managed by us depend on the services of prime brokers, custodians, administrators and other agents to monitor, report and settle transactions. The performance of these third parties may impact our asset management business and, ultimately, our results of operations. For example, in the event of the insolvency of a prime broker or custodian, our funds associated with such prime broker or custodian might not be able to recover equivalent assets in whole or in part as they may rank among the prime broker’s and the custodian’s unsecured creditors in relation to assets which the prime broker or custodian borrows, lends or otherwise uses. In addition, cash held by our funds with such prime broker or custodian would in general not be segregated from the prime broker’s or custodian’s own cash, and there would be no guarantee that such cash can be recovered in the insolvency proceeding.

Our organizational documents do not limit our ability to enter into new lines of business, and we may enter into new businesses, make future strategic investments or acquisitions or enter into joint ventures, each of which may result in additional risks and uncertainties in our business.

Our organizational documents do not limit us to our current business lines. Accordingly, we may pursue growth through strategic investments, acquisitions or joint ventures, which may include entering into new lines of business. In addition, we expect opportunities will arise to acquire other companies with businesses that complement ours. To the extent we make strategic investments or acquisitions or enter into joint ventures or new lines of businesses, we expect to face numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with:

 

    the required investment of capital and other resources;

 

    the possibility that we have insufficient expertise to engage in such businesses profitably or without incurring inappropriate amounts of risk;

 

    combining or integrating operational and management systems and controls; and

 

    compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including those required under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act.

Entry into certain lines of business may subject us to new laws and regulations with which we are not familiar, or from which we are currently exempt, and may lead to increased litigation and regulatory risk. If a new business generates insufficient revenue or if we are unable to efficiently manage our expanded operations, our results of operations will be adversely affected. In the case of joint ventures, we are subject to additional risks and uncertainties in that we may be dependent upon, and subject to liability, losses or reputation damage relating to, systems, controls and personnel that are not under our control.

 

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The proper functioning of our technology platform is essential to our internet finance business. Any failure to maintain the satisfactory performance of our website and systems could materially and adversely affect our business and reputation.

We are constantly upgrading our platform to provide increased scale, improved performance for both PC and mobile versions of our internet finance platform. The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our technology platform are critical to our success and our ability to attract and retain customers and provide quality customer service. To adapt to new products and upgrade our technology infrastructure requires significant investment of time and resources, including adding new hardware, updating software and recruiting and training new engineering personnel. Maintaining and improving our technology infrastructure requires significant levels of investment. Adverse consequences could include unanticipated system disruptions, slower response times, impaired quality of clients’ experiences and delays in reporting accurate operating and financial information. Any system interruptions caused by telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hacking or other attempts to harm our systems that result in the unavailability or slowdown of our website or reduced order fulfillment performance could reduce the volume of products sold and the attractiveness of product offerings on our platform. Our servers may also be vulnerable to computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions, which could lead to system interruptions, website slowdown or unavailability, delays or errors in transaction processing, loss of data or the inability to accept and fulfill customer orders. Security breaches, computer viruses and hacking attacks have become more prevalent in our industry. We can provide no assurance that our current security mechanisms will be sufficient to protect our IT systems from any third-party intrusions, viruses or hacker attacks, information or data theft or other similar activities. Any such future occurrences could reduce customer satisfaction, damage our reputation and our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects, as well as our reputation, could be materially and adversely affected.

Any deficiencies in China’s internet infrastructure could impair our ability to sell products over our website and mobile applications, which could cause us to lose customers and harm our operating results.

Our internet finance business depends on the performance and reliability of the internet infrastructure in China. Substantially all of our computer hardware is currently located in China. The availability of our website depends on telecommunications carriers and other third-party providers for communications and storage capacity, including bandwidth and server storage, among other things. If we are unable to enter into or renew agreements with these providers on commercially acceptable terms, or if any of our existing agreements with such providers are terminated as a result of our breach or otherwise, our ability to provide our services to our customers could be adversely affected. Almost all access to the internet in China is maintained through state-owned telecommunication carriers under administrative control, and we obtain access to end-user networks operated by such telecommunications carriers and internet service providers to give customers access to our website. We have experienced service interruptions in the past, which were typically caused by service interruptions at the underlying external telecommunications service providers, such as the internet data centers and broadband carriers from which we lease services. Service interruptions prevent consumers from accessing our website and mobile applications and placing orders, and frequent interruptions could frustrate customers and discourage them from attempting to place orders, which could cause us to lose customers and harm our operating results.

If we fail to adopt new technologies or adapt our website, mobile applications and systems to changing customer requirements or emerging industry standards, our internet finance business may be materially and adversely affected.

To remain competitive in the internet finance business, we must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness, functionality and features of our website and mobile applications. The internet finance industry in China is characterized by rapid technological evolution, continual changes in customer requirements and preferences, frequent introductions of new products and services embodying new technologies and the emergence of new industry standards and practices, any of which could render our existing technologies and systems obsolete. The success of our internet finance business will depend, in part, on our ability to identify, develop, acquire or license leading technologies useful in our business, and respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices, such as mobile internet, in a cost-effective and timely way. The development of websites, mobile applications and other proprietary technology entails significant technical and business risks. We cannot assure you that we will be able to use new technologies effectively or adapt our website, mobile applications, proprietary technologies and systems to meet evolving customer requirements or emerging industry standards. If we are unable to adapt in a cost-effective and timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, whether for technical, legal, financial or other reasons, the overall prospects, financial condition and results of operations of our internet finance business may be materially and adversely affected.

 

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We may not be able to prevent unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could reduce demand for our products and services, adversely affect our revenues and harm our competitive position.

We rely primarily on a combination of copyright, trade secret, trademark and anti-unfair competition laws and contractual rights to establish and protect our intellectual property rights in our research reports, our wealth management, asset management and internet finance products and services and other aspects of our business. We cannot assure you that the steps we have taken or will take in the future to protect our intellectual property or piracy will prove to be sufficient. Implementation of intellectual property-related laws in China has historically been lacking, primarily due to ambiguity in the PRC laws and enforcement difficulties. Accordingly, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protection in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. Current or potential competitors may use our intellectual property without our authorization in the development of products and services that are substantially equivalent or superior to ours, which could reduce demand for our solutions and services, adversely affect our revenues and harm our competitive position. Even if we were to discover evidence of infringement or misappropriation, our recourse against such competitors may be limited or could require us to pursue litigation, which could involve substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention from the operation of our business.

Confidentiality agreements with employees, product providers and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of our trade secrets and other proprietary information.

We require our employees, product providers and others to enter into confidentiality agreements in order to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information and, most importantly, our client information. These agreements might not effectively prevent disclosure of our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information and might not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of such confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover trade secrets and proprietary information, and in such cases we could not assert any trade secret rights against such parties. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive position.

We may face intellectual property infringement claims, which could be time-consuming and costly to defend and may result in the loss of significant rights by us.

Although we have not been subject to any litigation, pending or threatened, alleging infringement of third parties’ intellectual property rights, we cannot assure you that such infringement claims will not be asserted against us in the future.

Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming and could divert resources and management attention from the operation of our business. If there is a successful claim of infringement, we may be required to alter our services, cease certain activities, pay substantial royalties and damages to, and obtain one or more licenses from, third parties. We may not be able to obtain those licenses on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. Any of those consequences could cause us to lose revenues, impair our client relationships and harm our reputation.

Our future success depends on the continuing efforts to retain our existing management team and other key employees as well as to attract, integrate and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel, and our business may be disrupted if we lose their services.

Our future success depends heavily on the continued services of our current executive officers and senior management team. We also rely on the skills, experience and efforts of other key employees, including management, marketing, support, research and development, technical and services personnel, across our wealth management, asset management and internet finance businesses. Qualified employees are in high demand in the throughout the wealth management, asset management and internet finance industries in China, and our future success depends on our ability to attract, train, motivate and retain highly skilled employees and the ability of our executive officers and other members of our senior management to work effectively as a team.

If one or more of our executive officers or other key employees are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to find replacements easily, which may disrupt our business operations. We do not have key personnel insurance in place. If any of our executive officers or other key employees joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose clients, know-how, key professionals and staff members. Each of our executive officers has entered into an employment agreement with us, which contains confidentiality and non-competition provisions. However, if any dispute arises between our executive officers and us, we cannot assure you of the extent to which any of these agreements could be enforced in China, where these executive officers reside, because of the uncertainties of China’s legal system. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

 

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If we fail to attract and retain qualified relationship managers, our business could suffer.

We rely heavily on our relationship managers to develop and maintain relationships with our clients. Our relationship managers serve as our day-to-day contacts with our clients and carry out a substantial portion of the client services we deliver. Their professional competence and approachability are essential to establishing and maintaining our brand image. As we further grow our business and expand into new cities and regions, we have an increasing demand for high quality relationship managers. We have been actively recruiting and will continue to recruit qualified relationship managers to join our coverage network. However, there is no assurance that we can recruit and retain sufficient relationship managers who meet our high quality requirements to support our further growth. In some of the regional centers where we have recently established or plan to establish branch offices, the talent pool from which we can recruit relationship managers is smaller than in national economic centers such as Shanghai and Beijing. Even if we could recruit sufficient relationship managers, we may have to incur disproportional training and administrative expenses in order to prepare our local recruits for their job. If we are unable to attract and retain highly productive relationship managers, our business could be materially and adversely affected. Competition for relationship managers may also force us to increase the compensation of our relationship managers, which would increase operating cost and reduce our profitability.

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

Our co-founders, Ms. Jingbo Wang and Mr. Zhe Yin, have considerable influence over important corporate matters. Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to four votes on all matters that are subject to shareholder vote. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof, while Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Due to the disparate voting powers associated with our two classes of ordinary shares, as of April 18, 2016, Ms. Jingbo Wang and Mr. Zhe Yin beneficially owned 30.7% of our share capital and controlled 63.5% of the aggregate voting power of our company. As a result, Ms. Jingbo Wang and Mr. Zhe Yin have considerable influence over matters such as electing directors and approving material mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions, and they may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could also discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions, which could have the effect of depriving the holders of our Class A ordinary shares and our ADSs of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price and could result in a reduction in the price of our ADSs.

Our business is sensitive to global economic conditions. A severe or prolonged downturn in the global or Chinese economy could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets to meet potential liquidity needs.

Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions. Since we derive substantially all of our revenues from our operations in China, our business and prospects may be affected by economic conditions or changes in the financial markets in China. Our revenues ultimately depend on the appetite of high net worth individuals to invest in the products we distribute or manage, which in turn depend on their level of disposable income, perceived future earnings and willingness to invest. As there are still substantial uncertainties in the current and future conditions in the global and PRC economies, our clients may reduce or delay their investment in the financial markets in general, and defer or forgo the purchase of products we distribute or manage. For example, in the third quarter of 2015, the stock markets in China experienced substantial negative volatility, resulting in a loss of confidence in the markets by some investors and intervention by the PRC government. We may have difficulty expanding our client base fast enough, or at all, to offset the impact of decreased spending by our existing clients. Additionally, we earn recurring service fees on certain wealth and asset management products over a period of time after the initial sale. Clients may surrender or terminate these products, ending these recurring revenues. Moreover, insolvencies associated with an economic downturn could adversely affect our business through the loss of wealth management product providers or clients or by hampering our ability to place business. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or China’s economy may lead to reduced investment in the products we distribute or manage, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Moreover, a slowdown in the global or PRC economy or the recurrence of any financial disruptions may have a material and adverse impact on financings available to us. The weakness in the economy could erode investors’ confidence, which constitutes the basis of the equity markets. Any financial turmoil affecting the financial markets and banking system may significantly restrict our ability to obtain financing in the capital markets or from financial institutions on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Although we are uncertain about the extent to which any global financial and economic crisis and slowdown of the PRC economy may impact our business, there is a risk that our business, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected by any global economic downturn and the slowdown of the PRC economy.

Our revenues and operating results can fluctuate from period to period, which could cause the price of our ADSs to fluctuate.

Our revenues and operating results have fluctuated in the past and may fluctuate from period to period in the future due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Factors relating to our business that may contribute to these fluctuations include the following factors, as well as other factors described elsewhere in this annual report:

 

    a decline or slowdown of the growth in the value of wealth management products or asset management products, which may reduce the value of products we distribute or manage and therefore our commission revenues and cash flows;

 

    negative public perception and reputation of the wealth management, asset management or internet finance industry;

 

    unanticipated delays of anticipated rollouts of our products or services;

 

    unanticipated changes to economic terms in contracts with our wealth management product providers, including renegotiations;

 

    changes in laws or regulatory policy that could impact our ability to provide wealth management, asset management or internet finance services to our clients or to distribute or manage wealth management products or asset management products;

 

    failure to enter into contracts with new wealth management product providers;

 

    cancellations or non-renewal of existing contracts with wealth management product providers; and

 

    changes in the number of clients who decide to effectively terminate their relationship with us or who ask us to redeem their investment in our fund of funds products or real estate fund products.

As a result of these and other factors, the results of any prior quarterly or annual periods should not be relied upon as indications of our future revenues or operating performance.

If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our ADSs may be materially and adversely affected.

As a public company in the United States, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, requires that we include a report from management on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

Our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2015. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.” Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on our management’s assessment of our internal control over financial report and has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective in all material aspects.

 

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However, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, our financial statements could contain material misstatements and we could fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. This could in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of operations, and lead to a decline in the trading price of our ADSs.

We have granted, and may continue to grant, stock options and other share-based compensation in the future, which may materially impact our future results of operations.

We adopted our 2008 share incentive plan, which we refer to as the 2008 plan, and our 2010 share incentive plan, which we refer to as the 2010 plan, which permit the grant of stock options, restricted shares and restricted share units to employees, directors and consultants of our company. As of April 18, 2016, options to purchase 732,046 Class A ordinary shares and 205,315 restricted shares have been granted and are outstanding, and 817,768 Class A ordinary shares have been reserved for future issuances under these plans. As a result of these grants and potential future grants under the plans, we have incurred, and will incur in future periods, significant share-based compensation expenses. We account for compensation costs for all stock options using a fair value-based method and recognize expenses in our consolidated statement of income in accordance with the relevant rules in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which may have a material adverse effect on our net income. Moreover, the additional expenses associated with share-based compensation may reduce the attractiveness of such incentive plans to us. However, if we limit the scope of our share incentive plans, we may not be able to attract or retain key personnel who expect to be compensated by equity incentives.

We have limited insurance coverage.

Insurance companies in China currently do not offer as extensive an array of insurance products as insurance companies in more developed economies. Other than casualty insurance on some of our assets, we do not have commercial insurance coverage on our other assets and we do not have insurance to cover our business or interruption of our business, litigation or product liability. We have determined that the costs of insuring for these risks and the difficulties associated with acquiring such insurance on commercially reasonable terms make it impractical for us to have such insurance. Any uninsured occurrence of loss or damage to property, litigation or business disruption may result in our incurring substantial costs and the diversion of resources, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure

If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our businesses in China 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 in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.

We are engaged in insurance brokerage activities as part of our business. Under current PRC laws and regulations, foreign-invested companies engaged in insurance brokerage business are subject to stringent requirements compared with Chinese domestic enterprises. Specifically, according to the guidance published on the official website of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, or the CIRC, the foreign investors of foreign-invested insurance brokerage companies are required to have, among other things, at least US$200 million of total assets and at least a 30-year track record in the insurance brokerage business. As a result, neither our PRC subsidiaries nor any of their subsidiaries currently meet all such requirements and therefore none of them is permitted to engage in the insurance brokerage business. We conduct our insurance brokerage business in China principally through contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiary, Shanghai Noah Rongyao Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., or Noah Rongyao, and our PRC variable interest entity, Noah Investment, and Noah Investment’s shareholders. Shanghai Noah Rongyao Insurance Broker Co., Ltd., or Noah Insurance, a subsidiary of Noah Investment, holds the licenses and permits necessary to conduct insurance brokerage activities in China.

Current PRC regulations relating to foreign investments in the insurance brokerage business in China do not contain detailed explanations and operational procedures, and are subject to interpretations by relevant governmental authorities in China. However, most of these regulations have not been interpreted by the relevant authorities in the context of a corporate structure similar to ours. Therefore, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the applicability of these regulations to our business. Moreover, new regulations may be adopted and interpretations of existing regulations may develop and change, which may materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct our insurance brokerage business.

 

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We had been engaged in the mutual fund distribution business and distribution of asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies as part of our business through contractual arrangement among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our PRC variable interest entity, Noah Investment, and Noah Investment’s shareholders because it was difficult for foreign invest entities and subsidiaries of foreign invest entities to apply for mutual fund distribution license. Noah Upright, a subsidiary of Noah Investment before March 2016, holds the licenses and permits necessary to conduct mutual fund distribution and distribution of asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies in China. However, since the approval authorities tends to relieve their requirements for foreign background entities to apply for mutual fund distribution license, Noah Upright was restructured to be under Shanghai Noah Financial Services Co., Ltd, or Noah Financial Services, through equity transfer in March 2016.

Our contractual arrangements with Noah Investment and its shareholders enable us to (1) have power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Noah Investment; (2) receive substantially all of the economic benefits from Noah Investment in consideration for the services provided by Noah Rongyao; and (3) have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in Noah Investment when and to the extent permitted by PRC law, or request any existing shareholder of Noah Investment to transfer any or part of the equity interest in Noah Investment to another PRC person or entity designated by us at any time at our discretion. Because of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of Noah Investment and hence treat it as our variable interest entity and consolidate its results of operations into ours.

We have been advised by Zhong Lun Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel, that the ownership structures of our variable interest entity, our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, and Noah Holdings Limited, as described above, as well as the contractual arrangements among Noah Rongyao and Noah Investment and its shareholders are valid, binding and enforceable under existing PRC laws or regulations. However, we are advised by Zhong Lun Law Firm that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations and there can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with the opinion of our PRC counsel stated above. For example, substantial uncertainties exist as to how the draft PRC Foreign Investment Law or its implementation rules may impact the viability of our current corporate structure in the future. See “—Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.” It is uncertain whether any other new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide.

If the ownership structure, contractual arrangements and business of our company, our PRC subsidiary or our variable interest entity are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or we fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including levying fines, confiscating our income or the income of our PRC subsidiary or variable interest entity, revoking the business licenses or operating licenses of our PRC subsidiary or variable interest entity, discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations, requiring us to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring and taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations, and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of these penalties results in our inability to direct the activities of Noah Investment that most significantly impact its economic performance, and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from Noah Investment, we may not be able to consolidate Noah Investment in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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We rely on contractual arrangements with our variable interest entity and its shareholders for a portion of our China operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.

We rely on contractual arrangements with our variable interest entity, Noah Investment, and its shareholders to operate a portion of our operations in China, including the insurance brokerage business, distribution of mutual funds products, asset management business and certain other restricted services. Our variable interest entity and its subsidiaries generated RMB212.7 million, RMB566.8 million and RMB972.2 million(US$150.1 million) in net revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, which contributed 21.2%, 37.1% and 45.9% of our total net revenues in the respective years. In March 2016, Noah Upright (Shanghai) Fund Investment Consulting Co., Ltd , or Noah Upright, through which distribution of mutual funds products are conducted, previously as one of Noah Investment’s subsidiaries, was restructured to be under Noah Financial Services through equity transfer. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our variable interest entity. Under the current contractual arrangements, as a legal matter, if our variable interest entity or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under these 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 the share pledge agreement dated September 3, 2007 between our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, and the shareholders of Noah Investment, those shareholders pledged their equity interests in Noah Investment to Noah Rongyao to secure Noah Investment’s obligations under the exclusive support service agreement and the exclusive option agreement.

All of these contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements, which may make it difficult to exert effective control over our variable interest entity, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.

Contractual arrangements we have entered into among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our variable interest entity and its shareholders may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or our PRC variable interest entity and its subsidiaries owe additional taxes, which could substantially reduce our consolidated net income 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. We are not able to determine whether the contractual arrangements we have entered into among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our variable interest entity and its shareholders will be regarded by the PRC tax authorities as arm’s length transactions. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our PRC variable interest entity, Noah Investment, and Noah Investment’s shareholders were not entered into on an arm’s length basis or resulted in an impermissible reduction in taxes under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and adjust Noah Investment’s income in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of expense deductions recorded by Noah Investment, which could in turn increase its respective tax liabilities. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose punitive interest on Noah Investment for the adjusted but unpaid taxes at the rate of 5% over the basic Renminbi lending rate published by the People’s Bank of China according to applicable regulations. Although Noah Rongyao did not generate any revenues from providing services to Noah Investment in the past, if there are such revenues in the future and the PRC tax authorities decide to make transfer pricing adjustments on Noah Investment’s net income, our consolidated net income may be adversely affected.

Because certain shareholders of our variable interest entity are our directors and executive officers, their fiduciary duties to us may conflict with their respective roles in the variable interest entity. If any of the shareholders of our variable interest entity fails to act in the best interests of our company or our shareholders, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Certain shareholders of Noah Investment, our variable interest entity, are our directors and executive officers, including Ms. Jingbo Wang, our chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Zhe Yin, our director and vice president, and Mr. Boquan He, our independent director. For these directors and officers, their fiduciary duties owed to our company under Cayman Islands law—including their duties to act honestly, in good faith and in our best interests—may conflict with their roles in our variable interest entity, as what is in the best interest of our variable interest entity may not be in the best interests of our company. In addition, these individuals may breach or cause Noah Investment and its subsidiaries to breach or refuse to renew the existing contractual arrangements with us.

 

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Conflicts of interest may arise between the dual roles of those individuals who are both directors or executive officers of our company and shareholders of our variable interest entity. We do not have existing arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest these individuals may encounter in his or her capacity as a shareholder of the variable interest entity, on the one hand, and as a beneficial owner and a director and/or an officer or our company, on the other hand; provided that we could, at all times, exercise our option under the exclusive option agreement with Noah Investment’s shareholders to cause them to transfer all of their equity ownership in Noah Investment to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, and this new shareholder of Noah Investment could then appoint new directors of Noah Investment to replace the current directors. In addition, if such conflicts of interest arise, our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, could also, in the capacity of the attorney-in-fact of Noah Investment’s shareholders as provided under the power of attorney, directly appoint new directors of Noah Investment to replace these individuals.

We rely on Noah Investment’s shareholders to comply with the PRC law, which protect contracts and provide that directors and executive officers owe a duty of loyalty to our company and require them to avoid conflicts of interest and not to take advantage of their positions for personal gains. Although our independent directors or disinterested officers may take measures to prevent the parties with dual roles from making decisions that may favor themselves as shareholders of the variable interest entity, we cannot assure you that these measures would be effective in all instances and when conflicts arise, those individuals will act in the best interest of our company or that conflicts will be resolved in our favor. The legal frameworks of China and the Cayman Islands do not provide guidance on resolving conflicts in the event of a conflict with another corporate governance regime. If we cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between us and those individuals, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which may materially disrupt our business. There is also substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceeding.

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

We are a holding company, and we may rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC 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 distributions to us. For example, one of our subsidiaries is restricted by the terms of its loan agreements to pay dividends in excess of agreed percentages of its net profit for the year. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may require us to adjust our taxable income under the contractual arrangements Noah Rongyao currently has in place with our variable interest entity in a manner that would materially and adversely affect its ability to pay dividends and other distributions to us.

Under the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC applicable to foreign-investment corporations and the articles of association of our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity, our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity are required to set aside at least 10% of their accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of their registered capital. We allocated RMB30.7 million, RMB40.0 million and RMB91.6 million (US$14.1 million) to statutory reserves during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation. At its discretion, each of our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to its discretionary reserve fund, or its staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not distributable as cash dividends.

Any limitation on the ability of our PRC 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. See also “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.”

 

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Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.

The Ministry of Commerce, or MOC, published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law in January 2015 aiming to, upon its enactment, replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The draft 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. Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation. The draft Foreign Investment Law, if enacted as proposed, may materially impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations in many aspects.

Among other things, the draft Foreign Investment Law expands the definition of foreign investment and introduces the principle of “actual control” in determining whether the investment in China is made by a foreign investor or a PRC domestic investor. The draft Foreign Investment Law specifically provides that an entity established in China but “controlled” by foreign investors will be treated as a foreign investor, whereas an entity set up in a foreign jurisdiction would nonetheless be, upon market entry clearance by the MOC or its local branches, treated as a PRC domestic investor provided that the entity is ‘‘controlled’’ by PRC entities and/or citizens. In this connection, ‘‘control’’ is broadly defined in the draft law to cover, among others, having the power to exert decisive influence, via contractual or trust arrangements, over the subject entity’s operations, financial matters or other key aspects of business operations. If the foreign investment falls within a “negative list,” to be separately issued by the State Council in the future, market entry clearance by the MOC or its local branches would be required. Otherwise, all foreign investors may make investments on the same terms as Chinese investors without being subject to additional approval from the government authorities as mandated by the existing foreign investment legal regime.

The “variable interest entity” structure, or VIE structure, has been adopted by many PRC-based companies, including us, to obtain necessary licenses and permits in the industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China. 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 our businesses in China 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 in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations” and “Item 4. Information of the Company — C. Organizational Structure.” Under the draft Foreign Investment Law, if a variable interest entity is ultimate controlled by a foreign investor via contractual arrangement, it would be deemed as a foreign investment. Accordingly, for the companies with a VIE structure in an industry category that is on the “negative list”, the VIE structure may be deemed legitimate only if the ultimate controlling person(s) is/ are of PRC nationality (either PRC individual, or PRC government and its branches or agencies). Conversely, if the actual controlling person(s) is/are of foreign nationalities, then the variable interest entities will be treated as foreign-invested enterprises and any operation in the industry category on the “negative list” without market entry clearance may be considered to be illegal.

The draft Foreign Investment Law has not taken a position on what actions shall be taken with respect to the existing companies with a VIE structure, although a few possible options were proffered to solicit comments from the public. Under these options, a company with VIE structures and in the business on the ‘‘negative list’’ at the time of enactment of the new Foreign Investment Law has either the option or obligation to disclose its corporate structure to the authorities, while the authorities, after reviewing the ultimate control structure of the company, may either permit the company to continue its business by maintaining the VIE structure (when the company is deemed ultimately controlled by PRC citizens), or require the company to dispose of its businesses and/or VIE structure based on circumstantial considerations. Moreover, it is uncertain whether the industries in which our variable interest entity operates will be subject to the foreign investment restrictions or prohibitions set forth in the “negative list” to be issued. If the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law and the final “negative list” mandate further actions, such as MOC market entry clearance, to be completed by companies with existing VIE structure like us, or we plan to apply for determination on the PRC investor during the clearance process, we face uncertainties as to whether such clearance or ratification can be timely obtained, or at all.

