UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. 2)*
Zhihu Inc. |
(Name of Issuer) |
|
|
Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.000125 per share |
(Title of Class of Securities) |
|
|
98955N108** |
(CUSIP Number) |
|
|
Tencent Holdings Limited
29/F., Three Pacific Place
No. 1 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 3148 5100 |
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications) |
|
|
November 8, 2024 |
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) |
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G
to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 1(f) or 1(g),
check the following box. ☐
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original
and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing
information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
** This CUSIP number applies to the American Depositary Shares, evidenced
by American Depositary Receipts, with each two American Depositary Shares representing one of the Class A Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.000125
per share.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Exchange Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Exchange
Act (however, see the Notes).
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons
Tencent Holdings Limited |
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) ☐
(b) ☐ |
3. |
SEC Use Only
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See Instructions)
WC |
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(D) or 2(E)
☐
|
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization
Cayman Islands |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7. |
Sole Voting Power
38,066,599 (1) |
8. |
Shared Voting Power
0 |
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power
38,066,599 (1) |
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power
0 |
11. |
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
38,066,599 |
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
☐ |
13. |
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
15.4% (2) |
14. |
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO |
(1) Represents (i) 10,617,666
Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer held by Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited; and (ii) 27,448,933 Class A ordinary shares of the
Issuer held by Huang River Investment Limited. Each of Huang River Investment Limited and Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited is a subsidiary
of Tencent Holdings Limited.
(2) The percentage is calculated
based on 246,413,570 Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer issued and outstanding as of November 8, 2024, as disclosed in the current
report on Form 6-K furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Issuer on November
8, 2024. The foregoing 246,413,570 Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer exclude the Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer issued to the
depositary of the Issuer for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under
the Issuer’s stock incentive plans.
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons
Huang River Investment Limited |
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) ☐
(b) ☐ |
3. |
SEC Use Only
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See Instructions)
AF |
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(D) or 2(E)
☐ |
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization
British Virgin Islands |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7. |
Sole Voting Power
27,448,933 |
8. |
Shared Voting Power
0 |
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power
27,448,933 |
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power
0 |
11. |
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
27,448,933 |
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
☐ |
13. |
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
11.1% (4) |
14. |
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO |
(4) The percentage is calculated
based on 246,413,570 Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer issued and outstanding as of November 8, 2024, as disclosed in the current
report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC by the Issuer on November 8, 2024. The foregoing 246,413,570 Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer
exclude the Class A ordinary shares of the Issuer issued to the depositary of the Issuer for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future
issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under the Issuer’s stock incentive plans.
Introduction
This Amendment No. 2 to Statement on Schedule 13D
(this “Amendment No. 2”) amends and supplements the Statement on Schedule 13D originally filed with the SEC on September
30, 2021, as amended an amendment thereto dated February 1, 2024 (as amended, the “Statement”), and is being filed
by Tencent Holdings Limited (“Tencent”), a Cayman Islands company, and Huang River Investment Limited (“Huang
River”), a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tencent, in respect of the Class A ordinary shares,
par value US$0.000125 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), of Zhihu Inc., a company incorporated under the laws
of the Cayman Islands (the “Issuer”). Tencent and Huang River are collectively referred to as the “Reporting
Persons.” This Amendment No. 2 is being filed to reflect a change in the beneficial ownership percentage of the Reporting Persons
due solely to a change in the number of Class A Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, following the completion of an all cash tender
offers (the “Offers”) to buy back up to 46,921,448 Class A Ordinary Shares (including in the form of ADSs), as described
in detail below. Unless otherwise stated herein, the Statement remains in full force and effect. All capitalized terms used in this Amendment
No. 2 but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Statement.
Item 1. Security and Issuer
No change.
Item 2. Identity and Background
(a) – (c), (f): (a) – (c), (f) of Item
2 is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
This Statement is being jointly filed by:
| (i) | Tencent, a Cayman Islands company; and |
| (ii) | Huang River, a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tencent. |
Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k) promulgated under the
Exchange Act, the Reporting Persons have entered into a joint filing agreement attached hereto as an exhibit, with respect to the joint
filing of this Statement and any amendment or amendments hereto.
The address of principal offices of each of the
Reporting Persons is Level 29, Three Pacific Place, No. 1 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Tencent is an integrated Internet services company
providing services including value-added services, online advertising and FinTech and business services. It has been listed on the main
board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since June 16, 2004 (SEHK 700). Huang River is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tencent and is principally
engaged in the business of holding securities in portfolio companies in which Tencent invests.
Attached hereto as Appendix A, and incorporated
herein by reference, is information concerning each of the executive officers and directors of each of the Reporting Persons (collectively,
the “Related Persons”), which is required to be disclosed in response to Item 2 and General Instruction C to Schedule
13D.
(d) – (e) None of the Reporting Persons nor
any of Related Persons has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar
misdemeanors) or been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of
such proceeding was or is 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
The following paragraphs are hereby added to the
end of Item 3:
On October 30, 2024, the Issuer announced the results
of the Offers. The Offers expired at 4:00 a.m., New York City time, or 4:00 p.m., Hong Kong time, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 (the
“Latest Acceptance Time”). The Issuer has been advised by Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, LLC, the tender agent,
and Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, the registrar, that 33,016,016 Class A Ordinary Shares (including 19,877,118 Class
A Ordinary Shares in the form of 6,625,706 ADSs) were validly tendered and not properly withdrawn as of the Latest Acceptance Time, and
the Issuer has accepted all these Class A Ordinary Shares (including in the form of ADSs) to be bought back and cancelled by it on completion
of the Offers.
