Item 1.
|
Security and Issuer.
|
This Schedule 13D relates to the ordinary shares, par value US$0.01 per share (the
Ordinary Shares
), including Ordinary
Shares represented by American depositary shares (the
ADSs
), each representing three Ordinary Shares, of The9 Limited (the
Issuer
), an exempted company incorporated with limited liability and existing under the
laws of the Cayman Islands. The ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (
Nasdaq
) under the symbol NCTY. The principal executive office of the Issuer is located at Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road, Zhang Jiang
Hi-Tech
Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, Peoples Republic of China.
Item 2.
|
Identity and Background.
|
(a)(c), (f) This Schedule 13D is being filed by Jie Qin (
Mr.
Qin
or
Reporting Person
).
Mr. Qin is a consultant of the Issuer. He has more than 20 years of experience in internet and
game industries and has provided consulting services with respect to the internet and game industries to the Issuer since 2005. Mr. Qin is a citizen of Peoples Republic of China. The principal business address of Mr. Qin is c/o 21/F,
Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road, Zhangjiang
Hi-Tech
Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, Peoples Republic of China.
(d), (e) During the past five years, the Reporting Person has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding
traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), has not been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and was not or is not, as a result of such proceeding, subject to a judgment, decree or final
order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Item 3.
|
Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
|
On September 4, 2018, as approved and authorized by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Issuer and pursuant to
the Seventh Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan, the Issuer issued 9,000,000 Ordinary Shares in the form of restricted shares to Mr. Qin. Such restricted shares are subject to a
six-month
lock-up
period and restrictions that will be removed in installments once certain
pre-agreed
financial performance target of the Issuer and service period conditions of the
grantees are met. Simultaneous with the new grants, options to purchase 3,000,000 Ordinary Shares previously held by Mr. Qin were cancelled
Item 4.
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Purpose of Transaction.
|
Item 3 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The beneficial ownership that is the subject of this Schedule 13D was acquired for investment purposes. The Reporting Person intends to review
his investments in the Issuer on a continuing basis and, depending on various factors the Reporting Person may deem relevant to his investment decision, including, without limitation, the Issuers financial position and strategic direction, the
price levels of the Issuers Ordinary Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Person may decide to acquire additional securities, sell some or all of this securities, or to
continue to hold his existing position in the securities for investment.
3