 

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The draft Foreign Investment Law, if enacted as proposed, may also materially impact our corporate governance practice and increase our compliance costs. For instance, the draft Foreign Investment Law imposes stringent ad hoc and periodic information reporting requirements on foreign investors and the applicable foreign-invested entities. Aside from investment implementation report and investment amendment report that are required at each investment and alteration of investment specifics, an annual report is mandatory, and large foreign investors meeting certain criteria are required to report on a quarterly basis. Any company found to be non-compliant with the information reporting obligations may potentially be subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities, and the persons directly responsible may be subject to criminal liabilities.

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of conversion of foreign currencies into Renminbi may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our overseas offering to make loans to our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity or to make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries.

Any loans to our PRC subsidiaries, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations. For example, loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. We may also decide to finance our PRC subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be approved by the PRC Ministry of Commerce or its local counterpart. Due to the restrictions imposed on loans in foreign currencies extended to any PRC domestic companies, we are not likely to make such loans to our variable interest entity, a PRC domestic company. Meanwhile, we are not likely to finance the activities of our variable interest entity by means of capital contributions because that would result in our variable interest entity being converted into a foreign-invested company, while foreign-invested companies engaged in insurance brokerage are subject to more stringent requirements than PRC domestic enterprises.

On August 29, 2008, SAFE promulgated a regulation which restricts the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency registered capital into Renminbi by setting limitations on the usage of the converted Renminbi. This regulation is generally referred to as SAFE Circular 142. On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administrative Approach Regarding the Settlement of the Foreign Exchange Capitals of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which took effect and replaced SAFE Circular 142 from June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, up to 100% of foreign currency capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may be converted into RMB capital according to the actual operation, and within the business scope, of the enterprise at its will. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows for the use of RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in the PRC, the restrictions continue to apply as to foreign-invested enterprises’ use of the converted RMB for purposes beyond the business scope, for entrusted loans or for inter-company RMB loans. If our variable interest entity requires financial support from us or our wholly owned subsidiary in the future and we find it necessary to use foreign currency-denominated capital to provide such financial support, our ability to fund our variable interest entity’s operations will be subject to statutory limits and restrictions, including those described above.

In light of the various requirements imposed by of PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, including SAFE Circular 19 and other relevant rules and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries or our variable interest entity or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we received from our initial public offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

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Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Adverse changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC government could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could adversely affect our business.

Substantially all of our assets are located in China and substantially all of our revenues are derived from our operations there. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects are affected significantly by economic, political and legal developments in China. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth in the past 30 years, the growth has been uneven across different periods, regions and among various economic sectors of China. We cannot assure you that the Chinese economy will continue to grow, or that if there is growth, such growth will be steady and uniform, or that if there is a slowdown, such slowdown will not have a negative effect on our business.

The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. In July 2013, the People’s Bank of China revoked the restriction on the loan interest rates of financial institutions. In November 2014, the People’s Bank of China lowered the benchmark interest rates for loans and deposits and lifted the ceiling for deposit rates. Most recently, in March and October 2015, the People’s Bank of China further lowered the benchmark interest rates for loans and deposits separately to reduce the financing costs for China’s small and medium-sized enterprises, which could in turn stimulate the growth of the Chinese economy. It is unclear whether PRC economic policies will be effective in stimulating growth, and the PRC government may not be effective in creating stable economic growth in the future. Any slowdown in the economic growth of China could lead to reduced demand for the products we distribute or manage, which could materially and adversely affect our business, as well as our financial condition and results of operations.

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

We conduct our business primarily through our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are foreign-invested enterprises and are subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China and, in particular, laws applicable to foreign-invested enterprises. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. 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 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. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may also impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. For instance, on January 19, 2015, the MOC published a draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law on its official website for public comments. The draft Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in alignment with international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments, and thus the draft Foreign Investment Law will have a far-reaching and significant impact upon foreign investments by fundamentally reshaping the entire PRC foreign investment regulatory regime. See “Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Draft Foreign Investment Law”. There is no definitive timeline for this law to be officially promulgated by the PRC legislature and the current draft may need to undergo significant amendment before the law is finally passed. Accordingly, substantial uncertainties still exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of this new law. As a result, we may not be aware of how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and other foreign investors, and could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

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The audit reports included in this annual report are prepared by auditors who are not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, you are deprived of the benefits of such inspection.

The independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in our annual reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Because our auditors are located in the Peoples’ Republic of China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditors are not currently inspected by the PCAOB.

Inspections of other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. This lack of PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditor’s audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections.

The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements, which may have a material adverse effect on our ADS price.

If additional remedial measures are imposed on the “big four” PRC-based accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, in administrative proceedings brought by the SEC alleging the firms’ failure to meet specific criteria set by the SEC, with respect to requests for the production of documents, we could be unable to timely file future financial statements in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Starting in 2011 the Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms, (including our independent registered public accounting firm) were affected by a conflict between US and Chinese law. Specifically, for certain U.S. listed companies operating and audited in mainland China, the SEC and the PCAOB sought to obtain from the Chinese firms access to their audit work papers and related documents. The firms were, however, advised and directed that under China law they could not respond directly to the U.S. regulators on those requests, and that requests by foreign regulators for access to such papers in China had to be channeled through CSRC.

In late 2012 this impasse led the SEC to commence administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 against the Chinese accounting firms, (including our independent registered public accounting firm). A first instance trial of the proceedings in July 2013 in the SEC’s internal administrative court resulted in an adverse judgment against the firms. The administrative law judge proposed penalties on the firms including a temporary suspension of their right to practice before the SEC, although that proposed penalty did not take effect pending review by the Commissioners of the SEC. On February 6, 2015, before a review by the Commissioner had taken place, the firms reached a settlement with the SEC. Under the settlement, the SEC accepts that future requests by the SEC for the production of documents will normally be made to CSRC. The firms will receive matching Section 106 requests, and are required to abide by a detailed set of procedures with respect to such requests, which in substance require them to facilitate production via CSRC. If they fail to meet specified criteria, the SEC retains authority to impose a variety of additional remedial measures on the firms depending on the nature of the failure. Remedies for any future noncompliance could include, as appropriate, an automatic six-month bar on a single firm’s performance of certain audit work, commencement of a new proceeding against a firm, or in extreme cases the resumption of the current proceeding against all four firms.

 

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In the event that the SEC restarts the administrative proceedings, depending upon the final outcome, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, including possible delisting. Moreover, any negative news about any such future proceedings against these audit firms may cause investor uncertainty regarding PRC-based, U.S.-listed companies and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.

If our independent registered public accounting firm were denied, even temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC and we were unable to timely find another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined not to be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such a determination could ultimately lead to the delisting of our ADSs from the NYSE or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ADSs in the United States.

Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect the value of your investment.

The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies, among other things. In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. As a consequence, the Renminbi fluctuated significantly during that period against other freely traded currencies, in tandem with the U.S. dollar. Since June, 2010, the PRC government has allowed the Renminbi to appreciate slowly against the U.S. dollar again. Starting from June 2015, the trend of appreciation changed and the Renminbi started to depreciate against the U.S. dollar gradually. 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.

Substantially all of our sales contracts were denominated in Renminbi and substantially all of our costs and expenses are denominated in Renminbi, while a portion of our financial assets, our convertible notes and our dividend payments are denominated in U.S. dollars. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. Any significant revaluation of the Renminbi or the U.S. dollar may adversely affect our cash flows, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs. For example, an appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would make any new RMB-denominated investments or expenditures more costly to us, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for such purposes. An appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would also result in foreign currency translation losses for financial reporting purposes when we translate our U.S. dollar-denominated financial assets into Renminbi, our reporting currency. Conversely, if we decide to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs, for payment of interest expenses or principal regarding the outstanding convertible notes, strategic acquisitions or investments or 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 China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. 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.

 

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Governmental control of conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our company may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. But approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.

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

SAFE has promulgated several rules and regulations that require PRC residents and PRC corporate entities to register with and obtain approval from local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. According to the circular promulgated by SAFE which took effect on June 1, 2015, the qualified banks will bear the authority to register all PRC residents’ direct or indirect offshore investment activities in special purpose vehicles, except that those PRC residents who have failed to register or obtain approval will remain to fall into the jurisdiction of the local SAFE branch and must make their supplementary registration application with the local SAFE branch. These regulations apply to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may apply to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.

Under these foreign exchange rules and regulations, PRC residents are required to complete SAFE registration before contributing their legally owned onshore or offshore assets or equity interest into any special purpose vehicle, or SPV, directly established, or indirectly controlled, by them for the purpose of investment or financing. Such foreign exchange regulations and rules further require that when there is (a) any change to the basic information of the SPV, such as any change relating to its individual PRC resident shareholders, name or operation period or (b) any material change, such as increase or decrease in the share capital held by its individual PRC resident shareholders, a share transfer or exchange of the shares in the SPV, or a merger or split of the SPV, the PRC resident must register such changes on a timely basis.

We have requested PRC residents holding direct or indirect interest in our company to our knowledge to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments as required by these foreign exchange regulations. Such shareholders and beneficial owners have completed their initial registrations, in relation to their ownership in our company, and are in the process of completing amendment registrations, in relation to their subsequent ownership changes in our Company and the establishment of certain subsidiaries of our Company after our initial public offering required by foreign exchange regulations. We cannot assure you, however, that such amendment registration and filing will be duly completed with the local SAFE branch in a timely manner. In addition, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents holding direct or indirect interests in our company, and we cannot provide any assurances that all of our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC residents will make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or approvals required by these foreign exchange regulations. The failure or inability of our PRC resident shareholders to comply with the registration procedures set forth in these regulations may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to, or obtain foreign-exchange-dominated loans from, our company, or prevent us from being able to make distributions or pay dividends, as a result of which our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially adversely affected.

However, as there is uncertainty concerning the reconciliation of these foreign exchange regulations with other approval requirements, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. We cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

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Failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration of share options held by our employees who are “domestic individuals” may subject such employee or us to fines and legal or administrative sanctions.

Pursuant to Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company issued by the SAFE in February 2012, or the Stock Incentive Plan Rules, “domestic individuals” (both PRC residents and non-PRC residents who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year, excluding the foreign diplomatic personnel and representatives of international organizations) participating in any stock incentive plan of an overseas-listed company according to its stock incentive plan are required, through qualified PRC agents which could be the PRC subsidiary of such overseas-listed company, to register with the SAFE and complete certain other procedures related to the stock incentive plan.

We and our employees, who are “domestic individuals” and have been granted share options, or the PRC optionees, became subject to the Stock Incentive Plan Rules when our company became an overseas-listed company upon the completion of our initial public offering. We and our employees have made registration as required under the Stock Incentive Plan Rules and intend to continue making such registration on an on-going basis and complete all the requisite procedures in accordance with the Stock Incentive Plan Rules. If we or our PRC optionees fail to comply with the Individual Foreign Exchange Rule and the Stock Incentive Plan Rules, we and/or our PRC optionees may be subject to fines and other legal sanctions. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional option plans for our directors and employees under PRC law. In addition, the General Administration of Taxation has issued a few circulars concerning employee stock options. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise stock options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee stock options with relevant tax authorities and withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their stock options. If our employees fail to pay and we fail to withhold their income taxes, we may face sanctions imposed by tax authorities or any other PRC government authorities. Furthermore, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Individual Foreign Exchange Rule and the Stock Incentive Plan Rules.

The discontinuation of any of the financial incentives currently available to us in the PRC could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

During the five years ended December 31, 2015, our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity and its subsidiaries were granted governmental financial subsidies. Government agencies may decide to reduce or eliminate subsidies at any time. We cannot assure you of the continued availability of the government incentives and subsidies currently enjoyed by some of our affiliated entities in China, including our variable interest entity, our PRC subsidiaries and their subsidiaries. The discontinuation of these governmental incentives and subsidies could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.

Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its foreign investors are subject to a 10% withholding tax, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. We are a Cayman Islands holding company and substantially all of our income may come from dividends we receive, directly or indirectly, from our wholly foreign-owned PRC subsidiaries. Since there is currently no such tax treaty between China and the Cayman Islands, dividends we directly receive from our wholly foreign-owned PRC subsidiaries will generally be subject to a 10% withholding tax.

 

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In addition, under the Arrangement between the mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, where a Hong Kong resident enterprise which is considered a non-PRC tax resident enterprise directly holds at least 25% of a PRC enterprise, the withholding tax rate in respect to the payment of dividends by such PRC enterprise to such Hong Kong resident enterprise is reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10%, subject to approval of the PRC local tax authority. Accordingly, Noah Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited, or Noah HK, may be able to enjoy the 5% withholding tax rate for the dividends it receives from, Shanghai Rongyao Information Technology Co., Ltd., or Noah Technology and Kunshan Noah Xingguang Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Noah Xingguang respectively, if they satisfy the conditions prescribed in relevant tax rules and regulations, and obtain the approvals as required. However, if the Hong Kong resident enterprise is not considered to be the beneficial owner of such dividends under applicable PRC tax regulations, such dividends may remain subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%. If Noah HK is considered to be a non-beneficial owner for purposes of the tax arrangement, any dividends paid to it by our wholly foreign-owned PRC subsidiaries directly would not qualify for the preferential dividend withholding tax rate of 5%, but rather would be subject to a rate of 10%. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Tax—Dividend Withholding Tax.”

Furthermore, under the EIT Law and the Implementation Rules to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or Implementation Rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a PRC resident enterprise and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Tax—PRC Enterprise Income Tax.” We do not believe that Noah Holdings Limited or any of its subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for the year ended December 31, 2015. 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 of the term “de facto management body”. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Noah Holdings Limited or any of its subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, they would be subject to a 25% PRC enterprise income tax on their global income. In addition, if Noah Holdings Limited is considered a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-PRC resident enterprises, including the holders of our ADSs. Furthermore, non-PRC resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether our non-PRC shareholders would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaty between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are considered as a PRC resident enterprise.

If Noah Holdings Limited is required under the EIT Law to withhold such PRC income tax, your investment in our Class A ordinary shares or ADSs may be materially and adversely affected.

We face uncertainties with respect to the application of the Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises.

The State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, has issued several rules and notices to tighten the scrutiny over acquisition transactions in recent years, including the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises issued in December 2009 with retroactive effect from January 1, 2008, or SAT Circular 698, the Notice on Several Issues Regarding the Income Tax of Non-PRC Resident Enterprises promulgated issued in March 28, 2011, or SAT Circular 24, and the Notice on Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises issued in February 2015, or SAT Circular 7. Pursuant to these rules and notices, if a non-PRC resident enterprise indirectly transfers PRC taxable properties, referring to properties of an establishment or a place in the PRC, real estate properties in the PRC or equity investments in a PRC tax resident enterprise, by disposition of equity interest in an overseas non-public holding company, without a reasonable commercial purpose and resulting in the avoidance of PRC enterprise income tax, such indirect transfer should be deemed as a direct transfer of PRC taxable properties and gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to the PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. SAT Circular 7 has listed several factors to be taken into consideration by the tax authorities in determining whether an indirect transfer has a reasonable commercial purpose. However, despite of these factors, an indirect transfer satisfying all the following criteria shall be deemed to lack reasonable commercial purpose and be taxable under the PRC laws: (i) 75% or more of the equity value of the overseas enterprise being transferred is derived directly or indirectly from the PRC taxable properties; (ii) at any time during the one-year period before the indirect transfer, 90% or more of the asset value of the overseas enterprise (excluding cash) is comprised directly or indirectly of investments in the PRC, or 90% or more of its income is derived directly or indirectly from the PRC; (iii) the functions performed and risks assumed by the overseas enterprise and any of its subsidiaries that directly or indirectly hold the PRC taxable properties are limited and are insufficient to prove their economic substance; and (iv) the foreign tax payable on the gain derived from the indirect transfer of the PRC taxable properties is lower than the potential PRC tax on the direct transfer of such assets. Nevertheless, an indirect transfer falling into the scope of certain safe harbors under SAT Circular 7 may not be subject to PRC tax. Such safe harbors include qualified group restructuring, public market trading and tax treaty exemptions.

 

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Under SAT Circular 7, the entities or individuals obligated to pay the transfer price to the transferor shall be withholding agents and shall withhold the PRC tax from the transfer price. If a withholding agent fails to do so, the transferor shall report to and pay the PRC tax to the PRC tax authorities. In case neither a withholding agent nor the transferor complies with the obligations under SAT Circular 7, other than imposing penalties such as late payment interest on the transferors, the tax authority may also hold a withholding agent liable and impose a penalty of 50% to 300% of the unpaid tax on the withholding agent, provided that such penalty imposed on the withholding agent may be reduced or waived if the withholding agent has submitted the relevant materials in connection with the indirect transfer to the PRC tax authorities in accordance with SAT Circular 7.

However, as these rules and notices are relatively new and there is a lack of clear statutory interpretation on the implementation of the same, there is no assurance that the tax authorities will not apply SAT Circular 698, SAT Circular 24 and SAT Circular 7 to previous investments by non-PRC resident investors in our company or our pre-listing restructuring, if any of such transactions were determined by the tax authorities to lack reasonable commercial purpose. As a result, we and our existing non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of being taxed under these rules and notices and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with or to establish that we should not be taxed under such rules and notices, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations or such non-PRC resident investors’ investments in us. We have conducted and may conduct acquisitions involving corporate structures, and historically our shares were transferred by certain then shareholders to our current shareholders. We cannot assure you that the PRC tax authorities will not, at their discretion, adjust any capital gains and impose tax return filing obligations on us or require us to provide assistance for the investigation of PRC tax authorities with respect thereto. Any PRC tax imposed on a transfer of our shares or any adjustment of such gains would cause us to incur additional costs and may have a negative impact on the value of your investment in us.

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

In June 2007, the National People’s Congress of China enacted the Labor Contract Law, which became effective in January 2008 and was subsequently amended in July 2013. The Labor Contract Law establishes more restrictions and increases costs for employers to dismiss employees, including specific provisions related to fixed-term employment contracts, temporary employment, probation, consultation with the labor union and employee assembly, employment without a contract, dismissal of employees, compensation upon termination and overtime work and collective bargaining. According to the Labor Contract Law, an employer is obliged to sign labor contract with unlimited term with an employee if the employer continues to hire the employee after the expiration of two consecutive fixed-term labor contracts subject to certain conditions or after the employee has worked for the employer for ten consecutive years. The employer also has to pay compensation to an employee if the employer terminates an unlimited-term labor contract. Such compensation is also required when the employer refuses to renew a labor contract that has expired, unless it is the employee who refuses to extend the expired contract. In addition, under the Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees, which became effective in January 2008 and the Implementation Rules on Paid Annual Leave for Employees, which became effective in September 2008, employees who have served more than one year for an employer are entitled to a paid vacation ranging from 5 to 15 days, depending on their length of service. Employees who are deprived of such vacation time by employers shall be compensated with three times their regular salaries for each of such vacation days, unless it is the employees who waive such vacation days in writing. Since our success largely depends on our qualified employees, the implementation of the Labor Contract Law may significantly increase our operating expenses, in particular our personnel expenses. In the event that we decide to lay off a large number of employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the Labor Contract Law may also limit our ability to effect these changes in a manner that we believe to be cost-effective or desirable, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

In addition, enterprises in China are required by PRC laws and regulations, including the Social Insurance Law, to participate in a housing provident fund for employees and in certain employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds like a pension plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan and a maternity insurance plan. Employers are required to contribute to the funds or plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of employees’ salaries, including bonuses and allowances, as specified from time to time by the local governments in places where they operate their businesses or where they are located.

 

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We cannot assure you that our employment practices do not or will not violate these labor-related laws and regulations. If we are deemed to have been non-compliant with any such laws and regulations or to have failed to make adequate contributions to any social insurance schemes, we may be subject to penalties and negative publicity, and our business, results of operations and prospects may be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to our ADSs

The market price for our ADSs may continue to be volatile.

The trading prices of our ADSs have been, and are likely to continue to be, volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. The trading prices of our ADSs ranged from US$18.02 to US$37.32 in 2015. This was partly because of broad market and industry factors, such as the performance and fluctuation in the market prices or the underperformance or declining financial results of other companies based in China that have listed their securities in the United States in recent years. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading performances of other Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States, which consequently may impact the trading performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, securities markets may from time to time experience significant price and volume fluctuations that may or may not relate to our operating performance, which may have a material and adverse effect on the market price of our ADSs. In particular, the recent volatility in the PRC stock markets has resulted in volatility in the trading prices of most PRC-based companies who shares trade in the United States. Any other negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or 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 conducted any inappropriate activities. Furthermore, the market price for our ADSs is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:

 

    regulatory developments in our target markets affecting us, our clients or our competitors;

 

    announcements of studies and reports relating to the quality of our products and services or those of our competitors;

 

    changes in the performance or market valuations of other companies that provide wealth management services;

 

    actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results;

 

    changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;

 

    conditions in the wealth management services industry;

 

    announcements by us or our competitors of new services, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

 

    addition or departure of our senior management;

 

    fluctuations of exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar;

 

    release or expiry of transfer restrictions on our outstanding ordinary shares or ADSs; and

 

    sales or perceived potential sales of additional ordinary shares or ADSs.

 

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Sales of our wealth management products, asset management products and internet finance products and services are subject to seasonal fluctuations, which may cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. This may result in volatility in the price of our ADSs.

Our revenues, operating expenses and operating cash flow have historically been lower during the first quarter than other quarters of our fiscal year. This results from the relatively low number of client meetings and other events during the Chinese New Year holiday period, which falls within the first quarter of each year. In addition, because fund raising activities gradually pick up after the Chinese New Year holiday, we recognize a significant portion of revenues derived from newly launched wealth management products, asset management products and internet finance services in March, which in turn increases our accounts receivables in the first quarter. Such accounts receivables have historically been collected in the second quarter. Because of these factors, we may experience quarterly fluctuations in our results of operations, which in turn may result in volatility in the price of our ADSs.

Our board of directors has complete discretion as whether to distribute dividends, therefore you should not rely on an investment in our ADSs as a source of future dividend income.

Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to our articles of association and Cayman Islands law. Our shareholders by ordinary resolution may declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. 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, among other things, 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. Although we declared an annual cash dividend for 2011 and 2012, we may not declare any dividend in the future, and even if we do so, the future dividend payments may be less than 2011 and 2012. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our ADSs as a source of future dividend income. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ADSs 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 their current price.

Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.

Additional sales of our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ADSs to decline. As of April 18, 2016, we had 19,607,665 Class A ordinary shares outstanding, including 14,740,178 Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs. Except for the restricted ADSs representing 3,933,708 Class A ordinary shares held by affiliates of Sequoia Capital China, the rest of our ADSs are freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. The remaining Class A ordinary shares outstanding are available for sale, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act.

Certain holders of our Class A ordinary shares have the right to cause us to register under the Securities Act the sale of their shares. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in ADSs representing these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the form of ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.

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

In February 2015, we completed an issuance of US$80 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible notes. The convertible notes bear interest at a rate of 3.5% per annum from the issuance date, mature in February 2020 and are convertible, at the holders’ option, at an initial conversion price of US$23.03 per ADS, subject to adjustments. Certain provisions of our convertible notes could make it more difficult or more expensive for a third party to acquire us. The indentures for these convertible notes define a “fundamental change” to include, among other things: (1) any person or group gaining control of our company; (2) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our Class A 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; (3) the adoption of any plan relating to the dissolution or liquidation of our company; or (4) our ADSs ceasing to be listed on a major U.S. national securities exchange. 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 of at least US$15,000,000 or such lesser amount then held by the holders. In the event of a fundamental change, we may also be required to issue additional ADSs upon conversion of our convertible notes.

 

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You may not have the same voting rights as the holders of our Class A ordinary shares and may not receive voting materials in time to be able to exercise your right to vote.

Except as described in this annual report and in the deposit agreement, holders of our ADSs will not be able to exercise voting rights attaching to the shares represented by our ADSs on an individual basis. Holders of our ADSs will appoint the depositary or its nominee as their representative to exercise the voting rights attaching to the shares represented by the ADSs. You may not receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote, and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.

Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings and you may not receive cash dividends if it is impractical to make them available to you.

We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make rights available to you in the United States unless we register both the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not make rights available to you unless both the rights and the underlying securities to be distributed to ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective and we may not be able to establish a necessary exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in your holdings.

The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of Class A ordinary shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary may, at its discretion, decide that it is inequitable or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, the depositary may determine that it is not practicable to distribute certain property through the mail, or that the value of certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may decide not to distribute such property to you.

You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.

Your ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deems it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and all of our directors and officers reside outside the United States.

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and conduct substantially all of our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entity. All of our directors and officers reside outside the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the United States 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. We have been advised by Maples and Calder, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, that although there is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits, through an action on the foreign judgment commenced in Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign money judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be (i) in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty or similar fiscal or revenue obligations, (ii) inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, (iii) impeachable on the grounds of fraud or (iv) obtained in a manner, nor be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

 

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Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and by the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against us and our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which provides persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides significantly less protection to investors. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in U.S. federal courts.

As a result, our public shareholders/ holders of our ADSs may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our management, our directors or our major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.

Our memorandum and articles of association contain provisions that could discourage a third party from seeking to obtain control of our company, which could adversely affect the interests of holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs by limiting their opportunities to sell them at a premium.

Our memorandum and articles of association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company, including a provision that grants to our board of directors the authority to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares, and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares, without any further vote or action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series which may be greater than the rights of our Class A ordinary shares. The provisions could have the effect of depriving holders of our Class A ordinary shares or ADSs of the opportunity to sell their shares or ADSs at a premium over the prevailing market price by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transactions.

We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company under U.S. tax law, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.

A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income.