On November 8, 2024, the Issuer announced the completion
of the Offers, following which there are 246,413,570 issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (excluding the Class A Ordinary Shares
issued to the depositary of the Issuer for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards
granted under the Issuer’s stock incentive plans).
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
The following is hereby added to the end of Item
4:
The information provided in Items 3 is hereby incorporated
by reference herein.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer
(a) – (b) of Item 5 are hereby amended and
restated in its entirety as follows:
Items 7 through 11 and Item 13 of each of the cover
page of this Statement for the Reporting Persons are incorporated herein by reference.
As of the date hereof, Huang River may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner and deemed to have the sole power to vote or to direct the vote, and sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition, of 27,448,933 Class A Ordinary Shares held of record by it, representing 11.1% of the total issued and outstanding Class
A Ordinary Shares. Tencent may be deemed to beneficially own, and deemed to have the sole power to vote or to direct the vote, and the
sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition, of an aggregate of 38,066,599 Class A Ordinary Shares held of record by Image Frame
and Huang River, both of which are subsidiaries of Tencent, representing 15.4% of the total issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares.
The beneficial ownership percentages above are
calculated based on 246,413,570 Class A Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of November 8, 2024, as disclosed in the current report
on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC by the Issuer on November 8, 2024. The foregoing 246,413,570 Class A Ordinary Shares exclude the Class
A Ordinary Shares issued to the depositary of the Issuer for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or
vesting of awards granted under the Issuer’s stock incentive plans.
(c) To the knowledge of the Reporting Persons,
none of the Related Persons has effected any transactions in the Class A Ordinary Shares during the past 60 days.
(d) Except as disclosed in this Statement, no person
is known to the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from
the sale of, any securities covered by this Statement.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships
with Respect to Securities of the Issuer
No change.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits
Exhibit No. 1 is hereby replaced in its entirety
as follows:
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my
knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: November 12, 2024
|
TENCENT HOLDINGS LIMITED |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Huateng MA |
|
|
Name: |
Huateng MA |
|
|
Title: |
Director |
|
HUANG RIVER INVESTMENT LIMITED |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Huateng MA |
|
|
Name: |
Huateng MA |
|
|
Title: |
Director |
APPENDIX A
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF TENCENT
HOLDINGS LIMITED
The names of the directors and the names and titles
of the executive officers of Tencent Holdings Limited and their principal occupations are set forth below. The business address of each
of the directors or executive officers is Level 29, Three Pacific Place, No. 1 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to Tencent Holdings Limited.
Name |
Present Principal Employment |
Citizenship |
Directors: |
|
|
Ma Huateng |
Chairman of the Board and Executive Director |
People’s Republic of China |
Jacobus Petrus (Koos) Bekker |
Non-Executive Director |
Republic of South Africa |
Charles St Leger Searle |
Non-Executive Director |
Republic of South Africa |
Li Dong Sheng |
Independent Non-Executive Director |
People’s Republic of China |
Ian Charles Stone |
Independent Non-Executive Director |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Yang Siu Shun |
Independent Non-Executive Director |
People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong SAR) |
Ke Yang |
Independent Non-Executive Director |
People’s Republic of China |
Zhang Xiulan |
Independent Non-Executive Director |
People’s Republic of China |
Executive officers: |
|
|
Ma Huateng |
Chief Executive Officer |
People’s Republic of China |
Lau Chi Ping Martin |
President |
People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong SAR) |
Xu Chenye |
Chief Information Officer |
People’s Republic of China |
Ren Yuxin |
Chief Operating Officer and President of Platform & Content Group and Interactive Entertainment Group |
People’s Republic of China |
James Gordon Mitchell |
Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Executive Vice President |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
John Shek Hon Lo |
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President |
People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong SAR) |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF HUANG RIVER
INVESTMENT LIMITED
The names of the directors and the names and titles
of the executive officers of Huang River Investment Limited and their principal occupations are set forth below. The business address
of each of the directors or executive officers is c/o Tencent Holdings Limited, 29/F Three Pacific Place, No. 1 Queen’s Road East,
Wanchai, Hong Kong. Unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to Huang River Investment
Limited.
Name |
Present Principal Employment |
Citizenship |
Directors: |
|
|
Ma Huateng
|
Director
|
People’s Republic of China
|
Charles St Leger Searle |
Director |
Republic of South Africa |
Executive officers: |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Exhibit 1
Joint Filing Agreement
In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of the undersigned parties hereby agree to file jointly the statement on Schedule 13D (including
any amendments thereto) with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.000125 per share, of Zhihu Inc., a company organized
under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
It is understood and agreed that each of the parties
hereto is responsible for the timely filing of such statement on Schedule 13D and any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and
accuracy of the information concerning such party contained therein, but such party is not responsible for the completeness and accuracy
of information concerning another party making the filing unless such party knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
It is understood and agreed that a copy of this agreement shall be attached as an exhibit to the statement on Schedule 13D, and any amendments
thereto, filed on behalf of the parties hereto.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature page follows]
Date: November 12, 2024
|
TENCENT HOLDINGS LIMITED |
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By: |
/s/ Ma Huateng |
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Name: |
Ma Huateng |
|
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Title: |
Director |
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|
|
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|
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Huang River Investment Limited |
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|
|
By: |
/s/ Ma Huateng |
|
|
Name: |
Ma Huateng |
|
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Title: |
Director |
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