Although the application of these rules is unclear in many important respects, based on the price of our ADSs, the value of our assets, and the composition of our income and assets for the taxable year ended December 31, 2015, we believe that we were not a PFIC for that year. However, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, does not issue rulings with respect to PFIC status, and there can be no assurance that the IRS, or a court, will agree with our determination. For example, because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, it is possible that the IRS may successfully challenge our classification of certain income and assets as non-passive, which may result in our company being treated as a PFIC. If we are treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”) for any year during which such U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, such U.S. Holder may be subject to certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and related reporting requirements. For example, if we are treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder, such U.S. Holder would generally be taxed at the higher ordinary income rates, rather than the lower capital gain rates, if such U.S. Holder disposes of ADSs or Class A ordinary shares at a gain in a later year, even if we are not a PFIC in that year. In addition, a portion of the tax imposed on such U.S. Holder’s gain would be increased by an interest charge. Also, if we are treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder in any taxable year, such U.S. Holder would generally not be able to benefit from any preferential tax rate (if any) with respect to any dividend distribution that such U.S. Holder may receive from us in that year or in the following years. Certain elections may be available, however, that would mitigate these adverse tax consequences to varying degrees.

 

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We must make a separate determination after the close of each taxable year as to whether we were a PFIC for that year. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will not be a PFIC for our current taxable year ending December 31, 2016, or for any future taxable year. Under circumstances where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes or where the market price of our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares declines, our risk of becoming a PFIC may substantially increase. In addition, the composition of our income and assets will be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend the cash we raise in any financing activities. In the event that we determine that we are not a PFIC in 2016 or in a future taxable year, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our determination.

Further, although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat our consolidated affiliated entities as being owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes, not only because we control their management decisions but also because we are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits associated with them, and, as a result, we consolidate their operating results in our consolidated, U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of these entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then we would likely be treated as a PFIC.

If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, we generally (unless you make a valid mark-to-market election with respect to the ADSs as discussed under “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations and Rules” ) will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares unless we cease to be a PFIC and the U.S. Holder makes a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, as applicable (in which case, special rules apply). You are urged to consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. For more information see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations and Rules.”

The U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act could subject us to certain new information reporting and withholding requirements.

The United States has passed the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, that imposes a new reporting regime and, potentially, a 30% withholding tax on certain U.S.-source payments made to certain non-U.S. entities. In general, the 30% withholding tax applies to certain payments made to a non-U.S. financial institution unless such institution is treated as deemed compliant or enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to certain interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such interests or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by certain U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments. The 30% withholding tax also generally applies to certain payments made to a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions unless such entity either (i) certifies that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners.” An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another country may also modify these requirements. The Cayman Islands has entered into a Model 1 intergovernmental agreement with the United States, which gives effect to the automatic tax information exchange requirements of FATCA, and a similar intergovernmental agreement with the United Kingdom. We will be required to comply with the Cayman Islands Tax Information Authority Law (2014 Revision) (as amended) together with regulations and guidance notes made pursuant to such law that give effect to the intergovernmental agreements with the United States and the United Kingdom. We do not believe FATCA will have a material impact on our business or operations, but because FATCA is particularly complex and the intergovernmental agreement with the PRC, though agreed to in substance, has not been published, and PRC regulations or guidance notes have not been published, we cannot assure you that we will not be adversely affected by this legislation in the future.

 

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ITEM 4 INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

 

A. History and Development of the Company

We are an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands with subsidiaries and affiliated entities primarily in China. In August 2005, our founders started our business through the incorporation of Shanghai Noah Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Noah Investment, a domestic company in China. Since its inception, our founders focused the business of Noah Investment primarily on the distribution of OTC wealth management products to high net worth individuals in China.

We conduct our wealth management business in China primarily through our subsidiaries, Noah Xingguang and Noah Financial Services. We conduct our overseas wealth management business through Noah Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, our subsidiary in Hong Kong. We conduct our small short-term loan business through Noah Financial Express (Wuhu) Microfinance Co., Ltd, our subsidiary in the PRC. Our asset management business and certain other restricted business are conducted through Noah Investment and its subsidiaries. We primarily conduct our internet finance business through Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd.

In August 2007 and January 2008, we issued an aggregate 2,950,000 series A preferred shares, par value US$0.001 per share, to Sequoia entities for US$3.9 million. Sequoia entities refer to Sequoia Capital China I, L.P., Sequoia Capital China Partners Fund I, L.P. and Sequoia Capital China Principals Fund I, L.P. Each series A preferred share was automatically converted to two ordinary shares in connection with our initial public offering in November 2010. On November 10, 2010, our ADSs began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “NOAH.” We issued and sold a total of 9,660,000 ADSs, representing 4,830,000 ordinary shares, at an initial offering price of US$12.00 per ADS.

In February 2015, we completed an issuance of US$80.0 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible notes due 2020 through a private placement. The notes were offered to certain non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The notes will be convertible into our ADSs based at an initial conversion rate of 43.4216 of our ADSs per $1,000 principal amount of notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$23.03 per ADS). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 3.50% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on February 3 and August 3 of each year, beginning on August 3, 2015. The notes will mature on February 3, 2020, unless previously repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.

On January 29, 2016, our shareholders voted in favor of a proposal to adopt a dual-class share structure, pursuant to which our authorized share capital was reclassified and re-designated into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, with each Class A ordinary share being entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share being entitled to four votes on all matters that are subject to shareholder vote.

Our principal executive offices are located at No. 1687 Changyang Road, Changyang Valley, Building 2, Shanghai 200090, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is (86) 21 8035-9221. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc. located at 400 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

 

B. Business Overview

Overview

We are a leading wealth management service provider with a focus on global wealth investment and asset allocation services for high net worth individuals and enterprises in China. We also provide internet finance services to clients in China. We believe our wealth management, asset management and internet finance businesses complement one other and enable us to provide a broad range of customized solutions to our clients.

 

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We provide direct access to China’s high net worth population. With 1,098 relationship managers in 135 branch offices as of December 31, 2015, our coverage network encompasses China’s most economically developed regions where its high net worth population is concentrated, including the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Bohai Rim and other regions. Through this extensive coverage network, we primarily serve three types of clients: (i) high net worth individuals, (ii) enterprises affiliated with high net worth individuals and (iii) wholesale clients, primarily local commercial banks or branches of national commercial banks that distribute wealth management products to their own clients. We refer to high net worth individuals and enterprises registered with us and the wholesale clients that have entered into cooperation agreements with us as our “registered clients.” Since our inception in 2005, the number of our registered clients has grown to 99,019 as of December 31, 2015. We refer to those registered clients who obtained wealth management or asset management products or services distributed or provided by us during any given period as “active clients” for that period. Neither our registered clients nor active clients pay us for our services. The number of our active clients amounted to 6,455, 9,010 and 12,573 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

We believe that our product sophistication, along with our client knowledge, has enabled us to consistently cater to the needs of our client base, which primarily consists of China’s high net worth population. We primarily distribute OTC wealth management and asset management products and services originated in China, and also recently began providing internet finance services. Our wealth management products primarily include fixed income products, private equity funds, mutual fund products, private securities investment funds products and insurance products. Our asset management products primarily include fund of funds and real estate funds. Through our rigorous product selection and risk management processes, we are able to offer our clients a wide array of third-party wealth management and asset management products and services. In 2013, as part of our wealth management business, we started distributing high-end insurance policies and offering small short-term loans as new services to meet the needs of our existing clients, and these have generated RMB11.1 million (US$1.7 million) in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015. From our inception in 2005 to December 31, 2015, we distributed RMB279.4 billion (US$44.8 billion) worth of products through our wealth management business, and our asset management business managed assets amounted to RMB86.7 billion (US$13.6 billion) as of December 31, 2015. In addition, in the second quarter of 2014, we launched our internet finance platform for white-collar professionals, which constitutes part of our internet finance business that also includes small short-term loans, online peer-to-peer lending for high net worth individuals, and online payment and related businesses. Through our internet finance business, we provide financial products and services to high net worth individuals and enterprise clients as well as serve white-collar professionals in China through proprietary internet financial platforms. The aggregate value of wealth management products and asset management products distributed by us through our internet finance platform in 2015 was RMB12.0 billion (approximately US$1,902.1 million) and we had 634 enterprise clients as of December 31, 2015. We intend to continue to explore new products and services as the appropriate opportunities arise.

We generate revenues from our wealth management business primarily in the form of (1) one-time commissions, (2) recurring service fees paid by product providers or underlying corporate borrowers, (3) and sharing of performance-based income earned by fund managers of secondary market equity fund products. We generate revenues from our asset management business primarily in the form of (1) recurring service fees mainly consisting of management fees, and (2) performance-based fees from some of the funds we serve as fund manager. Such commissions and service fees paid by product providers or underlying corporate borrowers are calculated based on the value of the relevant wealth or asset management products and services we distribute or offer to our active clients, even though our active clients do not directly pay us any such commissions or fees. We deliver to our high net worth clients a continuum of value-added services before, during and after we distribute and offer wealth management products and asset management products to them. These services include financial planning, product analysis and recommendation, product and market updates and investor education. We do not charge our clients fees for these services. Our one-time commissions accounted for 45.5%, 37.4% and 36.7% of our net revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, our recurring service fees accounted for 51.0%, 54.4% and 46.4% of our net revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, and our performance-based fees accounted for nil, 6.2% and 11.1% of our net revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. We also generated revenues from other services, including (i) interest payments from small short-term loans, which accounted for 0.5% of our net revenues in 2015, (ii) service income from our internet finance business, which accounted for 5.8% of our net revenues in 2015, (iii) insurance brokerage business, which accounted for 1.2% of our net revenues, (iv) online payment services, which accounted for 0.3% of our net revenues and other business.

 

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Our business has grown substantially since our inception in 2005. Our coverage network increased from six relationship managers in one city in 2005 to 1,098 relationship managers in 135 branch offices in 67 cities as of December 31, 2015, while our total number of registered clients increased from 930 to 99,019 during the same period. In particular, we achieved significant growth amid the financial crisis in 2008, which we believe reflects the quality of our product choices and services and the increasing wealth management needs of China’s high net worth population. The table below sets forth information relating to the level of select market indices as of the last day of each of the periods presented and certain of our performance indicators for each of the periods presented:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013     2014      2015  
     Statistics      Year-
over-Year
Change
(%)
    Statistics      Year-
over-Year
Change
(%)
     Statistics      Year-
over-Year
Change
(%)
 

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (1) (US$)

     1,848         29.6        2,059         11.4         2,044         (0.7

Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (1) (RMB)

     2,115         (6.8     3,235         53.0         3,539         9.4   

Our total transaction value (RMB in millions)

     44,487         77.1        63,371         42.4         98,994         56.2   

Number of our registered clients

     53,501         32.7        70,557         31.9         99,019         40.3   

Number of our active clients

     6,445         55.2        9,010         39.8         12,573         39.5   

 

(1) Annual closing prices of respective composite indices.

Our net revenues increased from RMB1,006.0 million in 2013 to RMB1,528.5 million in 2014 and to RMB2,119.9 million (US$327.3 million) in 2015, representing a CAGR of 45.2%. We recorded net income attributable to our shareholders of RMB315.9 million in 2013, RMB446.6 million in 2014 and RMB535.8 million (US$82.7 million) in 2015. The net income amounts include the impact of non-cash charges relating to share-based compensation in an aggregate amount of RMB32.2 million in 2013, RMB32.7 million in 2014 and RMB67.7 million (US$10.4 million) in 2015.

We are a holding company and we primarily operate our business through our PRC subsidiaries and our variable interest entity and its subsidiaries in China. While our PRC subsidiaries conduct most of our wealth management business, we currently conduct our insurance brokerage business, asset management business and certain other restricted services in China exclusively through Noah Investment and its subsidiaries. In particular, Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd., or Gopher Asset, a subsidiary of Noah Investment, has grown to be the core of our asset management business, having become a leading asset management company in China focused on fund of funds in private equity, real estate, hedge funds, credit products and family office business. We exercise effective control over the operations of Noah Investment pursuant to a series of contractual arrangements, under which we are entitled to receive substantially all of its economic benefits. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, our variable interest entity and its subsidiaries contributed 21.2%, 37.1% and 45.9% of our net revenues, respectively. The increase in the percentage of revenue contribution by our variable interest entity and subsidiaries from 2013 to 2015 was primarily due to the rapid development of our asset management services since 2012, which were conducted by the subsidiaries of our variable interest entity. In addition, we primarily conduct our internet finance business through Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd.

Our Services

We are a leading wealth management service provider with a focus on global wealth investment and asset allocation services for high net worth individuals and enterprises in China. We also provide internet finance services through a proprietary internet finance platform to white-collar professionals in China.

Wealth Management

Our wealth management business provides global wealth investment and asset allocation services to high net worth individuals and enterprise clients in China. Under our wealth management business, we primarily distribute fixed income products, private equity fund products, mutual fund products, private securities investment funds products, short-term financing products, public equity products and high end insurance products. Through our rigorous product selection and risk management processes, we choose products from a wide array of third-party wealth management products and asset management products. To date, we have distributed the products of over 282 product providers. Additionally, we also provide family office and discretionary portfolio management services business focused on ultra-high net worth and family office clients. In 2015, we made excellent progress – building deeper, long term client relationships and providing services for more than 60 family offices in total. From our inception in 2005 to December 31, 2015, we distributed RMB279.4 billion (US$44.8 billion) worth of wealth management products in aggregate.

 

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Asset Management

Our asset management business manages and develops financial products denominated in both RMB and U.S. dollars, covering real estate funds and funds of funds, including private equity funds of funds, real estate funds of funds, secondary market equity funds of funds and fixed income funds of funds.

In 2013, we began managing and distributing funds of hedge funds, funds of fixed income funds, funds of real estate funds and fixed income funds denominated in U.S. dollars, of which we serve as the general partner through one of our subsidiaries in Hong Kong. In 2013, we also began distributing certain asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies, of which we serve as the investment adviser, exercising substantial management capability. In 2014, we developed our own fund management business by launching and managing contract-based private funds, which are new forms of funds and fund of funds. Such asset management business is subject to detailed regulations and implementing policies issued by CSRC. In addition, in 2014, in response to market demands, we limited the percentage of real estate-related products we offered, gradually shifted away from residential real estate to commercial real estate in our real estate funds and funds of real estate funds, cooperated with more overseas partners, increased the number of overseas funds of funds offered (including real estate, private equity, secondary market equity and fixed income funds) and offered an increasing number of domestic secondary market equity funds of funds. In 2015, we continued to develop our real estate-related products with a focus on commercial real estate products. Additionally, to seize future market opportunity and enhance our core competence in the asset management business, we expanded our business in managing and distributing private equity funds, secondary market hedge funds of funds and quantitative funds of funds. As of December 31, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014, the aggregate value of our asset management business managed assets increased from RMB49.7 billion to RMB86.7 billion (US$13.6 billion).

Internet Finance

Our internet finance business provides financial products and services through a proprietary internet finance platform to white-collar professionals in China.

Our internet finance segment, which we began reporting as a separate segment in 2014, utilizes our proprietary online platform and encompasses the following four types of services:

 

    “Cai Fu Pai” (online platform previously known as “Yuan Gong Bao”)—We introduced this service in the second quarter of 2014. It consists of internet finance products and online technology services for white-collar professionals. These services utilize our online platform to extend the reach of our customized online platform services to the Internet. This allows our clients to access many of our personalized services on a 24-hour basis without having to schedule a meeting with one of our online platform professionals or brokers. We had 634 enterprise clients as of December 31, 2015. This platform initially provided online platform services to targeted professionals who work for our enterprise clients, and is now open to all professionals. The “Cai Fu Pai” brand is owned by Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd.

 

    “Rong Yi Tong” (Small short-term loans) – Starting in November 2013, we began providing small short term loan services, for which we serve as the loan originator and assume credit risk. We include Rong Yi Tong in our internet finance segment since it benefits from synergies with other services that we offer as part of this segment and is operated by the same personnel. This service also allows us to introduce new loan products to our clients and broaden and deepen our relationships with them. Interest on loan receivables is accrued monthly in accordance with their contractual terms and recorded as accrued interest receivable.

 

    “Ark P2P” (Online peer-to-peer lending for high net worth individuals) – For this service, we facilitate loans on a peer-to-peer basis. These loans are mainly collateralized by financial products held by the borrower. We act solely as a facilitator for these services, and do not assume credit risk or originate the loans ourselves. This was not a significant part of our overall business in 2014, and has remained at or below that level of significance in 2015 as we have shifted our focus to other business areas.

 

    “Jintong Zhifu” (Online payment and related services) – In delivering this service, we facilitate online payment services by transferring customer data to licensed third-party online payment platforms. Applicable laws and regulations in the PRC require a payment business license to operate online payment and related services. We are in the process of applying for such payment business license, and intend to engage in providing online payments and related services after we obtain such license. In the meantime, we are cooperating with qualified and duly licensed third parties to provide such services. There is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain the requisite payment business license and may need to continue to rely on third parties when providing these services.

 

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The services offered through our online platform are similar to some of the services offered in person at our offices, but the online services and products target white-collar professionals, rather than high net worth individuals, and do not involve personal relationship managers. The majority of the services and products transacted in 2014 were fixed income products. In 2015, we started to facilitate transactions of secondary market products and mutual fund products on the platform. Since the online platform is relatively new, it continues to evolve and expand its product offering, and generally aims to include more standardized products. We receive platform service fees from individual customers for each transaction facilitated by the online platform based on the amount transacted.

As of December 31, 2015, we had established cooperative relationships with 634 China-based companies to offer financial products and services to white-collar professionals who work at these companies, up from 205 as of December 31, 2014. The aggregate value of products distributed by us to white-collar professionals through our internet finance platform in 2015 was RMB12.0 billion (US$1,902.1 million), a 748.7% increase from 2014.

Our Clients

We define our three primary categories of clients as follows: (i) registered individual clients, consisting of (a) high net worth individuals and (b) white-collar professionals, which we serve through our recently launched internet finance business, (ii) enterprises affiliated with high net worth individuals and (iii) wholesale clients. Our primary business is distribution to high net worth individual clients, which contributed to approximately 77.2%, 77.9% and 77.5% of our total revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Our distribution to enterprise clients accounted for 22.8%, 22.1% and 22.5% of our total revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, while distribution through wholesale clients accounted for nil, nil and nil, respectively, of our total revenues in the same periods.

The table below sets forth selected statistics of our three primary categories of clients for or at the end of the periods indicated:

 

     Number of Registered
Clients as of
December 31,
     Number of Active
Clients for Years Ended
December 31,
     Total Transaction Value
for Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2014      2015      2013      2014      2015      2013      2014      2015  
     RMB in million  

Individual clients

     51,278 (1)      67,724         95,885         5,998         8,643         12,149         34,344         49,366         76,695   

Enterprise clients

     2,106 (2)      2,714         3,015         447         367         424         10,143         14,005         22,299   

Wholesale clients

     117 (3)      119         119         —           —           —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     53,501        70,557         99,019         6,445         9,010         12,573         44,487         63,371         98,994   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents the aggregate number of our registered high net worth individual clients. This figure does not include white-collar professionals served by our internet finance business.
(2) Represents the aggregate number of our registered enterprise clients.
(3) Represents the number of wholesale clients that have entered into cooperation agreements with us.

Individual Clients

High Net Worth Individuals

We accept high net worth individuals with investable assets (excluding primary residence) in excess of RMB3.0 million (US$0.5 million) interested in receiving our services as our registered individual clients, although our registered individual clients often have a higher level of wealth. In recent years, we have been raising the required level of investable assets when we target high net worth individuals in order to focus our resources on serving the high-end segment of China’s high net worth population.

 

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The number of our registered individual clients increased from 51,278 as of December 31, 2013 to 67,724 as of December 31, 2014 and to 95,885 as of December 31, 2015. The number of registered individual clients who have purchased products distributed by us increased from 11,128 as of December 31, 2013 to 15,494 as of December 31, 2014 and to 24,348 as of December 31, 2015. In 2015, registered individual clients purchased RMB76.7 billion (US$12.2 billion) worth of wealth management products through us, accounting for 77.5% of the aggregate value of wealth management products that we distributed during the same period.

White-collar Professionals

Benefitting from our internet finance platform and our asset management capability, we further diversified our client base when we introduced Cai Fu Pai, an internet finance platform that provides financial products and services to white-collar professionals in China, in the second quarter of 2014.

Enterprise Clients

We also extend the distribution of wealth management products to enterprises, primarily SMEs. We define SMEs as enterprises or institutions that generate annual revenues of no more than RMB300.0 million (US$50 million). The number of our registered enterprise clients was 3,015 as of December 31, 2015, up from 2,714 as of December 31, 2014. In 2015, registered enterprise clients purchased RMB22.3 billion (US$3.5 billion) worth of wealth management products through us, accounting for 22.5% of the aggregate value of wealth management products that we distributed during the same period.

Our Coverage Network

As of December 31, 2015, our extensive coverage network consisted of 1,098 relationship managers and 135 branch offices in 67 cities, which receive operational support from our headquarters in Shanghai.

Branch Offices

Our 135 branch offices are strategically located in 67 cities in China, covering multiple economically developed regions in China where its high net worth population is concentrated, including the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Bohai Rim and other regions. Our strategy is to open branch offices at locations with concentrated high net worth population and active private sectors. The cities where we have opened branch offices include national economic centers such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and some of the regional cities known for their well-developed private sectors and wealthy entrepreneurs, such as Wenzhou and Yiwu in Zhejiang province.

The table below sets forth selected statistics of our coverage network by regions in China as of December 31, 2015:

 

     Number of Cities In Our Network

Yangtze River Delta1

   31
  

 

Pearl River Delta2

   8
  

 

Bohai Rim3

   12
  

 

Other Regions4

   16
  

 

Total

   67
  

 

Relationship Managers

We have relied on, and expect to continue to rely on, organic growth in the expansion of our coverage network. We believe our corporate culture is one of our competitive strengths, and in order to preserve this, our relationship managers are recruited as our employees rather than external agents. Our relationship managers are an inherent part of our institutionalized client service structure and play critical roles in our building and maintaining long-term relationships with clients. Our relationship managers maintain relationships with clients through both in-person meetings and through our official WeChat account and mobile application. Our relationship managers act as asset allocation financial advisors. We place a significant emphasis on recruiting, training and motivating our relationship managers. The number of our relationship managers has increased as a result of the growth of our business and expansion of our coverage network. As of December 31, 2015, we had 1,098 relationship managers nationwide, compared to 779 as of December 31, 2014 and 569 as of December 31, 2013.

 

 

1  Includes the Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions
2  Includes the Guangdong region
3  Includes the Northern China region
4  Includes Central and Western China, Northeastern China and the Fujian region

 

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Mobile Customer Service Channels

To better serve our expanding client base, we started to maintain an official WeChat account and launched a brand-new Noah mobile application in the third quarter of 2014. In 2015, we launched more mobile applications with different service lines. These mobile customer service channels allow us to continually update the online community of our high net worth clients and provides a convenient and efficient platform for these clients to communicate directly with our relationship managers and other members of our team. We also conduct product roadshow and provide product information to existing and potential clients through our mobile application platform.

Our Products and Services

Our product offerings currently consist primarily of OTC wealth management and OTC asset management products, mutual fund products and asset management plans originated in China and designed to cater to the needs of China’s high net worth population. To cater to the growing demand for international assets, we also offer wealth management and asset management products and services through our wholly owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong.

Wealth Management Products

We market, distribute or manage the following categories of wealth management products based on the underlying asset classes:

 

    Fixed income products, mainly including (i) asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies or securities companies, (ii) real estate funds managed by us and (iii) collateralized fixed income products sponsored by trust companies, all of which provide investors with prospective fixed rates of return, which is not guaranteed under PRC laws;

 

    Private equity fund products, including investments in (i) various private equity funds sponsored by domestic and international asset/fund management firms, (ii) real estate funds and fund of funds managed by us, and (iii) asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies or securities companies, the underlying assets of which are portfolios of equity investments in unlisted private enterprises;

 

    Secondary market equity fund products, the underlying assets of which are portfolios of equity investments in listed enterprises; and

 

    Other products, including mutual fund products, high-end insurance products, short-term financing products, online platform services to white-collar professionals clients, peer-to-peer lending for high net worth individuals through the internet, and online payment and product information systems, which facilitate online payment services by transferring customer data to third-party online payment platforms.

As the wealth management industry in China develops, relevant PRC authorities may adopt new rules and regulations to allow more entities to conduct wealth management business. For example, in late 2012 and early 2013, relevant PRC supervisory authorities adopted a series of rules and regulations, which provided new ways for securities companies, mutual fund management companies and insurance asset management companies to engage in the asset management business. Since the adoption of the Interim Measures, more and more fund managers have been engaged in asset management business. As a result, we may have more extensive product choices provided by securities companies, mutual fund management companies and insurance asset management companies. In August 2014, CSRC promulgated Interim Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Private Investment Funds, or the Interim Measures, which specify that the establishment of management institutions of private funds and the establishment of private funds are not subject to administrative examination and approval. In late 2015 and early 2016, AMAC promulgated a series of detailed measures and guidance which enhance the supervision in the private fund industry. As a result, our product choices may be subject to further changes in the future.

 

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The table below summarizes certain information relating to the transaction value of the different types of wealth management products that we distributed during the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     RMB in
millions
     %      RMB in
millions
     %      RMB in
millions
     US$ in
millions
     %  

Product type

                    

Fixed income products

     35,709         80.3         40,212         63.5         36,621         5,823         37.0   

Private equity fund products

     6,426         14.4         11,971         18.9         31,917         5,085         32.2   

Secondary market equity fund products

     —           —           10,328         16.3         28,054         4,488         28.4   

Other products, including mutual fund products* and insurance products

     2,352         5.3         860         1.3         2,402         384         2.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

All products

     44,487         100.0         63,371         100.0         98,994         15,780         100.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Mutual fund products refers to the incremental value of mutual fund products we distributed.

The fixed income products we distributed that have real estate or real estate-related business as their underlying assets accounted for 75.3%, 72.0% and 78.0% of the total transaction value of all fixed income products we distributed in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The private equity fund products we distributed that have real estate or real estate-related business as their underlying assets accounted for 52.4%, 26.0% and 8.5% of the total transaction value of all private equity fund products we distributed in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

While OTC products will remain the core products we distribute, we have diversified our product choices to include non-OTC products, such as mutual funds or other publicly traded wealth management products. In February 2012, Noah Upright received a license for distributing mutual funds from CSRC and altered its scope of business to include mutual fund distribution.

Asset Management Products

We successfully raised and managed approximately RMB26.9 billion, RMB35.0 billion and RMB66.9 billion (US$10.7 billion) for our proprietary asset management products in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, of which the real estate funds we raised and managed amounted to RMB20.2 billion, RMB23.4 billion and RMB24.2 billion (US$3.8 billion) in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively and the private equity funds of funds we raised and managed amounted to RMB3.3 billion , RMB6.4 billion and RMB27.9 billion (US4.4 billion) in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

We offer the following categories of asset management products across different types of asset classes:

 

    Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds, including funds and funds of funds for residential as well as commercial real estate properties such as office buildings and retail property in China and overseas;

 

    Private equity funds of funds, including investments in the top domestic private equity funds in China. We rank among the largest private equity funds of funds in China;

 

    Secondary market equity fund products, the underlying assets of which are protfolios of equity investments in listed enterprises; and

 

    Other fixed income funds of funds, including public equity funds, international funds, U.S. dollar-denominated hedge funds, multi-strategy hedge funds, investment funds, core funds of funds and funds with certain types of credit asset classes in China and overseas, as well as customized manager of manager services.

Our total assets under management as of December 31, 2015 were RMB86.7 billion (US$13.6 billion), compared with RMB49.7 billion as of December 31, 2014.

 

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The table below summarizes the roll-forward of our AUM for three years:

 

     Typical
Management
fee rates
chargeable by
asset
management
segment
   As of
December 31,

2014
    Funds
Inflow
     Funds
Outflow
     As of
December 31,
2015
 
     RMB in billions, except percentages  

Product type

                   

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

                   

Equity

   0.5%-1%      6.4         13     2.7         2.9         6.2         7

Debt

   0.4%-1.5%      24.6         50     21.5         20.5         25.6         29

Private equity funds of funds

   0.7%-1%      10.4         21     27.6         0.1         37.9         44

Secondary market equity funds of funds

   0.5%-1.5%      2.6         5     9.8         1.7         10.7         12

Other fixed income funds of funds

   0.8%-1.2%      5.7         11     5.2         4.6         6.3         7

All products

        49.7         100.0     66.9         29.9         86.7         100.0
     Typical
Management
fee rates
chargeable by
asset
management
segment
   As of
December 31,
2013
    Funds
Inflow
     Funds
Outflow
     As of
December 31,
2014
 
     RMB in billions, except percentages  

Product type

                   

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

                   

Equity

   0.5%-1%      5.0         16     3.0         1.6         6.4         13

Debt

   0.4%-1.5%      18.9         60     20.4         14.7         24.6         50

Private equity funds of funds

   0.7%-1%      4.0         13     6.4         —           10.4         21

Secondary market equity funds of funds

   0.5%-1.5%      —           —          2.6         —           2.6         5

Other fixed income funds of funds

   0.8%-1.2%      3.4         11     2.6         0.3         5.7         11

All products

        31.3         100.0     35.0         16.6         49.7         100.0
     Typical
Management
fee rates
chargeable by
asset
management
segment
   As of
December 31,
2012
    Funds
Inflow
     Funds
Outflow
     As of
December 31,
2013
 
     RMB in billions, except percentages  

Product type

                   

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

                   

Equity

   0.5%-1%      2.3         29     2.7         —           5.0         16

Debt

   0.4%-1.5%      4.9         62     17.5         3.5         18.9         60

Private equity funds of funds

   0.7%-1%      0.7         9     3.3         —           4.0         13

Secondary market equity funds of funds

   NA      —           —          —           —           —           —     

Other fixed income funds of funds

   0.8%-1.2%      —           —          3.4         —           3.4         11

All products

        7.9         100.0     26.9         3.5         31.3         100.0

The opening balance, funds outflow and closing balance of the movements above corresponding with secondary market equity fund of funds include the effect of market appreciation or depreciation.

The following tables summarize the AUM for each of our product types and their liquidation dates as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 (on a historical basis):

 

     AUM as of
December 31,
2014
     Expected liquidation date is  
      during the year
ended
December 31,
     after
January 1,
2018
 
      2015      2016      2017     
     RMB in billions  

Product type

              

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

              

Equity

     6.4         1.8         0.9         1.7         2   

Debt

     —                 

Private equity funds of funds

     6.9         —           0.2         —           6.7   

Other fixed income funds of funds

     1.8         1.3         0.4         —           0.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     15.1         3.1         1.5         1.7         8.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     AUM as of
December 31,
2015
     Expected liquidation date is  
      during the year
ended
December 31,
     after
January 1,
2019
 
      2016      2017      2018     
     RMB in billions  

Product type

              

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

              

Equity

     5.8         1.0         1.9         1.1         1.8   

Debt

     —           —           —           —           —     

Private equity funds of funds

     33.9         0.7         1.7         1.5         29.9   

Other fixed income funds of funds

     1.0         0.2            0.5         0.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     40.6         1.9         3.6         3.1         32.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

It is rare for us to liquidate a fund prior to maturity. We will generally only liquidate a fund prior to maturity if (1) the underlying projects or investments end prior to liquidation, or (2) the return from investments is much lower than our expectation, and it is in the best interest of the fund investors to liquidate such fund prior to maturity.

Our secondary market equity funds generating the performance-based fees are periodically available for redemption. The following table summarizes the different periods that our secondary market equity funds of funds opened for redemptions on fair value basis:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     RMB in billions      RMB in billions      US$ in billions  

Monthly

     0.4         2.4         0.4   

Quarterly

     1.2         4.4         0.7   

Semi-annually

     —           0.0         —     

Annually

     0.4         0.4         0.1   

As of maturity

     0.2         3.2         0.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2.2         10.5         1.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividend payments, if any, do not have direct impact on the accumulated net fair value fluctuation based on which performance-based income is calculated. Dates for dividend payments cannot be reasonably estimated for each fund.

Performance-based Income

The following table summarizes AUM with performance-based income terms as of December 31, 2014 and 2015:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     RMB in billions      RMB in billions      US$ in billions  

Product type

        

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

        

Equity

     6.4         5.8         0.9   

Debt

     —           —           —     

Private equity funds of funds

     6.9         33.9         5.2   

Secondary market equity funds of funds

     2.2         10.5         1.6   

Other fixed income funds of funds

     1.8         1.0         0.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     17.3         51.1         7.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We are entitled to receive performance-based income of real estate funds and real estate funds of funds as of fund liquidation. We are generally entitled to share 10% to 20% of the investment gain when it exceeds certain performance-based thresholds, which mostly correspond to annual returns of between 8% and 12%, depending on different projects and terms of investment. We do not accrue performance-based income for real estate funds and real estate funds of funds based on net asset value before fund liquidation. Performance-based income is only recognized during the stage of fund liquidation when the amount has been determined.

 

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We are entitled to receive performance-based income relating to our private equity funds of funds as of fund liquidation. We are generally entitled to share 3%-5% of the investment gain when it exceeds certain performance-based thresholds, which generally correspond to accumulated return of at least 40%. We do not accrue performance-based income for private equity funds of funds based on net asset value before fund liquidation. Performance-based income is only recognized during the stage of fund liquidation when the amount has been determined.

We are entitled to receive performance-based income of our secondary market funds of funds as of the dates when investee funds are opened for redemption, dividend payment or when the funds mature. We are generally entitled to share 4% to 5% of the investment gain when it exceeds certain performance-based thresholds, which are usually 6% of principal or when the net asset value exceeds the previous highest net asset value. Performance-based income is recognized when performance-based income can be charged according to the relevant fund agreements, which is generally on a quarterly or semi-annual basis, based on the change of net asset value. Such performance-based income is not subject to clawback and as such there is no impact for any subsequent net asset value fluctuations.

Performance-based income of other fixed income funds of funds is not significant, and we do not expect material inflow of performance-based income related to other fixed income funds of funds in the foreseeable future.

Internet Finance Services

At the end of 2013, we began providing small short-term loans, which now constitutes a part of our internet finance business. In addition, in the second quarter of 2014, we launched “Yuan Gong Bao,” an internet finance platform that provides financial products and services to white-collar professionals in China and is now known as “Cai Fu Pai”. Our internet finance business now serves high net worth individuals, white-collar professionals and enterprise clients through a range of products and services. In 2015, the aggregate transaction value of our internet finance business amounted to approximately RMB12.0 billion (US$1,902.1 million), as compared to RMB1.4 billion in 2014.

The services offered through our online platform are similar to some of the services offered in person at our offices, but the online services and products target white-collar professionals, rather than high net worth individuals, and do not involve personal relationship managers. The majority of the services and products transacted in 2014 were fixed income products. In 2015, we started to facilitate transactions of secondary market products and mutual fund products on the platform. Since the online platform is relatively new, it continues to evolve and expand its product offering, and generally aims to include more standardized products. We receive platform service fees from individual customers for each transaction facilitated by the online platform based on the amount transacted.

Our Relationships with Product Providers and Corporate Borrowers

We have established extensive business relationships with reputable third-party product providers and corporate borrowers in China in connection with our distribution of wealth management products and also with the asset management products we manage.

Product Providers

We define product providers as the issuers of wealth management products with which our clients enter into contractual arrangements to purchase products. The product providers we deal with encompass a variety of institutions and companies, mainly including mutual fund management companies, private equity firms, real estate fund managers, securities investment fund managers, trust companies and insurance companies. To date, we have distributed products provided by over 282 product providers in China.

Among the various third-party product providers, mutual fund management companies supplied a significant portion of the wealth management products distributed by us in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Mutual fund management companies in China are not considered a type of financial institution, and instead, they are regulated by CSRC and provide wealth management products mostly in the form of “asset management plans.” See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Asset Management Plans.”

We also distributed our own funds of funds and real estate funds products which were originated and managed by us. We serve as the general partner for these funds.

Corporate Borrowers

In distributing fixed income products, we often have relationships with the ultimate corporate borrowers, which receive proceeds from the relevant product providers. Although the product providers are the issuers of the fixed income products, the origination of these products is often driven by the fund raising plans of the ultimate corporate borrowers. In order to source tailor-made wealth management products to enhance our product choices, we often work directly with companies in need of debt financing and assist them in designing fixed income products, which are ultimately issued by product providers. Although we do not directly generate revenues from providing such assistance to corporate borrowers, we believe our relationships with them are important for enhancing our product sourcing capability.

 

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Distribution Arrangements

Our distribution of wealth management products and asset management products are typically governed by service agreements entered into with the product providers or corporate borrowers, depending on the nature of the wealth management products and asset management products being distributed and the specific situation.

We enter into service agreements with the product providers for the majority of the products we distribute. For a small portion of these products, we enter into service agreements with the ultimate corporate borrowers.

Our service agreements usually expire upon the expiration of the underlying wealth management products and asset management products. Under these agreements, we typically undertake to provide the counterparty with services relating to our clients’ purchase of the relevant products. Such services typically include providing our clients with information on the relevant products, evaluating the financial condition and risk profiles of those clients who desire to purchase the relevant products, assessing their qualification for the purchase, educating them on the documentation involved in the purchase as well as furnishing other assistance to facilitate their transactions with the product providers.

Under our services agreements with respect to private equity fund products and certain private securities investment fund products, we also undertake to assist the product providers to maintain investor relationships by providing our clients who have purchased the relevant products with various post-purchase services.

For all wealth management products and asset management products we distribute, we are entitled to receive one-time commissions, calculated as a percentage of the total value of products purchased by our clients, from the counterparties under the relevant service agreements.

Except for collateralized fixed income products sponsored by trust companies and most insurance products, we generally also receive recurring services fees in addition to one-time commissions for the products distributed by us where we are engaged by the product providers to provide recurring services to our clients who have purchased the relevant products. In the case of private equity fund products and real estate funds managed by us, we receive recurring service fees over their life cycle, calculated as a percentage of the total value of investments in the underlying funds distributed by us to our clients. For asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies or securities companies and investment-linked insurance products, our recurring service fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the net asset value of the portfolio underlying the products purchased by our clients at the time of calculation, which is generally done on a daily basis.

IT Infrastructure

We have developed our integrated IT infrastructure that provides technology support to all aspects of our business, from product development, product management and sales and marketing process management to client management and client service. At the application level, the infrastructure consists of two key components: our client relationship management system, which allows us to collect and analyze our clients’ personal and transaction information, and our wealth management product database, which includes a proprietary database containing information on a broad range of OTC wealth management products as well as mutual fund products in China.

Marketing and Brand Promotion

Word-of-mouth is one of the most effective marketing tools for our business. We intend to continue to focus on referrals as the major avenue of new client development by further improving client satisfaction. We also intend to enhance our brand recognition and attract potential high net worth clients through a variety of marketing methods. We organize frequent and targeted events, such as high-profile investor seminars and workshops, where we present our market outlook and product choices, industry conferences and other investor education and social events. These events are often organized in cooperation with chambers of commerce, distinguished alumni associations, luxury and fashion brands and high-profile entrepreneurs. In addition, we promote ourselves and our brand to financial institutions by providing assistance in staff training and risk management.

Seasonality

Our revenues, operating expenses and operating cash flow have historically been lower during the first quarter than during other quarters. This results from the relatively low level of fund raising activities by corporate borrowers during the Chinese New Year holiday period, which falls within the first quarter each year. In addition, because fund raising activities gradually pick up after the Chinese New Year holiday, we recognize a significant portion of revenues derived from sales of newly launched wealth management products and asset management products in March, which in turn increases our accounts receivables in the first quarter of each year. Such accounts receivables have historically been collected in the second quarter of each year.

 

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Competition

The wealth management industry, asset management industry and internet finance industry in China are all at a relatively early stage of development and undergoing rapid growth. We operate in an increasingly competitive environment and compete for clients on the basis of product choices, client services, reputation and brand names. Our principal competitors include:

 

    Commercial banks. Many commercial banks, such as China Merchants Bank, China Minsheng Bank and China Everbright Bank rely on their own wealth management arms and sales force to distribute their products. We believe that we can compete effectively with commercial banks due to a number of factors, including our undiluted focus on the high net worth market, our client-centric culture and institutionalized services and our independence, which positions us better to provide wealth management recommendations and services and to gain our clients’ trust.

 

    Trust companies. Because a portion of products that we distribute are fixed income trust products, we compete with trust companies with in-house distribution functions. We believe that we can compete effectively with trust companies due to our broader product choices, wider coverage network, independent perspective and more comprehensive client services.

 

    Independent wealth management service providers. A number of independent wealth management service providers have emerged in China in recent years. We believe that we can compete effectively with independent wealth management service providers because of our track record, reputation, product sourcing and established risk management systems. We are also significantly larger in terms of scale of operations and have a more extensive coverage network and professional services.

 

    Insurance companies. Many insurance companies, such as PingAn Insurance, rely on their own wealth management teams and sales forces to distribute their products. We believe that we can effectively compete with insurance companies due to a number of factors, including our undiluted focus on the high net worth market, our client-centric culture and institutionalized services and our independence, which position us better to provide insurance products recommendations and services and to gain our clients’ trust.

 

    Asset management service providers. A number of mutual fund management companies, security companies and other fund managers which registered with AMAC have emerged in the asset management business in China in recent years. We believe that we can compete effectively with these companies because of our track record, reputation, product sourcing and established risk management systems.

 

    Internet finance companies. As the wealth management industry develops, we may face competition from new market entrants. For example, an increasing portion of wealth management products are distributed through online or mobile platforms, and such trend is expected to continue.

Relevant PRC authorities may adopt new rules and regulations to allow more entities to conduct wealth management, asset management and internet finance businesses. For example, in late 2012 and early 2013, relevant PRC supervisory authorities adopted a series of rules and regulations, which provided new ways for securities companies, mutual fund management companies and insurance asset management companies to engage in asset management business. In August 2014, CSRC promulgated the Interim Measures, which specify that the establishment of management institutions of Private Funds and the establishment of private funds are not subject to administrative examination and approval. Since the adoption of the Interim Measures, more and more fund managers have been engaged in asset management business. As a result, we may face competitions from securities companies, mutual fund management companies, insurance asset management companies and other fund managers established under the Interim Measures when they start raising funds for their clients and providing asset management services.

 

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Insurance

We maintain casualty insurance on some of our assets. We also participate in government sponsored social security programs including pension, unemployment insurance, childbirth insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing fund. In addition, we provide group life insurance for all our employees. We do not maintain business interruption insurance or key-man life insurance. We consider our insurance coverage to be in line with that of other wealth management companies of similar size in China.

Legal Proceedings

We are currently not a party to, and we are not aware of any threat of, any legal, arbitration or administrative proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may from time to time become a party to various legal, arbitration or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.

Regulations

This section sets forth a summary of the significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China as well as a proposed law that may have material impact on our business.

Draft Foreign Investment Law

On January 19, 2015, the MOC published a draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law, or the Draft FIL, on its official website for public comments, which mainly covers: (1) definition of foreign investors and foreign investments, (2) market entry clearance, (3) national security review, (4) information reporting, (5) investment promotion and protection as well as handling of complaints, (6) legal liabilities and (7) other general and miscellaneous provisions. The Ministry of Commerce also published an explanatory note to the Draft FIL on its official website. The Draft FIL, once enacted, will eventually replace the trio of the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law as well as their implementation rules and ancillary regulations, and will consolidate and simplify the various regulatory requirements on foreign investments.

The Draft FIL embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in alignment with international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments, and thus the Draft FIL will have a far-reaching and significant impact upon foreign investments by fundamentally reshaping the entire PRC foreign investment regulatory regime. The Draft FIL includes, among others, the following key points:

 

    The Draft FIL expands the definition of foreign investment and introduces the principle of “actual control” in determining whether an investment is considered a foreign investment or domestic investment. An entity established in China but “controlled” by foreign entities and/or citizens will be treated as a foreign investor, whereas an entity set up in a foreign jurisdiction but “controlled” by PRC entities and/or citizens would nonetheless be treated as a PRC domestic investor, provided that the entity should obtain such determination upon market entry clearance by the competent foreign investment authority.

 

    The existing comprehensive approval system of foreign investments will be replaced by an entry clearance system in relation to foreign investments in the industries within the catalog of special management measures, or the negative list, and an information reporting system. The negative list will only comprise of two categories: the prohibited industries and the restricted industries; foreign investments in industries not listed in the negative list will not be required to apply for entry clearance or make record filing and will only be required to submit information reports. In the future, the negative list to be issued by State Council may replace the current Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investments. The Information reporting system includes the investment implementation reporting, investment amendment reporting, annual reporting and quarterly reporting, and the scope of the information reporting is very extensive under the Draft FIL. In addition, any non-compliance with the information reporting obligations, concealing true information, or providing misleading or false information will be subject to monetary fines or criminal charges, depending on the seriousness of circumstances, and the persons directly responsible may also be criminally liable.

 

    All differences in the corporate governance requirements that currently apply to foreign-invested and domestic enterprises will be removed, leaving only the requirements under the PRC Company Law, with which all foreign-invested and domestic enterprises must comply.

 

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    The national security review will be incorporated as a separate chapter and may replace the existing regulations and rules issued by the State Council or the Ministry of Commerce. Compared with the existing regulations and rules, the scope of national security review is expanded under the Draft FIL.

 

    The “variable interest entity” structure, or VIE structure, will fall into the jurisdiction of the Draft FIL, and certain potential solutions was proposed to apply to the existing VIE structures. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China— Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of the draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations”.

The draft FIL has not taken a position on what actions will be taken with respect to existing companies with a VIE structure, whether or not these companies are controlled by PRC nationals. The MOC sought public comments on this and other matters in the draft FIL, which were due by February 17, 2015. There is no definitive timeline for this law to be officially promulgated by the PRC legislature and the current draft may need to undergo significant amendment before the law is finally passed. Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the Draft FIL’s enactment timetable, final content, interpretation and implementation. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.”

Regulations on Private Funds

As a result of regulatory reform in June 2013, CSRC is now in charge of the supervision and regulation of private funds, including but not limited to private equity funds, private securities investment funds, venture capital funds and other forms of private funds instead of National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC. On August 21, 2014, CSRC promulgated Interim Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Private Investment Funds, or the Interim Measures, which became effective on the same date. According to the Interim Measures, Private Funds shall refer to the investment funds established by way of raising capitals from investors in a non-public manner within the territory of PRC. The Interim Measures shall apply to (i) the registration, record-filing, fund raising, investment and operation activities of a company or partnership that is established by way of non-public fund-raising for the purpose of engaging in investment activities, if its assets are managed by a fund manager or general partner; and (ii) the business of private funds of securities companies, fund management companies, futures companies and their subsidiaries, except as otherwise stipulated under other laws or relevant provisions of CSRC. Apart from the Interim Measures, other specific laws or regulations which may apply to private funds shall still apply. For example, the Companies Law of PRC shall apply to fund manager or private fund taking the form of limited liability company or company limited by shares and the Partnership Law of PRC may shall apply to fund manager or private fund taking the form of limited liability partnership or general partnership. Unlike general partnerships, limited partnerships allow investors to join as partners with their liability for the partnership’s debts limited by the amount of their capital commitment. A limited partnership must consist of no more than 49 limited partners and at least one general partner, who will be responsible for the operation of the partnership and who bears unlimited liability for the partnership’s debts. From late 2009 to early 2010, the PRC government promulgated regulations to permit foreign investors to invest in partnership enterprises in China. This established the legal basis for foreign private equity firms to establish Renminbi-denominated funds in China.

Before the regulatory reform, local governments in certain cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, used to promulgate local administrative rules to encourage and regulate the development of private equity investment in their areas. These regulations typically provide preferential treatment to private equity companies registered in the relevant cities or districts that satisfy the specified requirements. Such local administrative rules may be subject to changes according to the regulations to be issued by CSRC.

The Interim Measures mainly cover the following five aspects: specifying the registration of fund manager and record-filing of private funds of all type, setting up a qualified investor system, specifying the fund raising regulations of private funds, presenting the investment operations and introducing industry self-regulation and supervision and administration measures for private funds.

 

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According to the Interim Measures, the establishment of management institutions of Private Funds and the issuance of Private Funds are not subject to administrative examination and approval. All types of issuers are allowed to issue Private Funds to a cumulative number of investors not exceeding the number specified by laws on the basis of compliance with laws and regulations. Manager of all Private Funds of all type shall register with AMAC, and apply with AMAC for record filing after the fund raising of a Private Fund of any type is completed. Thus, the AMAC formulated the Measures for the Registration of Private Investment Fund Managers and Filling of Private Investment Funds (for Trial Implementation), or the Measures, which became effective as of February 7, 2014, setting forth the procedures and requirements for the registration of private fund managers and record filing of private funds to perform self-regulatory administration of private funds.

As a self-regulatory organization, AMAC issued in early 2015 some relevant regulations which may exert influence on fund management, such as the Guidance of Outsourcing Service for Fund Business (for Trial Implementation), the Self Disciplinary Rules for Practices of Fund Practitioners. In late 2015 and early 2016, AMAC has also promulgated a series of detailed measures and guidance to enhance the supervision in the private fund industry, including Guidance on the Internal Control of the Private Investment Funds Managers, the Administration of Information Disclosure of Private Investment Funds, the Notice to Further Regulate Several Issues on the Registration of Private Funds Managers, Questions and Answers in relation to the registration of private fund manager and record-filing of private funds. These regulations have the effect of (i) expanding the self-discipline rules regarding the private fund industry, (ii) intensifying the registration of private fund manager and record-filing of private funds, (iii) establishing the qualification censorship of fund manager by attorney and (iv) strengthening the practice qualifications of management.

AMAC issued the Measures for the Administration of the Fund Raising Conducts of the Private Investment Funds, or the Fund Raising Measures, on April 15, 2016, which brings significant influence to the fund raising procedures and sales institutions and will take effect on July 15, 2016. According to the Fund Raising Measures, only two kinds of institutions are qualified to conduct the fund raising of private investment funds: (a) private fund managers which have registered with AMAC (only applying when rasing fund for the funds established and managed by themselves); and (b) the fund distributors which have obtained the fund distribution license and also become members of the AMAC. In addition, the Fund Raising Measures creates detailed procedures for conducting fund rasing business and introduced new process such as “cooling-off period” and the “re-visit”.

Before the Interim Measures, private funds mainly established in the form of limited liability partnerships and since the issuance of the Interim Measures, contract-based funds have arisen in the market. In 2010, we started our fund management business by forming a fund of private equity funds, and in 2014, we further enhanced our fund management business by forming contract-based funds.

Regulations on Asset Management Plans

According to CSRC, qualified mutual fund management companies and securities companies may be entrusted by clients to engage in asset management business.

Asset Management Plans by Mutual Fund Management Companies. On September 26, 2012, CSRC promulgated Pilot Measures for Asset Management Services Provided by Mutual Fund Management Companies for Specific Clients, or the Pilot Measures, which came into effect on November 1, 2012. These Pilot Measures apply to activities whereby a mutual fund management company raises funds from specific clients or acts as the asset manager for specific clients upon their property entrustment, and engages a custodian institution to act as the asset custodian and make investments with the entrusted assets in the interest of the asset entrusting clients. According to the Pilot Measures, the assets under an asset management plan may be used for the following investments: (i) cash, bank deposits, stocks, bonds, securities investment funds, central bank bills, non-financial enterprises’ debt financing tools, asset-backed securities, commodity futures and other financial derivatives; (ii) shares, claims and other property rights not transferred through a stock exchange; and (iii) other assets approved by CSRC. A specific asset management plan investing in any assets specified in subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) above is called a special asset management plan. In addition, a mutual fund management company shall conduct special asset management plan business only through its subsidiary and not by itself. Where an asset manager provides the specific asset management services for multiple clients, the number of entrusting clients of a single asset management plan may not exceed 200. A single investor’s investment into an asset management plan shall be no less than RMB1 million; the number of investors whose investment is less than RMB3 million of one entrustment is limited to 200, while the number of investors whose investment is more than RMB3 million is not limited. The total assets entrusted by the clients initially shall not be less than RMB30 million and not more than RMB5 billion, unless otherwise provided by CSRC. An asset manager may sell its asset management plans on its own or through an agency qualified for the sale of mutual funds. In early 2014, CSRC and Shanghai Branch of CSRC respectively promulgated new circulars, pursuant to which subsidiaries of mutual fund management companies are prohibited from serving as the channel-through asset management plans for multiple specific clients or engaging in fund pool.

 

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Asset Management Plans by Securities Companies. On June 26, 2013, CSRC promulgated Administrative Measures for Client Asset Management Business of Securities Companies, or the Administrative Measures. Besides, there are two detailed Implementing Rules of the Administrative Measures, (together with the Administrative Measures, collectively referred to as Administrative Measures for Asset Management Business for Securities Companies). According to Administrative Measures for Asset Management Business for Securities Companies, qualified securities companies may engage in collective asset management business for multiple clients. Collective asset management plans may invest in stocks, bonds, securities investment funds, central bank bills, short-term financing bills, mid-term notes, stock index futures, other financial derivatives, wealth management plans of commercial banks that are either income-guaranteed or principal-protected with floating incomes and other investment products approved by CSRC. Securities companies may also engage in special asset management business after obtaining qualifications from CSRC. Every special asset management plan is subject to examination and approval by CSRC. A securities company may either promote collective asset management plans by itself or through other securities companies, commercial banks or other institutions recognized by CSRC. A collective asset management plan shall only be promoted to qualified investors not exceeding 200 in total. A qualified investor is defined as an entity or individual that is capable of appropriately identifying risks and bearing the risks of the collective asset management plan that it invests in, and that satisfies any of the following conditions: (i) the total personal or household financial assets shall be no less than RMB1 million, applicable if the qualified investor is a natural person or (ii) the net assets shall not be less than RMB10 million, applicable if the qualified investor is a company, enterprise or institution. A securities company shall put the assets under a collective asset plan under the custody of an asset custodian with fund custody business qualifications.

Transfer of units of Asset Management Plans by Mutual Fund Management Companies and Securities Companies. On August 19, 2013, the Shanghai Stock Exchange promulgated the Notice of the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Providing Transfer Services for Units of Asset Management Plans, which was replaced by the Guidance of Shanghai Stock Exchange on Transfer Services for Units of Asset Management Plans, promulgated by Shanghai stock Exchange on April 4, 2014. On August 20, 2013, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange promulgated the Guidance of Shenzhen Stock exchange on Transfer Services for Units of Asset Management Plans, which was replaced by the Operational Guidance of Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Transfer Services for Units of Asset Management Plans, promulgated by Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Dec 29, 2014. The above mentioned guidances are collectively referred to as Guidance on Transfer of Units. According to Guidance on Transfer of Units, mutual fund management companies and securities companies may apply to transfer the units of collective asset management plans of securities companies and units of the client-specific asset management plans of mutual fund management companies through the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock exchange.

Noah Upright, a subsidiary of Noah Financial Services through equity transfer in 2016, has been granted a mutual fund distribution license by CSRC and may distribute such asset management plan. Because mutual fund management companies and securities companies may also distribute asset management products by themselves, they may become our potential competitors.

Regulations on Trust Products

Pursuant to the PRC Trust Law, a trustee can, in its own name, manage and dispose of properties entrusted to it by a trustor for the benefit of beneficiaries nominated by the trustor. Trust companies are a type of financial institution specializing in the operation of a trust business under the PRC Trust Law. Trust companies are subject to the supervision and scrutiny of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, or the CBRC, which is the regulatory authority for banking and financial institutions and businesses.

On January 23, 2007, the CBRC promulgated the Administrative Rules Regarding Trust Company-Sponsored Collective Fund Trust Plans, or the Trust Plan Rules, which became effective on March 1, 2007 and was subsequently amended on February 4, 2009. Pursuant to the Trust Plan Rules, a trust company may establish collective funds trust plans, or trust plans, under which the trust company, in its capacity as trustee of two or more trustors, may pool funds entrusted to it by such trustors and may manage, invest and dispose of the pooled funds for the benefit of the beneficiaries nominated by the trustors. A trust plan must comply with the specified requirements under the Trust Plan Rules, including the requirements that (i) each trustor participating in the trust plan be a qualified investor and the sole beneficiary of his or its investment in the trust plan; (ii) there be no more than 50 individuals participating in the plan, excluding individuals who entrust, on a single transaction basis, more than RMB3.0 million each, and qualified institutional investors; (iii) the trust plan have a term of not less than one year and have a specified use of proceeds and investment strategy that is in compliance with the industrial policies and relevant regulations of the PRC; (iv) the beneficial interest in the trust plan be divided into trust units of equal amounts; and (v) other than reasonable compensation provided for underwritten trust agreements, the trust company must not seek any profits directly or indirectly from the trust property under any name for itself or others.

 

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A qualified investor under the Trust Plan Rules is defined as a person capable of identifying, judging and bearing the risks associated with the trust plan and who falls within any one of the following categories: (i) any individual, legal person or other organization who invests at least RMB1.0 million in the trust plan; (ii) any individual who, on a personal or household basis, owns financial assets of at least RMB1.0 million, with proof of such assets, at the time he or she subscribes to the trust plan; or (iii) any individual individually having an annual income of more than RMB0.2 million or, jointly with a spouse, having an annual income of more than RMB0.3 million, with proof of such income, for each of the last three years.

Pursuant to the Trust Plan Rules, when promoting the trust plan, a trust company must use appropriate materials with detailed disclosure and is prohibited from, among other things, (i) promising minimum returns on or guaranteeing protection of the entrusted funds; (ii) engaging in public marketing or promotion; or (iii) engaging a non-financial institution to promote the trust plan. Based on our understanding, “promotion” of trust plans under the Trust Plan Rules refers to promotion and marketing activities which involve signing trust contracts with participants of trust plans directly. As we do not sign trust contracts with the participants of trust plans and handle funds of participants of the trust plans in providing wealth management services with respect to trust products, we do not believe we are promoting trust plans in such circumstances. In April and May, 2014, the CBRC respectively issued new rules its implementation rules, which prohibit a trust company from directly or indirectly promoting trust plans by way of advice, consultation and brokerage through non-financial institutions. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—If the Chinese governmental authorities order trust companies in China to cease their promotion of collective fund trust plans, or trust plans, through non-financial institutions such as us, our business, results of operations and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.”

The CBRC further promulgated two guidelines governing two types of trust plans, respectively. One regulates trust plans investing in publicly traded securities, while the other regulates trust plans focusing on private equity investments. These guidelines set forth detailed rules that trust companies must comply with in issuing and operating the two types of trust plans.

Regulations on Small Short-Term Loan Business

The Guidance on the Pilot Establishment of Small short-term loan Companies, jointly promulgated by the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the People’s Bank of China in 2008, allows provincial governments to approve the establishment of small short-term loan companies on a trial basis. Based on this guidance, many provincial governments in China, including that of Anhui province, where Noah Financial Express (Wuhu) Microfinance Co., Ltd. is located, promulgated local implementing rules on the administration of small short-term loan companies.

On October 10, 2008, People’s Government of Anhui Province promulgated the Pilot Administrative Measures (for Trial implementation) on Small short-term loan Company in Anhui, and on May 18 of 2009, the Anhui Government promulgated the Interim Regulations on Small short-term loan Business of Anhui Province, and afterwards, the Finance Office of Anhui province issued Opinions on Promoting the Standardized Development of Small short-term loan Companies across Anhui Province, or, collectively, the Regulations on Small short-term loan Company in Anhui. According to the Regulations on Small short-term loan Company in Anhui, the registered capital shall not be less than RMB100 million when setting up small short-term loan company in urban areas or in county territories outside the northern part or Dabie mountain area of Anhui Province. It is not allowed for a small short-term loan company to accept public deposits. The major sources of funds of a small short-term loan company shall be the capital paid in by shareholders, donated capital and the capital borrowed from a maximum of two banking financial institutions. The balance of the capital borrowed from banking financial institutions shall not exceed 50% of the net capital. When applying for the establishment of a small short-term loan company, the shares held by the main initiator shall not exceed 35% of the total registered capital of the company in principle, the shares jointly held by the main initiator and its affiliates shall not exceed 50% of the total registered capital of the company, and the shares jointly held by other affiliated shareholders among other initiators shall not exceed 30% of the total registered capital of the company. In addition, a small short-term loan company is not permitted to conduct any businesses outside the region where it is located.

 

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Regulations on Internet Finance

Due to the relatively short history of the internet finance industry in China, the PRC government has not adopted a clear regulatory framework governing the industry. There are ad hoc laws and regulations applicable to elements of internet finance-related businesses, such as laws and regulations governing online payment and value-added telecommunication services.

On July 18, 2015 the People’s Bank of China together with nine other PRC regulatory agencies jointly issued a series of policy measures applicable to internet finance titled the Guidelines on Promoting the Healthy Development of Internet Finance, or the Guidelines. The Guidelines introduced formally for the first time the regulatory framework and basic principles for internet finance industry in China as “law-abiding regulation, appropriate regulation, classified regulation, collaborative regulation and innovative regulation”. The Guidelines further stated the definitions and basic principles for the following forms of internet finance:

Internet Payment: refers to the services whereby the Internet is relied upon to give payment instructions and transfer monetary funds via computers, mobile phones and other devices. Internet payment services shall always remain true to the purposes of serving e-commerce development and providing the public with fast and convenient payment services in small and micro amount. Third-party payment institutions that cooperate with other institutions shall clearly define the relationship of rights and obligations between and among different parties involved, and establish effective risk isolation mechanisms and client rights and interests protection mechanisms. They shall fully disclose service information to clients, clearly remind clients of business risks, and refrain from exaggerating the nature and functions of payment service intermediary. Internet payment services shall be regulated by the People’s Bank of China.

Online lending: includes peer-to-peer online lending (i.e. P2P online lending) and Internet small-amount lending. P2P online lending refers to direct lending between and among individuals through Internet platforms. Direct lending on P2P online lending platforms falls within the scope of lending between private citizens, and therefore is governed by the Contract Law, the General Principles of the Civil Law, other relevant laws and regulations, and relevant judicial interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court. P2P online lending shall stick to its functions of serving as a platform to provide investors and financiers with information exchange, matching, credit rating and other intermediary services. P2P online lending institutions shall specify their nature as information intermediaries, mainly provide information services for the direct lending between borrowers and lenders, and shall neither provide credit enhancement services nor engage in illegal fund-raising. Internet small-amount lending means that an Internet enterprise, through a small-amount loan company under its control, makes use of the Internet to extend small-amount loans to clients. During Internet small-amount lending, it is required to comply with the prevailing regulatory provisions applicable to small-amount loan companies, display the advantages of online lending, and make efforts to lower the financing costs incurred by clients. Online lending business shall be regulated by CBRC.

Equity crowd-funding: mainly refers to public equity financing in small amount through the Internet, and must be raised through equity crowd-funding intermediary platforms (Internet websites or other similar electronic media). The parties raising funds through equity crowd-funding shall be small and micro-sized enterprises. They shall truthfully disclose to investors key information such as their business models, operations and management, financial positions, fund use, etc. through equity crowd-funding intermediaries, and shall not mislead or defraud investors. On the other hand, investors shall fully understand the risks of equity crowd-funding activities, have appropriate risk tolerance, and make investment in small amount. Equity crowd-funding business shall be regulated by CSRC.

Internet fund sales: Fund sales agencies that cooperate with other agencies to sell funds and other wealth management products via the Internet shall effectively fulfill risk disclosure obligations, and shall not attract clients by promising investment returns in violation of relevant provisions. Fund managers shall take effective measures to prevent maturity mismatch and liquidity risks in asset allocation. If fund sales agencies and their partner agencies also provide investors with returns through other activities, they shall state and present the composition of such returns, the prerequisites for such returns, applicable circumstances, etc. in a comprehensive, truthful and accurate manner, and shall not mix such returns with the returns on fund products. Third-party payment institutions shall, during the course of payment services for Internet fund sales, abide by relevant regulatory requirements of the People’s Bank of China and the CSRC on client excess reserves and fund sales settlement funds. The client excess reserves held by third-party payment institutions may only be used for handling the payment services entrusted by clients, and shall not be used to advance capital for the redemption of funds and other wealth management products. Internet fund sales business shall be regulated by the CSRC.

 

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The Guidelines also specified several basic rules for internet finance industry administration, such as: (1) Any organization or individual that intends to set up a website to provide Internet financial services shall, in addition to going through relevant financial regulatory procedures as required, also undergo website record-filing procedures with telecommunications authorities pursuant to the law; (2) Unless otherwise specified, an Industry Player shall select qualified banking financial institutions as fund depository institutions to manage and oversee client funds, and achieve the management of client funds and its proprietary funds under separate accounts; (3) basic rules of information disclosure, risk reminder and qualified investors, information security and anti-money laundering.

Regulations on Insurance Brokerages

The primary regulation governing the insurance intermediaries is the PRC Insurance Law enacted in 1995 as further amended in 2002, 2009, 2014 and 2015. According to the PRC Insurance law, the CIRC is the regulatory authority responsible for the supervision and administration of the PRC insurance companies and the intermediaries in the insurance sector, including insurance agencies and brokers.

The principal regulation governing insurance brokerages is the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Brokerages, or the Insurance Brokerage Provisions, promulgated by the CIRC in September 2009 and amended in 2013 and 2015. According to this regulation, the establishment of an insurance brokerage is subject to the approval of the CIRC. The term “insurance brokerage” refers to an entity that receives commissions for providing intermediary services to policyholders and sponsors to facilitate their entering into insurance contracts based on the interests of the policyholders. An insurance brokerage established in the PRC must meet the qualification requirements specified by the CIRC and obtain a license to operate an insurance brokerage business with the approval of the CIRC. Unless otherwise provided by the CIRC, an insurance brokerage may take any of the following forms: (i) a limited liability company; or (ii) a joint stock limited company.

The minimum registered capital for an insurance brokerage shall be not less than RMB50.0 million and must be fully paid up in cash. An insurance brokerage may conduct the following insurance brokering businesses:

 

    making insurance proposals, selecting insurance companies and handling the insurance application procedures for insurance applicants;

 

    assisting the insured or the beneficiary to file insurance claims;

 

    reinsurance brokering business;

 

    providing consulting services to clients with respect to disaster and damage prevention, risk assessment and risk management; and

 

    other business activities specified by the CIRC.

The name of an insurance brokerage must contain the words “insurance brokerage.” The license of an insurance brokerage is valid for a period of three years. An insurance brokerage must report to the CIRC for approval when it (i) changes the name of itself or its branches; (ii) changes its domicile or the business address of its branches; (iii) changes the name of its sponsor or main shareholders; (iv) changes its main shareholders; (v) changes its registered capital; (vi) changes its equity structure significantly; (vii) amends its articles of association or (viii) revokes its branches.

The senior managers of an insurance brokerage must meet specific qualification requirements set forth in the Insurance Brokerage Provisions. Appointment of the senior managers of an insurance brokerage is subject to review and approval by the CIRC. Personnel of an insurance brokerage who engage in any of the insurance brokering businesses described above must meet the qualifications prescribed by the CIRC and obtain the qualification certificate stipulated by the CIRC.

 

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In December 2009, the CIRC issued the Circular on the Implementation of the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of the Professional Insurance Agencies, the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Brokerages and the Provision on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Assessment Institutions, or the Implementation Circular. According to the Implementation Circular, any insurance brokerage that fails to satisfy the registered capital requirement under the Insurance Brokerage Provisions after October 1, 2012 shall no longer be permitted to renew its license issued by the CIRC.

Pursuant to the contractual arrangements among Noah Rongyao, Noah Investment and its shareholders, we operate our insurance brokerage business through Noah Insurance, a subsidiary wholly owned by Noah Investment. Noah Insurance obtained the requisite insurance brokerage license issued by the CIRC in July 2008, which has a term of eight years and will expire in July 2016.

Regulation on Non-Financial Institution Payment Services

According to the Administrative Measures for the Payment Services Provided by Non-Financial Institutions, or the Payment Services Measures, promulgated by the People’s Bank of China on June 14, 2010 and effective as of September 1, 2010, as well as the associated implementation rules issued on December 1, 2010, as a payment institution, a non-financial institution providing monetary transfer services as an intermediary between payees and payers, including online payment, issuance and acceptance of prepaid cards or bank cards, and other payment services specified by the People’s Bank of China, is required to obtain a payment business license. Any non-financial institution or individual engaged in the payment business without such license may be ordered to cease its payment services and be subject to administrative sanctions and even criminal liabilities. Applications for payment business licenses are examined by the local branches of the People’s Bank of China and then submitted to the People’s Bank Of China for approval. The registered capital of an applicant that engages in a nationwide payment business must be at least RMB100 million, while that of an applicant engaging in a payment business within a province must be at least RMB30 million.

A payment institution is required to conduct its business within the scope of business indicated in its payment business license, and may not undertake any business beyond that scope or outsource its payment business. No payment institution may transfer, lease or lend its payment business license.

We intend to rely on Shanghai Noah Jintong Data Services Co., Ltd. to provide payment and escrow services for our internet finance business while it is still in the process of applying for payment business license from the People’s Bank Of China. We are now only engaged in data transfer and never process the cash flow of the transactions, the online payment services are provided by qualified third parties in cooperation with us.

Regulations on the Operation of Value-Added Telecom Services

The Telecommunications Regulations promulgated by the State Council and its related implementation rules, including the Catalog of Classification of Telecommunications Business issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, categorize various types of telecommunications and telecommunications-related activities into basic or value-added telecommunications services, and internet information services, or ICP services, are classified as value-added telecommunications businesses. Under the Telecommunications Regulations, commercial operators of value-added telecommunications services must first obtain an a value-added telecommunications business license, or VAT License, from the MIIT or its provincial level counterparts. In 2000, the State Council also issued the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, which was amended in 2011 and 2015. According to these measures, a commercial ICP service operator must obtain an ICP License, one class of VAT Licenses, from the relevant government authorities before engaging in any commercial ICP service in China. When the ICP service involves areas of news, publication, education, medical treatment, health, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, and if required by law or relevant regulations, specific approval from the respective regulatory authorities must be obtained prior to applying for the ICP License from the MIIT or its provincial level counterpart. In 2009, the MIIT promulgated the Administrative Measures on Telecommunications Business Operating Licenses, which set forth more specific provisions regarding the types of licenses required to operate value-added telecommunications services, the qualifications and procedures for obtaining such licenses and the administration and supervision of such licenses.

One subsidiary of Noah Investment has applied for and obtained an ICP License in March 2015, which is required for our internet finance business. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—If we fail to maintain or renew existing licenses or obtain additional licenses and permits necessary to conduct our operations in China, our business would be materially and adversely affected.”

 

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Regulations on the Sale of Mutual Funds

On December 28, 2012, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress promulgated the Law on Securities Investment Funds, or the New SIF Law, which became effective on June 1, 2013 and as amended in 2015, replaced the Securities Investment Funds Law effective since June 1, 2004. The New SIF Law not only imposes detailed regulations on mutual funds but also includes new rules on the fund services agencies for the first time. Agencies that engage in sales, other fund services related to mutual funds are subject to registration or record-filing requirement with the securities regulatory authority under the State Council. Correspondingly, on March 15, 2013, CSRC promulgated the revised Administrative Measures on the Sales of Mutual Funds, or 2013 Fund Sales Measures, which became effective on June 1, 2013 and replaced the rules issued by CSRC in 2011.

The 2013 Fund Sales Measures specifies that it only applies to the sales of mutual funds. Commercial banks, securities companies, futures companies, insurance companies, securities investment consultation agencies, independent fund sales agencies and other agencies permitted by CSRC may apply with the relevant local branches of CSRC for the license related to fund sales. In order to obtain such license, an independent fund sales agency shall meet certain requirements, including: (i) having a paid-in capital of no less than RMB20.0 million; (ii) the senior executives shall have obtained the fund practice qualification, be familiar with fund sales business, and have two or more years of working experience in fund practice or five or more years of working experience in other relevant financial institutions; (iii) having at least 10 qualified employees to engage in a securities business; and (iv) not being involved in any material changes that have impacted or are likely to impact the normal operation of organizations, or other material issues such as litigations and arbitrations.

Mutual fund managers shall specify the fee charging items, conditions and methods in fund contracts and prospectuses or announcements, and shall specify the standards and calculation methods for the fee charges in prospectuses or announcements. When dealing with fund sales business, fund sales agencies may collect subscription fee, purchase fee, redemption fee, switching fee, sales service fee, and other relevant fees from the investors according to fund contracts and prospectuses. When providing value-added services to fund investors, fund sales agencies may charge the fund investors value-added service fee. Fund sales agencies shall charge investors sales charges as agreed in fund contracts, prospectuses and fund sales service contracts, and make calculation and accounting thereof faithfully. They shall not charge investors extra fees unless otherwise agreed in fund contracts, prospectuses and fund sales service contracts. They shall not apply different rates to different investors without specifying the same in prospectuses and making corresponding announcements.

Comparing to the prior rules regulating this field, the 2013 Fund Sales Measures (i) specifies that it only applies to sales of mutual fund, (ii) provides that registration system shall be implemented in relation to application for license related to fund sales and the local branches of CSRC shall serve as executors of qualification registration for the sales of mutual funds and continuously supervise fund sales agencies and such related matters, (iii) expands the types of fund sales agencies, furthers the involvement of futures companies, insurance companies and other companies in the sales of mutual funds, and (iv) further raises the penalties for violations of laws and regulations of fund sales agencies, fund sales payment and settlement institution and related institutions in operation of business.

In July 2015, relevant authorities in PRC collectively issued the Guiding Opinions on the Promotion of the Healthy Development of Internet Finance, pursuant to which mutual funds are allowed to be distributed on the Internet, as an alternative to through traditional financial services. Other provisions include requiring mutual fund sales agencies to perform its risk disclosure obligations while cooperating with other institutions via online platforms and prohibiting marketing through guaranteeing profits.

Regulations on Labor Protection

On June 29, 2007, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, promulgated the Labor Contract Law, as amended on December 28, 2012, which formalizes employees’ rights concerning employment contracts, overtime hours, layoffs and the role of trade unions and provides for specific standards and procedure for the termination of an employment contract. In addition, the Labor Contract Law requires the payment of a statutory severance pay upon the termination of an employment contract in most cases, including in cases of the expiration of a fixed-term employment contract. In addition, under the Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees and its implementation rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and on September 18, 2008 respectively, employees are entitled to a paid vacation ranging from 5 to 15 days, depending on their length of service and to enjoy compensation of three times their regular salaries for each such vacation day in case such employees are deprived of such vacation time by employers, unless the employees waive such vacation days in writing. Although we are currently in compliance with the relevant legal requirements for terminating employment contracts with employees in our business operation, in the event that we decide to lay off a large number of employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, provisions of the Labor Contract Law may limit our ability to effect these changes in a manner that we believe to be cost-effective or desirable, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

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Enterprises in China are required by PRC laws and regulations to participate in certain employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds, namely a pension plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan and a maternity insurance plan, and a housing provident fund, and contribute to the plans or funds in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of the employees as specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate their businesses or where they are located. According to the Social Insurance Law, an employer that fails to make social insurance contributions may be ordered to pay the required contributions within a stipulated deadline and be subject to a late fee of 0.05% of the amount overdue per day from the original due date by the relevant authority. If the employer still fails to rectify the failure to make social insurance contributions within such stipulated deadline, it may be subject to a fine ranging from one to three times the amount overdue. According to Regulations on Management of Housing Fund, an enterprise that fails to make housing fund contributions may be ordered to rectify the noncompliance and pay the required contributions within a stipulated deadline; otherwise, an application may be made to a local court for compulsory enforcement.

Regulations on Foreign Investment

The State Planning Commission, the State Economic and Trade Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation jointly promulgated the Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalog, or the Foreign Investment Catalog, in 2005, which was subsequently revised. The Foreign Investment Catalog sets forth the industries in which foreign investment are encouraged, restricted, or forbidden. Industries that are not indicated as any of the above categories under the Foreign Investment Catalog are permitted areas for foreign investment. The current version of the Foreign Investment Catalog came into effect in March 2015.

Pursuant to the current Foreign Investment Catalog, the provision of consulting services, that we are engaged in, is a permitted area of foreign investment. Before March 2015, insurance brokerage falls within the industries where foreign-invested companies is restricted while pursuant to the current version of the Foreign Investment Catalog, insurance brokerage business falls within the industries in which foreign investment is permitted.

However, currently foreign-invested companies engaged in insurance brokerage business are subject to more stringent requirements than Chinese domestic enterprises. Specifically, according to the guidance published on the official website of the CIRC, foreign investors of foreign-invested insurance brokerage companies are required to have, among other things, at least US$200 million of total assets and at least 30 years of track record in the insurance brokerage business.

In addition, pursuant to the current Foreign Investment Catalog, value-added telecommunication service is restricted from foreign investment. And pursuant to relevant laws and regulations, foreign investors are not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunication service provider (excluding e-commerce) and any such foreign investor must have experience in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record.

Neither our PRC subsidiaries, nor any of their subsidiaries, currently meet all such requirements and therefore none of them is permitted to engage in the insurance brokerage business. We conduct such business in China principally through contractual arrangements among Noah Rongyao, our PRC subsidiary, and Noah Investment, our variable interest entity in the PRC, and Noah Investment’s shareholders. Noah Insurance, a subsidiary of Noah Investment, holds the licenses and permits necessary to conduct insurance brokerage activities in China. In the opinion of Zhong Lun Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel:

 

    the ownership structures of our variable interest entity, our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, and Noah Holdings Limited, as described in “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company,” both prior to our initial public offering and currently, comply with all existing PRC laws and regulations; and

 

    the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our variable interest entity and its shareholders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in a violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect.

 

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We have been advised by our PRC legal counsel, however, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. For example, substantial uncertainties exist as to how the draft PRC Foreign Investment Law or its implementation rules may impact the viability of our current corporate structure in the future. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.” It is uncertain whether any other new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our insurance brokerage business, mutual fund distribution and distribution of asset management plans sponsored by mutual fund management companies do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in such business, we could be subject to severe penalties, including being prohibited from continuing our 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 our businesses in China 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 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 China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

Regulations on Tax

PRC Enterprise Income Tax

The PRC enterprise income tax is calculated based on the taxable income determined under the PRC laws and accounting standards. On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress of China enacted the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008. On December 6, 2007, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Rules which also became effective on January 1, 2008. On December 26, 2007, the State Council issued the Notice on Implementation of Enterprise Income Tax Transition Preferential Policy under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the Transition Preferential Policy Circular, which became effective simultaneously with the EIT Law. The EIT Law imposes a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25% on all domestic enterprises, including foreign-invested enterprises unless they qualify for certain exceptions, and terminates most of the tax exemptions, reductions and preferential treatments available under previous tax laws and regulations.

Moreover, under the EIT Law, enterprises organized under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto management bodies” located within China may be considered PRC resident enterprises and therefore subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on their worldwide income. The Implementation Rules define the term “de facto management body” as the management body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In addition, the Circular Related to Relevant Issues on the Identification of a Chinese holding Company Incorporated Overseas as a Residential Enterprise under the Criterion of De Facto Management Bodies Recognizing issued by the State Administration of Taxation on April 22, 2009 provides that a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group will be classified as a “resident enterprise” with its “de facto management bodies” located within China if the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the senior management and core management departments in charge of its daily operations function mainly in the PRC; (ii) its financial and human resources decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals and minutes and files of its board and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) more than half of the enterprise’s directors or senior management with voting rights reside in the PRC. Although the circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises and not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the determining criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises, individuals or foreigners.

 

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We do not believe Noah Holdings Limited or any of its subsidiaries outside of China was a PRC resident enterprise for the year ended December 31, 2015, but we cannot predict whether such entities may be considered as a PRC resident enterprise for any subsequent taxable year. Although our company is not controlled by any PRC company or company group, substantial uncertainty exists as to whether we will be deemed a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. In the event that we are considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our worldwide income, but the dividends that we receive from our PRC subsidiaries would be exempt from the PRC withholding tax since such income is exempted under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law for a PRC resident enterprise recipient. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.”

Business Tax

Pursuant to the PRC Provisional Regulations on Business Tax, taxpayers falling under the category of service industry in China are required to pay a business tax at a normal tax rate of 5% of their revenues. In November 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax, or Pilot Plan. Pursuant to this plan and relevant notices, from January 1, 2012, the value-added tax has been imposed to replace the business tax in the transport and shipping industry and some of the modern service industries in certain pilot regions, of which Shanghai is the first one. On March 23, 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued the Circular on the Pilot Program for Overall Implementation of the Collection of Value Added Tax Instead of Business Tax, or Circular 36, which will take effect on May 1, 2016. Pursuant to Circular 36, all companies operating in construction industry, real estate industry, finance industry, modern service industry or other industries which were required to pay business tax are required to pay VAT, in lieu of business tax. Applicable VAT tax rate for the Company is 6%, according to Circular 2016-36.

Dividend Withholding Tax

Pursuant to the EIT Law and the Implementation Rules, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its foreign investors are subject to a 10% withholding tax, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. We are a Cayman Islands holding company and substantially all of our income may come from dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries directly or indirectly. Since there is no such tax treaty between China and the Cayman Islands, dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries will generally be subject to a 10% withholding tax. We have evaluated whether Noah Holdings Limited is a PRC resident enterprise and we believe that Noah Holdings Limited was not a PRC resident enterprise for the year ended December 31, 2015. However, as there remains uncertainty regarding the interpretation and implementation of the EIT Law and the Implementation Rules, it is uncertain whether, if Noah Holdings Limited will be deemed a PRC resident enterprise for the future years, any dividends distributed by Noah Holdings Limited to our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders would be subject to any PRC withholding tax. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.”

Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Tax Arrangement, where a Hong Kong resident enterprise which is considered a non-PRC tax resident enterprise directly holds at least 25% of a PRC enterprise, the withholding tax rate in respect of the payment of dividends by such PRC enterprise to such Hong Kong resident enterprise is reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10%, subject to approval of the PRC local tax authority. Pursuant to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on the Issues concerning the Application of the Dividend Clauses of Tax Agreements, or SAT Circular 81, a resident enterprise of the counter-party to such Tax Arrangement should meet the following conditions, among others, in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax under the Tax Arrangement: (i) it must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in such PRC resident enterprise; and (ii) it should directly own such percentage in the PRC resident enterprise anytime in the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends. There are also other conditions for enjoying such reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Taxpayer to Enjoy Treatments under Tax Treaties issued by the State Administration of Taxation on August 28, 2015, any non-resident taxpayer may be entitled to such reduced withholding tax rate automatically if such non-resident taxpayer satisfies the conditions prescribed in the relevant tax rules and regulations, and obtains the approvals required under the administrative measures described in the preceding sentence. Accordingly, Noah HK may be able to enjoy the 5% withholding tax rate for the dividends it receives from Noah Technology and Noah Xingguang respectively, if they satisfy the conditions prescribed under SAT Circular 81 and other relevant tax rules and regulations, and obtain the approvals required under the administrative measures described above. However, according to SAT Circular 81, if the relevant tax authorities consider the transactions or arrangements we have are for the primary purpose of enjoying a favorable tax treatment, the relevant tax authorities may adjust the favorable withholding tax in the future.

 

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United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

The United States has passed FATCA, whichimposes a new reporting regime and, potentially, a 30% withholding tax on certain U.S.-source payments made to certain non-U.S. entities. In general, the 30% withholding tax applies to certain payments made to a non-U.S. financial institution unless such institution is treated as deemed compliant or enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to certain interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such interests or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by certain U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments. The 30% withholding tax also generally applies to certain payments made to a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions unless such entity either (i) certifies that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners.” An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another country may also modify these requirements. The Cayman Islands has entered into a Model 1 intergovernmental agreement with the United States, which gives effect to the automatic tax information exchange requirements of FATCA, and a similar intergovernmental agreement with the United Kingdom. We will be required to comply with the Cayman Islands Tax Information Authority Law (2014 Revision) (as amended) together with regulations and guidance notes made pursuant to such law that give effect to the intergovernmental agreements with the United States and the United Kingdom. We do not believe FATCA will have a material impact on our business or operations, but because FATCA is particularly complex and the intergovernmental agreement with the PRC, though agreed to in substance, has not been published, and PRC regulations or guidance notes have not be published, we cannot assure you that we will not be adversely affected by this legislation in the future.

Regulations on Foreign Exchange

Foreign exchange regulations in China are primarily governed by the following rules:

 

    Foreign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended, or the Exchange Rules; and

 

    Administration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange (1996), or the Administration Rules.

Under the Exchange Rules, the Renminbi is convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest and royalty payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions. Conversion of Renminbi for capital account items, such as direct investment, loan, securities investment and repatriation of investment, however, is still subject to the approval of SAFE.

Under the Administration Rules, foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents and, in the case of capital account item transactions, obtaining approval from SAFE. Capital investments by foreign-invested enterprises outside of China are also subject to limitations, including approval by the Ministry of Commerce, SAFE and the National Development and Reform Commission or their local counterparts.

 

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On August 29, 2008, SAFE issued 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. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 142, the Renminbi fund from the settlement of foreign currency capital of a foreign-invested enterprise must be used within the business scope as approved by the examination and approval department of the government, and cannot be used for domestic equity investment unless it is otherwise provided for. Documents certifying the purposes of the Renminbi fund from the settlement of foreign currency capital including a business contract must also be submitted for the settlement of the foreign currency. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the Renminbi capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested company. The use of such Renminbi capital may not be altered without SAFE’s 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 used. Violations of SAFE Circular 142 could result in severe monetary and other penalties. On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued SAFE Circular 19, which took effect and replaced SAFE Circular 142 from June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, up to 100% of foreign currency capital of foreign-invested enterprise may be converted into RMB capital according to the actual operation, and within the business scope, of the enterprise at its will. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows for the use of RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in the PRC, the restrictions continues to apply as to foreign- invested enterprises’ use of the converted RMB for purposes beyond the business scope, for entrusted loans or for inter-company RMB loans. If our variable interest entity requires financial support from us or our wholly owned subsidiary in the future and we find it necessary to use foreign currency-denominated capital to provide such financial support, our ability to fund our variable interest entity’s operations will be subject to statutory limits and restrictions, including those described above.

On May 10, 2013, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration. Institutions and individuals shall register with SAFE and/or its branches for their direct investment in the PRC. Banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches.

On Feb 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Direct Investments, or SAFE Circular 13, which took effect on June 1, 2015. Circular 13 specifies that the administrative examination and approval procedures with SAFE or its local branches relating to the foreign exchange registration approval for domestic direct investments as well as overseas direct investments have been cancelled, and qualified banks are delegated the power to directly conduct such foreign exchange registrations under the supervision of SAFE or its local branches.

Regulations on Dividend Distribution

The principal regulations governing dividend distributions of wholly foreign-owned companies include:

 

    Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law, as amended on October 31, 2000; and

 

    Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law Implementing Rules, as amended on April 12, 2001.

Under these laws and regulations, wholly foreign-owned companies in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, these wholly foreign-owned companies are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds, until the accumulative amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation. At the discretion of these wholly foreign-owned companies, they may allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not distributable as cash dividends.

 

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Regulations on Offshore Investment by PRC Residents

On July 4, 2014, SAFE issued the Circular on Several Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Residents Engaging in Overseas Investment, Financing and Round-Trip Investment via Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, which terminated the SAFE’s Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in Financing and Inbound Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75, and became effective on the same date. SAFE Circular 37 and its detailed guidelines require PRC residents to register with the local branch of SAFE before contributing their legally owned onshore or offshore assets or equity interest into any special purpose vehicle, or SPV, directly established, or indirectly controlled, by them for the purpose of investment or financing; and when there is (a) any change to the basic information of the SPV, such as any change relating to its individual PRC resident shareholders, name or operation period or (b) any material change, such as increase or decrease in the share capital held by its individual PRC resident shareholders, a share transfer or exchange of the shares in the SPV, or a merger or split of the SPV, the PRC resident must register such changes with the local branch of SAFE on a timely basis. On February 13, 2015, SAFE issued the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Policies Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which took effect on June 1, 2015. SAFE Circular 13 has delegated to the qualified banks the authority to register all PRC residents’ investment in SPVs pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, except that those PRC residents who have failed to comply with SAFE Circular 37 will remain to fall into the jurisdiction of the local SAFE branch and must make their supplementary registration application with the local SAFE branch. According to the relevant SAFE rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore companies of SPVs, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from such offshore entity, and may also subject the relevant PRC residents and onshore companies to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations. Further, failure to comply with various SAFE registration requirements described above would result in liability for foreign exchange evasion under PRC laws.

Regulations on Stock Incentive Plans

On December 2006, the People’s Bank of China promulgated the Administrative Measures of Foreign Exchange Matters for Individuals, setting forth the respective requirements for foreign exchange transactions by individuals (both PRC or non-PRC citizens) under either the current account or the capital account. In January 2007, SAFE issued Implementing Rules for the Administrative Measures of Foreign Exchange Matters for Individuals, or the Individual Foreign Exchange Rule, which, among other things, specified approval requirements for certain capital account transactions such as a PRC citizen’s participation in the employee stock ownership plans or stock option plans of an overseas publicly-listed company. On February 15, 2012, SAFE issued the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company, or the Stock Incentive Plan Rules, which terminated the Application Procedures of Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas Listed Company issued by SAFE on March 28, 2007. The purpose of the Stock Incentive Plan Rules is to regulate foreign exchange administration of PRC domestic individuals who participate in employee stock holding plans and stock option plans of overseas listed companies.

According to the Stock Incentive Plan Rules, if PRC “domestic individuals” (both PRC residents and non-PRC residents who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year, excluding the foreign diplomatic personnel and representatives of international organizations) participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas listed company, a PRC domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, shall, among others things, file, on behalf of such individual, an application with SAFE to conduct the SAFE registration with respect to such stock incentive plan, and obtain approval for an annual allowance with respect to the purchase of foreign exchange in connection with stock holding or stock option exercises. With the SAFE registration certificate for stock incentive plan, the PRC domestic qualified agent shall open a special foreign exchange account at a PRC domestic bank to hold the funds required in connection with the stock purchase or option exercise, any returned principal or profits upon sales of stock, any dividends issued upon the stock and any other income or expenditures approved by SAFE. Such PRC individuals’ foreign exchange income received from the sale of stock and dividends distributed by the overseas listed company and any other income shall be fully remitted into a special foreign currency account opened and managed by the PRC domestic qualified agent before distribution to such individuals.

Many issues regarding the Stock Incentive Plan Rules require further interpretation. We and our employees who have participated in an employee stock ownership plan or stock option plan as “domestic individuals”, or PRC optionees, were subject to the Stock Incentive Plan Rules when our company became an overseas listed company. However, we cannot assure you that each of the above optionees will fully comply with the Individual Foreign Exchange Rule and Stock Incentive Plan Rules. If we or our PRC employees fail to comply with the Stock Incentive Plan Rules, we and our PRC employees may be subject to fines and other legal sanctions. In addition, the General Administration of Taxation has issued a few circulars concerning employee stock options. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise stock options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee stock options with relevant tax authorities and withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their stock options. If our employees fail to pay and we fail to withhold their income taxes, we may face sanctions imposed by tax authorities or any other PRC government authorities.

 

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C. Organizational Structure

We are an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands with subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China and Hong Kong. We currently mainly operate our business through the following significant subsidiaries and significant affiliated PRC entities and certain of their subsidiaries:

 

Name

  

Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

  

Relationship with us

Shanghai Noah Rongyao Investment Consulting Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Shanghai Noah Financial Services Co., Ltd.(1)    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Kunshan Noah Xingguang Investment Management Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Noah Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited    Hong Kong    Wholly owned subsidiary
Shanghai Rongyao Information Technology Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Zigong Noah Financial Service Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Noah Financial Express (Wuhu) Microfinance Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd.    China    Majority owned subsidiary
Noah Commercial Factoring Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Noah Group Honest Asia Limited    Hong Kong    Wholly owned subsidiary
Noah (Shanghai) Financial Leasing Co., Ltd    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Noah Holdings international Limited    Hong Kong    Wholly owned subsidiary
Shanghai Noah Investment Management Co., Ltd.    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Noah Upright (Shanghai) Fund Investment Consulting Co., Ltd.    China    Wholly owned subsidiary
Shanghai Noah Rongyao Insurance Broker Co., Ltd.    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Tianjin Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd.(2)    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd.(3)    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Wuhu Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd.    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Shanghai Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd.    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Zhejiang Vanke Noah Assets Management Co., Ltd.    China    Consolidated affiliated entity
Gopher Nuobao (Shanghai) Asset Management Co., Ltd.    China    Consolidated affiliated entity

 

(1) Formerly known as Shanghai Noah Yuanzheng Investment Consulting Co., Ltd.
(2) Previously translated as “Tianjin Gefei Asset Management Co., Ltd.”
(3) Previously translated as “Gefei Asset Management Co., Ltd.”

In August 2005, our founders started our business through the incorporation of Shanghai Noah Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Noah Investment, a domestic company in China. Since its inception, Noah Investment primarily focused on the distribution of OTC wealth management products to high net worth individuals in China.

We conduct our wealth management business in China primarily through our subsidiaries, Noah Xingguang and Noah Financial Services. We conduct our overseas wealth management business through Noah Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, our subsidiary in Hong Kong. Our asset management business and insurance brokerage business are conducted through Noah Investment and its subsidiaries.

In March 2012, Noah Investment acquired 100% equity interest of Tianjin Gopher Asset Management Co., Ltd., or Tianjin Gopher, and Gopher Asset from Noah Financial Services at cost in order to facilitate the development of fund of funds, a part of our asset management business. Fifteen affiliated institutions managed by Tianjin Gopher and Gopher Asset have completed the private investment fund manager registration with AMAC, which enable such affiliated institutions to launch self-developed products at lower costs. Tianjin Gopher and Gopher Asset mainly serve as a general partner in fund of private equity funds, hedge funds and real estate funds. Such funds have invested in and plan to continue to invest in equity funds with portfolio companies that may prefer to remain wholly PRC-owned. As of the date of this annual report, Gopher Asset has grown to be the core of our asset management business, having become a leading asset management company in China focused on funds of funds in private equity, real estate, hedge funds, credit products and family office business, offering both investment opportunities in RMB and US$ in all of the these products.

 

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We primarily conduct our internet finance business through Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd., our majority-owned subsidiary. In July 2015, Beijing Sequoia Mingde Capital Investment Fund (Limited Partnership), an affiliate of Sequoia Capital China, acquired 9.8% of equity interests in Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd., at purchase price of RMB31.6 million. We hold 59.89% interest of Shanghai Noah Yijie Finance Technology Co., Ltd. as of the date of this annual report.

As foreign-invested companies engaged in insurance brokerage business are subject to stringent requirements compared with Chinese domestic enterprises under current PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries and their subsidiaries, which are foreign-invested companies, do not meet all the requirements and therefore none of them is permitted to engage in the insurance brokerage business. We conduct our insurance brokerage business in China through Noah Investment and its subsidiaries, which are PRC domestic companies owned by our founders. Since we do not have equity interests in Noah Investment, in order to exercise effective control over its operations, in September 2007, Noah Rongyao entered into certain contractual arrangements with Noah Investment and its shareholders.

Our contractual arrangements with Noah Investment and its shareholders enable us to (i) have power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Noah Investment; (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits from Noah Investment in consideration for the services provided by Noah Rongyao; and (iii) have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in Noah Investment when and to the extent permitted by PRC law, or request any existing shareholder of Noah Investment to transfer any or part of the equity interest in Noah Investment to another PRC person or entity designated by us at any time at our discretion. We define “economic benefits” as the net income of and residual interests in Noah Investment and its subsidiaries. Through powers of attorney signed by all shareholders of Noah Investment, Noah Rongyao has been granted the power of attorney to act on their behalf on all matters pertaining to Noah Investment and to exercise all of their rights as shareholders of Noah Investment. Through the exclusive support service agreement between Noah Investment and Noah Rongyao, Noah Rongyao has agreed to provide certain technical and operational consulting services and to license its intellectual property rights to Noah Investment in exchange for service fees. Pursuant to this agreement, the fees for the consulting services are determined by both parties based on actual services provided, after deducting costs and licensing fees. The licensing fees for the intellectual property are determined by both parties based on actual services provided on a quarterly basis. Through this agreement, we are entitled to fees that are equivalent to all of Noah Investment’s revenues for a given period. In addition, pursuant to the exclusive option agreement, Noah Investment’s shareholders are prohibited from transferring their equity interests to any third party, and Noah Investment is prohibited from declaring and paying any dividends without Noah Rongyao’s prior consent. Through this arrangement, we can prevent leakage of any residual interests of Noah Investment. Through the share pledge agreement between Noah Investment’s shareholders and Noah Rongyao, Noah Investment’s shareholders have pledged their shares to Noah Rongyao to secure Noah Investment’s obligations under the exclusive support service agreement and the exclusive option agreement. If Noah Investment or its shareholders breach any of their obligations under the exclusive support service agreement or the exclusive option agreement, Noah Rongyao, as the pledgee, will be entitled to foreclose on the pledged shares. As a result of these contractual arrangements, under U.S. GAAP, we are considered the primary beneficiary of Noah Investment and thus consolidate its results in our consolidated financial statements. Under PRC law, each of Noah Rongyao and Noah Investment is an independent legal entity and neither of them is exposed to liabilities incurred by the other. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Contractual arrangements we have entered into among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our variable interest entity and its shareholders may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or our PRC variable interest entity and its subsidiaries owe additional taxes, which could substantially reduce our consolidated net income and the value of your investment.”

Contractual Arrangements

Exclusive Option Agreement. The shareholders of Noah Investment have entered into an exclusive option agreement with Noah Rongyao in September 2007, under which the shareholders granted Noah Rongyao or its third-party designee an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase their equity interests in Noah Investment when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. The purchase price shall be the higher of the minimum amount required by PRC law and an amount determined by Noah Rongyao. Noah Rongyao may exercise such option at any time and from time to time until it has acquired all equity interests of Noah Investment. The term of this exclusive option agreement is ten years and will automatically extend for another ten years upon expiry if no party objects. During the term of this agreement, the shareholders of Noah Investment are prohibited from transferring their equity interests to any third party, and Noah Investment is prohibited from declaring and paying any dividend without Noah Rongyao’s prior consent.

 

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Exclusive Support Service Agreement. Under the exclusive support service agreement entered into between Noah Investment and Noah Rongyao in September 2007, Noah Investment engages Noah Rongyao as its exclusive technical and operational consultant and under which Noah Rongyao agrees to assist in arranging financing necessary to conduct Noah Investment’s operational activities. Noah Rongyao will provide certain support services to Noah Investment, including client management, technical and operational support and other services, for which Noah Investment shall pay to Noah Rongyao service fees determined based on actual services provided. Noah Rongyao is also obligated to grant Noah Investment licenses to use certain intellectual property rights, for which Noah Investment shall pay license fees at the rates set by Noah Rongyao. As of the date of this filing, Noah Rongyao has not received any service fees from Noah Investment because Noah Rongyao has not provided any service to Noah Investment yet. This agreement has a term of ten years, which will automatically extend for another ten years upon expiry if neither party objects.

Share Pledge Agreement. All shareholders of Noah Investment have entered into a share pledge agreement with Noah Rongyao in September 2007, under which the shareholders pledged all of their equity interests in Noah Investment to Noah Rongyao as collateral to secure their obligations under the exclusive option agreement and Noah Investment’s obligations under the exclusive support service agreement. If Noah Investment or its shareholders violates any of their respective obligations under the exclusive support service agreement or the exclusive option agreement, Noah Rongyao, as the pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the right to sell the pledged share interests. The term of the share pledge is same as that of the exclusive option agreement

Powers of Attorney. Each shareholder of Noah Investment has executed a power of attorney to grant Noah Rongyao or its designee the power of attorney to act on his or her behalf on all matters pertaining to Noah Investment and to exercise all of his or her rights as a shareholder of Noah Investment, including the right to attend shareholders meeting, appoint board members and senior management members, other voting rights and the right to transfer all or a part of his or her equity interest in Noah Investment.

In the opinion of Zhong Lun Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel:

 

    the ownership structures of our variable interest entity, our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, and Noah Holdings Limited, as described in “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company,” both prior to our initial public offering and currently, comply with all existing PRC laws and regulations; and

 

    the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, our variable interest entity and its shareholders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in a violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect.

We have been advised by our PRC legal counsel, however, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. For example, substantial uncertainties exist as to how the draft PRC Foreign Investment Law or its implementation rules may impact the viability of our current corporate structure in the future. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.” It is uncertain whether any other new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our insurance brokerage business and other business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in insurance brokerage business or other businesses, we could be subject to severe penalties, including being prohibited from continuing our 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 our businesses in China 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 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 China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

 

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D. Property, Plants and Equipment

The corporate headquarters of our wealth management, asset management and internet finance businesses, consisting of approximately 12,810, 1,552 and 4,940 square meters of leased office space, respectively, are located in Shanghai, China. Our 135 branch offices lease approximately 40,984 square meters of office space in aggregate. Our overseas business is mainly conducted by our Hong Kong office, with 865 square meters of leased office space.

 

ITEM 4A UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” or in other parts of this annual report on Form 20-F

 

A. Operating Results

Overview

We are a leading wealth management service provider with a focus on global wealth investment and asset allocation services for high net worth individuals and enterprises in China. We offer a broad range of wealth management and asset management services, managing our own fund of funds and real estate fund products, as well as internet finance services. We believe our wealth management, asset management and internet finance businesses complement each other and enable us to provide customized solutions to our clients.

We primarily distribute OTC wealth management and OTC asset management products that are originated mainly in China. The wealth management products and asset management products we distribute include fixed income products, private equity fund products, private securities investment fund products and high-end insurance products. As part of our asset management business, we raise and manage asset management products, primarily including fund of funds products and real estate fund products. More recently, we also offer internet finance solutions to white-collar professionals and high net worth individuals. With 1,098 relationship managers in our 135 branch offices in 67 cities as of December 31, 2015, our coverage network encompasses China’s most economically developed regions where its high net worth population is concentrated, including the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Bohai Rim and other regions. Since our inception in 2005, the aggregate transaction value of the products distributed by us through our wealth management business amounted to RMB279.4 billion (US$44.8 billion). The number of our registered clients, which include (i) registered high net worth individuals, (ii) registered enterprise clients and (iii) wholesale clients which have entered into cooperation agreements with us, has grown to 99,019 as of December 31, 2015. From the fourth quarter of 2013, we started distributing high-end insurance products and offering small short-term loans as services to our existing clients, and in the second quarter of 2014, we began offering more internet finance services, including online platform services for white-collar professionals, online peer-to-peer lending for high net worth individuals, and online payment and product information systems, which facilitate online payment services by transferring customer data to third-party online payment platforms.

We derive revenues from three business segments: wealth management, asset management and internet finance. We generate revenues primarily from (i) one-time commissions derived from wealth management products, paid by product providers or underlying corporate borrowers, based on the value of the wealth management products purchased by our clients; (ii) recurring service fees paid by providers of certain types of wealth and asset management products, based on the value of such products purchased by our clients or the net asset value of the portfolio underlying the products purchased by our clients; (iii) performance based income from some funds, including real estate funds, private equity funds and secondary market equity funds, previously distributed by us and funds raised and managed by us as part of our wealth management and asset management business; and (iv) other service fees, primarily including (a) revenue from small short-term loan; (b) revenues generated by our insurance brokerage business; and (c) revenues generated by our internet finance services.

 

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We have experienced significant growth in recent years. Our net revenues increased from RMB1,006.0 million in 2013 to RMB1,528.5 million in 2014 and to RMB2,119.9 million (US$327.3 million) in 2015, representing a CAGR of 45.2%. We recorded net income attributable to our shareholders of RMB315.9 million in 2013, RMB446.6 million in 2014 and RMB535.8 million (US$82.7 million) in 2015. The net income amounts include the impact of non-cash charges relating to share-based compensation in an aggregate amount of RMB32.2 million in 2013, RMB32.7 million in 2014 and RMB67.7 million (US$10.4 million) in 2015.

Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

We have benefited from the overall economic growth, the growing high net worth and white-collar population and the increasing demand for sophisticated and personalized wealth management solutions through different platforms in China, which we anticipate will continue to increase as the overall economy and the high net worth population and white-collar population continue to grow in China. However, any adverse changes in the economic conditions or regulatory environment in China may have a material adverse effect on China’s wealth management services industry, which in turn may harm our business and results of operations.

Our financial condition and results of operations are more directly affected by factors specific to our company, primarily including the following:

 

    number of clients;

 

    average transaction value per client;

 

    accumulated aggregate value of finance products with recurring service fees previously distributed by us;

 

    product mix; and

 

    operating cost and expenses.

Number of Clients

Our revenue growth has been driven primarily by the increasing number of clients we serve. We primarily serve three types of clients: (i) high net worth individuals, (ii) enterprises affiliated with high net worth individuals and (iii) wholesale clients, primarily local commercial banks and branches of national commercial banks which distribute wealth management products to their own clients. Our current core business is the distribution of wealth management and asset management products to high net worth individuals, which contributed 77.2%, 77.9% and 77.5% of our total revenues in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Our internet finance business targets white-collar professionals as part of its primary client base, although it also serves high net worth individuals. The number of our clients, particularly the number of our high net worth individual clients, is a key factor affecting our results of operations. An increasing number of high net worth individual clients may also result in a growing number of enterprise clients, as many high net worth individuals in China own or control small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, as our internet finance business expands, we also serve an increasing number of white-collar professionals, who form a significant portion of the expanding middle class in China.

We refer to the high net worth individuals and enterprises registered with us and the wholesale clients that have entered into cooperation agreements with us as our “registered clients” and those registered clients who purchase wealth or asset management or internet finance products or services distributed by us during any given period as “active clients” for that period. We do not include the white-collar professionals who utilize some of our internet finance services in either our “registered clients” or “active clients” measures, due to the unique nature and scale of the services provided to such white-collar professionals. The cumulative number of our registered clients increased from 53,501 as of December 31, 2013 to 70,557 as of December 31, 2014 and to 99,019 as of December 31, 2015, while the number of our active clients increased from 6,445 in 2013 to 9,010 in 2014 and to 12,573 in 2015. Although we generate no revenue from those registered clients who currently do not purchase products or services we distribute, with an increasing number of registered clients, we have the opportunity to introduce and recommend wealth management, asset management and internet finance products and services to a greater number of high net worth individuals, enterprises and wholesale clients and accordingly may convert more registered clients into active clients. An increase in the number of active clients has contributed significantly to the growth of the total value of the products we distribute and the services we provide. We expect that the number of active clients will continue to be a key factor affecting our revenue growth. The number of new clients we may develop is affected by the breadth of our coverage network. As we expand our coverage network, we expect to increase our capacity and capability to cultivate and serve new clients, which may result in an increase in the number of new registered and active clients.

 

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Average Transaction Value per Client

Average transaction value per client directly affects the total value of products we distribute and services we provide through our wealth management business, which in turn affects the amount of our revenue, primarily one-time commissions and recurring service fees. Average transaction value per client refers to the average value of wealth management products and asset management products we distribute and internet finance services we offer that are purchased by our active clients during a given period. The average transaction value per client for the wealth management business increased 2.0% from RMB6.9 million in 2013 to RMB7.0 million in 2014, and increased by 11.9% from RMB7.0 million in 2014 to RMB7.9 million (US$1.3 million) in 2015, primarily reflecting a change in product mix.

In recent years, we have been raising the required level of investable assets when we target high net worth individuals in order to focus our resources on serving the high-end segment of China’s high net worth population. Currently, we expect our registered individual clients to have investable assets (excluding primary residence) with an aggregate value exceeding RMB3.0 million (US$0.5 million).

Product Mix

Our product mix affects our revenues and operating profit. We distribute to our clients a wide array of wealth management and asset management products that are originated in China and Hong Kong. These include five types of wealth management products: (i) fixed income products, mainly including real estate funds with both residential real estates and commercial real estates as underlying assets, supply chain financing products, industrial M&A funds and public company mezzanine financing products, all of them provide investors with prospective fixed rates of return; (ii) private equity fund products, including investments in various private equity funds sponsored by domestic and international asset/fund management firms, real estate funds and fund of funds managed by us, the underlying assets of which are portfolios of equity investments in unlisted private companies and asset management plans, the underlying assets of which are portfolios of equity investments in unlisted private companies; (iii) secondary market equity fund products, the underlying assets of which are publicly traded stocks; (iv) insurance products; and (v) mutual fund products. In addition, we also offer four types of asset management products: (i) real estate funds and real estate funds of funds, including funds and funds of funds for residential as well as commercial real estate properties such as office buildings and retail property in China and overseas; (ii) private equity funds of funds, including investments in the top domestic private equity funds in China; (iii) secondary market equity funds of funds, including both RMB and U.S. dolloar-denominated hedge and quantitative funds of funds ; and (iv) other fixed income funds of funds, including public equity funds, core funds of funds and funds with certain types of credit asset classes in China and overseas, as well as family office services and customized manager of manager services. Beginning in 2014, we also offer internet finance services, which include small short-term loans, online platform services for white-collar professionals, online peer-to-peer lending for high net worth individuals and online payment and product information systems, which facilitate online payment services by transferring customer data to third-party online payment platforms.

The composition and level of revenues that we derive from the products are affected by product type. The product type determines whether we can receive one-time commissions only, recurring service fees and performance-based income. For wealth management products, we receive one-time commissions paid by product providers or underlying corporate borrowers, calculated as a percentage of the value of the products that our clients purchase. In addition, for wealth management products other than fixed income products sponsored by third parties and for most asset management products, we also receive recurring service fees or management fees where we are engaged by the product providers to provide recurring services to our clients who have purchased their products. We may receive performance based income from some funds, including real estate funds, private equity funds and secondary market equity funds, previously distributed by us and funds raised and managed by us as part of our wealth management and asset management business. We also generate revenues from other sources, primarily including (a) upfront subscription fees, management fees and exit fees, paid by fund companies for distributing mutual fund products, (b) insurance brokerage business and (c) service fees paid by clients for the internet finance services we provide.

 

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Wealth Management Products

The table below sets forth the total value of different types of wealth management products that we distributed, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of the total value of all products distributed, during the periods indicated:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     RMB in
millions
     %      RMB in
millions
     %      RMB in
millions
     US$ in
millions
     %  

Product type

                    

Fixed income products

     35,723         80.3         40,212         63.5         36,621         5,823         37.0   

Private equity fund products

     6,406         14.4         11,971         18.9         31,917         5,085         32.2   

Secondary market equity fund products

     —           —           10,328         16.3         28,054         4,488         28.4   

Other products

     2,358         5.3         860         1.3         2,402         384         2.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

All products

     44,487         100.0         63,371         100.0         98,994         15,780         100.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our subsidiaries, Noah Rongyao and its subsidiaries, Noah Technology and Noah Xingguang mainly carry out our OTC wealth management product distribution business. The revenues generated by our subsidiaries as a percentage of our net revenues were 78.8% in 2013, 62.9% in 2014 and 54.1% in 2015. The revenues generated by Noah Investment and Noah Rongyao Management Consulting Company Limited and their subsidiaries as a percentage of our net revenues were 21.2% in 2013, 37.1% in 2014 and 45.9% in 2015.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, we increased the distribution of insurance products in order to better serve our customers. In 2014, our most popular insurance policies are high-coverage accident injury insurance and global medical insurance products, and we launched new high-end medical insurance, general accident insurance, aviation accident insurance, serious and terminal illness insurance and life insurance. Our domestic insurance brokerage business currently represents an insignificant percentage of our revenues, while our oversea insurance brokerage business grew rapidly in 2015.

On February 22, 2012, CSRC granted Noah Upright, one of Noah Investment’s subsidiaries, a mutual fund distribution license, and we started our mutual fund distribution business thereafter. In 2013, we increased distribution of these products in response to an increase in the demand for liquidity management. Fees generated from private securities investment funds, insurance products and mutual fund products have been insignificant to our financial results in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Therefore, we combine the total value of these products in the table above.

Established in 2013, Enoch Education, a subsidary of Noah Rongyao, has developed its high-end education business steady through the years. In 2015, Enoch launched a series of trainings for over 4,000 clients. The “Enoch wealth management class”–which educates investors on market cycles, economic trends and portfolio investment philosophy—has been well received by our customers.

Asset Management Products

We are growing our proprietary assets management business under Noah Investment. In May 2010, we started distributing our own fund of funds products under our management. These fund products’ lives typically range from 5 to 7 years. In 2012, we began distributing real estate funds under our management. Such real estate funds are either fixed income products or private equity fund products, depending on the underlying assets, and their lives range from 0.5 to 5 years. As we receive recurring service fees over the life cycle of these funds, our distribution of these products represent a source of steady flow of recurring revenues. Our revenues generated from asset management products increased from RMB139.8 in 2013 to RMB366.1 million in 2014 and to RMB465.0 million (US$71.8) in 2015. Revenues generated from asset management products now represent 22% of our overall total revenues. We also provide family office and discretionary portfolio management services business focused on ultra-high net worth and family office clients. In 2015, we continued our growth in this area by building deeper, long term client relationships and providing services for more than 60 family offices in total.

 

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The table below summarizes our AUM as of December 31, 2014 and 2015.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     RMB in
billions
     %      RMB in
billions
     US$ in
billions
     %  

Product type

              

Real estate funds and real estate funds of funds

     31.0         62.4         31.8         5.0         36.7   

Private equity funds of funds

     10.4         20.9         37.9         5.9         43.7   

Secondary market equity funds of funds

     2.6         5.2         10.7         1.7         12.3   

Other fixed income funds of funds

     5.7         11.5         6.3         1.0         7.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

All products

     49.7         100.0         86.7         13.6         100.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Internet Finance Products

From the second quarter of 2014, we offered a range of internet finance services. We launched Cai Fu Pai, an internet finance platform that provides financial products and services to white-collar professionals in China. This platform initially provided online platform services to white-collar professionals through cooperation with quality enterprises that employ white-collar professionals targeted by the platform and is now open to all white-collar professionals. Through our Jintong Zhifu platform, we facilitate online payment services by transferring customer data to licensed third-party online payment platforms. Our internet finance business generates service fees collected from clients for the services we provide and interest for small short-term loans collateralized by our financial products or real estate properties, through our Rong Yi Tong platform.

Operating Cost and Expenses

Our financial condition and operating results are directly affected by our operating cost and expenses, primarily consisting of (i) compensation and benefits, including salary and commissions for our relationship managers, share-based compensation expenses, bonus related performance-based income, and other employee salary and bonuses, (ii) selling expenses, (iii) general and administrative expenses and (iv) other operating expenses, deducting government subsidies. Our operating costs and expenses are primarily affected by several factors, including the number of our employees, rental expenses and certain non-cash charges.

The number of our employees was 1,274, 1,860 and 2,688 as of December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The increase was primarily a result from the expansion of our relationship manager, product design team and new business entities. We plan to continue to expand our coverage network, especially outside of China, and anticipate that our operating expenses related to compensation and benefits will increase as a result of hiring new employees. However, as we continue to grow our business, we are focused on reducing other operating costs and expenses through leveraging economies of scale.

The number of our branch offices was 69, 94 and 135 as of December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Our rental expenses have increased due to the rising real estate prices and the expansion of our headquarters from 2013 to 2015.

Our operating costs and expenses include share-based compensation charge related to the share options or restricted shares granted to employees. We expect to incur additional share-based compensation expenses related to share options or restricted shares in the future as we plan to continue to grant share options or restricted shares to our employees.

Key Components of Results of Operations

Net Revenues

Our net revenues are total revenues, net of business taxes and related surcharges, which range from 5.0% to 5.5% of gross revenue in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, we recorded net revenues of RMB1,006.0 million, RMB1,528.5 million and RMB2,119.9 million (US$327.3 million), respectively. Our net revenues come from three business segments: wealth management, asset management and internet finance.

We derive revenues primarily from the following sources and business segments:

 

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One-time commissions

 

    for wealth management: paid by the wealth management product providers or the underlying corporate borrowers, calculated as a percentage of the wealth management products purchased by our clients. We generally receive the one-time commission from product providers or underlying corporate borrowers upon the establishment of a wealth management product;

 

    for asset management: we generally receive one-time commission for directly distributing certain asset management products to our clients.

Recurring service fees are charged when we are engaged by product providers to provide recurring services to our clients who have purchased their products, including:

 

    for wealth management: (i) recurring service fees over the life cycle of the private equity fund products previously distributed by us to our clients, which are paid on a periodic basis and typically calculated as a percentage of the total value of investments in the underlying funds previously distributed by us to our clients, at the establishment date of the wealth management product; (ii) recurring service fees for investments in funds focusing on publicly traded stocks and insurance products, which are paid on a periodic basis and calculated daily as a percentage of the net asset value of the portfolio underlying the products purchased by our clients;

 

    for asset management: includes recurring service fees over the life cycle of the funds previously distributed by us to our clients and later managed by us, which are paid on a periodic basis and typically calculated as a percentage of the total value of investments in the underlying funds previously distributed by us to our clients;

Performance based income are revenues generated from some funds, including private equity funds of funds, real estate funds and real estate funds of funds, and secondary market equity funds of funds, previously distributed by us and funds raised and/or managed by us;

Other service fees are derived from mutual fund distribution, small short-term loan, internet finance business and other businesses.

 

    for wealth management: upfront subscription fees, management fees and exit fees, fees paid by fund companies for distributing of mutual fund products, revenues generated from our insurance brokerage business and revenues generated from our Enoch education business;

 

    for internet finance: service fees paid by clients for the online platform, loan facilitation services or online payment and related service we provide, including for small short-term loan services.

The table below sets forth the amounts of total one-time commissions, recurring service fees, performance based income and other service fees, respectively, for our wealth management business, asset management business and internet finance business, respectively, for the periods indicated:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     RMB      RMB      RMB      US$  

Wealth Management Business

           

Net revenues:

           

One-time commissions

     354,830,728         423,218,934         390,668,384         60,308,806   

Recurring service fees

     174,739,550         243,619,600         334,983,117         51,712,483   

Performance based income

     —           7,952,243         141,773,493         21,886,056   

Other service fees

     30,313,155         13,246,685         69,447,545         10,720,853   

Third-party net revenues

     559,883,433         688,037,462         936,872,539         144,628,198   

One-time commissions

     125,548,102         180,943,785         424,354,473         65,509,042   

Recurring service fees

     230,196,201         342,603,359         324,182,643         50,045,176   

Performance based income

     —           2,444,365         —           —     

Other service fees

     1,172,129         75,050         393,683         60,774   

Related party net revenues

     356,916,432         526,066,559         748,930,799         115,614,992   

Total revenues

     916,799,865         1,214,104,021         1,685,803,338         260,243,190   

Less: business taxes and related surcharges

     (50,609,500      (68,598,144      (88,285,200      (13,628,886
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     866,190,365         1,145,505,877         1,597,518,138         246,614,304   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     RMB      RMB      RMB      US$  

Assets Management Business

           

Net revenues:

           

One-time commissions

     1,293,159         —           520,001         80,274   

Recurring service fees

     27,697,918         76,313,477         66,309,348         10,236,399   

Performance based income

     —           16,680,481         52,165,537         8,052,971   

Other service fees

     736,778         —           512,475         79,113   

Third-party net revenues

     29,727,855         92,993,958         119,507,361         18,448,757   

One-time commissions

     2,660,980         —           4,333,018         668,903   

Recurring service fees

     110,561,436         217,438,078         310,730,732         47,968,559   

Performance based income

     —           73,897,688         53,825,293         8,309,193   

Other service fees

     4,870,216         1,105,055         —           —     

Related party net revenues

     118,092,632         292,440,821         368,889,043         56,946,655   

Total revenues

     147,820,487         385,434,779         488,396,404         75,395,412   

Less: business taxes and related surcharges

     (8,034,252      (19,319,443      (23,408,513      (3,613,652
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     139,786,235         366,115,336         464,987,891         71,781,760   

 

     Years Ended December 31,
2014
     Years Ended December 31,
2015
 
     RMB      RMB      US$  

Internet Finance Business

        

Net revenues:

        

One-time commissions

     —           —           —     

Recurring service fees

     —           —           —     

Other service fees

     16,732,441         58,330,241         9,004,638   

Third-party net revenues

     16,732,441         58,330,241         9,004,638   

One-time commissions

     —           —           —     

Recurring service fees

     30,326         —           —     

Other service fees

     856,695         166,123         25,645   

Related party net revenues

     887,021         166,123         25,645   

Total revenues

     17,619,462         58,496,364         9,030,283   

Less: business taxes and related surcharges

     (755,784      (1,074,552      (165,882
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     16,863,678         57,421,812         8,864,401   

In the past, our one-time commissions from our wealth management business accounted for the majority of our net revenues. Starting in 2013, our recurring service fees constituted the majority of our net revenues, primarily due to an increase in assets under our management.

We also receive performance-based revenues from real estate funds and real estate funds of funds, private equity funds, secondary market equity funds of funds and other fixed income funds of funds previously distributed by us and funds for which we serve as the general partners. For more details about performance-based income, please refer to “Item 4. Information On The Company—B. Business Overview—Our Products and Services—Asset Management Products.”

 

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Operating Cost and Expenses

Our operating cost and expenses currently consist of compensation and benefits, selling expenses, general and administrative expenses and other operating expenses, offset by certain government subsidies that we recieve. The following table sets forth the components of our operating cost and expenses, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  
     RMB     %     RMB     %     RMB     US$     %  

Operating cost and expenses:

              

Compensation and benefits

     (448,737,377     44.6        (737,460,338     48.2        (1,164,492,379     (179,766,646     54.9   

Selling expenses

     (102,198,334     10.2        (147,265,810     9.6        (263,815,409     (40,726,081     12.4   

General and administrative expenses

     (110,020,644     10.9        (151,626,278     9.9        (170,929,513     (26,386,970     8.1   

Other operating expenses

     (5,445,385     0.5        (29,961,830     2.0        (94,624,304     (14,607,475     4.5   

Government subsidies

     32,644,120        (3.2     90,931,462        (5.9     132,709,712        20,486,849        (6.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating cost and expenses

     (633,757,620     63.0        (975,382,794     63.8        (1,561,151,893     (241,000,323     73.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits mainly include salaries and commissions for our relationship managers, share-based compensation expenses, bonus related to performance-based income, and salaries and bonuses for our middle-office and back-office employees. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, we incurred commission expenses to our relationship managers of RMB138.4 million, RMB213.7 million and RMB370.2 million (US$57.2 million), respectively, representing 13.8%, 14.0% and 17.5% of our net revenues in the same period, respectively. We anticipate that our compensation and benefits will continue to increase as we hire more relationship managers for our existing and new branch offices and distribute more wealth management products. In addition, there is an increase in commission rates to relationship managers driven by the change in product mix to more products with recurring service fees and longer durations, which is in line with the market trend.

Share-Based Compensation Expenses

Our operating cost and expenses include share-based compensation expenses due to grants of stock options to our employees and directors and the vesting of restricted shares. Share-based compensation was included in compensation and benefits for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The following table sets forth our share-based compensation expenses both in absolute amounts and as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     RMB      %      RMB      %      RMB      %  

Share options

     1,265,555         0.1         9,043,829         0.6         33,912,040         1.6   

Restricted shares

     30,983,610         3.1         23,647,858         1.5         33,760,448         1.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation

     32,249,165         3.2         32,691,687         2.1         67,672,488         3.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We adopted a share incentive plan in 2008 and another share incentive plan in 2010.

Selling Expenses

Our selling expenses primarily include expenses associated with the operations of branch offices, such as rental expenses, and expenses attributable to marketing activities.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses primarily include rental and related expenses of our leased office spaces and professional service fees.

Other Operating Expenses

Our other operating expenses mainly included costs incurred directly in relation to our revenues.

 

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Government Subsidies

Government subsidies are cash subsidies received in the PRC from local governments as incentives for investing in certain local districts. Such subsidies are used by us for general corporate purposes and are reflected as an offset to our operating cost and expenses.

Share Options

On June 28, 2011, we granted options to purchase a total of 348,100 ordinary shares to certain executive officers and employees at an exercise price of US$20.50 per share, 48,801 of which were later forfeited.

On July 7, 2011, we granted options to purchase a total of 42,100 ordinary shares to certain employees at an exercise price of US$20.50 per share.

All of above options have a four-year vesting schedule with 25% of each option vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable grant date and the remainder vesting ratably over the next 36 months.

On November 9, 2010, we granted options to purchase a total of 18,000 ordinary shares to our independent directors. These options have a two-year vesting schedule with 25% of the options vesting on November 9, 2010, 25% vesting on the first anniversary date and the remaining 50% vesting on the second anniversary date. On November 1, 2011, we granted options to purchase a total of 16,000 ordinary shares to our newly appointed independent directors. These options have a two-year vesting schedule with 25% of the options vesting on the vesting commencement date, 50% vesting on the first anniversary date and the remaining 25% vesting on the second anniversary date.

On December 13, 2013, we granted options to purchase a total of 20,000 ordinary shares to our newly appointed independent directors. The options have a two-year vesting schedule with 25% of the options vesting on the vesting commencement date, 25% vesting on the first anniversary date and the remaining 50% vesting on the second anniversary date.

On February 25, 2014, we granted options to purchase a total of 6,667 ordinary shares to our independent directors at an exercise price of US$31.10. Among them, the options to purchase 5,000 ordinary shares have a less than one-year vesting schedule with 25% of the options vesting on February 25, 2014, 25% of the options vesting on July 25, 2014, and the remaining 50% of the options vesting on February 25, 2015; and the options to purchase 1,667 ordinary shares have a four-month vesting schedule with 25% of the options vesting on February 25, 2014 and the remaining 75% vesting on June 25, 2014.

On April 15, 2014, we granted options to purchase a total of 398,500 ordinary shares to our newly appointed independent directors at an exercise price of US$27.82. The options have a four-year vesting schedule with 25% of each option vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable grant date and the remainder vesting ratably over the next 36 months.

On May 7, 2014, we granted options to purchase a total of 2,500 ordinary shares to one of our independent directors at an exercise price of US$26.86. The options have a 5-month vesting schedule with 25% of the options vesting on the vesting commencement date and the remaining vesting about 5 months after the vesting commencement date.

We modified the exercise price for certain outstanding options that have been granted but not exercised under the 2008 and 2010 share incentive plans as of January 16, 2012 in order to provide appropriate incentives to the relevant employees, officers and directors. The exercise prices of the eligible options were modified to be US$12.12 per ordinary share, or US$6.06 per ADS, which represents the average closing price of the our ADSs traded on the New York Stock Exchange during the preceding week, with other conditions remaining unchanged. We compared the fair value of the modified options against the original awards as of the modification date and concluded that there is US$1.0 million incremental compensation cost related to options not yet vested to be recognized over the remaining vesting period. The weighted average exercise price before and after the modification are US$19.81 and US$12.12 per ordinary share, respectively.

We converted the granted but unvested options as of May 21, 2012 into restricted shares. The conversion reduced the number of options and made the exercise prices to be zero, but other conditions remaining unchanged. We compared the fair value of the modified options against the original awards as of the modification date and concluded that there is US$2.0 million incremental compensation cost related to restricted shares not yet vested to be recognized over the remaining vesting period. The weighted average exercise price before and after the modification are US$9.52 and nil per ordinary share, respectively.

 

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On August 6, 2014, we granted 19,375 restricted shares to certain independent directors to replace options previously granted to them and modified the purchase price of the unvested restricted shares from an average of US$37.07 per share to zero, but other conditions remained unchanged. We compared the fair value of the modified options against the original awards as of the modification date and concluded that there remains a US$0.3 million incremental compensation cost related to restricted shares not yet vested to be recognized over the remaining vesting period.

On May 5, 2015, we granted options to purchase a total of 362,700 ordinary shares to our newly appointed independent directors at an exercise price of US$34.74, US$41.54, or US$58.70. The options have a four-year vesting schedule with 25% of each option vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable grant date and the remainder vesting ratably over the next 36 months.

We recorded RMB1.3 million, RMB9.0 million and RMB33.9 million (US$5.2 million) for share-based compensation expenses related to share options expenses in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. 153,015, 128,457 and 49,887 share options were exercised during 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there was RMB95.3 million unrecognized compensation expenses related to unvested share options granted under our share incentive plan, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.95 years.

Restricted Shares. On November 10, 2012, we issued 11,000 restricted shares under the 2010 share incentive plan to our independent directors. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a one-year vesting schedule with restrictions on 25% of the restricted shares removed on November 10, 2012, 25% removed on May 10, 2013 and the remaining 50% removed on November 10, 2013.

On February 4, 2013, we issued 422,000 restricted shares in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 share incentive plan to certain executive officers and employees. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a four-year vesting schedule with restrictions on 25% of the restricted shares removed on the first anniversary of the issue date and the remainder to be removed ratably over the next 36 months.

On April 16, 2013, we issued 34,134 restricted shares in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 share incentive plan to certain employees. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a four-year vesting schedule with restrictions on 25% of the restricted shares to be removed on the first anniversary of the issue date and the remainder to be removed ratably over the next 36 months.

On April 15, 2014, we issued 75,000 restricted shares in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 share incentive plan to certain employees. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a four-year vesting schedule with restrictions on 25% of the restricted shares to be removed on the first anniversary of the issue date and the remainder to be removed ratably over the next 36 months.

On August 6, 2014, we granted 19,375 restricted shares to certain independent directors to replace options previously granted and modify the purchase price of the unvested restricted shares from an average of $37.03 per share to zero, but other conditions remain unchanged. We compared the fair value of the modified awards against the original awards as of the modification date and concluded that there remains a US$0.3 million incremental compensation cost related to restricted shares not yet vested to be recognized over the remaining vesting period.

On December 19, 2014, we issued 8,000 restricted shares in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 share incentive plan to a newly appointed independent director. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a two-year vesting schedule, with 25% of the options vesting on the vesting commencement date, 25% vesting on the first anniversary date and the remaining 50% vesting on the second anniversary date.

On May 5, 2015, we issued 137,393 restricted shares in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 share incentive plan to certain employees. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a four-year vesting schedule, with restrictions on 25% of the restricted shares to be removed on the first anniversary of the issue date and the remainder to be removed ratably over the next 36 months.

On February 8, 2015, we issued 8,000 restricted shares and on May 1, 2015, we issued 8,000 restricted shares, in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 share incentive plan to two independent directors. The restrictions on these restricted shares have a two-year vesting schedule, with 25% of the options vesting on the vesting commencement date, 25% vesting on the first anniversary date and the remaining 50% vesting on the second anniversary date.

 

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As of December 31, 2015, there was RMB52.9 million in total unrecognized compensation expense related to such non-vested restricted shares, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.48 years.

Taxation

The Cayman Islands

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current law of the Cayman Islands, we are not subject to income or capital gains tax. In addition, payments of capital or dividends in respect of our shares are not subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and are not subject to withholding tax in the Cayman Islands. Gains derived from the disposal of our shares are not subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax. The Cayman Islands currently have no income, corporation or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.

Hong Kong

Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, our subsidiaries established in Hong Kong are subject to 16.5% income tax on their taxable income generated from operations in Hong Kong. Under the Hong Kong tax laws, it is exempted from the Hong Kong income tax on its foreign-derived income. In addition, payments of dividends from our Hong Kong subsidiaries to us are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax. No provision for Hong Kong tax has been made in our consolidated financial statements, as our Hong Kong subsidiaries have not generated any assessable income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

PRC

Our PRC subsidiaries and our PRC variable interest entity and their respective subsidiaries were established in the PRC and as such are subject to business tax (or value-added tax if it applies to us in the future), education surtax and urban maintenance and construction tax on the services provided in the PRC. Business tax and related surcharges are primarily levied based on revenues concurrent with a specific revenue- producing transaction at combined rates ranging from 5.4% to 5.5%. They can be presented either on a gross basis (included in revenues and costs) or on a net basis (excluded from revenues) at our accounting policy decision under U.S. GAAP. We have elected to report such business tax and related surcharges on a net basis as a reduction of revenues. Business tax and related surcharges of RMB58.6 million, RMB88.7 million and RMB112.8 million (US$17.4 million) are deducted from our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

On March 23, 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued the Circular on the Pilot Program for Overall Implementation of the Collection of Value Added Tax Instead of Business Tax, or Circular 36, which will take effect on May 1, 2016. Pursuant to Circular 36, all companies operating in construction industry, real estate industry, finance industry, modern service industry or other industries which were required to pay business tax are required to pay value-added tax, in lieu of business tax. According to Circular 36, the applicable value-added tax rate for our PRC subsidiaries, our PRC variable interest entity and its subsidiaries is 6%.

In addition, our PRC subsidiaries, our PRC variable interest entity and its subsidiaries are subject to PRC enterprise income tax on their taxable income in accordance with the relevant PRC income tax laws. On January 1, 2008, the EIT Law in China took effect. It applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises, except where a special preferential rate applies.

Under the EIT Law, dividends from our PRC subsidiaries out of earnings generated after the new law came into effect on January 1, 2008 are subject to a withholding tax. Distributions of earnings generated before January 1, 2008 are exempt from PRC withholding tax.

Under the EIT Law, enterprises that are established under the laws of foreign countries or regions and whose “de facto management bodies” are located within the PRC territory are considered PRC resident enterprises, and will be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on their worldwide income. Under the Implementation Rules of the EIT Law, “de facto management bodies” are defined as the bodies that have material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel and human resources, finances and treasury, and acquisition and disposition of properties and other assets of an enterprise. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.” In addition, if we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.

 

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For more information on PRC tax regulations, see “Item 4. Information on the Business—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Tax.”

Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities and the disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the end of each fiscal period and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each fiscal period. We continually evaluate these judgments and estimates based on our own historical experience, knowledge and assessment of current business and other conditions, our expectations regarding the future based on available information and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, which together form our basis for making judgments about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application.

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. We believe the following accounting policies involve the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

As foreign-invested companies engaged in insurance brokerage business are subject to stringent requirements compared with Chinese domestic enterprises under the current PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao, and its subsidiaries, as foreign-invested companies, do not meet all such requirements and therefore none of them is permitted to engage in the insurance brokerage business in China. Therefore, our founders decided to conduct the insurance brokerage business in China through Noah Investment, our variable interest entity, and its subsidiaries, which are PRC domestic companies beneficially owned by our founders. In addition, we currently conduct our insurance brokerage business, asset management business and certain other restricted services in China through Noah Investment and its subsidiaries.

Since we do not have any equity interests in Noah Investment, in order to exercise effective control over its operations, through Noah Rongyao, we entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Noah Investment and its shareholders, pursuant to which we are entitled to receive effectively all economic benefits generated from Noah Investment. The exclusive option agreement and power of attorney provide us effective control over Noah Investment and its subsidiaries, while the equity pledge agreements secure the equity owners’ obligations under the relevant agreements. Because we have both the power to direct the activities of Noah Investment that most significantly affect its economic performance and the right to receive substantially all of the benefits from Noah Investment, we are deemed the primary beneficiary of Noah Investment. Accordingly, we have consolidated the financial statements of Noah Investment since its inception. The aforementioned contractual agreements are effective agreements between a parent and a consolidated subsidiary, neither of which is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements (i.e., a call option on subsidiary shares under the exclusive option agreement or a guarantee of subsidiary performance under the share pledge Agreement) or are ultimately eliminated upon consolidation (i.e., service fees under the exclusive support service agreement or loans payable/receivable under the loan agreement).

We believe that our contractual arrangements with Noah Investment are in compliance with PRC law and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. The interests of the shareholders of Noah Investment may diverge from that of our company, which may potentially increase the risk that they would seek to act contrary to the contractual terms.

 

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We early adopted ASU 2015-02 as of December 31, 2015. In adopting the guidance, we re-evaluated the existing consolidated VIEs and assessed that the adoption neither changes the conclusion of the consolidated VIEs and nor requires new VIEs to be consolidated.

Investments in Affiliates

We serve as the general partner for our proprietary fund of funds and real estate funds. For all the funds we serve as general partner, we are required by the limited partnership agreements to also hold equity interest in those funds. From time to time, we may also invest in those funds to the extent the risk and return profile is deemed acceptable by our established investment policy. Our equity interest in each individual fund is normally less than 3%. Such investments are accounted for using equity method of accounting and reported in Investment in Affiliates on consolidated balance sheets.

Affiliated companies are entities over which we have significant influence, but do not have control. We generally consider an ownership interest of 20% or higher to represent significant influence. Investments in limited partnerships of more than 3% to 5% have generally been viewed as more than minor so that may imply significant influence. We also consider that we have significant influence over the funds that we serve as general partner or fund manager of, and our ownership interest in these funds as limited partner is generally lower than 3%. We do not consolidate the funds of which we serve as general partner or fund manager of, mainly because we are not the primary beneficiary of these funds, and substantive kick-out rights exist and are exercisable by non-related limited partners of these funds. We have early adopted ASU 2015-02 as of December 31, 2015 and concluded that none of the existing funds require consolidation under the new guidance. Investments in affiliates are accounted for by the equity method of accounting. Under this method, our share of the post-acquisition profits or losses of affiliated companies is recognized in the statements of operation and our shares of post-acquisition movements in other comprehensive income are recognized in other comprehensive income. Unrealized gains on transactions between us and affiliated companies are eliminated to the extent of our interest in the affiliated companies; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. When our share of losses in an affiliated company equals or exceeds its interest in the affiliated company, we do not recognize further losses, unless we have incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the affiliated company. An impairment loss is recorded when there has been a loss in value of the investment that is other than temporary. We have not recorded any impairment losses in any of the periods reported.

Under ASU 2015-02, the service fees the Company earns, including carried interest earned in the capacity of general partner or fund manager, are commensurate with the level of effort required to provide such services and are at arm’s length and therefore are not deemed as variable interests.

In evaluating whether the limited partnership investment funds which the Company managed as general partner are VIEs or not, the Company firstly assessed whether a simple majority or lower threshold of limited partnership interests, excluding interests held by the general partner, parties under common control of the general partner, or parties acting on behalf of the general partner, have substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. If such rights exist, the limited partnership is not deemed a VIE and no further analysis will be performed. If the limited partnership is assessed to be a VIE, the Company further assesses whether any interest it has constitutes a variable interest. Before 2015, all limited partnerships the Company managed as general partner had substantive kick-out rights exercisable by a simple majority of non-related limited partners and therefore were not deemed VIEs. Since 2015, some of the newly formed limited partnerships the Group manages as general partner do not have substantive kick-out rights exercisable by a simple majority of non-related limited partners and therefore constitute VIEs. As a result, such limited partnerships are deemed VIEs not consolidated by the Company due to the fact that the general partner interest to absorb losses or receive benefits is not potentially significant to the VIEs.

We started to manage the contractual funds which we manage as fund manager and earns management fee and/or carried interest from second half of 2014. The contractual funds are VIEs as the fund investors do not have substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. We sometimes invested in the contractual funds we manage for investment income. Such investments constitute variable interests to the contractual funds which are believed to be VIEs. We performed a qualitative analysis to determine if its interest could absorb losses or receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIEs and concluded we are not the primary beneficiary.

We account for these investments using the equity method of accounting due to the fact that the Company has significant influence on these investees. We recorded investments in affiliates of RMB222,231,778 and RMB326,155,843 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively and income from equity in affiliates of RMB7,290,800, RMB13,583,865 and RMB21,352,767 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

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Revenue Recognition

We derive revenue from marketing wealth management products and providing recurring services to our clients over the duration of the wealth management product, which is typically several years. Prior to a client’s purchase of a wealth management product, we provide the client with a wide spectrum of consultation services, including product selection, review, risk profile assessment and evaluation and recommendation for the client. Upon establishment of a wealth management product, we earn a one-time commission from product providers or underlying corporate borrowers calculated as a percentage of the value of the wealth management products purchased by our clients.

We recognize revenues when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, service has been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues are recorded, net of sales related taxes and surcharges.

One-time commissions. We enter into one-time commission agreements with product providers or underlying corporate borrowers, which specifies the key terms and conditions of the arrangement. Such agreements do not include rights of return, credits or discounts, rebates, price protection or other similar privileges. Upon establishment of a wealth management product, we earn a one-time commission from product providers or underlying corporate borrowers calculated as a percentage of the wealth management products purchased by our clients.

We define the “establishment of a wealth management product” for its revenue recognition purpose as the time when both of the following two criteria are met: (1) the client has entered into a purchase or subscription contract with the relevant product provider and, if required, the client has transferred a deposit to an escrow account designated by the product provider and (2) the product provider has issued a formal notice to confirm the establishment of a wealth management product.

Revenues are recorded upon the establishment of the wealth management product, when the provision of service concludes and the fee becomes fixed and determinable, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met, and there are no future obligations or contingencies. Certain contracts require that a portion of the payment be deferred until the end of the wealth management product’s life or other specified contingency. In such instances, we defer the contingent amount until the contingency has been resolved. A small portion of our one-time commission arrangements require the provision of certain after sales activities, which primarily relate to disseminating information to clients related to investment performance. We accrue the estimated cost of providing these services, which are inconsequential, when the one-time commission is earned as the services to be provided are substantially complete, we have historically completed the after sales services in a timely manner and can reliably estimate the remaining costs.

Recurring Service Fees. Recurring service fees from product providers depend on the type of wealth management product our client purchased and are calculated as either (1) a percentage of the total value of investments in the wealth management products purchased by our clients, calculated at the establishment date of the wealth management product or (2) as a percentage of the fair value of the total investment in the wealth management product, calculated daily. As we provide these services throughout the contract term for either method of calculation, revenues are recognized on a daily basis over the contract term, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Recurring service agreements do not include rights of return, credits or discounts, rebates, price protection or other similar privileges. Prepayments for recurring service fees are deferred and recognized as revenue on a daily basis over the contract term, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.

Multiple Element Arrangements. We enter into multiple element arrangements when a product provider or underlying corporate borrowers engages us to provide both wealth management marketing and recurring services. We also provide both wealth management marketing and recurring services to funds of private equity funds and real estate funds that we serve as general partner.

We allocate arrangement consideration in multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements at the inception of an arrangement to all deliverables based on the relative selling price in accordance with the selling price hierarchy, which includes: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE if available; (ii) third-party evidence, or TPE if VSOE is not available; and (iii) best estimate of selling price, or BESP if neither VSOE nor TPE is available.

VSOE. We determine VSOE based on our historical pricing and discounting practices for the specific service when sold separately. In determining VSOE, we require that a substantial majority of the selling prices for these services fall within a reasonably narrow pricing range.

TPE. When VSOE cannot be established for deliverables in multiple element arrangements, we apply judgment with respect to whether we can establish a selling price based on TPE. TPE is determined based on competitor prices for similar deliverables when sold separately. Generally, our products and services contain certain level of differentiation such that the comparable pricing of services with similar functionality cannot be obtained. Furthermore, we are unable to reliably determine what similar competitor services’ selling prices are on a stand-alone basis. As a result, we have not been able to establish selling price based on TPE.

 

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BESP. When it is unable to establish selling price using VSOE or TPE, we use BESP in our allocation of arrangement consideration. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which we would transact a sale if the service were sold on a stand-alone basis. We determine BESP for deliverables by considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, prices we charged for similar offerings, market conditions, specification of the services rendered and pricing practices. We have used BESP to allocate the selling price of wealth management marketing service and recurring services under these multiple element arrangements.

We have vendor specific objective evidence of fair value for our wealth management marketing services as we provide such services on a stand-alone basis. We have not sold our recurring services on a stand-alone basis. However, the fee to which we are entitled is consistently priced at a fixed percentage of the management fee obtained by the fund managers irrespective of the fee obtained for the wealth management marketing services. The recurring service fee we charge as general partner is consistent with the management fee obtained by the fund managers irrespective of the fee obtained for the wealth management marketing services. As such, we have established fair value as relative charges that are consistent with management fee in such arrangements and believe it represents our best estimate of the selling price at which we would transact if the recurring services were sold regularly on a stand-alone basis. We allocate arrangement consideration based on fair value, which is equivalent to the percentages charged for each of the respective units of accounting, as described above. Revenue for the respective units of accounting is also recognized in the same manner as described above.

We recognize revenues from our recurring services on a daily basis over the contract term, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.

Performance-based Income. In a typical arrangement in which we serve as fund manager, except for secondary market funds of funds, we are entitled to a performance-based fee based on the extent by which the fund’s investment performance exceeds a certain threshold at the end of the contract term. Such performance-based fee is typically calculated and distributed at the end of the contract term when the cumulative return of the fund can be determined, and is not subject to clawback provisions. We do not record any performance-based income until the end of the contract term.

Beginning in 2015, for certain secondary market fund products for which we provide recurring services, including both the funds for which we serve as distribution channel and the funds of funds for which we act as the fund manager, the performance-based income may also include a variable performance fee contingent upon the performance of the underlying investment in the measurement period, typically calculated at the end of the measurement period and settled subsequently. Such performance-based fee is not subject to clawback provisions and is recognized when the contingent criteria are met at the end of the measurement period.

Other Service Fees. We also derived revenues from small short-term loan, internet finance business, insurance brokerage business and other businesses, which were recorded as other service fees and represented 0.51%, 2.87%, 1.17% and 1.22% of our total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015.

We are engaged in insurance brokerage activities as part of our business. We conduct our insurance brokerage business in China principally through contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiary, Noah Rongyao and our PRC variable interest entity, Noah Investment, and Noah Investment’s shareholders. Noah Insurance, a subsidiary of Noah Investment, holds the licenses and permits necessary to conduct insurance brokerage activities in China.

From November 2013, we started offering small short-term loan services. Revenue is recognized when there are probable economic benefits to us and when the revenue can be measured reliably. Interest on loan receivables is accrued monthly in accordance with their contractual terms and recorded as accrued interest receivable. We do not charge prepayment penalties to customers.

In 2014, we started internet finance business to provide financial products and services to high net worth individuals and enterprise clients as well as white-collar professionals in China through our proprietary internet financial platforms. Revenues derived from internet finance business is recorded in other service fees.

The Company’s online payment entity provides information processing services by transferring payment information to licensed third-party online payment platforms and charges the customers fixed transaction fees based on the number of transactions it processes. The Company recognizes the transaction fees as revenue.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated. The information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. The operating results in any period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any further period.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$  

Revenues

        

Third-party revenues:

        

One-time commissions

     356,123,887        423,218,934        391,188,385        60,389,080   

Recurring service fees

     202,437,468        319,933,077        401,292,465        61,948,882   

Performance-based income

       24,632,724        193,939,030        29,939,027   

Other service fees

     31,049,933        29,979,126        128,290,261        19,804,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Third-party revenues

     589,611,288        797,763,861        1,114,710,141        172,081,593   

Related party revenues:

        

One-time commissions

     128,209,082        180,943,785        428,687,491        66,177,945   

Recurring service fees

     340,757,637        560,071,763        634,913,375        98,013,735   

Performance-based income

       76,342,053        53,825,293        8,309,193   

Other service fees

     6,042,345        2,036,800        559,806        86,419   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Related-party revenues

     475,009,064        819,394,401        1,117,985,965        172,587,292   

Total Revenues

     1,064,620,352        1,617,158,262        2,232,696,106        344,668,885   

Less: business taxes and related surcharges

     (58,643,752     (88,673,371        (112,768,265     (17,408,420
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Revenues

     1,005,976,600        1,528,484,891        2,119,927,841        327,260,465   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating cost and expenses:

        

Compensation and benefits

     (448,737,377     (737,460,338     (1,164,492,379     (179,766,646

Selling expenses

     (102,198,334     (147,265,810     (263,815,409     (40,726,081

General and administrative expenses

     (110,020,644     (151,626,278     (170,929,513     (26,386,970

Other operating expenses

     (5,445,385     (29,961,830     (94,624,304     (14,607,475

Government subsidies

     32,644,120        90,931,462        132,709,712        20,486,849   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating cost and expenses

     (633,757,620     (975,382,794     (1,561,151,893     (241,000,323
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations:

     372,218,980        553,102,097        558,775,948        86,260,142   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expenses):

        

Interest income

     20,272,408        38,901,980        39,698,790        6,128,437   

Interest expenses

     —          —          (16,050,359     (2,477,748

Investment income

     24,141,820        23,552,297        51,954,918        8,020,456   

Other income (expense), net

     1,907,106        (13,961,307     455,030        70,245   

Total other income

     46,321,334        48,492,970        76,058,379        11,741,390   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before taxes and income from equity in affiliates

     418,540,314        601,595,067        634,834,327        98,001,532   

Income tax expense

     (100,081,866     (151,293,021     (129,885,747     (20,050,903

Income from equity in affiliates, net of taxes

     7,290,800        13,583,865        21,352,767        3,296,299   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     325,749,248        463,885,911        526,301,347        81,246,928   

Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests

     9,821,510        17,333,060        (9,522,737     (1,470,057
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Noah Holdings Limited shareholders

     315,927,738        446,552,851        535,824,084        82,716,985   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014

Net Revenues. Our net revenues increased by 38.7% from RMB1528.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB2,119.9 million (US$327.3 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was attributable to increases in one-time commission revenues, recurring service fees and performance-based income.

 

    For the wealth management business, our net revenues from one-time commissions increased by 35.5% from RMB570.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB772.3 million (US$119.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to the aggregate value of the wealth management products distributed by the Company. Our net revenues from recurring service fees increased by 12.9% from RMB553.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB624.6 million (US$96.4 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly due to the cumulative effect of finance products with recurring service fees previously distributed by the Company, which was partially offset by the impact of lower recurring service fee rates due to a change in product mix. Our net revenues from performance-based income for the full year 2015 were RMB134.3 million (US$20.7 million), a 1,269.6% increase from 2014, primarily consisting of performance-based income received for the positive performance of the secondary equity market fund products distributed by the Company. Our net revenues from other service fees for the full year 2015 were RMB66.2 million (US$10.2 million), representing a 426.6% increase from 2014.

 

    For the asset management business, our net revenues from one-time commissions were RMB4.6 million (US$0.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to nil for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our net revenues from recurring service fees increased by 28.6% from RMB279.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB359.0 million (US$55.4 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly due to the increase in assets under management by the Company, which was partially offset by the impact of lower management fee rates due to a change in composition of asset types under management. Our net revenues from performance-based income for the full year 2015 were RMB100.9 million (US$15.6 million), a 17.3% increase from the full year 2014, primarily consisting of performance-based income received for the positive performance of secondary equity market funds of funds managed by the Company.

 

    For the internet finance business, our net revenues were RMB57.4 million (US$8.9 million), a 241.1% increase from RMB16.8 million for the full year 2014, primarily because this is a fast growing business segment for the Company.

Operating cost and expenses. Operating cost and expenses increased by 60.1% from RMB975.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB1,561.2 million (US$241.0 million) in the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in compensation expenses was partially driven by a change in product mix to more products with recurring service fees and longer durations.

For the wealth management business, our operating cost and expenses increased by 61.5% from RMB700.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB1,131.5 million (US$174.7 million) in the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

    Compensation and benefits includes compensation for relationship managers and back-office employees. Compensation and benefits for the full year 2015 were RMB855.9 million (US$132.1 million), a 60.2% increase from 2014. In 2015, relationship manager compensation increased by 58.8% from 2014, reflecting an increase in the aggregate value of financial products distributed and an increase in commission rates to relationship managers driven by the change in product mix to more products with recurring service fees and longer durations. Other compensation for the full year 2015 increased by 62.2% from 2014, primarily due to increases in both the number of back-office employees and share-based compensation.

 

    Selling expenses increased by 62.1% from RMB135.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB219.3 million (US$33.9 million) in the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in marketing initiatives and rental fees.

 

    General and administrative expenses for the full year 2015 were RMB78.9 million (US$12.2 million), a 5.6% increase from 2014.

 

    Other operating expenses, which include other costs incurred directly in relation to the Company’s revenues, for the full year 2015 were RMB53.4 million (US$8.2 million), an increase of 125.8% from 2014. The increase was primarily due to the growth of other businesses within the wealth management segment.

 

    Government subsidies increased from RMB67.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB76.0 million (US$11.7 million) in the year ended December 31, 2015.

For the asset management business, our operating cost and expenses increased by 11.4% from RMB195.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB217.4 million (US$33.6 million) in the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

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    Compensation and benefits include compensation of managers of institutional client relationships, fund managers and back-office employees. Compensation and benefits for the full year 2015 were RMB183.5 million (US$28.3 million), a 24.6% increase from the full year 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of back-office employees.

 

    Selling expenses for the full year 2015 were RMB17.3 million (US$2.7 million), a 77.1% increase from 2014, primarily due to an increase in client services.

 

    General and administrative expenses for the full year 2015 were RMB53.6 million (US$8.3 million), a 10.9% decrease from 2014, primarily due to decreased legal fees.

 

    Government subsidies represent cash subsidies received from local governments for general corporate purposes. The Company received RMB56.3 million (US$8.7 million) in government subsidies in the full year 2015, a 138.6% increase from 2014.

For the internet finance business, our operating costs and expenses for the full year 2015 were RMB212.3 million (US$32.8 million), an increase of 166.9% from 2014, and represent the Company’s expenses in human resources, marketing and internet infrastructure, as well as expenses incurred in promoting the Company’s internet finance business. Operating costs and expenses primarily consisted of compensation and benefits of RMB125.1 million (US$19.3 million), selling expenses of RMB27.3 million (US$4.2 million), general and administrative expenses of RMB38.5 million (US$5.9 million) and other operating expenses of RMB21.8 million (US$3.4 million).

Interest Income. Interest income increased from RMB38.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB39.7 million (US$6.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Interest Expenses. Interest expenses were RMB16.1 million (US$2.5 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to nil for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to the issuance of our convertible note in 2015.

Investment Income. Investment income was RMB52.0 million (US$8.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to RMB23.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to an increase in financial investments.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased by 14.1% from RMB151.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB129.9 million (US$20.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to lower effective tax rate.

Net Income Attributable to Noah Holdings Limited Shareholders. Net income attributable to Noah Holdings Limited increased by 20.0% from RMB446.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to RMB535.8 million (US$82.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013

Net Revenues. Our net revenues increased by 51.3% from RMB1,006.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB1,528.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase was attributable to increases in both one-time commission revenues and recurring service fees for the year ended December 31, 2014.

For the wealth management business, our net revenues from one-time commissions increased by 25.2% from RMB453.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB570.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to an increase in transaction value and average commission rate. Our net revenues from recurring service fees increased by 44.0% from RMB382.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB553.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly due to the cumulative effect of private equity funds previously distributed by us.

For the asset management business, our net revenues from one-time commissions were nil for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to RMB3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our net revenues from recurring service fees increased significantly from RMB130.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB279.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly due to the increase in assets under management by us since the second half of 2012. Our net revenues from performance-based income were RMB86.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. We received and recognized performance-based income for the first time in 2014.

 

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For the internet finance business, our net revenues were RMB16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to nil for the year ended December 31, 2013. We began offering a range of internet finance products and services in 2014.

Operating cost and expenses. Operating cost and expenses increased by 53.3% from RMB633.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB975.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, as a result of the expansion of our business.

For the wealth management business, our operating cost and expenses increased by 27.3% from RMB548.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB700.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

    Compensation and benefits increased 34.5% from RMB395.9 million in 2013 to RMB534.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, which is in line with the increase in revenues from the wealth management business. Our compensation and benefits in 2014 consist of relationship managers of RMB319.6 million and compensation of back-office employees of RMB214.8 million.

 

    Selling expenses increased by 45.2% from RMB92.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB135.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to increased expenses in general marketing activities, rental expenses and client related service fees.

 

    General and administrative expenses decreased by 13.7% from RMB85.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB74.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, resulting from decreases in consulting fees related to the wealth management business.

 

    Other operating expenses increased significantly from RMB5.2 million in 2013 to RMB23.6 million in 2014, representing an increase of RMB18.4 million year-over-year. The significant increase was mainly due to the expansion of our other businesses, including insurance and education, as well as the increase in bank charges in connection with the increased transaction volume through our mutual fund distribution channel.

 

    Government subsidies increased significantly from RMB30.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB67.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, due to the subsidies received from certain local governments in the PRC in relation to the increased amount of investments we made and the taxable income such investments generated in certain local districts.

For the asset management business, our operating cost and expenses increased by 127.4% from RMB85.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB195.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

    Compensation and benefits increased significantly from RMB52.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB147.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly driven by the increased volume of funds under management.

 

    Selling expenses increased by 2.7% from RMB9.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB9.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

    General and administrative expenses increased significantly from RMB24.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB60.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly driven by increased expenses incurred to build back-office departments, consultant expenses incurred in relation to our corporate strategy of segmentation and costs associated with the newly rented office building for our asset management business.

 

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For the internet finance business, our operating cost and expenses were RMB79.5 million, which mainly include compensation and benefits of RMB55.8 million, selling expenses of RMB2.2 million, general and administrative expenses of RMB16.9 million and other operating expenses of RMB4.6 million. We did not record operating cost and expenses in the year ended December 31, 2013 as we only began offering significant internet finance products and services in the second quarter of 2014.

Interest Income. Interest income increased significantly from RMB20.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB38.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents with higher interest yields.

Investment Income. Investment income was RMB23.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to RMB24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased by 50.8% from RMB100.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB151.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in taxable income in 2014.

Net Income Attributable to Noah Holdings Limited Shareholders. Net income attributable to Noah Holdings Limited increased by 40.8% from RMB315.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to RMB446.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Inflation

Since our inception, inflation in 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 January 2014, 2015 and 2016 were increases of 2.5%, 0.8% 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 China. For example, certain operating cost and expenses, such as personnel expenses, real estate leasing expenses, travel expenses 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, 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 China.

Foreign Currency

The exchange rate between U.S. dollar and RMB has increased from RMB6.2046 per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2014 to RMB6.4778 per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2015. We have not hedged exposures to exchange fluctuations using any hedging instruments. See also “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors – Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material 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.”

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued, ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. The guidance substantially converges final standards on revenue recognition between the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board providing a framework on addressing revenue recognition issues and, upon its effective date, replaces almost all exiting revenue recognition guidance, including industry specific guidance, in current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:

Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.

Step 3: Determine the transaction price.

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.

 

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Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

For a public entity, 2014-09 is originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim