SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________

FORM 20-F

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

_______________________

OR

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

Commission file number: 000-51025

OR

OR

Date of event requiring this shell company report ___________________________.

For the transition period from __________________ to ____________________.

Commission file number ________________________________________________.

Ninetowns Digital World Trade Holdings Limited

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

5th Floor, Union Plaza

20 Chaowai Street, Chaoyang District

Beijing 100020, The People’s Republic of China

telephone: (86 10) 6588-7788

facsimile: (86 10) 6588-2290

e-mail: ir@ninetowns.com

(Address of principal executive offices)

_______________________

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

American Depositary Shares,

each representing one ordinary share, par value HK$0.025 per share

_______________________

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the Issuer’s class of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by this Annual Report: 34,991,834 ordinary shares, par value HK$0.025 per share.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes  |_|   No |X|

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes |_|   No |X|

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes |X|   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 financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

Item 17 |_|   Item 18 |X|

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|

Table of contents

Page

i

Introduction

This annual report on Form 20-F includes our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and as of December 31, 2004 and 2005. References to “2003,” “2004,” “2005” and “2006” are, where appropriate, references to the years ended or ending December 31, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.

References to “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Facts and statistics in this annual report relating to the enterprise software and related services market, the PRC import/export industry and economic data are derived from various government and research publications.

Forward-looking statements

This annual report contains forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” or “will,” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among other things, those listed under “Risk factors” as well as those included elsewhere in this annual report.

These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to:

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed in Item 3 of this annual report, “Key Information – Risk factors.” We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions the forward-looking events discussed in this annual report might not occur and our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

ii

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The following table shows selected consolidated financial information and other data for our business. You should read the following information in conjunction with Item 5 of this annual report, “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” The statement of operations data and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2004 and 2005, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, which are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1. These audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.

The statement of operations data for 2001 and 2002, and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2001 and 2002, are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements which have not been included in this annual report.

Exchange rate information

Our business is primarily conducted in China and denominated in Renminbi. This annual report contains translations of Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at a specific rate solely for the convenience of the reader. The conversion of Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this annual report is based on the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this annual report were made at a rate of RMB8.0702 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect as of December 31, 2005. We make no representation that any Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate, the rates stated below, or at all. The PRC government imposes controls over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of Renminbi into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade.

The following table sets forth information concerning exchange rates between Renminbi and U.S. dollars for the periods indicated. 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. The source of these rates is the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Risks related to our business

We currently generate substantially all of our total net revenues from either PRC government agencies or in connection with PRC government agency filings, and our failure to maintain a continued working relationship with certain PRC government agencies and, in particular, the PRC Inspections Administration, would result in the reduction or loss of substantially all of our total net revenues.

Sales of our enterprise software and software development services that are either used by the State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine of the PRC, or PRC Inspections Administration, or by Beijing iTowNet Cyber Technology Ltd., or iTowNet, the operator of the PRC Inspections Administration’s data exchange platforms and electronic processing systems, have accounted for substantially all of our total net revenues. We expect that, in the future, we will continue to generate a substantial portion of our total net revenues through sales of enterprise software and software development services that will be used in connection with PRC Inspections Administration filings. Net revenues from sales of enterprise software for PRC Inspections Administration filings accounted for 85.6%, 93.6% and 84.8% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Net revenues from software development services provided to the PRC Inspections Administration and iTowNet accounted for 13.9%, 5.7% and 11.7% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our working relationship with the PRC Inspections Administration or other PRC government agencies in connection with new enterprise software or in relation to the continued use of our existing enterprise software. If the PRC Inspections Administration ceases to cooperate with us in researching and developing new enterprise software; ceases to use the electronic infrastructure that we helped develop and build; reduces its spending on, or commitment to, or ceases or slows down the implementation of, the digitization of its processes for data collection and administration; encourages our competitors or alternate means of data collection; or requires us to lower the prices of our products and services; then our market position, revenues and profitability would be

materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, such a change in our relationship with the PRC Inspections Administration could result in the loss of what we perceive to be our first mover advantage in developing software products compatible with the systems implemented by the PRC Inspections Administration. The loss of such an advantage would result in slower growth and/or reduced sales, which would require us to increase our research and development and sales and marketing expenditures.

Our revenues would be adversely affected if the PRC Inspections Administration, or any other government agency to which our products relate, develops, endorses or adopts an alternative to our enterprise software.

Our business would be adversely affected if the PRC Inspections Administration, its affiliated company iTowNet or any other government agency or affiliate to which our products relate decides to develop its software and platform internally, endorses software provided by others or permits filings to be made online without independently produced software. In such case, we would not only face enhanced competition, but our software products and services relating to the PRC Inspections Administration, iTowNet or any such government agency or affiliate could become obsolete, which would result in the reduction or loss of substantially all of our revenues.

In August 2005, the PRC Inspections Administration selected our company as the winning bidder in connection with the PRC Inspections Administration's request for proposals for the development of a software product that has certain basic functionalities similar to those of iDeclare.CIQ and iProcess.CIQ. The PRC Inspections Administration agreed to pay a one-time fee of RMB3.3 million (US$409,000) to purchase the ownership of the software product that we developed. In February 2006, the PRC Inspections Administration commenced the distribution of the software products that our company developed, free-of-charge to end-users. As certain basic functionalities of the newly developed software products are similar to those of iDeclare.CIQ and iProcess.CIQ, the provision of such software products free-of-charge by the PRC Inspections Administration will likely have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the short-term and on our future profitability. For example, we sold, together with our franchisees, approximately 1,500 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ during the first quarter of 2006, which is significantly lower than the approximately 8,000 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ sold by our company and our distributors and franchisees during the first quarter of 2005.

We are in the process of diversifying our business focus to include other businesses in addition to the sales of our enterprise software and the provision of software development services. Our new potential business ventures and limited operating history in such potential business ventures may make it difficult for you to evaluate our business, and our limited resources may affect our ability to manage the growth we expect to achieve.

We generated substantially all of our total net revenues from the sales of our enterprise software and the provision of software development services in 2005. Currently, we are in the process of expanding our business focus from the development of software products and the provision of software development services to other potential business ventures. We anticipate that a material portion of our net revenue in the future will be derived from businesses that are not directly related to sales of our enterprise software or the provision of software development services.

We are still in the process of evaluating and market-testing potential business ventures. Accordingly, we have no operating history in respect to such potential business ventures upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects in such area. Furthermore, as part of our operation expansion, we need to continue to develop and improve our staff training, financial and management controls and our reporting systems and procedures. We cannot assure you that we will be able to efficiently or effectively manage or grow our operations, and any failure to do so may limit our future growth and materially adversely our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our significant shareholders, related parties and management personnel have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may result in their taking corporate actions which you may not believe to be in your best interests or in the best interests of our company.

As of May 31, 2006, Shuang Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and a director of our company, or Mr. Wang, and Min Dong, our Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs, Administration and Human Resources and the spouse of Mr. Wang, or Ms. Dong, beneficially own 17.7% of our ordinary shares. Mr. Wang and Ms. Dong will have substantial influence over the management and policies of our company and the outcome of most corporate actions. In addition, Mr. Yong Ping Duan, or Mr. Duan, and Mr. Gerry Ka Cheung Wai, or Mr. Wai, beneficially owns 12.06% and 7.07% of our ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, respectively. Mr. Duan and Mr. Wai will have substantial influence over the outcome of most corporate actions. As a result, Mr. Wang, Ms. Dong, Mr. Duan and Mr. Wai have the power to take corporate actions which other shareholders may not believe are in their best interests or in the best interests of our company. There can be no assurance that Mr. Wang, Ms. Dong, Mr. Duan and Mr. Wai will not cause our company to take such corporate actions.

Mr. Wang and Ms. Dong beneficially own 100.0% of Ninetowns Import & Export e-Commerce Co., Ltd., or Import & Export, which in turn owns a 49.0% equity interest in iTowNet. iTowNet is 51.0% owned by the PRC Inspections Administration and is the ultimate user of substantially all the software development services we provide and operates the data exchange platforms that interface between international trade enterprises using our enterprise software and the PRC Inspections Administration’s internal electronic processing systems. iTowNet receives a fee of RMB5 from the end-users for each submission made over its data exchange platforms. Mr. Wang is a non-executive director and the vice-chairman of the board of directors of iTowNet. Due to their ownership interest in iTowNet and Mr. Wang’s position as a director of iTowNet, the interests of Mr. Wang and Ms. Dong may also differ from those of our other shareholders.

Mr. Xiaoguang Ren, who is our President, or Mr. Ren, is also a non-executive director of iTowNet. Mr. Bolin Wu, who is our General Manager, Research and Development and Chief Technology Officer, or Mr. Wu, is the sole supervisor of iTowNet. As the supervisor of iTowNet, Mr. Wu is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of iTowNet, the actions of its board of directors and senior management and their compliance with relevant laws and iTowNet’s charter documents.

We derived RMB515,000, RMB22.9 million and RMB17.3 million (US$2.1 million), or 0.4%, 11.4% and 7.2% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, from iTowNet, which is our related party and a major customer for our software development services.

In addition, we derived RMB18.5 million and RMB24.2 million (US$3.0 million), or 13.9% and 10.1%, of our total net revenues in 2003 and 2005, respectively, from eGrid Technology Ltd., or eGrid (formerly known as Beijing Regard Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing Regard), which is our related party and another major customer for our software development services. We did not derive any of our total net revenues in 2004 from eGrid. We derived RMB1.4 million, RMB25.2 million and RMB47.5 million (US$5.9 million), or 1.0%, 13.4% and 19.8% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, from Shenzhen Ninetowns Enke Software Technology Co., Ltd., or Ninetowns Enke, which is also one of our franchisees.

We cannot assure you that our transactions with iTowNet, eGrid and Ninetowns Enke would have occurred on their current terms, or at all, had these relationships not existed; nor can there be any assurance as to the effect these relationships will have on our future business dealings with iTowNet, eGrid and Ninetowns Enke. See Item 7 of this annual report, “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related party transactions.”

Since a significant part of the growth of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005 was generated from software development services, a decline in demand for those services or a change in our relationship with the primary purchasers of those services may result in a significant reduction in our total net revenues and our net revenues from the provision of software development services.

We have provided software development services to iTowNet since April 2002. In addition, we provide software development services either directly, or indirectly as a sub-contractor for eGrid, to iTowNet. See Item 7 of this annual report, “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related party transactions — eGrid Technology Ltd.”. Net revenues from the provision of software development services, either directly to iTowNet or indirectly to iTowNet through eGrid, accounted for approximately 13.9%, 4.8% and 11.7% of our total net revenues, and 97.1%, 75.4% and 78.7% of our net revenues from the provision of software development services, in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. We intend to continue to offer these services to iTowNet and eGrid, but if we are unable to obtain additional software development contracts from iTowNet or from eGrid, we may cease to provide software development services or experience a significant reduction in our total net revenues and our net revenues from the provision of software development services.

A significant portion of our total net revenues are generated by our three largest customers, and the loss of all or part of our net revenues from any of these customers would result in a decline in our total net revenues and a significant increase in our sales and marketing expenditures.

As of May 31, 2006, we have franchise agreements with our three franchisees who, as a result of their purchases of enterprise software for distribution to end-users, are also three of our largest customers. Our distribution agreements with Guangzhou Panyu Chengchang Trade Development Co., Ltd., or Panyu, Shanghai Xianghua Shipping Consulting Company, or Xianghua, and Shanghai Tomorrow Technology Development Co., Ltd., or Tomorrow Technology, were not renewed upon expiration due to our plans to develop our franchisee network. We currently do not have any distributor. Our net revenues from sales of our enterprise software to Beijing Ninetowns Zhi Fang Software Technology Co., Ltd., or Ninetowns Zhi Fang, a new franchisee, were RMB3.3 million (US$409,000), which represented 1.4% of our total net revenues for 2005. Our net revenues from sales of our enterprise software from our existing franchisee, Ninetowns Enke, were RMB1.4 million, RMB25.2 million and RMB47.5 million (US$5.9 million) or 1.0%, 13.4% and 19.8% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. In the aggregate, our net revenues from sales of our enterprise software and related services from Panyu, Xianghua and Tomorrow Technology, who were our former distributors, were RMB71.4 million (US$8.9 million), which represented 29.8% of our total net revenues for 2005. To our knowledge, eGrid, Ninetowns Zhi Fang and Ninetowns Enke are not PRC government agencies.

eGrid and iTowNet, which are parties related to our company, have been our two largest customers for software development services. Our net revenues from the provision of software development and other services to eGrid were RMB18.5 million and RMB24.0 million (US$3.0 million) or 13.9% and 10.0% of our total net revenues in 2003 and 2005, respectively. We did not recognize any net revenues from the provision of software development and other services to eGrid in 2004. Our net revenues from the provision of software development services to iTowNet were nil, RMB9.6 million and RMB4.1 million (US$502,000), or nil, 4.8% and 1.7% of our total net revenues, in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. To our knowledge, iTowNet and eGrid are not PRC government agencies, but iTowNet is 51.0% owned by the PRC Inspections Administration.

In the event one or more of our customers discussed above discontinues their businesses or their dealings with us, and we are unable to find an adequate replacement for such customer in a timely

manner, we would suffer a decline in total net revenues and in turn would need to significantly increase our sales and marketing expenditures.

Our trade receivables, which include trade receivables from related parties, are significant and if customers fail to pay amounts owed, our profitability and financial position could decline.

As of December 31, 2005, our trade receivables amounted to approximately RMB47.2 million (US$5.9 million), of which our trade receivables from related parties amounted to RMB29.8 million (US$3.7 million). Our trade receivables as of December 31, 2005 represented approximately 4.6% of our total current assets and our trade receivables from related parties represented approximately 2.9% of our total current assets. As of December 31, 2005, we had an allowance for doubtful debts of approximately RMB5.3 million (US$657,000). If any of our former distributors, our franchisees or any of our other customers fails to pay, or delays payment on, all or part of these trade receivables, we would be required to make additional allowances for doubtful debts and our profitability and financial position could decline.

Our existing major shareholders have substantial control over us and could delay or prevent a change in corporate control, which could in turn reduce the market price of your ADSs.

Our executive officers, directors and shareholders with 5.0% or more shareholding of our company and their affiliates beneficially own approximately 42.75% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Such concentration of ownership might have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company which could in turn reduce the market price of our ADSs and the voting and other rights of our other shareholders.

Our failure to market our customer maintenance services to our existing users could impair our planned revenue growth.

We offer one year of customer maintenance services with our iDeclare.CIQ basic package, and charge a fee of RMB1,500 per licensee for customer maintenance services each year thereafter. However, until September 2003, we did not emphasize the marketing of customer maintenance services because we were focused on building our relationships with our users and we believed that not all of our users and potential users were accustomed to being charged for this type of service. In 2005, we offered customer maintenance service contracts to approximately 44,600 users, so that approximately 47.0% of the total number of users due for a maintenance contract renewal in 2005 paid for the renewal. In 2005, we recognized approximately RMB33.2 million (US$4.1 million) from provision of customer maintenance services.

Our success in marketing customer maintenance services to our users depends in part on whether users require software updates. Software updates can implement modifications to forms, programs and information systems necessary to address changes imposed by the PRC Inspections Administration. Therefore, the desirability and usefulness of our customer maintenance services is dependent in part on changes occurring in government policies. To date, we have not terminated, but rather continue to routinely provide, customer maintenance services to users who have not paid the customer maintenance service fees. If we fail to market our customer maintenance services to, or to collect customer maintenance service fees from, our users in the future, our planned revenue growth could be impaired.

We currently depend on our iDeclare.CIQ product for a substantial majority of our total net revenues and our failure to develop or license additional enterprise software or a decline in demand for iDeclare.CIQ could materially reduce our total net revenues.

Sales of iDeclare.CIQ accounted for approximately 85.2%, 87.1% and 79.3% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Any decrease in the demand for or price of iDeclare.CIQ, any increase in competition to iDeclare.CIQ, including but not limited to as a result of the PRC Inspections Administration's and iTowNet's endorsement of a comparable product, any failure by our company to develop additional enterprise software, any significant shift in our marketing efforts, any lasting or prolonged interruption that prevents our enterprise software from delivering data to government entities due to system failures or other factors, or any other adverse development specific to iDeclare.CIQ, could materially reduce our total net revenues. In February 2006, the PRC Inspections Administration commenced to promote and distribute a software product, which has certain basic functionalities similar to our iDeclare.CIQ, free-of charge to end-users. As a result of competition from such free software, our sales of iDeclare.CIQ have declined and will likely continue to decline. For example, we sold, together with our franchisees, approximately 1,500 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ during the first quarter of 2006, which is significantly lower than the approximately 8,000 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ sold by our company and our distributors and franchisees during the first quarter of 2005. In the event such decline continues, we expect to experience a significant decline in our total net revenues.

Competition could reduce our profit margins and revenues.

Companies that have expertise in marketing and providing government-related software products and services may begin to compete with us. There are companies that provide software products and services similar to ours in many other countries. In addition, there are companies in China that provide such products and services to PRC government agencies other than the PRC Inspections Administration. In particular, there are regional software providers in China implementing systems for provincial branches of government agencies such as the Customs General Administration of the PRC, or PRC Customs. Furthermore, we are aware of one other software provider in China, Fujian Ronji Software Development Co., Ltd., or Ronji, that provides enterprise software for PRC Inspections Administration-related filings. We are also aware of several software developers that provide software development services to our customers, in particular to iTowNet. See Item 4 of this annual report, “Information on the Company — Business overview — Competition.” There can be no assurance that other companies will not allocate resources to pursue opportunities relating to the needs of international trade enterprises making government filings in China.

Our potential competitors may have greater marketing, programming, research and development, capital and other resources than we do. These resources could enable our potential competitors to take aggressive action to gain market share. Additionally, we may face competition from the free software distributed by the PRC Inspections Administration and from companies with established reputations and political relationships with PRC government agencies. If we do not compete effectively or if we experience any pricing pressure from our potential competitors, we may experience loss of market share and reduced profit margins and revenues.

Future acquisitions and investments could divert our management’s attention, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and expose us to potential risks.

Selective acquisitions and investments in new businesses form part of our strategy to further expand our business. If we are presented with appropriate opportunities, we may acquire additional complementary companies, products or technologies, or invest in new businesses. Future acquisitions and investments and the subsequent integration of new companies, assets or business ventures would require significant time and attention from our management. The diversion of our management’s attention to integrate such acquisitions or investments and any difficulties encountered in any integration process could have a material adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and expose us to potential risks, including

risks associated with the integration of new operations, technologies and personnel, unforeseen or hidden liabilities, the diversion of resources from our existing businesses and technologies, the inability to generate sufficient revenues to offset the costs and expenses of acquisitions and investments, and potential loss of, or harm to, our relationships with employees, customers and suppliers.

Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our executive officers, and our business may be severely disrupted if we lose their services.

Our success depends substantially on the expertise and experience of our executive officers, who have extensive skills in and knowledge about the international trade industry and the software industry in China. They also have established relationships with our major customers, our suppliers, government regulators and our shareholders. We do not maintain key-man life insurance for any of our executive officers. The loss of services of any or all of our executive officers in the absence of suitable replacements could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future profitability.

In addition, if any of our executive officers joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose customers, suppliers, research and development expertise and employees and our relationship with the PRC Inspections Administration could be materially and adversely affected. Although all of our executive officers have entered into service agreements with us which contain confidentiality and non-competition provisions, it may be difficult to enforce such provisions in China in light of uncertainties relating to China’s legal system. See “— Risks related to doing business in China — The uncertain legal environment in China could limit the legal protections available to you and could adversely affect our ability to provide our products and services in China.”

Our inability to attract and retain experienced personnel may adversely affect our ability to create enterprise software for international trade enterprises or provide software development services to PRC government agencies.

Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain, train and motivate highly skilled employees, including experienced software engineers, technical personnel and sales and marketing personnel, all of whom are in great demand in China. In particular, we depend on software engineers who have expertise and experience in creating enterprise software for international trade enterprises as well as providing software development services to PRC government agencies. We may not be able to attract or retain the key personnel that we will need to achieve our business objectives. In addition, as we are still a relatively young company and our business has grown rapidly since our establishment, at times our ability to train and integrate new employees into our operations may not meet the growing demands of our business. As the PRC economy continues to develop, demand for personnel with the skills we require to create and distribute our enterprise software will increase, which could raise our costs or make it impracticable for us to hire skilled or experienced personnel. Certain of our senior software engineers, technical officers or staff members are not bound by non-competition agreements and those who are not bound could decide to resign or work for our competitors at any time without any contractual restriction. The departure of any of these personnel could have a material adverse effect on our ability to create enterprise software for international trade enterprises or provide software development services to PRC government agencies.

If we grant employee share options and other share-based compensation in the future, our net income could be materially and adversely affected.

We adopted the 2003 Plan and the Amended and Restated 2004 Plan, or the Plans, in November 2003 and December 2005, respectively. As of December 31, 2005, we had granted options under the Plans with the right to purchase a total of 3,464,000 ordinary shares, of which 57,023 unexercised options had been returned to the pool of our ungranted options as a result of resignation from employment by a few former employees.

Until December 31, 2005 we accounted for options granted to our directors and employees in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” or APB 25, and its related interpretations, which require us to recognize compensation expenses for share options we grant where the exercise price is less than the deemed fair value of our ordinary shares on the date of the grant. However, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, has issued Statement No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payments,” or SFAS 123(R), which requires all companies to recognize, as an expense, the fair value of share options and other share-based compensation to employees at the beginning of the first annual or interim period after June 15, 2005. As a result, beginning on January 1, 2006, we account for compensation costs for all share options including share options granted to our directors and employees using a fair-value based method and recognize expenses in our consolidated statement of operations in accordance with the relevant rules under U.S. GAAP, which may have a material and adverse effect on our reported earnings. Moreover, the additional expenses associated with share-based compensation may reduce the attractiveness of such incentive plan to us. However, if we reduce the scope of the Plans, we may not be able to attract and retain key personnel, as share options are an important employee recruitment and retention tool. If we grant employee share options or other share-based compensation in the future, our net income could be adversely affected.

Without PRC government action, we may not be able to introduce or enhance our enterprise software products, which may restrict our ability to expand our business and revenues.

Our ability to offer enterprise software to international trade enterprises depends on the ability of various PRC government agencies to accept electronic filings from users of our enterprise software. This includes some PRC government agencies permitting electronic filings for the first time and other PRC government agencies which already permit some electronic filings allowing additional types of filings to be made.

Factors such as a government agency’s budget, timing, decision-making process, ability to implement our enterprise software, willingness of local offices to implement our enterprise software and other factors beyond our control could constrain our ability to expand our business or increase our revenues.

Our failure to adequately manage our growth and expansion could result in a deterioration in our results of operations and financial condition.

Our historical growth has placed, and such growth and any further growth is likely to continue to place, a significant strain on our managerial, operational, financial and other resources. Our future success will depend, in part, upon the ability of our senior management to manage our growth effectively. Such effective management will require us to implement additional management information systems, to develop further our operating, administrative, financial and accounting systems and controls and to maintain close coordination among our software design, software coding, accounting, finance, marketing, sales and operations organizations. Any failure to implement or improve systems or controls to manage our growth and expansion effectively could result in a deterioration in our results of operations and financial condition.

We often commence work on software development projects based on verbal agreements and if our customers do not pay us for these services our working capital requirements and expenses may increase without a corresponding increase in net revenues, which would adversely affect our profitability.

As we believe is consistent with the practice of other software development companies in China engaged in government-related work, we often commence software development projects based on oral commitments from our customers. We may accrue substantial trade receivables in connection with such projects, because we seldom receive pre-payment or progress payments during the project. As a result, we may need to substantially increase our expenses without assurance that we will be paid for our software development services. Furthermore, we may not recognize any revenue from software development projects in any given period because we recognize revenue from such services only when a contract has been signed. For example, we did not recognize any revenue from software development projects during the first and second quarters of 2003. If our customers do not pay us, or delay paying us, for our software development services, our working capital requirements and expenses may increase without a corresponding increase in net revenues, which would adversely affect our profitability.

It may be difficult for us to maintain our market position and brand recognition in a rapidly developing market or in the face of competition, which could severely hamper our ability to operate profitably.

We believe that market position and brand recognition are critical to attracting potential customers in the PRC market. In particular, we believe that our sales through indirect channels such as our three franchisees rely significantly on our reputation and brand recognition. However, there is no assurance that we can retain our reputation or capitalize on our current leading market share, reputation or brand recognition as our market develops and attracts new competitors. Our failure to promote and enhance our brand name could result in reduced sales or slower growth, each of which may require us to increase spending on marketing or to increase fees to our franchisees, which could reduce our profitability.

Programming errors or flaws in our enterprise software or other product defects could decrease market acceptance of our software, which would reduce our revenues and profitability.

Software as complex as our enterprise software frequently contains undetected defects that may be identified at any point in the software’s life. There can be no assurance that, despite repeated testing, defects will not occur in existing or new software. Such defects could result in loss of or delay in receiving revenues, loss of market share, failure to achieve market acceptance, diversion of development resources, injury to our reputation or increased service and warranty costs. Any of the above consequences could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, our software development services typically involve working with sophisticated software, computing and networking systems. Our failure or inability to meet customer expectations or project milestones in a timely manner could also result in loss of revenues or delay in revenue recognition, loss of market share, failure to achieve market acceptance, injury to reputation and increased costs. Because our customers rely on our products and services for critical trade transactions, any significant defects or errors in our products or services might discourage our customers or potential customers from utilizing our products and services or result in tort or warranty claims. We do not maintain any insurance against product liability or legal claims. Any imposition of liability on us may adversely affect our business and increase our costs, resulting in reduced revenues and profitability.

We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights and others may claim that we have infringed on their intellectual property rights, which could cause us to be less competitive, may expose us to litigation and may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We rely on a combination of copyrights, trademarks and other methods to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology. In addition, there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent intellectual property. We cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent misappropriations of our technology. From time to time, we may have to resort to litigation or other measures to try to enforce our intellectual property rights, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources. We may be unable to enforce our intellectual property rights even through litigation or other measures, particularly in China. See “— Risks related to doing business in China — The uncertain legal environment in China could limit the legal protections available to you and could adversely affect our ability to provide our products and services in China.” In particular, we are aware of an online video game company in China whose name is substantially similar to our name in Chinese. Although we have registered our trademarks in China, we cannot assure you that such company will not take actions against us for trademark infringement. We are in the process of registering our trademark outside of China.

There can be no assurance that infringement or other claims will not be asserted or prosecuted against us in the future or that any past or future assertions or prosecutions will not materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel or require us to develop non-infringing technology or enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, our revenues may decrease and our expenses to obtain or develop non-infringing technology or to license the infringed or similar technology may increase. In addition, our failure or inability to develop non-infringing technology or license the infringed or similar technology on a timely basis may cause our business, results of operations and financial condition

to be negatively affected. See Item 4 of this annual report, “Information on the Company — Business overview —Intellectual property rights.”

We sold some of our enterprise software before they were registered for sale with the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC, which could expose us to penalties.

We sold our iDeclare.CIQ basic package before it was registered for sale with the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC, a registration which is required of all PRC software products. We obtained the registration certificate for iDeclare.CIQ in September 2001, 14 months after sales commenced in July 2000 and recorded net revenues from sales of enterprise software of approximately RMB12.6 million in the period prior to issuance of the registration certificate. Our PRC counsel has advised us that the PRC regulations requiring the registration of software prior to its public sale do not set out any specific penalties for the sales of unregistered software products, except that PRC regulators may issue warnings and public censures. Although we were not aware of any warning or public censure related to our pre-registration sales issued by any government entity as of the date of this annual report, our business may be adversely affected if penalties are subsequently imposed by the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC.

Any reduction of our preferential tax treatment as a PRC high technology enterprise could materially reduce our net income.

All of our principal PRC operating subsidiaries enjoy or entitled to enjoy preferential tax treatment in the form of reduced tax rates or tax holidays provided by the PRC government or its local agencies or bureaus. Beijing New Take Electronic Commerce Limited, or Beijing New Take; Beijing Ninetowns Times Electronic Commerce Limited, or Ninetowns Times; Ninetowns Digital Technology Limited, or Beijing Digital currently benefit from a 15.0% preferential enterprise income tax, or EIT, rate. Beijing Ninetowns Ports Software and Technology Co., Ltd., or Ninetowns Ports, currently benefit from a 7.5% preferential EIT rate. Shanghai New Take Digital Technology Co., Ltd., or Shanghai New Take, currently benefit from a 16.5% preferential EIT rate. Beijing Ninetowns Network and Software Co., Ltd., or Ninetowns Network, and Guangdong Ninetowns Technology Co., Ltd., or Guangdong Ninetowns Technology, are currently entitled to exempt from EIT. As a result of these preferential tax treatments and the fact that a substantial portion of our income before tax is generated by our subsidiaries that are exempt from EIT, our effective income tax rate for 2005 was 0.4%. In addition, we also receive from the PRC government a 14.0% value added tax, or VAT, refund on sales of certain registered software. We cannot assure you that we will continue to enjoy this preferential tax treatment in the future, either due to a change in the PRC government’s tax policies or because a subsidiary fails to satisfy the financial and operational criteria necessary to maintain its eligibility for such preferential tax treatment. Any reduction in our preferential tax treatment could materially reduce our net income.

We may be considered a passive foreign investment company, which could lead to additional taxes for U.S. holders of ADSs.

Special U.S. federal income tax rules apply to U.S. holders of shares of a non-U.S. corporation that is classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The determination of our PFIC status principally depends upon the composition of our assets, including goodwill, and the amount and nature of our income, from time to time. The amount of goodwill will depend in part on the market value of our ADSs or ordinary shares, which may be especially volatile in a technology-related enterprise. We have limited control over these variables. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for any taxable year.

We do not believe that we were a PFIC for 2005. Although in the past we have operated our business and in the future we intend to operate our business so as to minimize the risk of being classified as a PFIC, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for 2006 and/or any later years, as PFIC

status is re-tested each year and depends on the facts in the relevant year. In particular, fluctuation in the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares may result in us becoming a PFIC in future years.

Our determination of whether we are a PFIC is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service. If we are treated as a PFIC during any year of a U.S. holder’s holding period with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares, the U.S. holder will generally be required to treat certain excess distributions and any gain on the sale or other disposition of our ADSs as ordinary income and in some cases an interest charge will also apply, unless the U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election. For a more detailed description of the tax consequences of the ownership of our ADSs, please see Item 10 of this annual report, “Additional Information — Taxation — United States federal income taxation.”

Risks related to our industry

Our industry is subject to rapid changes in technology and our failure to develop and introduce new enterprise software could reduce our market competitiveness and ability to generate revenues.

Our industry is characterized by rapid technological changes and evolving customer, industry and government standards. Our future success will depend, to a large extent, on our ability to keep pace with technological advances in a timely and cost-effective manner by improving our existing enterprise software or developing new enterprise software that addresses changing customer requirements. Our development of new enterprise software or the enhancement of our existing enterprise software will entail substantial investments in research and development, which we expect to fund with our cash flow from operations and our available cash. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that our research and development efforts will result in the successful introduction of new enterprise software or the enhancement of our existing enterprise software, nor that any of such new or enhanced enterprise software will be accepted by the market. The emerging nature of our market and its rapid evolution will require us to continually improve the performance, features and reliability of our enterprise software particularly in response to changing market standards, and require us to introduce enterprise software or make enhancements to existing enterprise software as quickly as possible and prior to our competitors. The success of our new enterprise software is dependent on several factors, including differentiation of our enterprise software from products of our competitors and market acceptance. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing and marketing new enterprise software that responds to competitive and technological developments and changing customer needs.

Our failure to develop and introduce new enterprise software successfully on a timely basis or to achieve market acceptance could reduce our market competitiveness and ability to generate net revenues. In addition, the widespread adoption of new Internet, networking or telecommunication technologies or standards or other technological changes could require substantial expenditures by us to modify or adapt our products and services. To the extent that a method other than submission by Internet is adopted to enable trusted and secure communications with the PRC Inspections Administration and other trade-related PRC government agencies, sales of our existing and planned enterprise software products will be adversely affected and our enterprise software could be rendered unmarketable or obsolete. Such consequences would have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Government policies, standards, rules and regulations may force us to implement changes to our existing enterprise software or change how we provide products and services to our customers, which could increase our expenses and decrease our profitability.

The software industry is a new and rapidly evolving industry in China and the regulatory environment has been and continues to be subject to uncertainty. Although the PRC government adopted policies to encourage the development of the PRC electronic government, or e-government, industry through the “Three Digitizations Project,” there can be no assurance that policies and the government’s standards, rules and regulations relating to the e-government software industry, such as the Regulations for the Protection of Computer Software, will not be implemented, interpreted or revised in a manner that may force us to implement changes to our existing enterprise software or change how we provide products and services to our customers, which could increase our expenses and decrease our profitability. See Item 4 of this annual report, “Information on the Company — Business overview — Regulation” for a discussion of the laws and regulations that apply to our company. We cannot accurately predict the circumstances that would cause the PRC government to implement, interpret or revise its policies in such a manner. Nevertheless, the PRC government could adopt measures to more closely regulate the use of the Internet or the software industry in China in order to enhance the government’s control over the Internet or over the content of software being distributed in China.

For example, we may be subject to potential liability for selling software that is subsequently deemed to be illegal by the relevant PRC regulatory authorities for having non-approved technology. These potential liabilities may include fines, product confiscation and criminal sanctions. We cannot assure you that our business, financial condition and results of operations will not be negatively affected by the application of these regulations.

Furthermore, China and the United States may afford different patent protection to software programs. For example, there are jurisdictional variations in the enforcement of patent rights in China because most patent infringement disputes are resolved by courts at the municipal or provincial level or by local administrative authorities for patent affairs, which may be subject to varying local economic and political influences in rendering their decisions. By contrast, all patent disputes in the United States are reviewable by a single federal circuit court, which generally provides greater uniformity to the adjudication of patent disputes. We cannot predict whether the PRC authorities would centralize the enforcement or adjudication of patent rights in the future or how such centralized enforcement or adjudication would affect our rights. If the PRC authorities further de-centralize the regulation of the software industry, or centralize its enforcement or adjudication policy in a way that is detrimental to our company, we may be forced to implement changes to our existing enterprise software or change how we provide products and services to our customers, which could increase our expenses and decrease our profitability.

Risks related to doing business in China

Adverse economic, political, social or legal developments or a decrease in domestic demand in China could result in a reduction in international trade activities involving China, which could in turn reduce the demand for our products and services.

All of our total net revenues have been, and are for the foreseeable future expected to be, derived from the PRC market and substantially all of our operating assets are located in China. Accordingly, our operating results and financial condition are largely subject to economic, political, social and legal developments in China as well as changes in the demand for our enterprise software and software development services by international trade enterprises and PRC government agencies in China. There can be no assurance that such developments will not adversely affect our performance and profitability.

We cannot predict the future direction of the economic reform measures that have been adopted by the PRC government or the effects these measures may have on our business, results of operations or financial position. Many laws and regulations governing economic matters implemented by the PRC government are at an early stage of development and their interpretation and enforcement involve more uncertainties than in most countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. In addition, the PRC economy differs from the economies of most countries belonging to the OECD. These differences include:

As a result of these differences, our business may not develop in the same way or at the same rate as might be expected if the PRC economy were similar to those of other OECD member countries.

In addition, there can be no assurance that any growth in the PRC economy will be steady or that any slowdown will not have a negative effect on our business; that deflation will not reoccur in the PRC economy in the foreseeable future; or that the level of international trade to and from China will not cease to grow at historical rates or even decrease, which could negatively impact demand for our enterprise software. Finally, our results of operations and financial condition could be negatively affected by adverse changes in government monetary policies, import/export polices and regulations, tax regulations or policies and regulations affecting the software industry. In recent years, the PRC government implemented a number of measures, such as raising bank reserves against deposit rates, to place additional limitations on the ability of commercial banks to make loans, in order to slow growth in certain segments of the PRC economy it believed to be overheating. These actions, as well as future actions and policies of the PRC government, could result in a reduction in international trade activities involving China, which could in turn reduce the demand for our products and services.

The uncertain legal environment in China could limit the legal protections available to you and could adversely affect our ability to provide our products and services in China.

We conduct our business entirely through our operating subsidiaries incorporated in China. Our subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China and, in particular, laws applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which decided legal cases have little precedential value. In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters. However, these laws, regulations and legal requirements are relatively new and are evolving rapidly, and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to foreign investors and entities, including you and us, such as the right of foreign-invested enterprises to hold licenses and permits such as customs-related business licenses and permits, software licenses and

licenses and approvals necessary to provide services to government enterprises. As the PRC legal system matures, changes in its legislation or interpretation of its legislation may adversely affect our ability to provide our products and services in China.

Landlords for some of our leased properties may not possess valid title to their properties and we could be forced to vacate such properties should their title be challenged.

PRC law requires that lessors of properties possess title certificates to the leased properties. We currently have approximately nine leases for properties that we use as employee housing or as our offices for technical support centers in Guangdong Province for which the lessors cannot provide copies of the required title certificates. If there are disputes over the ownership of any of these leased properties, our leases may be deemed invalid by the PRC courts and we may be forced to vacate these properties.

The recurrence of SARS or avian influenza may result in a reduction in business activity in and related to Asia, which could have an adverse effect on our total net revenues, growth and profits.

In early 2003, several economies in Asia, including Hong Kong and China, were affected by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. Several confirmed or suspected SARS cases were reported in early 2004 in Beijing and Anhui Province in China. In addition, new lethal outbreaks of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection among poultry were reported by several countries in Asia, including China in 2005. If there is a recurrence of an outbreak of SARS or avian influenza, it may adversely affect our total net revenues, growth and profits. For instance, a recurrence of SARS, avian influenza or any other epidemic may reduce the level of economic activity in affected areas and negatively impact international trade activities involving China, which could have a negative impact on our business. In addition, health or other government regulations may require temporary closure of our offices, government offices or the offices of our customers, which will severely disrupt our business operations and have a material adverse effect on our total net revenues, growth and profits.

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use our revenues to, among other things, pay dividends and make distributions.

Because almost all of our future revenues will be in the form of Renminbi, any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use revenues generated in Renminbi to fund future business activities outside China or to make dividend or other payments in U.S. dollars. There are significant restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi, including the restriction that foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies after providing valid commercial documents at banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business. In addition, conversion of Renminbi for capital account items, including direct investment and loans, is subject to approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC, or SAFE, and companies are required to open and maintain separate foreign exchange accounts for capital account items. We cannot be certain that the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose more stringent restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi, especially with respect to foreign exchange transactions.

The value of our ordinary shares and our ADSs, and the value of your investment in our company, may decrease due to changes in the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and Renminbi.

The value of our ordinary shares and our ADSs will be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and Renminbi. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operational needs and if the Renminbi appreciates against the U.S. dollar at that time, our financial condition and the price of our ordinary shares and our ADSs may be adversely affected. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of declaring dividends on our ordinary shares or for other business purposes and the U.S. dollar appreciates against the Renminbi, the U.S.

dollar equivalent of our earnings from our subsidiaries in China would be reduced. The value of your investment in our ADSs may fluctuate with the foreign exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Renminbi, because the value of our business is largely denominated in Renminbi, while our ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.

Recent PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may increase our administrative burden and restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activity. If our shareholders who are PRC residents fail to make any required applications and filings under such regulations, we may be unable to distribute profits and may become subject to liability under PRC law.

In October 2005, the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, issued the Notice on Issues Relating to the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund – raising and Return Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or Notice 75, which took effect on November 1, 2005. Notice 75 supersedes prior SAFE regulations promulgated in January and April of 2005. Notice 75 requires PRC residents to register with the relevant local SAFE branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas equity financing involving onshore assets or equity interests held by them. The term “PRC residents” as used in Notice 75 includes PRC citizens as wells as other persons who habitually reside in the PRC for economic benefit. Such PRC residents are required to complete amended registrations with the relevant SAFE branch upon (i) injection of equity interests or assets of an onshore enterprise into the offshore entity, (ii) subsequent overseas equity financing by such offshore entity, or (iii) any material change in the shareholding or capital of the offshore entity, such as changes in share capital, share transfers and long-term equity or debt investments, and providing security. PRC residents who have already incorporated or gained control of offshore entities that made onshore investments in the PRC before Notice 75 was promulgated was required to register with the relevant local SAFE branch on or before March 31, 2006. In addition, such PRC residents are required to repatriate into China all of their dividend profits or capital gains from their shareholdings in the offshore entity within 180 days of their receipt of such profits or gains.

The registration and amendment procedures set forth by Notice 75 are prerequisites for other approval and registration procedures necessary for capital inflow from the offshore entity, such as inbound investment or shareholders loans, or capital outflow to the offshore entity, such as the payment of profits or dividends, liquidating distributions, equity sale proceeds or the return of funds upon a capital reduction.

A number of terms and provision in Notice 75 remain unclear. Because of uncertainty over how Notice 75 will be interpreted and implemented, we cannot predict how it will affect our business operations or future strategies. For example, our present and prospective PRC subsidiaries' ability to conduct foreign exchange activities, such as remitting dividends and foreign-currency denominated borrowings, may be subject to compliance with Notice 75 requirements by our PRC resident shareholders. Despite our efforts to fully comply with the SAFE regulations, we cannot assure you that we will obtain, or receive waivers from, any necessary approvals or not be found in violation of the SAFE regulations or any other related foreign exchange regulations. In particular, we cannot assure you that we will be able to cause all our present or prospective PRC resident shareholders to comply with all SAFE regulations. A failure by our PRC resident shareholders to comply with Notice 75 or our inability to secure required approvals or registrations may subject us to fines or legal sanctions, limit our subsidiaries' ability to make distributions or pay dividends, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities or affect our ownership structure, any of which could affect our business and prospects.

Risks related to our ADSs and ordinary shares

Your ability to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings.

We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not offer you those rights unless the distribution to ADS

holders of both the rights and any related securities are either registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or 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 cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. Moreover, we may not be able to establish an 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 future sales by our directors, officers and our current shareholders of a substantial number of our ordinary shares could result in the supply of our ADSs in the public market exceeding demand, which in turn could lower the market price of our ADSs.

If our shareholders sell substantial amounts of our ordinary shares or ADSs, including those issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, in the public market, the market price of our ADSs could fall. Such sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate. If any existing shareholder or shareholders sell a substantial amount of ordinary shares, the supply of our ADSs in the public market may exceed demand, which in turn could lower the market price for our ADSs and thus the value of your investment could be adversely affected.

The market price for our ADSs may be volatile, and the value of your investment in our ADSs may decrease.

The market price for our ADSs may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to the factors set forth elsewhere in this section, as well as:

In particular, the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other PRC technology companies that have listed their securities in the United States may affect the trading and price volatility of our ADSs. Recently, a number of PRC companies have listed their securities, or are preparing to list their securities, in the United States. Some of these securities have experienced significant volatility, including significant price declines in connection with or in the periods following their initial public offerings. The trading performances of these companies’ securities may affect the investor sentiment towards PRC companies listed in the United States in general, which may impact the trading performance of our ADSs. These broad market and industry factors may significantly affect the market price and volatility of our ADSs.

You may not be able to exercise your right to vote.

The SEC generally exempts foreign private issuers such as our company from its proxy solicitation requirements. As a holder of ADSs, you may instruct the depositary of our ADSs to vote the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs, but only if we ask the depositary to ask for your instructions. Otherwise, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the ordinary shares. However, you

may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your ordinary shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you request.

We and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement at any time without your consent, and by doing so may change your rights thereunder in a manner with which you disagree.

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement without your consent for any reason. If you continue to hold your ADRs after being notified of such amendment, you will be deemed to have agreed to such amendment. In the event you disagree with any such amendment, your only recourse may be to sell your ADSs.

You may not receive distributions on ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to you and these restrictions may reduce the value of your ADSs.

The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. However, the depositary is not required to do so if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. We have no obligation to register ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities under U.S. securities laws. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may reduce the value of your ADSs.

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

Your ADSs represented by the ADRs 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 it expedient to do so 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 thinks 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.

We have not adopted any policy regarding the closing of our books relating to our ADSs, nor is there any provision under Cayman Islands or New York law, or the deposit agreement, that would prevent the transferability of ADSs. Under the deposit agreement, however, the depository may close its books for our ADR facility from time to time at its discretion, which may prevent you from transferring your ADSs when you wish to do so.

If our subsidiaries are restricted from paying dividends and other distributions to us, our primary source of funds would decrease.

We are a holding company with no significant assets other than our equity interests in our subsidiaries in China. As a result, we rely on dividends and other distributions paid to us by our subsidiaries in China,

including the funds necessary to service any debt we may incur. If our subsidiaries incur debts on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debts may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us, which in turn would limit our ability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares. PRC regulations permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Our subsidiaries in China are also required to set aside a portion of their after-tax profits according to PRC accounting standards and regulations to fund certain reserve funds that are not distributable as cash dividends.

Other than restrictions imposed by PRC law as set forth under Item 8 of this annual report, “Financial Information — Consolidated statements and other financial information — Dividend policy,” and except as set forth below our subsidiaries in China are not currently subject to any restriction that would prevent them from paying any dividend or any other form of distribution to us, but there can be no assurance that PRC legal restrictions will not prevent the payment of dividends or distributions in the future and deprive us of our primary source of funds.

Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by our PRC subsidiaries only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the statutory general reserve fund, which requires annual appropriations of 10% of net after-tax income should be set aside prior to payment of any dividends. As a result of these and other restrictions under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary and affiliate are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us either in the form of dividends, loans or advances, restricted portion amounted to approximately RMB499.9 million (US$62.0 million), or 40.1% of our total consolidated net assets as of December 31, 2005.

Even though we currently do not require any such dividends, loans or advances from our PRC subsidiaries, we may in the future require additional cash resources from our PRC subsidiaries due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions or developments, or merely to declare and pay dividends or distributions to our shareholders, although we currently have no intention to do so.

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and our ability to protect our rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Law, Cap. 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors and actions by minority shareholders are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. Cayman Islands law in this area may not be as established and may differ from provisions under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in the United States. As a result, our public shareholders may face different considerations in protecting their interests in actions against our management, directors or our controlling shareholder than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States.

The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of management, members of the board of directors and controlling shareholders under Cayman Islands law, such as in the areas of fiduciary duties, are different from those applicable to a company incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States. For example, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely:

As a result, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in connection with actions taken by our management, members of our board of directors or our controlling shareholder than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.

Our ability to protect our rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a derivative action in a federal court of the United States. As a result, our ability to protect our interests if we are harmed in a manner that would otherwise enable us to sue in a United States federal court may be limited.

Your ability to bring an action against us or against our directors and officers, or to enforce a judgment against us or them, will be limited because we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, a substantial portion of our operations are in China and the majority of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States.

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and we conduct substantially all of our operations through our operating subsidiaries in China. Most of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and substantially all of the assets of those persons 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 U.S. 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. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Cayman Islands and China, see Item 10 of this annual report, “Additional Information — Taxation — United States federal income taxation — Enforceability of civil liabilities.”

We may be at risk of securities class action litigation.

In the past, securities class action litigation has been brought against companies following declines in the market price of their securities. If we are faced with such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation, financial condition and the trading price of our ADSs.

We are required to implement additional finance and accounting systems, procedures and controls in the future to satisfy new reporting requirements. Failure to complete the required assessment as to adequacy of our internal control reporting or unavailability of an unqualified report as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting provided by our independent registered public accounting firm could result in the loss of confidence in the reliability of such controls, which may adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.

As a public reporting company, we need to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including expanded disclosures and accelerated reporting requirements. Compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other requirements may increase our costs and require additional management resources. We have recently been upgrading and implementing additional finance and accounting systems, procedures and controls and will need to continue to do so as we grow our business and organization and to satisfy new reporting requirements. If we are unable to complete the required assessment as to the adequacy of our internal control reporting or if our independent registered public accounting firm qualifies its report as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our internal controls over financial reporting, which could adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.

Our predecessor, Ninetowns Technology, a “share cooperative enterprise” formed under PRC law on March 22, 1995, focused on the research and development of software related to the declaration process, in addition to selling computer hardware and accessories. Through a series of restructuring transactions in 2000, Ixworth Enterprises Limited, or Ixworth, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, acquired 90.0% of the equity interest of Ninetowns Technology. Such 90.0% equity interest acquired by Ixworth was held by New Take Limited, or New Take, and Shielder Limited, or Shielder, both Hong Kong companies, through their respective subsidiaries, Beijing New Take and Ninetowns Times. In September 2003, we issued 21,999,996 ordinary shares to Jitter Bug Holdings Limited, or Jitter Bug, the parent company of Ixworth. Jitter Bug simultaneously transferred 100.0% of the equity interest in Ixworth to us. We were incorporated in the Cayman Islands on February 8, 2002 as Ninetowns Digital World Trade Technology Holdings Limited. We changed our name to “Ninetowns Digital World Trade One Technology Holdings Limited” on June 11, 2002 and then to “Ninetowns Digital World Trade Holdings Limited” on April 7, 2003. On June 30, 2004, we signed definitive agreements to acquire the remaining 10.0% equity interest in Shanghai New Take for a consideration of RMB50,000 from Import & Export. From August to October 2004, we completed a series of reorganization transactions to acquire from our shareholder Value Chain International Limited, or Value Chain, the remaining 10.0% equity interest in Beijing New Take, Beijing Digital, Ninetowns Times, Ninetowns Ports and Shanghai New Take, as well as a 7.0% equity interest in Tsingdao Fujin, in exchange for 2,002,312 ordinary shares and US$5,876,540 in cash. On November 9, 2004, we effected a 4-for-1 split of our ordinary shares in preparation for our initial public offering. On December 3, 2004, we listed our ADSs on the Nasdaq National Market, under the symbol “NINE.” On December 8, 2004, we completed the initial public offering of our ADSs, each of which represented one ordinary share.

We conduct our business in China through eight PRC subsidiaries, namely (i) Beijing New Take, (ii) Beijing Digital, (iii) Ninetowns Times, (iv) Ninetowns Ports, (v) Shanghai New Take, (vi) Tsingdao Fujin Commerce and Finance Software Limited, or Tsingdao Fujin, (vii) Guangdong Ninetowns Technology and (viii) Ninetowns Network.

Ixworth formed Beprecise Investments Limited, or Beprecise, a British Virgin Islands Company, as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2006.

Our principal executive offices are located at 5th Floor, Union Plaza, 20 Chaowai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number in China is (86 10) 6588-7788. We have appointed CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011, as our agent for service of process in the United States.

Our capital expenditures for 2003, 2004 and 2005, which totaled approximately RMB2.2 million, RMB52.5 million and RMB31.0 million (US$3.8 million), respectively, consisted primarily of purchases of computers, office equipment and motor vehicles as well as office premises. During 2003, 2004 and 2005, we paid deposits for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment in the amounts of nil, RMB49.7 million and RMB23.4 million (US$2.9 million), respectively. We anticipate that we will incur capital expenditures in 2006 of approximately RMB35.0 million (US$4.3 million) to purchase computers and software products to support our new software development projects, and approximately RMB15.0 million (US$1.9 million) to acquire office premises and office furniture as part of our effort to reduce office rental expenses in the future. We expect to use our cash flow from operations and our available cash to fund such capital expenditures (including capital expenditures for development of new software products and functions) and to execute our business strategy.

We are a leading PRC software company that enables enterprises and trade-related PRC government agencies to streamline the import/export process in China; we believe we are a leader in our market

based on revenues and market share. We achieve this by leveraging our international trade expertise and our insight into the needs and procedures of trade-related PRC government agencies. To date, we have focused on providing enterprise software and related services for the completion over the Internet of the declaration process. In order to secure our market position, we assisted in designing and building, and continue to help maintain and upgrade, the electronic systems of the PRC Inspections Administration that enable our enterprise software to process electronic declarations over the Internet. We have pioneered the implementation of enterprise software that enables, among other things:

Our enterprise software products consists of standardized, easy-to-install applications that simplify the declaration and approval process for international trade enterprises. Our enterprise software automates and facilitates the processing of the required import/export declarations and approvals in a cost-efficient, user-friendly and legally-compliant manner over the Internet, utilizing an electronic infrastructure we helped build that links together numerous branch offices of the PRC Inspections Administration.

Through our software development services, we assist in the development and maintenance of (i) the software systems used to process electronic filings by the PRC Inspections Administration and iTowNet and (ii) the data exchange platforms which serve as the interface between such systems and our enterprise software users. The infrastructure used by the PRC Inspections Administration in the declaration process was developed as a result of the collaborative efforts of our company and the PRC Inspections Administration. We and the PRC Inspections Administration used shared knowledge in connection with the implementation at the PRC Inspections Administration of a PRC e-government initiative widely known as the “Three Digitizations Project.” The “Three Digitizations Project” became particularly active following China’s accession into the World Trade Organization, or WTO, and seeks to enhance the transparency of the administration and improve the internal organization and workflow management of PRC government agencies. The PRC Inspections Administration infrastructure we helped implement includes internal electronic processing systems and data exchange platforms, operated by iTowNet, that interface between international trade enterprises using our enterprise software and the PRC Inspections Administration’s internal electronic processing system. We believe e-government initiatives relating to import/export processes will continue to be an important factor in PRC international trade as China becomes more fully integrated into the WTO.

We believe the market for our enterprise software is large and relatively under-penetrated. The market for our enterprise software relating to the declaration process consists of international trade enterprises in China. According to the PRC Ministry of Commerce, there were approximately 510,000 foreign-invested companies registered to do business in China as of January 31, 2006, many of which engage in importing goods into and exporting goods from China, as well as millions of PRC-based companies which do not have foreign investment but which do engage in importing and exporting. Of these companies, as of December 31, 2005, only approximately 136,000 engaged in electronic import/export declaration processing. We believe approximately 122,000, or approximately 89.7%, of such users use our enterprise software to complete the declaration process with the PRC Inspections Administration.

In August 2005, the PRC Inspections Administration selected our company as the winning bidder in connection with the PRC Inspections Administration's request for proposals for the development of a software product that has certain basic functionalities similar to those of iDeclare.CIQ and iProcess.CIQ. The PRC Inspections Administration agreed to pay a one-time fee of RMB3.3 million (US$409,000) to purchase the ownership of the software product that we developed. The development of such software product was completed in December 2005 and the PRC Inspections Administration commenced to distribute such software products free-of-charge to end-users in February 2006. We believe that the distribution of free software products, while in the long-term would further increase the number of e-filers and in turn increase demand for our enterprise software services, would also have a significant adverse effect on our business, our results of operations and profitability in the short-term. For example, we sold, together with our franchisees, approximately 1,500 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ during the first quarter of 2006, which is significantly lower than the approximately 8,000 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ sold by our company and our distributors and franchisees during the first quarter of 2005.

In 2005, we derived 84.8% of our total net revenues from sales of enterprise software and 14.9% from software development services. Specifically, our enterprise software recognized net revenues of RMB113.8 million, RMB188.7 million and RMB203.5 million (US$25.2 million) in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. We believe there were approximately 51,860, 95,000 and 122,000 licensees of our enterprise software registered on their data exchange platforms as of December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

We intend to increase our revenues by leveraging and strengthening our market reputation, enhancing value for our clients through broader product offerings and improved customer maintenance services, expanding our client base through increased marketing, maintaining our leadership in technical and industry knowledge and pursuing selective strategic acquisitions and investments. However, given the uncertain impact on our business resulting from the distribution of free software products by the PRC Inspections Administration to end-users, we cannot predict the growth in our revenues, if there are any at all.

Advantages of our enterprise software products

Our enterprise software primarily facilitates declaration processing in a cost-efficient and user-friendly manner over the Internet, utilizing data exchange platforms that we helped build. The key advantages of our products are:

Ease of deployment

Our enterprise software consists of standardized programs that can be easily installed onto most computers from a CD-ROM and fully operational in less than 30 minutes. Our enterprise software is broadly applicable to all international trade enterprises seeking to complete the declaration process electronically and does not require customization. We helped build the PRC Inspections Administration’s internal electronic processing systems and the data exchange platforms within the PRC Inspections Administration offices. We have leveraged our experience and expertise with these data exchange platforms, which interface between international trade enterprises and the PRC Inspections Administration’s own internal electronic processing systems, to design enterprise software with optimal compatibility with the PRC Inspections Administration’s systems and internal requirements. We intend to continue to help maintain and upgrade the data exchange platforms. Given our knowledge of such data exchange platforms and our role in continuing to maintain and upgrade such systems, we believe we are in a unique position to provide enterprise software that is easy to deploy, fully integrated and optimally compatible with the PRC Inspections Administration’s systems and internal requirements.

Fast, efficient and accurate transfers

Our enterprise software eliminates the need for the manual preparation and submission of paperwork in the declaration process and can reduce the time required to complete the declaration process from approximately two or more days to as quick as one hour. Our enterprise software enables nearly immediate submission of electronic filings and notice of most submission errors, allowing for fast and accurate submissions. In addition, demands on staff time are reduced and the risk of delayed responses from the PRC Inspections Administration due to delivery failures is minimized because transmissions to and feedback from the PRC Inspections Administration are delivered electronically. Furthermore, since data is submitted in electronic format, there is reduced risk of error and delay related to the PRC Inspections Administration’s inability to read or accurately copy required data. The electronic forms contained in our enterprise software are regularly updated, ensuring that all required information is submitted to the PRC Inspections Administration.

Reduction of costs associated with declaration filings

We believe our enterprise software significantly reduces the costs associated with PRC Inspections Administration filings and that the increased efficiency and accuracy derived from using our enterprise software results in reduced need for staff to complete the declaration process. In addition, there is a reduction in travel expenses traditionally associated with making declarations in person at the PRC Inspections Administration. Furthermore, faster processing can result in reduced transportation time for goods, which is particularly important for perishable goods and reduces an importer’s or exporter’s working capital allocated to inventory.

Convenience of filing anytime and from anywhere over the Internet

Traditionally, an international trade enterprise would send a representative to a PRC Inspections Administration branch office in China during business hours to make a declaration filing. The PRC Inspections Administration branch office would then process and forward the documentation to the PRC Inspections Administration branch office at the port or station through which the relevant goods were being imported into or exported from China. Our enterprise software allows international trade enterprises to make declaration filings with the PRC Inspections Administration electronically over the Internet. Declarations can be made at any time, whether the PRC Inspections Administration’s branch offices are open for business or not, and from anywhere in the world through a computer on which our enterprise software is installed and which is connected to the Internet. In addition, our enterprise software and the electronic systems we helped build allow the PRC Inspections Administration branch office processing the electronic filing to electronically transmit various import/export documents to the PRC Inspections Administration branch office at the relevant import or export port or station. This system increases the efficiency and accuracy of communications between the PRC Inspections Administration’s branch offices and saves time and expense for the PRC Inspections Administration.

User-friendly software

Our user-friendly enterprise software simplifies the declaration process. Our users benefit from an interface that requires very little training and is updated regularly to reflect revisions to the regulations related to the declaration process. Our enterprise software has auto-correction functions that automatically detect errors and suggest corrections. We offer additional software functions that allow our users to expand their software as their business requires. When a user purchases and installs a new software function, new tabs and folders appear in the existing user interface, allowing the addition of the new software function while maintaining a familiar and easy-to-use environment.

Competitive advantages

We believe we have achieved the leading position in our industry, in part, by establishing the competitive strengths described below:

First to market, setting the industry standard

We assisted in designing and building the electronic infrastructure used by the PRC Inspections Administration to accept and process electronic declarations. We believe our enterprise software for PRC Inspections Administration filings is perceived by our customers and others to be the industry standard in our market because:

Based on the foregoing, we believe we are the leading provider of enterprise software to international trade enterprises using the electronic declaration process in China.

Proven ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with the PRC Inspections Administration

We believe we were the first company to work with the PRC Inspections Administration to develop enterprise software related to the declaration process. As a result of our long-standing relationship with the PRC Inspections Administration, we have developed a detailed understanding of the PRC Inspections Administration’s and international trade enterprises’ declaration processing and other trade-related requirements. Mr. Wang and Ms. Dong also beneficially own a 49.0% equity interest in iTowNet, which is 51.0% owned by the PRC Inspections Administration and operates the data exchange platforms that interface between international trade enterprises using our enterprise software and the PRC Inspections Administration’s internal electronic processing system. We continue to work closely with the PRC Inspections Administration to refine our enterprise software to reflect changes in the PRC Inspections Administration’s information systems, procedures, rules and regulations and to create new software functions to address additional aspects of the declaration process. For more information regarding our relationship with the PRC Inspections Administration. See Item 3D of this annual report, “Risk factors – Risks related to our business – We currently generate substantially all of our total net revenues from either PRC government agencies or in connection with PRC government agency filings and approval procedures, and our failure to maintain a continued working relationship with certain PRC government agencies and, in particular, the PRC Inspections Administration, would result in the reduction or loss of substantially all of our total net revenues.” We also believe that our solid track record with the PRC Inspections Administration will assist us in establishing collaborative relationships with other PRC government agencies, such as PRC Customs.

Scalable, modular and secure software

The data exchange platform that we built for iTowNet is designed to effectively and efficiently handle a large number of concurrent transactions for a large number of users. We believe such scalability enables the PRC Inspections Administration to adapt to the growing and changing PRC market at minimal cost. Our enterprise software is designed to be modular, which allows our users to easily add functions by installing additional software over the Internet with minimal cost to us. Furthermore, all users must be authenticated as having a licensed copy of our enterprise software and as having a properly registered account with the PRC Inspections Administration in order to conduct electronic transactions over the PRC Inspections Administration’s data exchange platforms, thus making it difficult to use pirated copies of our enterprise software.

Strong market reputation

We believe we have earned a strong market reputation among international trade enterprises in China for fast, user-friendly, efficient, cost-effective and convenient declaration processing over the Internet, as well as for our customer maintenance service. We believe that the endorsement of iDeclare.CIQ by the PRC Inspections Administration and our significant market share have established us as the market leader in our industry. iDeclare.CIQ has been recognized by various PRC agencies and authorities for its quality.

Extensive distribution and support network

Currently, through our own distribution network and our franchisees, we maintain certain technical support centers, and also cooperate with our franchisees to jointly maintain certain technical support centers, in major coastal cities in Eastern and Southern China. Through them, we provide coverage, sales and marketing and customer maintenance services to most of the major import/export cities in China. By the end of 2006, we intend to have one additional franchisee, which, together with our existing support centers and our three franchisees, will eventually reach all of the major import/export cities in China.

Experienced management team with strong product development capabilities

Our management team has significant experience in the enterprise software business. They have extensive knowledge of international trade enterprises, the inner-workings of the PRC Inspections Administration and the rapidly changing PRC trade-related regulations. In addition, our management has been recognized for its expertise in the information technology industry in China. For example, in March 2002, Mr. Shuang Wang was awarded the Traverse Cup Prize by Software World Magazine jointly with a number of industry magazines in China for his significant contributions to the information technology industry. In March 2003, Mr. Wang was also recognized as one of the “2002 top ten leaders of the PRC software industry in China” by Software World Magazine and China Central TV for his significant contributions to the PRC software industry. We believe our management team’s (i) close relationship with the PRC Inspections Administration, (ii) deep and broad experience with PRC import/export processes, (iii) knowledge of PRC import/export policies and business requirements and (iv) strong product development capabilities provide us with the ability to develop high-quality software to serve the needs of our markets.

Business strategy

Our goal is to create long-term shareholder value and to become the leading software company that enables enterprises and government agencies to streamline their import/export processes in China. We believe China’s rapidly growing import/export activities, continuous import/export policy changes and

evolving import/export filing requirements, coupled with the PRC government’s initiative to streamline and use the Internet to carry out various government operations, provide us with significant growth opportunities. We intend to use our cash flow from operations and our available cash to pursue the following strategies:

Leverage and strengthen our market reputation by creating new products

We believe that we have a strong market reputation for enabling international trade enterprises to complete electronic declarations over the Internet efficiently and cost effectively. We intend to expand this brand recognition for PRC Inspections Administration-related products to other PRC trade-related government agencies and trade-related third parties such as banks, insurers and logistics providers. For example, we launched a new product series called iProcess.CIQ in June 2005, which enables international trade enterprises and their suppliers to submit product quality-related data to the PRC Inspections Administration throughout the production process over the Internet. Such information allows the PRC Inspections Administration to accelerate the approval process and provide better monitoring support. We believe that building a strong brand is an essential element of our sales and marketing strategy because brand recognition allows us to grow our revenues rapidly without incurring significant marketing costs.

Enhance value for existing clients through broader product offerings and improved customer maintenance services

We intend to develop new functions for our existing products to enhance the interaction between our users and the PRC Inspections Administration, other PRC trade-related government agencies and related third parties. For example, we are in the process of developing additional functions to further expand our existing iDeclare.CIQ products, such as applications for permits to import used equipment, paint, food and cosmetic products. In addition, we currently support our existing users jointly with our three franchisees through nine technical support centers operated and maintained by us and 24 technical support centers operated and maintained by our three franchisees located in the major coastal cities in Eastern and Southern China. We plan to expand our customer maintenance service capabilities by engaging at least one additional franchisee by the end of 2006.

Expand our client base through increased marketing and broader product offerings

We intend to grow our client base by expanding the use of our franchisees and our own distribution network for marketing and front-line technical support throughout China. In addition, we plan to upgrade all of our existing technical support centers to full-service customer relations management centers. As a result, we do not intend to engage new distributors in the near future. In addition, we intend to develop new products which will appeal to international trade enterprises that do not currently use our enterprise software. For example, we are developing a series of products for the electronic submission of numerous declarations to PRC Customs.

Maintain leadership in technical and industry knowledge

We intend to continue to invest in our research and development efforts to enhance our existing enterprise software and develop new products that will increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the declaration process and related processes. In addition, we expect to continue to accumulate import/export-related industry knowledge and technical expertise in order to provide software for potential import/export-related processes. Both software technology and the import/export regulatory environment in China are continuously changing and we believe that continuous accumulation of both technical and industry knowledge is crucial in providing the best software for our customers.

Pursue selective strategic acquisitions, investments, joint ventures or collaborative arrangements

We expect that our enterprise software user base will grow with the expected expansion of the PRC export manufacturing sector and the increase in domestic demand for imported goods. In response to this growth in our base of potential users, we intend to pursue strategic acquisitions, investments, joint ventures or other collaborative arrangements that complement our existing enterprise software. We are reviewing selective investments in order to increase the scale of our business and strengthen our position as a leading provider of enterprise software for international trade enterprises.

In January 2006, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent in which we agreed to acquire a minority interest in an e-commerce company located in Guangzhou, China, for approximately US$10.0 million. The completion of such investment is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, including completion of due diligence and other customary closing conditions.

Products and services

In 2005, we derived 84.7% of our total net revenues from sales of enterprise software and 15.0% of our total net revenues from provision of software development services.

The products and services we offered in 2005 included the following:

Enterprise software

We have five enterprise software products currently available commercially or in trial version: (i) iDeclare.CIQ, (ii) iProcess.CIQ, (iii) User Message Agent, or UMA, (iv) iMonitor.CGA and (v) iValue.

iDeclare.CIQ series

Commercially introduced in August 2000, the iDeclare.CIQ series of products enables international trade enterprises to complete the declaration process electronically over the Internet. We initially offered the iDeclare.CIQ basic package, which included two separate software functions, for a one-time license fee of RMB6,800, including one year of customer maintenance services. In September 2001, we started to offer the current iDeclare.CIQ basic package, which includes six separate software functions, for a one-time license fee of RMB4,500, including one year of customer maintenance services. We charge RMB1,500 for each additional year of customer maintenance services. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, we generated RMB113.2 million, RMB175.5 million and RMB186.5 million (US$23.1 million), respectively, of net revenues from sales of the iDeclare.CIQ basic package and related customer maintenance services (including the per declaration fees as described below), which represented a substantial portion of our net revenues from sales of enterprise software in each of those periods.

A limited number of our iDeclare.CIQ users, substantially all of whom are located in Dongguan, China, do not pay a one-time license fee or annual customer maintenance service fees. Instead, such users pay a fee of RMB20 per declaration filing made using iDeclare.CIQ. Net revenues from sales of enterprise software included RMB23.1 million, RMB24.1 million and RMB23.6 million (US$2.9 million) of such per-use fees, or 20.3%, 12.8% and 11.6% of our net revenues for sales of enterprise software in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

We offer trial versions of our new software functions to existing users until we commercially launch such software functions. Once commercially launched, these new software functions are not offered as part of the iDeclare.CIQ basic package and a user must pay additional fees in order to use the new software functions.

Our iDeclare.CIQ users include a variety of international trade enterprises operating in a wide range of businesses. They include the PRC branch offices of multinational trading companies that might purchase multiple copies of iDeclare.CIQ, as well as smaller PRC companies focused on niche businesses that

might buy only one copy of iDeclare.CIQ. We rely in part on our distributors and our franchisee to sell our iDeclare.CIQ basic package.

iDeclare.CIQ allows users to submit encrypted applications to the PRC Inspections Administration for examination, comment and approval over the Internet. In addition, iDeclare.CIQ is capable of generating electronic documents with information inter-linking ability to efficiently replicate documents required for international trade transactions. Such documents include invoices for export, packaging forms, bills, customs clearing forms and approval forms for special goods. Additional software functions are designed for easy installation and incorporation into the iDeclare.CIQ basic package. When a customer purchases and installs a new module, new tabs and folders appear in the existing user interface, allowing customers to add new software functions while maintaining a familiar and easy-to-use environment.

Currently, iDeclare.CIQ has three main applications: (i) Origin Certificate processing, (ii) declaration processing and (iii) registration and permit processing.

iDeclare.CIQ transmits all user submissions to the PRC Inspections Administration electronically in an encrypted format over the data exchange platforms operated by iTowNet. iTowNet receives a fee for each submission made over its platforms. Once received by the PRC Inspections Administration, such transmissions are examined and electronically approved or returned to the user for revision.

The table below sets forth the benefits of electronic filings, as compared to paper filings:

iProcess.CIQ

In June 2005, we launched iQS, one component of a new product series called iProcess.CIQ, in certain major cities of the PRC including Ningbo, Qingdao, Dalian, Hangzhou, Jinan, Tianjin and Shanghai. iProcess.CIQ enables international trade enterprises and their suppliers to submit product quality-related data to the PRC Inspections Administration throughout the production process. In addition, iProcess.CIQ enables manufacturers to submit production-related data over the Internet to the PRC Inspections Administration regarding the nature and quality of the components and materials being used by the manufacturers in creating their products. Such information can be submitted prior to the manufacturers’ exporting their products from the PRC. The PRC Inspections Administration may, but is not required to, use such information to assess the products and determine whether an inspection is necessary prior to such products being exported from the PRC. A determination by the PRC Inspections Administration that an inspection is not required will likely expedite the declaration process for such products.

Furthermore, users of our iDeclare.CIQ product series that have paid their annual maintenance fees may share data between the iDeclare.CIQ and iProcess.CIQ product series. This will not only reduce data input requirements for iDeclare.CIQ users, but may also encourage existing iDeclare.CIQ product series users to pay their annual maintenance fees.

In 2005, we generated RMB3.3 million (US$409,000) of net revenues from sales of the iProcess.CIQ basic package.

UMA series

Commercially launched in October 2003, the UMA series of enterprise software facilitates effective and secure data transfers:

We entered into a product sales and service contract with iTowNet in October 2003. Pursuant to such contract, we sold certain UMA software to iTowNet for a one-time license fee of RMB50,000. We also charge RMB15,000 per licensee for each year of customer maintenance services.

In 2005, we recognized RMB13.5 million (US$1.7 million) in net revenues from sales of the UMA series of enterprise software and related customer maintenance services.

iMonitor.CGA series

The iMonitor.CGA series of software and hardware products was commercially introduced in June 2004 and was designed to be installed at the customs clearing gates of PRC Customs branch offices to allow inspection of goods-in-bond. The purpose of an inspection of goods-in-bond is, among other things, to monitor and inspect shipping containers to prevent such shipping containers from passing PRC Customs without paying the required tariffs. After responding to two requests-for-proposals from PRC Customs in 2002 and installing and demonstrating the effectiveness of iMonitor.CGA to PRC Customs officials in 2003, we became one of two vendors to work with the national office of PRC Customs to implement monitoring and inspection enterprise software at the branch offices of PRC Customs and in commercial enterprises. Pursuant to the agreements entered into with the Equipment Supply Center of PRC Customs

on December 4, 2002 and November 25, 2003, we agreed to provide six systems of iMonitor.CGA for an aggregate price of RMB600,000 and an additional seven systems of iMonitor.CGA for an aggregate price of approximately RMB700,000, respectively. We also agreed to install iMonitor.CGA, on a trial basis, at five additional PRC Customs offices of which three have already been installed. We expect the price per system of iMonitor.CGA, including software and certain hardware, for example cameras and sensors, to range from RMB100,000 to RMB200,000, and we intend to charge an annual maintenance fee after the first year of installation. We are currently reviewing the appropriate maintenance fee for iMonitor.CGA. The price per system of iMonitor.CGA will be determined through negotiations with our potential customers for such product, which we expect to be mainly trade-related PRC government agencies. To date, we have not recognized any revenues from the sale of iMonitor.CGA.

iMonitor.CGA has two main applications: (i) data collection through container number recognition, and (ii) gate inspection.

iMonitor.CGA interfaces with PRC Customs’ multiple cameras and sensors installed at import/export clearing gates to process the captured images and output the results in an organized and easy-to-manage manner. The main advantage of iMonitor.CGA is its automation of previously manual inspection procedures which significantly reduces the staff costs and time that it would take for information gathering, while increasing accuracy of the information gathered.

iValue series

A trial version of iValue was introduced in March 2004. The purpose of iValue is to provide services that are complementary to a user’s interaction with the PRC Inspections Administration and PRC Customs. Currently, iValue has only one principal application: electronic bill payment. This application allows users to electronically pay PRC Inspections Administration- or PRC Customs-related fees over the Internet via a platform that we operate. This trial product minimizes staff costs associated with in-person payments and delays associated with payments by post. Electronic payments are made as wire transfers directly from a payor’s bank account at a participating bank. Funds are released upon receipt of wire instructions by the participating bank through our iValue platform. As a result, we are not exposed to the credit risk of the payor. iValue also allows integration of payment records into other software and databases.

Since we only introduced iValue in a trial version, we have not marketed iValue to international trade enterprises and we have not yet determined the pricing model for, or recognized any revenues from, this product.

Software development services

We provide software development services to PRC government agencies, their related entities and their third party service providers in order to enhance electronic data exchange, processing and monitoring capabilities. Our software development services consist of the design, development and maintenance of, and upgrades to: (i) the internal software systems used by PRC government agencies and their related entities to process electronic filings made with our enterprise software, and (ii) the data exchange platforms which serve as the interface between such systems and users of our enterprise software.

In 2003, we provided software development services primarily to eGrid in connection with eGrid’s contracts to provide software development services for iTowNet. Under this arrangement, eGrid designs software for iTowNet and subcontracts the software coding work to us. We enter into all contracts with iTowNet and eGrid on an arm’s length basis. See Item 7 of this annual report, “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related party transactions.” On January 27, 2005, we entered into a software development contract with the PRC Inspections Administration pursuant to which we contracted to develop an internal Decision & Support System for the PRC Inspections Administration for RMB5.6 million.

On February 16, 2006, we entered into a software development contract with the PRC Inspections Administration pursuant to which we contracted to develop an electronic monitoring system for the PRC Inspections Administration for RMB3.3 million (US$409,000).

On August 17, 2005 and November 7, 2005, we entered into two software development contracts with The State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. Pursuant to these contracts, we contracted to develop a “high frequency debt and market forecasting system” and an “international income and expenses statistics monitoring system” for SAFE for RMB730,000 and RMB1.12 million, respectively.

We offer our software development services for fees based either on a time-and-materials basis or a fixed-fee basis. We often start work on software development projects based on verbal agreements and do not receive payment until the completion of a particular project. We believe such practice is consistent with the general practice in the government-related software development industry in China.

Technology

Our enterprise software operates on a sophisticated data processing platform called iCSP. iCSP is our proprietary Internet-based services management platform with centralized data exchange capabilities that we have been developing since 1999. Our iCSP platform allows our enterprise software to incorporate the utility and power of the Internet. Our iCSP platform has two components. One component supports Microsoft Windows clients and is a part of our enterprise software. The other component supports a variety of Microsoft, UNIX and Linux servers and is a part of the software that we assisted in developing for iTowNet. We used development tools such as Microsoft.Net and Sun Java2EE to develop our iCSP platform.

The iCSP platform is a modular, scalable and secure client/server architecture, which suits the rapidly changing demands of enterprise users. The basic software architecture of the iCSP platform allows for (i) dynamic application management for enterprise users, (ii) seamless data exchange among multiple enterprises and government agencies and (iii) automatic data synchronization.

At the core platform level, the service management system provides various basic system functions, such as downloading of applications, authentication of user licenses and performance of routine system

maintenance. The architecture separates data exchange (oDex), data synchronization (oCox) and application logic (oAfx) into different units to maintain flexibility and scalability.

oDex is the data exchange system which supports common data exchange protocols such as EDI, x.12, EBXML and RossetaNet. oDex converts document formats and processes documents based on pre-determined programming rules.

oCox is the data synchronization system which replicates data across different users, systems and institutions.

oAfx is the application library system which contains the various enterprise software functions.

The iCSP platform also has a comprehensive security system which performs security auditing and management to maintain data security and integrity.

Products under development

We usually have numerous new software products and features in development. The process of researching and developing software products and features typically involves steps to: (i) work with the relevant PRC government agency to identify needs and parameters; (ii) begin research and development; (iii) test product or function feasibility; (iv) establish product launch plan and timetable with the PRC government agency; and (v) launch the product or function. The following are examples of new enterprise software and enhancements to our existing products which are currently under development:

Additional iValue modules

We are currently developing additional functions to complement iValue to process status enquiries for a user’s PRC Inspections Administration filings and to allow for enrollment in online courses, such as customs declarer examinations. We expect our research and development of enrollment in online courses functions and our additional process status enquiries functions to be completed by late 2006.

iDeclare.CGA

Similar to the PRC Inspections Administration, PRC Customs has a standardized set of forms used by international trade enterprises and we plan to work with PRC Customs to develop enterprise software that will facilitate electronic filings of such forms. We intend for this enterprise software to enable electronic filings of customs, manifest, bill of lading, export goods receipt and other declarations. In addition, we also plan to work with PRC local tax authorities to develop a product to facilitate electronic filings of tax and ATA Carnet declarations, which are international customs documents that permit duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year. Research and development work on the iDeclare.CGA product commenced in the second quarter of 2004; we cannot predict if or when such efforts will be completed.

Production and hardware design

The principal steps involved in production of our enterprise software are duplicating CDs, printing boxes and related materials such as user manuals, and assembling and shipping our final products. We have production arrangements with several outside contractors under which they provide all necessary outsourced production services related to our enterprise software. We produce enterprise software packages on an as-necessary basis and keep only a small inventory in our headquarters in Beijing. We have designed the configuration of some data-gathering hardware, for example cameras, for use with

iMonitor.CGA although customers may also use their own hardware. The hardware we design is produced by third party vendors.

Seasonality

There is no particular seasonal fluctuation in our sales except that net revenues from sales of our enterprise software in the first quarter are typically lower than in other quarters. This is primarily due to decreased business activities throughout China before, during and after the week-long Chinese New Year holidays, which occur in January or February each year. In addition, net revenues from software development services are typically higher in the third and fourth quarters of each year because our software development contracts are usually signed during that time. However, we cannot predict when our software development contracts will be signed in the future, or if they will be signed at all.

Our future revenues and results of operations may fluctuate significantly due to a combination of factors, including:

Quality

We are committed to delivering enterprise software and services of consistently superior quality to our customers. We believe our commitment to quality and our total quality management system are key elements to our operation as a leading provider of enterprise software to international trade enterprises and trade-related PRC government agencies.

On August 3, 2004, we were awarded the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Recognition Certificate. ISO 9001:2000 is a worldwide quality management system certification program regarding management system standards administered by the International Organization for Standardization. Our enterprise software has also been endorsed by the PRC Inspections Administration for electronic customs declaration.

Sales and marketing

We have implemented our sales and marketing initiative in three phases. In the first phase, we relied mainly on direct sales of new software products to international trade enterprises. In the second phase, we used authorized distributors to reach additional international trade enterprises. We are currently implementing the third phase of our sales and marketing initiative by helping third parties establish franchisee to sell our software products. Our intention is to continue to use a focused strategy designed to further enhance our brand name and acquire new customers by recruiting franchisees, who will use the “Ninetowns” brand name in the sales and marketing of our enterprise software.

Direct sales and marketing

As of December 31, 2005, we had a sales and marketing force consisting of approximately 450 people, divided into two principal sales regions: the northern and southern regions of China. Each principal sales region is managed by a general manager. Our sales and marketing representatives also perform customer maintenance services.

The market operations center at our principal executive offices in Beijing is responsible for national marketing policies, strategies and budgets. The market operations center is divided into two departments: the corporate communication department and the market operations department.

The corporate communication department is responsible for brand promotion, package design and marketing functions. The market operations department is responsible for the collection of marketing intelligence. In addition to the corporate communication department and the market operations department, we also have salespersons in our own nine technical support centers. We are in the process of upgrading such technical support centers to provide sales and marketing functions in addition to technical support. The salespersons in such centers are responsible for regional marketing strategies, including (i) organizing promotional conferences in which existing and potential clients are introduced to our products, and (ii) participating in national and regional trade shows. On the local level, our salespersons promote our enterprise software products mainly by holding seminars for international trade enterprises, making telephone calls to potential customers and sending promotional materials by mail.

Our annual sales targets are set by our general managers of sales and marketing according to regional sales plans and are reviewed quarterly. We have an incentive-based sales scheme whereby salespersons are rewarded based on achievement of sales targets.

Sales by authorized distributors

We had previously contracted with distributors to undertake marketing, distribution and service activities in certain provinces in China where we do not have any offices or where our customer maintenance service capabilities are insufficient to serve and support our international trade enterprise clients. However, it is our current strategy to develop our distribution and technical support network through franchisees. As of December 31, 2005, the distribution agreements with our two authorized distributors: Panyu and Tomorrow Technology, expired and we chose not to renew them due to our plans to develop our franchisee network.

For 2003, 2004 and 2005, net revenues from sales of enterprise software we recognized from our authorized distributors amounted to approximately RMB48.8 million, RMB77.0 million and RMB71.4 million (US$8.9 million), respectively.

Sales by our franchisee

It is our current strategy to expand our franchisee network to undertake marketing, distribution and service activities using the “Ninetowns” brand name. As of December 31, 2005, we had two franchisees, Ninetowns Enke and Ninetowns Zhi Fang. Our franchise agreement with Ninetowns Enke was entered into in February 2004. Pursuant to the franchise agreement, Ninetowns Enke agreed to a minimum sales commitment of RMB50.0 million for the two years ended February 14, 2006 and a sales discount of RMB1,000 per each iDeclare.CIQ package purchased from our company. In addition, Ninetowns Enke also agreed to act as our sales agent to sell after sales maintenance services for our enterprise software to our customers. On April 22, 2004, we agreed with Ninetowns Enke to amend the franchise agreement to revise certain pricing terms. This agreement has a two-year term and contains minimum sales commitments. On May 12, 2006, we entered into a new franchise agreement with Ninetowns Enke for iDeclare.CIQ. This agreement has a two-year term and does not contain any minimum sales commitment. Our franchise agreements with Ninetowns Zhi Fang were entered into in May 2005 for two of our software products, iProcess.CIQ and iDeclare.CIQ. Each of these franchise agreements has a two-year term and does not contain any

minimum sales commitment. In January 2006, we engaged Beijing Ninetowns Xin He Software Technology Co., Ltd., or Ninetowns Xin He, as our newest franchisee. The franchise agreement with Ninetowns Xin He has a two-year term and does not contain any minimum sales commitment. Our franchisees provide customer maintenance services to our enterprise software users. We intend to focus on establishing new franchisee arrangements in the future.

For 2004 and 2005, net revenues from the sale of enterprise software generated by our franchisee amounted to approximately RMB25.2 million and RMB50.8 million (US$6.3 million), respectively.

Customers

In 2005, our customers for sales of enterprise software include our two former distributors and our franchisees, and international trade enterprises that we sell our software to directly. Our users are engaged in a wide variety of import and export activities in China. For 2003, 2004 and 2005, our five largest enterprise software customers, which consisted primarily of our distributors and franchisees, accounted for approximately 44.3%, 56.0% and 60.1%, respectively, of our net revenues from sales of enterprise software.

Our customers for software development services include the PRC Inspections Administration, iTowNet and eGrid. We did not recognize any net revenues from provision of software development services until 2002. iTowNet and eGrid accounted for substantially all of our net revenues for provision of software development services in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Customer maintenance services

We believe our ability to provide customer maintenance services is one of the key factors to building user loyalty. We offer one year of free customer maintenance services with our iDeclare.CIQ basic package, and charge a fee of RMB1,500 for customer maintenance services each year thereafter.

The customer maintenance services we provide in connection with our software products generally include:

Our franchisees also provide customer maintenance services, including help-desk support via telephone or e-mail, site visits for maintenance procedures and software training.

We also provide customer maintenance services to purchasers of iMonitor.CGA. Such customer maintenance services generally include routine inspections of the system, system and software updates, on-site technical support and maintenance services, consultation services through a toll free phone-line, company website or direct hotline and training of our customer’s staff. We also provide various customer maintenance services to our software development services clients.

Each of our technical support centers functions as a call center that responds to calls from customers located in the surrounding areas. As of December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, we had 283, 360 and 454 customer service and technical support employees, respectively.

Competition

We believe there are only two enterprise software products, namely our iDeclare.CIQ and “Easy Inspection” offered by Ronji, that have been endorsed by the PRC Inspections Administration. We are not aware of any other products or services which compete with our enterprise software. Therefore, we believe we only have one competitor engaged in providing enterprise software to international trade enterprises for transactions with the PRC Inspections Administration. In addition, we face competition from the PRC Inspections Administration’s free software product.

We compete with several software developers in bidding for software development projects. In particular, we compete against eGrid, which is a related party of our company and one of our major customers in our software development business, to provide software development services to iTowNet.

Many other companies may in the future provide software and development services of the type we offer. Companies that have expertise in marketing and providing technical services to government entities may begin to compete with us by further developing their services and increasing their focus on this aspect of their business. There are companies which provide e-government services and enterprise software similar to ours in many other countries. In addition, there are other companies in China which are focusing on providing such services to government agencies in China; in particular, regional providers attempting to implement systems for provincial branches of government agencies such as PRC Customs. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that software, hardware or other companies unrelated to us will not allocate resources to pursue opportunities relating to the needs of international trade enterprises making government filings in China.

We believe that the principal factors upon which we compete are:

We believe that we compete favorably with respect to the above-listed factors.

Intellectual property rights

We rely on a combination of nondisclosure, confidentiality and other contractual arrangements with the PRC Inspections Administration, certain of our directors, employees and customers, as well as PRC

privacy and trade secret laws, to protect and limit the distribution of the proprietary software and processes we have developed in connection with our products and services.

As of December 31, 2005, we had registered 30 software copyrights and three trademarks in China. Although we have no registered trademarks outside China, we are in the process of registering certain of our trademarks in the United States and Hong Kong.

If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights or proprietary technology or if we become involved in litigation relating to our intellectual property rights or proprietary technology, our business could be harmed. Any actions we take may not be adequate to protect our rights and other companies may develop technologies that are similar or superior to our proprietary technology.

Although we believe that our products and services do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others and that we have all rights needed to use the intellectual property employed in our business, it is possible that we could in the future become subject to claims alleging infringement of third party intellectual property rights. Any such claims could subject us to costly litigation and may require us to pay damages and develop non-infringing intellectual property or acquire licenses to the intellectual property that is the subject of the alleged infringement.

We are aware of an online video games company in China whose Chinese name is substantially similar to ours and which may therefore infringe on our trademark.

New Business

We are currently in the process of exploring potential opportunities related to international trade. We commenced market research in the first quarter of 2006 and we are currently evaluating various business models and experimenting with new products. We cannot predict if or when any of such efforts will be completed.

Regulation

Political, legal, economic and social considerations in China

Since 1979, many laws and regulations dealing with economic matters with respect to general foreign investment have been promulgated in China. In 1982, the PRC National People’s Congress amended the PRC Constitution to authorize foreign investments and guarantee the “lawful rights and interests” of foreign investors in China. In 2003, the PRC Constitution was further amended to recognize the right to private property for all PRC citizens. Subsequent legislation has enhanced significantly the protection afforded to foreign and domestic investors and allowed more active control of investors over their private enterprises in China. In the last two decades, the PRC government has introduced substantial economic and legal reforms. However, the legal system of the PRC is still underdeveloped when compared to the systems of the advanced western nations. The implementation and interpretation of existing laws may therefore be uncertain.

Foreign investment policies

According to the Foreign Investment Industry Policy Guidelines promulgated on March 4, 2002, as amended on November 30, 2004, foreign investors are encouraged to invest in the development and manufacturing of software products. No restrictions or prohibition is currently imposed on the foreign ownership of businesses engaged in the development and production of software products in China.

New regulation relating to the administration of an office

In April 2006, State Administration of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Commerce, State General Custom and State Administration of Foreign Exchange jointly promulgated “Implementation Opinion on Certain Issues about Application of Laws on Administration of Approval and Registration for Companies with Foreign Investment”, or the Opinion. According to the Opinion, the registration for companies with foreign investment apply to companies registered under the PRC Company Law, as amended on October 27, 2005 and effective on January 1, 2006, and the Regulations on Administration of Companies, amended on December 18, 2005, except otherwise stipulated by the laws and regulations specifically governing companies with foreign investment. According to the Opinion, the registration of offices established by companies with foreign investment is required to cease. The Opinion also provides that the procedures of variation or renewal for the offices that have been registered will not be carried out. Once the operating term of an office expires, the procedure of “cancellation of registration” will be implemented. If necessary, such company can choose to establish a branch office.

In the opinion of our PRC counsel, Commerce & Finance Law Offices, the ownership structures, businesses and operations of our subsidiaries in China comply with all existing PRC laws, rules and regulations. In addition, our PRC counsel has confirmed that no consent, approval or license, other than those already obtained, is required for such ownership structures, businesses and operations in order for us to comply with existing PRC laws rules and regulations.

Regulation of the software industry

Software copyright

The State Council of the PRC, or the State Council, promulgated the Regulations for the Protection of Computer Software, or the Software Protection Regulations, on December 20, 2001, and such regulations became effective on January 1, 2002. The Software Protection Regulations were promulgated, among other things, to protect the copyright of computer software in China. According to the Software Protection Regulations, computer software that is independently developed and exists in a physical form will be protected. However, such protection does not apply to any ideas, mathematical concepts, processing and operation methods used in the development of software products.

Under the Software Protection Regulations, PRC citizens, legal persons and organizations enjoy copyright protection for computer software they develop, regardless of whether the software has been published. In addition, foreigners or any person without a nationality enjoy copyright protection of computer software they develop, if such computer software was first distributed in China.

Under the Software Protection Regulations, software copyright holders enjoy the rights of publication, authorship, modification, duplication, issuance, lease, transmission on the information network, translation, licensing and transfer. The software copyright comes into being on the day of completion of its development. In the case of software developed by legal persons and other organizations, the protection period is 50 years and ends on the thirty-first day of December of the fiftieth year from the date the software product was first published. However, the Software Protection Regulations will not protect the software if it has never been published within 50 years since the completion of development. A written license contract is required to license the right to use the software copyright and a written assignment contract is required for transfer of any software copyright.

Enforcement actions available under the Software Protection Regulations against infringements of copyright include, among other things, cessation of the infringement, elimination of the effects, apology, compensation for losses and other civil responsibilities. Disputes regarding infringements of software

copyright can be mediated. In addition, the parties may apply for arbitration in accordance with the arbitration provision set forth in the copyright contract or the arbitration agreement otherwise entered into between or among the parties. If the parties do not have an arbitration agreement, they can resolve the dispute through the PRC courts.

Software copyright registration

Pursuant to the Copyright Law of the PRC, or the Copyright Law, which was adopted at the 15th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress on September 7, 1990 and effective from June 1, 1991, works including computer software developed by PRC citizens, legal persons or other entities without legal personality, whether published or not, are protected under the Copyright Law. On February 20, 2002, the State Copyright Administration of the PRC promulgated the Measures Concerning Registration of Computer Software Copyright Procedures, or the Registration Procedures, to implement the Regulations for the Protection of Computer Software and to promote the development of China’s software industry. The Registration Procedures apply to the registration of software copyrights and software copyright exclusive licensing contracts and assignment contracts. The registrant of a software copyright will be the copyright owner and the natural person, legal person or other organization in whom the software copyright becomes vested through succession, assignment or inheritance.

Pursuant to the Registration Procedures, the software to be registered must (i) have been independently developed or (ii) significantly improve in its function or performance after modification from the original software, with the permission of the original copyright owner. If the software being registered is developed by more than one person, the copyright owners may nominate one person to handle the copyright registration process on behalf of the other copyright owners. If the copyright owners fail to reach an agreement with respect to the registration, any of the copyright owners may apply for registration but the names of the other copyright owners must be recorded on the application.

The parties to a software copyright assignment contract or exclusive licensing contract may apply to the Copyright Protection Center of the PRC, or CPC, for registration of such contracts. In registering a contract, the following materials must be submitted: (1) a completed contract registration form; (2) a copy of the contract; and (3) the applicant’s identification documents.

The CPC will complete its examination of an accepted application within 60 days of the date of acceptance. If an application complies with the requirements of the Software Protection Regulations and the Registration Procedures, a registration will be granted, a corresponding registration certificate will be issued and the registration will be publicly announced.

Software products registration

On October 27, 2000, the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC, or the MII, issued the Measures Concerning Software Products Administration, to regulate and administer software products and promote the development of the software Industry in China. Pursuant to the Measures Concerning Software Products Administration, all software products operated or sold in China must be duly registered with the relevant authorities.

To produce software products in China, the software production units should meet certain requirements, such as the possession of (i) enterprise legal person status and a scope of operations which includes the computer software business; (ii) a fixed production site; (iii) conditions and technologies for producing software products; and (iv) quality control measures and capabilities for the production of software products. Software developers or producers are allowed to sell their registered software products independently or through agents, or by way of licensing. If the software products are sold through a

distribution agent, there must be a contract between the software developer and the agent, and between the agent and its sub-agents, if any, specifying the distribution rights, distribution territory and distribution term as well as the technical services to be provided by the distribution agent. The MII and other relevant departments may carry out supervision and inspection over the development, production, operation and import/export activities of software products in China.

Policies to encourage the development of software and integrated circuit industries

On June 24, 2000, the State Council issued Certain Policies to Encourage the Development of Software and Integrated Circuit Industries, or the Policies, to encourage the development of the software and integrated circuit industries in China and to enhance the international competitiveness of the PRC information technology industry. The Policies encourage the development of the software and integrated circuit industries in China through various methods, including:

Regulation of foreign exchange and dividend distribution

Foreign exchange

The principal regulations governing foreign exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Control Rules (1996), as amended. On June 20, 1996, the People’s Bank of China promulgated the Administration Rules of Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange, or the FX Administration Rules, which became effective on July 1, 1996.

Under the FX Administration Rules, Renminbi is generally freely convertible for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for foreign direct investment, foreign loans or issuance of securities outside China unless the prior approval of SAFE is obtained.

Pursuant to the FX Administration Rules, foreign investment enterprises in China generally may purchase foreign exchange without the approval or review of SAFE for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. They may also retain foreign exchange, subject to a cap approved by SAFE, under current account items. However, the relevant PRC government authorities may limit or eliminate the ability of foreign investment enterprises to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future. Foreign investment enterprises are permitted to distribute their profits or dividends in foreign currencies out of their foreign exchange accounts or exchange Renminbi for foreign currencies through banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business.

Dividend distribution

The principal PRC regulations governing the distribution of dividends by our wholly foreign-owned enterprises are (i) The Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law (1986), as amended in 2000; and (ii) Implementation Regulations under the Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law (2001).

Under these regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China may only pay dividends out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China is required to set aside at least 10.0% of its after-tax income each year, if any, to fund a reserve fund until the accumulated reserve amounts to 50.0% of its registered capital. It is also required to set aside funds for the employee bonus and welfare fund from its after-tax income each year at percentages determined at its sole discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.

Restricted net assets

Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by our PRC subsidiaries only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the statutory general reserve fund, which requires annual appropriations of 10% of net after-tax income should be set aside prior to payment of any dividends. As a result of these and other restrictions under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary and affiliate are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us either in the form of dividends, loans or advances, restricted portion amounted to approximately RMB499.9 million (US$62.0 million), or 40.1% of our total consolidated net assets as of December 31, 2005.

Even though we currently do not require any such dividends, loans or advances from our PRC subsidiaries, we may in the future require additional cash resources from our PRC subsidiaries due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions or developments, or merely to declare and pay dividends or distributions to our shareholders, although we currently have no intention to do so.

Regulation of the import/export industry

The State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine of the PRC

In April 2001, the PRC Inspections Administration was established by combining the former State Import and Export Commodity Inspection Quarantine Bureau of the PRC and the State Quality and Technique Supervision Bureau of the PRC, which oversees the inspection work of import and export commodities for the PRC in accordance with the institutional reform plan of the State Council. The PRC Inspections Administration, which is primarily an administrative and law enforcement institution governing, among others, the health quarantine of imported and exported animals and plants, the inspection, appraisal, certification and supervision of imported and exported commodities, has the following responsibilities, among others:

Customs General Administration of the PRC

PRC Customs, General Administration is the highest authority for supervising and administering the customs points for entering into and departing from the PRC and is responsible for customs administration throughout the nation.

The PRC Customs Law is intended to protect PRC sovereignty and interests and to strengthen the administration of customs supervision. In accordance with the PRC Customs Law, PRC Customs, General Administration has primary responsibility for:

Import/ Export license system

The import and export license system is an important administrative measure in the international trade regulations of the PRC. Since the early 1990’s, the PRC government has gradually relaxed its control over import activities including abandoning or reducing the range of import licenses, import quotas and import control. Since 1998, the PRC government has removed its control of import licenses and export quotas over a wide range of commodities which previously required import licenses. On December 10, 2001, the State Council issued the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Administration of Import and Export, or the Regulations, which apply to the import of goods into China and the export of goods from China, to standardize administration of import and export of goods and to promote the development of foreign trade in China. Pursuant to the Regulations, goods for importation are divided into three categories: (i) prohibited for imports, (ii) restricted for imports, and (iii) free for imports. The lists of prohibited and restricted imports is formulated by the State Council department responsible for foreign trade and economic cooperation after consulting other relevant State Council departments. Restricted imports are further divided into quota-controlled imports, license-controlled imports and tariff- and quota-controlled imports. Import quotas are distributed to quota applicants annually based on specific criteria. Import licenses are issued on a case-by-case basis. Exported goods are also divided into prohibited exports, restricted exports and free exports. The lists of prohibited and restricted exports is formulated by the State Council department responsible for foreign trade and economic cooperation after consulting other relevant State Council departments. Restricted exports are further divided into quota-controlled exports and license-controlled exports. Export quotas are distributed annually and may be distributed through direct allocation, invitation of bids or other methods. Export licenses are issued on a case-by-case basis. Under certain circumstances, the relevant State Council departments may take certain temporary measures to restrict or prohibit certain imports.

Administrative provisions on the Origin Certificate

All exporters may apply for origin certificates in respect of the products to be exported out of China. In compliance with the Implementation Rules of the Place of Origin for Export Goods of the PRC issued on April 1, 1992, which became effective on May 1, 1992, and the Provisions for the Issuance of the Origin Certificate for Export Goods of the PRC (Trial Implementation), which became effective on January 1, 1996, and to strengthen the administration of the issuance of Origin Certificates, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, currently known as the Ministry of Commerce, promulgated the Administrative Provisions of the PRC on Origin Certificate on March 8, 1996, or the Administrative Provisions. The Administrative Provisions are aimed at facilitating the implementation of a national EDI project by the Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce made use of the recommended standard form of the Origin Certificate issued by the then State Technology Supervision Administration of the PRC on July 1, 1996, to standardize and regulate the administration, subscription, printing, transportation, record-keeping, issuance, calculation and examination of the Origin Certificate, thus minimizing or eliminating the occurrence of forged or fake Origin Certificates. The new standard form of the Origin Certificate bears a uniform serial number.

Commodity quality inspection and quarantine inspection

Commodity quality inspection

The Law on the People’s Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection adopted by the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress on February 21, 1989, which became effective on August 1, 1989, as amended on April 28, 2002, provides that all imported and exported commodities included in a published inspection list must be inspected in accordance with the relevant compulsory inspection standards or other standards specified by the state inspection authorities prior to export out of China or use or sale in China for imported goods. On October 23, 1992, the State Import and Export Commodities Inspection Bureau, with the approval of the State Council, promulgated the Implementing Provisions for Law of the People’s Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection, which stipulates particular requirements for the import and export commodity inspection.

Quarantine inspection

The Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress adopted the Import & Export Animals and Plants Quarantine Law on April 1, 1992, which provides the legal basis for the quarantine inspection of animals, plants and other products and the containers and packaging materials used for transporting or packing these items. On December 2, 1996, the State Council issued Implementing Regulations for the Import & Export Animals and Plants Quarantine Law which provides detailed procedures for quarantine inspection of animals, plants and other products. The PRC Inspections Administration is currently responsible for carrying out import and export commodity inspections.

We conduct substantially all of our business through eight PRC subsidiaries in China. The following diagram illustrates our subsidiaries, their country of incorporation and the proportion of our ownership of each as of June 15, 2006.

For details of the above subsidiaries, see “— History and development of the company.”

Our principal executive offices occupy a total of approximately 2,330 square meters on the 5th, 12th and 17th floors of Union Plaza, 20 Chaowai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020 PRC. In addition, we occupy a representative office of approximately 200 square meters at Suites 1705-6, 17/F, Two Chinachem Exchange Square, 338 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong. As of May 31, 2006, we have also leased facilities in the following cities and municipalities to serve as technical support centers:

During 2005, we transferred a number of technical support centers to our franchisees in an effort to reduce the number of technical support centers that we operate on our own. We currently support our existing users jointly with our three franchisees through nine technical support centers operated and maintained by us and 24 technical support centers operated and maintained by our three franchisees located in the major coastal cities in Eastern and Southern China.

Ninetowns Ports acquired, subject to the receipt of the necessary title certificates, four residential units in the Sing Sun Building in Guangzhou, with aggregate space of approximately 355 square meters and uses such premises as employee housing for our employees in Guangzhou.

Ninetowns Times owns two commercial units in the Qingdao Bai Sing Building in Qingdao, with aggregate space of approximately 384 square meters and uses such commercial units as offices. Ninetowns Times also acquired, subject to the receipt of the necessary title certificates, an eight-storey building in Fengtai, with aggregate space of approximately 2,207 square meters and uses such building as a call center for our technical support services and also as a research and development center.

Ninetowns Ports also acquired four floors and the naming right of a building under construction in Beijing. See Item 7 of this annual report, “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related party transactions — Transaction with Mr. Ko Jin Heng.”

Insurance

The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. We are not required to maintain business liability insurance, and, to our knowledge, other software companies in China do not maintain such insurance. As a result, we do not have business liability insurance coverage, but we do maintain vehicle liability insurance. Moreover, while business disruption insurance is available, we have determined that the risks of disruption and the cost of insurance are such that we do not require it at this time. Any business disruption, litigation or natural disaster might therefore result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources.

We do not maintain key-man life insurance for any member of senior management. We maintain directors and officers insurance for our directors and members of senior management.

Overview

We are a leading PRC software company that enables enterprises and trade-related PRC government agencies to streamline the import/export process in China; we believe we are a leader in our market based on revenues and market share. We achieve this by leveraging our international trade expertise and our insight into the needs and procedures of certain trade-related PRC government agencies. To date, we have focused on providing enterprise software and related customer maintenance services for the completion over the Internet of the declaration process. In order to secure our market position, we assisted in designing and building, and continue to maintain and upgrade, the electronic systems of the PRC Inspections Administration, that enable our enterprise software to process electronic declarations over the Internet.

We generated total net revenues of RMB132.9 million, RMB201.5 million and RMB239.9 million (US$29.7 million) in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. The increase in our total net revenues was due to increased sales of our enterprise software and related services, increased demand for our software development services and the overall growth of the import/export market in China. Our net income in 2003, which included a stock-based compensation expense of RMB35.0 million, was RMB41.2 million, increasing to RMB134.0 million in 2004. Our net income in 2005 was RMB151.6 million (US$18.8 million), representing a 13.2% increase from 2004. We believe there were approximately 51,860, 95,000 and 122,000 licensees of our enterprise software registered to effect electronic import/export processing with the PRC Inspections Administration as of December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

The major factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition include:

Focus on sales of enterprise software and software development services

Our predecessor, Ninetowns Technology, was formed in 1995 to focus on the research and development of software related to the declaration process, in addition to selling computer hardware and accessories. During the first several years of our operations, our net revenues from computer hardware sales constituted almost all of our total net revenues and provided the necessary funding for our development of software related to the declaration process. As we developed, we engaged in three main lines of business: (i) sales of enterprise software and related customer maintenance services, (ii) provision of software development services, and (iii) sales of computer hardware and accessories. Since 2001, we have shifted our business focus from sales of computer hardware and accessories to sales of enterprise software and related customer maintenance services and provision of software development services. Sales of computer hardware and accessories accounted for an insignificant percentage of our total net revenues in 2005 and are expected to be a negligible part of our business in the future. We intend to continue deploying our resources on sales of enterprise software and related customer maintenance services and provision of software development services that enable enterprises and trade-related PRC government agencies to streamline the import/export process in China.

Growth of the import/export industry in China

Our financial results have been, and we expect them to continue to be, affected by the growth of the import/export industry in China. According to Global Insight, the total value of import/export transactions in China reached approximately US$1.4 trillion in 2005, up from approximately US$851.6 billion in 2003 and approximately US$1.2 trillion in 2004. As a result of China’s accession into the WTO in 2001, tariffs imposed by China on all imported goods are expected to be reduced and PRC-imposed import quotas and permit requirements are expected to be gradually eliminated. We believe the combination of a rapidly

growing PRC economy and China’s accession to the WTO will accelerate the growth of the import/export industry in China, and as a result create additional demand for our products and services.

Increase in number of potential users

The number of users of our enterprise software has increased significantly since we first launched our iDeclare.CIQ software products in August 2000. This increase is partially attributable to the increasing number of PRC international trade enterprises and partially attributable to the increasing demand from such enterprises for more efficient import/export processing methods. We expect an increase in the number of PRC international trade enterprises as the PRC economy continues to expand. We believe this in turn will increase demand for our enterprise software and related customer maintenance services and software development services, as international trade enterprises seek an efficient means of completing the declaration process.

In August 2005, the PRC Inspections Administration selected our company as the winning bidder in connection with the PRC Inspections Administration's request for proposals for the development of a software product that has certain basic functionalities similar to those of iDeclare.CIQ and iProcess.CIQ. The PRC Inspections Administration agreed to pay a one-time fee of RMB3.3 million (US$409,000) to purchase the ownership of the software product that we developed. In February 2006, the PRC Inspections Administration commenced to distribute such software products free-of-charge to end-users. We believe that the distribution of free software products, while in the long run will likely increase the number of e-filers and hence increase demand for our enterprise software services, would have a significant adverse effect on our total net revenue, our results of operations and profitability in the short-term. For example, we sold, together with our franchisees, approximately 1,500 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ during the first quarter of 2006, which is significantly lower than the approximately 8,000 software packages of iDeclare.CIQ sold by our company and our distributors and franchisees during the first quarter of 2005.

Expanding our user base through franchisees

We believe our user base has substantial growth potential due to the high number of international trade enterprises that possess import/export rights in China. According to the PRC Ministry of Commerce, there were approximately 510,000 foreign-invested companies registered to do business in China as of January 31, 2006. In addition, there are numerous PRC-based companies that possess import/export rights. A key component of our growth strategy is to secure new customers through the efforts of our franchisees and we intend to engage additional franchisees to expand our marketing and distribution network. Currently, we have engaged three franchisees to undertake marketing, distribution and service activities in China.

Description of revenues, cost items and trade receivables

We operate in three lines of business: (i) sales of enterprise software, (ii) software development services, and (iii) sales of computer hardware and accessories. Currently, our total net revenues are primarily derived from our sales of enterprise software. Our net revenues from sales of computer hardware and accessories constituted less than 1.0% of our total net revenues for 2005.

Total net revenues

Currently, we generate total net revenues primarily from (i) sales of enterprise software products and fees from customer maintenance services, (ii) fees from software development services, and (iii) sales of computer hardware and accessories.

We derived RMB20.4 million, RMB51.7 million and RMB89.1 million (US$11.0 million), or 15.4%, 25.6% and 37.1% of our total net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, from our related parties iTowNet and eGrid, which are two of our major customers for software development services, and Ninetowns Enke, which is one of our franchisees.

Our total net revenues are net of business tax and VAT, but include VAT refunds as discussed below. Our sales of enterprise software products and computer hardware and accessories are generally subject to a VAT of 17.0%. Our fees charged for software development services and customer maintenance service for enterprise software products are generally subject to a 5.0% business tax. Pursuant to the laws and regulations of the PRC, three of our subsidiaries in China are entitled to a refund of the 14.0% VAT for certain self-developed software products. We recognize the VAT refunds at the same time we recognize net revenues from sales of enterprise software. VAT refunds are included in our net revenues from sales of enterprise software. In 2005, we recognized RMB19.8 million (US$2.4 million) in VAT refunds. We cannot predict how much our net revenues from sales of our enterprise software or software development services will increase in the future, or if they will increase at all.

Enterprise software. Our net revenues from enterprise software are derived primarily from sales of our iDeclare.CIQ basic package and related customer maintenance service fees. We charge users of iDeclare.CIQ a license fee of RMB4,500 per software package, which includes a one-year customer maintenance service period. We also charge RMB1,500 for each additional year of customer maintenance services. In June 2005, we launched our iProcess.CIQ basic package and related customer maintenance service. We charge users of iProcess.CIQ on the same terms as those for iDeclare.CIQ. Enterprise software revenues and fees from customer maintenance services are recognized ratably over a 12-month period. Enterprise software revenues received or receivable but not yet recognized are accounted for as short-term unearned revenue on our balance sheets. Short-term unearned revenue is reduced proportionately as enterprise software revenues are recognized ratably over the 12-month period.

In addition to direct sales, we also sold our enterprise software to our distributors and franchisees for further sale to users. As of December 31, 2005, the distribution agreements with our former distributors, Panyu and Tomorrow Technology, expired and we chose not to renew them due to our efforts to develop our franchisee network. In June 2005 and January 2006, we engaged two new franchisees and we currently have three franchisees. Our per-unit license fee for enterprise software products charged to our distributors and franchisee is based on our negotiated sales arrangement with the distributor or franchisee, and is less than the RMB4,500 per-unit license fee we receive from direct sales. We also sell iDeclare.CIQ on a fee-per-declaration filing basis to a limited number of users, substantially all of whom are located in Dongguan, China. Our ability to grow our net revenues from sales of enterprise software will depend on (i) the rate of increase in the number of new users of such product, (ii) the market’s acceptance of our planned new software products, (iii) the success of our plans to engage additional franchisees, and (iv) our increased efforts in marketing our customer maintenance services to our users. It is currently unclear how the distribution of free enterprise software by the PRC Inspections Administration affects our ability to grow our net revenues from sales of enterprise software.

Notwithstanding that we intend to charge for such maintenance services, we believe our users and potential customers are not accustomed to being charged for this type of service and it is unclear to us how many of our users will pay for such maintenance services. In 2005, we collected customer maintenance service fees from approximately 44,600 users, representing approximately 47.0% of our users due to renew their maintenance service. We intend to continue to increase our marketing and collection efforts with respect to these customer maintenance service fees. We expect our profit margin from sales of enterprise software to decrease if the VAT refund is eliminated or reduced by the PRC tax authorities. We expect net revenues from per declaration filing fees to increase with our increased sales of enterprise software, but to remain stable as a percentage of our total net revenues.

Software development services. Our net revenues from software development services are derived primarily from contracts related to PRC government agency software development projects, such as our

services for the PRC Inspections Administration and the data exchange platforms operated by iTowNet, which is our related party, and our services for eGrid, which is also our related party. As we believe is consistent with the practice of other software development companies in China engaged in government-related work, we often commence work on software development projects based on oral commitments from our customer and sign the contract after the commencement of work. Once a contract has been signed, we begin recognizing net revenues from these projects based on the percentage-of-completion method, in which revenue recognition is based on the man-hours spent and the costs invested in the project. Billing is generally done periodically in accordance with predetermined milestones as established by the contract. We expect net revenues from software development services to increase as we are engaged by additional PRC government agencies, such as PRC Customs, to perform such services, but we cannot predict how much such revenues will grow in the future, or if they will grow at all.

Computer hardware sales. Until 2002, we derived significant net revenues from sales of personal computers and computer accessories. We recognize net revenues from computer hardware sales when the equipment or accessories are delivered, title has passed to the customer and we have no further obligation to provide services related to the operation of such equipment or accessories. We have shifted our business focus to the sale of enterprise software and the provision of software development services. Although we derived significant net revenues from computer hardware sales in the past, we expect net revenues from this business to represent an insignificant portion of our total net revenues in the future.

Cost of revenues

Our cost of revenues consists principally of costs related to sales of our enterprise software and our provision of software development services.

Enterprise software. Our enterprise software consists of standardized software, the production of which involves minimal cost. We have production arrangements with several outside contractors, under which they produce the compact discs that contain our software and charges us a fee for such services. We package such compact discs with compact disc holders and ship the packages from our Beijing headquarters to our branch offices, distributors and franchisee. As a result, the cost of revenues for sales of enterprise software consists mainly of outsourcing costs to those outside contractors and costs associated with packaging and shipping of software. We expect our cost of revenues from sales of enterprise software to increase as a percentage of our total net revenues because we will be required to recognize additional cost of revenues after we commercially introduce iMonitor.CGA, since the costs associated with iMonitor.CGA as a percentage of net revenues from sales of enterprise software are higher than the costs associated with iDeclare.CIQ.

Software development services. Our cost of software development services is comprised mainly of personnel expenses, office rental expenses and other expenses directly related to our provision of software development services. We record cost of revenues for software development services on a percentage-of-completion method by reference to the man-hours incurred and estimated total project hours. We expect our cost of revenues related to software development services to increase as a percentage of our net revenues from software development services as a result of the requirement for more advanced technologies in new projects. As such, we expect our overall cost of revenues from software development services to increase as we perform more software development services.

Computer hardware sales. Our cost of revenues from computer hardware sales is minimal because (i) we do not manufacture these products, but source them from third party manufacturers, (ii) we maintain

minimal inventories of computer hardware and accessories, and (iii) we have a very low volume of sales in this line of business.

Gross profit margin

Our gross profit margin is primarily affected by our net revenues from sales of enterprise software and the cost of revenues for our software development services. For the purpose of calculating our gross profits, costs that are not otherwise specifically allocated are allocated to our costs associated with (i) sales of enterprise software, (ii) software development services, and (iii) sales of computer hardware and accessories, in proportion to the gross profits from these lines of business prior to the allocation of such common costs. We expect our enterprise software gross profit margin to decrease with our expected increase in iMonitor.CGA sales because the costs associated with iMonitor.CGA, as a percentage of net revenues from sales of enterprise software, are higher than the costs associated with iDeclare.CIQ. We expect our software development services gross profit margin to decrease as we invest in more advanced technologies in new software development projects. We do not expect our computer hardware line of business to impact our gross profit as we continue to shift our business focus to our other lines of business.

Operating expenses

Our operating expenses consist of (i) selling expenses, (ii) general and administrative expenses, (iii) research and development expenses, and (iv) allowance for doubtful debts. We do not allocate operating expenses to individual lines of business when making decisions about allocation of resources or assessing the performance of our lines of business.

Selling expenses. Selling expenses consist primarily of sales, marketing and personnel expenses, customer service expenses, associated rental expenses, marketing and advertising expenses and travel and entertainment expenses for our sales and marketing staff. We expense all selling expenses as they are incurred. As we engage additional franchisees to expand our marketing and distribution network, we expect to significantly decrease the number of our sales and marketing staff. On the other hand, we expect to expand our marketing and advertising campaigns to compete with the free software distributed by the PRC Inspections Administration. In addition, we intend to increase incentive payments to salespersons to promote our enterprise platform products. However, if we decide to engage in a new line of business, we expect to increase the number of our sales and marketing staff to promote that business. As a result of the above, we generally do not expect a significant change in our selling expenses.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, office rental expenses, general office expenses, travel and entertainment expenses and professional fees. We expense all general and administrative expenses as they are incurred. In 2005, we incurred substantially higher general and administrative expenses than in earlier years (excluding the impact of stock-based compensation charge of RMB35.0 million in 2003) as a result of increases in (i) professional fees incurred related to our status as a public company, (ii) insurance premiums for directors and officers insurance and (iii) depreciation and amortization charges on fixed assets and intangible assets. We do not expect our general and administrative expenses to increase significantly in 2006.

On February 22, 2002, our former principal shareholder, Jitter Bug, transferred a 6.0% ownership interest in our company, which is currently equal to 1,320,000 ordinary shares, to one former and three current members of our senior management for an aggregate consideration of HK$40. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” or APB No. 25, we have accounted for this transaction as a contribution to capital by Jitter Bug with an offsetting charge to stock compensation expenses in an amount determined by the difference between the amount paid for, and the fair value of, the shares transferred. We were a shell company on the date of transfer and accordingly there was little or no value attributable to the interest transferred. On September 27, 2003, Jitter Bug transferred all of its interests in our current PRC operating subsidiaries, which were held by Ixworth, to us. Such transfers resulted in a new measurement date for the interests transferred and accordingly, we recorded a compensation charge of RMB35.0 million in 2003. Such compensation charge has been included in general and administrative expenses. In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, or SFAS No.123-R, which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. SFAS No. 123-R supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on the grant-date fair values. Pro forma disclosure previously permitted under SFAS No. 123 is no longer an alternative. The new standard, as recently amended, will be effective in the annual reporting period beginning after January 1, 2006. As a result, we may incur employee stock-based compensation expenses in the future.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of research and development personnel expenses and associated rental expenses. We expense research and development expenses as they are incurred. In addition, because technological feasibility for our software products ordinarily occurs right before such products are commercially launched and because costs incurred between technological feasibility and commercial launch are immaterial, such costs are

expensed as incurred. We expect our research and development expenses to increase as a result of (i) our investment in the research and development of new enterprise platform products, (ii) an increase in the number of research and development personnel, (iii) an expected increase in our potential new business ventures and (iv) our investment in software licenses for development tools to increase the productivity of our overall research and development efforts.

Allowance for doubtful debts. Allowance for doubtful debts represents the expense we recognize on the estimated credit losses from our regular assessments of the collections and current credit information of our outstanding trade receivables. We expect our allowance for doubtful debts to remain stable in the future as a result of our increased efforts in evaluating the credit risk of our customers.

As a result of the cumulative effect of the factors described above, we expect in the future our total operating expenses will increase.

Taxation

Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, neither our company, Ixworth, Better Chance International Limited nor Asia Pacific Logistics Limited is subject to tax on its income or capital gains. In addition, payment of dividends by either company is not subject to withholding tax in those jurisdictions.

PRC enterprise income tax. Our PRC operating subsidiaries are subject to PRC EIT on their taxable income. Pursuant to PRC tax laws, EIT is generally assessed at the rate of 33.0% of taxable income.

Beijing New Take, Ninetowns Times and Beijing Digital are afforded favorable tax treatment and are only subject to a 15.0% EIT. Shanghai New Take and Ninetowns Ports are also afforded favorable tax treatment. Shanghai New Take was exempt from EIT from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004 and is subject to a 16.5% EIT from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007. Ninetowns Ports was exempt from EIT from August 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005 and is subject to a

7.5% EIT for the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. Tsingdao Fujin and Ninetowns Network have not generated any profits and has not applied for tax exemptions or reductions. Guangdong Ninetowns Technology is entitled to exempt from EIT from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007. Ninetowns Network is entitled to exempt from EIT from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008.

Beijing Digital, Beijing New Take, Ninetowns Times, Ninetowns Ports and Ninetowns Network have qualified as “new and high technology enterprises” and have been granted preferential EIT rates based on such status. Shanghai New Take has also been granted preferential EIT rates based on its status as a software company. Relevant PRC government authorities specify certain financial and operational criteria for a company to comply with in order to maintain its status as a new and high technology enterprise.

PRC business tax. Our PRC operating subsidiaries are also subject to PRC business tax. We primarily pay business tax on our net revenues generated from software development services and customer maintenance services. Our PRC operating subsidiaries generally pay a 5.0% business tax on our net revenues derived from software development services and customer maintenance services and this business tax is deducted from our total net revenues.

Value-added tax. Our PRC operating subsidiaries are also generally subject to a 17.0% VAT on sales of computer hardware and accessories and our enterprise software products. Pursuant to PRC tax regulations, Ninetowns Times, Beijing Digital and Ninetowns Ports are entitled to a 14.0% VAT refund on sales of certain registered self-developed software products. Our net revenues from sales of such enterprise software include VAT refunds in the amount of RMB10.9 million, RMB17.4 million and RMB19.8 million (US$2.4 million) in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Upon expiration of these preferential EIT rates and VAT refunds, we will consider available options, if any, in accordance with applicable law, that would enable us to qualify for further tax incentives.

Trade receivables

Our trade receivables from external customers and trade receivables from related parties consist primarily of amounts due from our distributors and franchisee for enterprise software delivered to them and amounts billed but not paid for our software development services. Our trade receivables balance due from related parties was RMB29.8 million (US$3.7 million) in 2005.

Critical accounting policies

The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our consolidated financial statements. Some of our accounting policies require us to make difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. We have summarized below our accounting policies that we believe are both important to the portrayal of our financial results and involve the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

Revenue recognition

We account for the sales of our enterprise software in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or AICPA, Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2, “Software Revenue Recognition.” The application of SOP 97-2 requires judgment, including whether a software arrangement includes multiple elements, and if so, whether vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, of fair value exists for those elements. Our customers receive certain elements of our enterprise software over a period of time,

including post-delivery repair and enterprise software maintenance, training, telephone support and nonspecific enhancements of the software on a when-and-if-available basis. As no fair value of these elements can be assessed reliably, we recognize such revenues ratably over the contract period of the software arrangement, which is usually 12 months. Changes to the elements in a software arrangement, the ability to identify VSOE for those elements, and the fair value of the respective elements could all materially impact the amount of earned and unearned revenue. Enterprise software revenues received or receivable but not yet recognized are accounted for as short-term unearned revenue on our balance sheet. Short-term unearned revenue is reduced proportionately as enterprise software revenues are recognized ratably over the 12-month period.

As we believe is consistent with the practice of other software development companies in China engaged in government-related work, we often commence work on software development projects based on oral commitments from our customer and sign the contract after the commencement of work. Once a contract has been signed, we begin recognizing revenues from these projects based on the percentage-of-completion of the contracts, in which revenue recognition is based on the man-hours spent and the costs invested in the projects. Billing is generally done periodically in accordance with predetermined milestones as established by the contract. The determination of percentage-of-completion with reference to man-hours spent and the costs invested in the projects requires significant judgment.

Research and development costs

We account for research and development costs in accordance with several accounting pronouncements, including SFAS 2, “Accounting for Research and Development Costs,” and SFAS 86, “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed.” SFAS 86 specifies that costs incurred internally in creating a computer software product should be charged to expense when incurred as research and development until technological feasibility has been established for the product. Once technological feasibility is established, all software costs should be capitalized until the product is available for general release to customers. Judgment is required in determining when technological feasibility of a product is established. We have determined that technological feasibility for our products is reached shortly before the products are commercially launched. Costs incurred after technological feasibility is established are not material, and accordingly, we expense all research and development costs when incurred.

Stock-based compensation

Our 2003 Plan and our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan allow the grant of share options to our employees and directors. We account for all employee stock-based compensation in accordance with APB No. 25, which requires us to record a compensation charge for the excess of the fair value for the stock at the grant date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. We determine the fair value of our ordinary shares underlying share options granted under our 2003 Plan based on several factors, including the price of our then-most-recent ordinary share placement.

In addition, our principal shareholder, Jitter Bug, transferred a 6.0% ownership interest in our company to one former and three current members of our senior management for an aggregate consideration of HK$40 in 2002. In accordance with APB No. 25, we have accounted for this transaction as a contribution to capital by Jitter Bug with an offsetting charge to stock compensation expenses in an amount equal to the difference between the amount paid for, and the fair value of, the shares transferred. In September 2003, Jitter Bug transferred all of the interests in our current operating subsidiaries in China, which it held through Ixworth, to us. This corporate restructuring resulted in a new measurement date for the 6.0% interest transferred by Jitter Bug in 2002. We therefore recorded a compensation charge of RMB35.0

million in 2003 for the difference between the amount paid by those executive officers for such 6.0% ownership interest and the fair value of the shares transferred.

We did not record a compensation charge for the options granted to our employees under our 2003 Plan because we determined that the exercise price of the options was not less than the fair value of our ordinary shares as of the grant date. Had different assumptions or criteria been used to determine the fair value of our ordinary shares, materially different amounts of stock-based compensation could have been reported. We similarly did not record a compensation charge for the options granted to our employees under our 2004 Plan because the exercise price of such options was set at the closing price of our ADSs on the Nasdaq National Market on the date of grant.

Commencing from January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, or SFAS No.123-R, which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. SFAS No. 123-R supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. Generally, the approach in SFAS No. 123-R is similar to the approach described in SFAS No. 123. However, SFAS No. 123-R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on the grant-date fair values. Pro forma disclosure previously permitted under SFAS No. 123 is no longer an alternative.

Trade receivables

We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and adjust credit limits based on payment history and the customer’s current credit-worthiness, as determined by our review of their current credit information. We extended three months of credit to our former distributors and franchisees pursuant to our distribution and franchise agreements. However, it took on average five to six months for our distributors and franchisees, who are also our major customers, to settle their debts to us. Therefore, in some fiscal periods, our trade receivables increased, and may increase in the future, to an amount which is approximately equal to our total net revenues for such period. We continuously monitor collections and payments from our customers and maintain a 5.0% provision on the period-end balance of the trade receivables for estimated credit losses from our non-government related customers, distributors and franchisee based upon our historical experience. We typically write-off trade receivables that are over 360 days outstanding. While such credit losses have historically been within our expectations and the provisions established, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to experience the same credit loss rates that we have had in the past. Since we have not experienced any significant payment problems from our government-related customers in the past, we do not maintain any provision for such customers. The trade receivables from iTowNet, which we believe is our only customer that is a PRC government entity or is controlled by a government entity, were approximately 17.5% of our total trade receivables as of December 31, 2005. The trade receivables from our non-government customers were approximately 82.5% of our total trade receivables as of December 31, 2005. Since our trade receivables are concentrated in a relatively small number of customers, a significant change in the liquidity or financial position of any one of these customers could have a material adverse impact on the collectibility of our trade receivables and our future operating results.

The following table sets forth the results of our operations expressed as a percentage of our total net revenues for the periods indicated. Our historical operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period.

2005 compared to 2004

Total net revenues

We generated total net revenues of RMB239.9 million (US$29.7 million) in 2005, an increase of 19.0% over our total net revenues of RMB201.5 million in 2004. This revenue growth was principally the result of the expansion of both of our enterprise software business and software development business and the recognition of net revenues from sales of enterprise software that were made in 2004.

Enterprise software. Net revenues from sales of our enterprise software increased by 7.8% to RMB203.5 million (US$25.2 million) in 2005 from RMB188.7 million in 2004, primarily as a result of an increase in the number of users of our enterprise software, which is partially attributable to the increasing number of international trade enterprises operating in China and also attributable to the increasing demand for more efficient import/export processing methods. The increase in our net revenues from enterprise software is also attributable to the increase in the number of customer maintenance service contracts sold to our existing users. In 2005, we signed customer maintenance service contracts with approximately 44,600 users whose customer maintenance service contracts were due for renewal in 2005. We recognized net revenues of RMB33.2 million (US$4.1 million) from provision of customer maintenance services in 2005. Of our net revenues from sales of enterprise software, RMB24.1 million and RMB23.6 million (US$2.9 million) were from per declaration filing fees in 2004 and 2005, respectively, representing a year-on-year decrease of 2.1%. As of December 31, 2005, we believe there were approximately 122,000 licensees of our enterprise software registered to effect electronic import/export processing over the data exchange platforms of iTowNet, an increase of 28.4% from approximately 95,000 of such licensees as of December 31, 2004.

Software development services. Net revenues from our software development services increased significantly to RMB35.7 million (US$4.4 million) in 2005 from RMB12.7 million in 2004. This increase is attributable to the fact that a number of software development projects were initiated in 2004 based on oral commitments from our customers but contracts for such projects were not signed until 2005, and therefore net revenues were not recognized until 2005.

Computer hardware sales. Net revenues from computer hardware sales comprised less than 1.0% of our total net revenues as we gradually exited this line of business.

Cost of revenues

Enterprise software. Cost of revenues from sales of enterprise software decreased by 67.6% to RMB495,000 (US$61,000) in 2005 as compared to RMB1.5 million in 2004, due to the effects of more stringent cost controls.

Software development services. Cost of revenues from software development services increased significantly to RMB18.2 million (US$2.3 million) in 2005 from RMB3.0 million in 2004, primarily as a result of our work on software development projects in 2004 based on oral commitments from our customers but contracts for such projects were not signed until 2005, and therefore the cost for such projects were not recognized until 2005. As of December 31, 2005, the Company has capitalized costs related to such projects totaling RMB153,000 (US$19,000), which represents a significant decrease from the prior year’s balance of RMB6.7 million as of December 31, 2004.

Computer hardware sales. Cost of revenues from computer hardware sales was insignificant in 2005.

Gross profit margin

Enterprise software. Gross profit margin for sales of enterprise software in 2005 remained stable at 99.8% compared to 99.2% in 2004 primarily because our costs of producing our enterprise software are relatively low and did not change between the periods presented.

Software development services. Gross profit margin for software development services in 2005 decreased to 49.0% compared to 76.7% in 2004, which is mainly attributable to an increase in software development personnel expenses.

Computer hardware sales. Gross profit margin for computer hardware sales decreased to 28.9% in 2005 from 91.3% in 2004, primarily due to increased sales of lower-margin products such as desktop computers.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by 50.8% to RMB86.5 million (US$10.7 million) in 2005 from RMB57.4 million in 2004, primarily as a result of our efforts to expand our business through increased sales, additional staff and increased research and development.

Selling expenses

Selling expenses increased by 61.2% to RMB25.7 million (US$3.2 million) in 2005 from RMB16.0 million in 2004, primarily due to an increase in advertising, office, rental, staff and travel expenses related to increased sales and the expansion of our distribution network.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses increased by 36.0% to RMB48.8 million (US$6.0 million) in 2005 from RMB35.9 million in 2004, primarily due to increases in (i) professional fees incurred in relation to compliance requirements applicable to us as a public company in the United States, (ii) depreciation and amortization charges on fixed assets and intangible assets and (iii) general personnel expenses, office expenses, communication expenses, traveling expenses and insurance expenses, in each case associated with the increase in the scale of our operations.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses increased by 133.4% to RMB11.2 million (US$1.4 million) in 2005 from RMB4.8 million in 2004, primarily due to an increase in staff costs related to the research and development of our new products such as a PRC Customs declaration filing system and an electronic payment system.

Allowance for doubtful debts

Allowance for doubtful debts remained stable at RMB760,000 (US$94,000) in 2005, compared to RMB700,000 in 2004.

Interest income

Interest income increased by significantly to RMB17.6 million (US$2.2 million) in 2005 from RMB3.8 million in 2004, primarily due to interest income derived from our net proceeds from our initial public offering in December 2004.

Other income

Other income decreased by 66.6% to RMB447,000 (US$55,000) in 2005 from RMB1.3 million in 2004. This was attributable to our receipt of a RMB1.0 million government subsidy for research and development work from the Electronic Information Industry Fund of the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC in 2004. We did not receive such subsidy in 2005.

Income taxes

Income taxes decreased by 65.7% to RMB626,000 (US$78,000) in 2005 from RMB1.8 million in 2004, primarily due to the increasing operations of Ninetowns Ports, which was exempt from enterprise income tax in 2005.

Net income

Net income increased by 13.2% to RMB151.6 million (US$18.8 million) in 2005 from RMB134.0 million in 2004 as a result of the cumulative effect of the factors described above.

2004 compared to 2003

Total net revenues

We generated total net revenues of RMB201.5 million in 2004, an increase of 51.6% over our total net revenues of RMB132.9 million in 2003. This revenue growth was principally the result of the expansion of our enterprise software business, offset by a reduction in revenues recognized from our work on software development projects in 2004. This reduction is attributable to the fact that a number of software development projects were initiated in 2004 based on oral commitments from our customers but

for which the contracts for such projects were not signed until 2005, and therefore net revenues were not recognized until 2005.

Enterprise software. Net revenues from sales of our enterprise software increased by 65.8% to RMB188.7 million in 2004 from RMB113.8 million in 2003, primarily as a result of an increase in the number of users of our enterprise software, which is partially attributable to the increasing number of international trade enterprises operating in China and also attributable to the increasing demand for more efficient import/export processing methods. Our net revenues from enterprise software also increased in 2004 because we began marketing customer maintenance service contracts to our existing users. As a result, in 2004, we collected customer maintenance service fees of RMB23.6 million from approximately 15,700 users whose customer maintenance service contracts were due for renewal in 2004. Of our net revenues from sales of enterprise software, RMB23.1 million and RMB24.1 million were from per declaration filing fees in 2003 and 2004, respectively, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, due to the increased number of declaration filings made by our customers in Dongguan, China, in 2004 compared to 2003. As of December 31, 2004, we believe there were approximately 95,000 licensees of our enterprise software registered to effect electronic import/export processing over the data exchange platforms of iTowNet, an increase of 83.2% from approximately 51,860 of such licensees as of December 31, 2003.

Software development services. Net revenues from our software development services decreased by 33.2% to RMB12.7 million in 2004 from RMB19.0 million in 2003. This reduction is attributable to the fact that a number of software development projects were initiated in 2004 based on oral commitments from our customers but contracts for such projects were not signed until 2005, and therefore net revenues were not recognized until 2005.

Computer hardware sales. Net revenues from computer hardware sales comprised less than 1.0% of our total net revenues as we gradually exited this line of business.

Cost of revenues

Enterprise software. Cost of revenues from sales of enterprise software remained stable at RMB1.5 million in 2004 as compared to RMB1.5 million in 2003, due to the effects of more stringent cost controls, offset by our higher sales of enterprise software packages in 2004 as compared to 2003.

Software development services. Cost of revenues from software development services decreased by 39.9% to RMB3.0 million in 2004 from RMB4.9 million in 2003, primarily as a result of our work on software development projects in 2004 based on oral commitments from our customers but contracts for such projects were not signed until 2005, and therefore the cost for such projects were not recognized until 2005. As of December 31, 2004, the Company has capitalized costs related to such projects totaling RMB6.7 million, which represents an increase of 100.0% over the prior year’s balance of nil as of December 31, 2003.

Computer hardware sales. Cost of revenues from computer hardware sales was insignificant in 2004.

Gross profit margin

Enterprise software. Gross profit margin for sales of enterprise software in 2004 remained stable at 99.2% compared to 98.7% in 2003 primarily because our costs of producing our enterprise software are relatively low and did not change between the periods presented.

Software development services. Gross profit margin for software development services in 2004 remained stable at 76.7% compared to 74.1% in 2003, as cost savings realized through use of our existing software technologies were offset by an increase in software development personnel expenses.

Computer hardware sales. Gross profit margin for computer hardware sales increased to 91.3% in 2004 from 33.3% in 2003, primarily due to increased sales of higher-margin products such as computer accessories.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses decreased by 21.7% to RMB57.4 million in 2004 from RMB73.3 million in 2003, primarily as a result of RMB35.0 million in stock-based compensation expenses in 2003, which we did not incur in 2004.

Selling expenses

Selling expenses increased by 16.8% to RMB16.0 million in 2004 from RMB13.7 million in 2003, primarily due to an increase in staff, travel and entertainment expenses related to increased sales, offset by a decrease in commissions and sales incentives paid to our sales and marketing employees. This decrease resulted from our decrease in cash payments to our employees due to our change from a cash-based incentive system to a share option-based incentive system.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased significantly to RMB35.9 million in 2004 from RMB55.4 million in 2003, primarily due to RMB35.0 million of stock-based compensation expenses in 2003 from the transfer of a 6.0% equity interest in our company by Jitter Bug to one former and three current members of our senior management, offset by an increase in general personnel expenses, advertising expenses, communication expenses and insurance expenses, in each case associated with the increase in the scale of our operations. We did not incur any significant stock-based compensation expense in 2004.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses increased by 79.1% to RMB4.8 million in 2004 from RMB2.7 million in 2003, primarily due to an increase in staff and other expenses related to the research and development of our new products such as a PRC Customs declaration filing system, an electronic payment system and a foreign enterprise ERP system.

Allowance for doubtful debts

Allowance for doubtful debts decreased by 53.8% to RMB700,000 in 2004, compared to RMB1.5 million in 2003, as an improved outlook for trade receivables repayment offset a significant increase in our trade receivables.

Interest income

Interest income increased by 208.9% to RMB3.8 million in 2004 from RMB1.2 million in 2003, primarily due to the increase in our bank balances from the deposit of our net proceeds from our initial public offering in December 2004.

Other income

Other income increased to RMB1.3 million in 2004 from RMB211,000 in 2003, as a result of our receipt of a RMB1.0 million government subsidy for research and development work from the Electronic Information Industry Fund of the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC.

Income taxes

Income taxes decreased by 55.7% to RMB1.8 million in 2004 from RMB4.1 million in 2003, primarily due to the increasing operations of Ninetowns Ports, which was exempt from enterprise income tax in 2004.

Net income

Net income increased by 225.2% to RMB134.0 million in 2004 from RMB41.2 million in 2003 as a result of the cumulative effect of the factors described above.

Inflation

Inflation and deflation in China did not have a material impact on our results of operations in the past three years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China’s overall national inflation rate, as represented by the change in the Consumer Price Index in China, was 1.2%, 3.9% and 1.8% in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Foreign currency risk

Substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in Renminbi, but a certain amount of our cash is kept in U.S. dollars and Hong Kong dollars in reputable financial institutions in Hong Kong and the United States. Although we believe that in general, our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited, our cash flows and revenues will be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and Renminbi. For example, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of declaring dividends on our ordinary shares or for other business purposes and the U.S. dollar appreciates against the Renminbi, the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings from our subsidiaries in China would be reduced. In addition, our cash flows and revenues may also be affected by the foreign exchange rate between Renminbi and Hong Kong dollars or U.S. dollars and Hong Kong dollars, as we have certain operating expenses related to our representative office in Hong Kong that are denominated in Hong Kong dollars.

We have experienced minimal foreign exchange gains and losses to date. We do not engage in any hedging activities, and we may in the future experience economic loss as a result of any foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Our primary sources of liquidity have been net cash provided by operating activities and the net proceeds from our equity offerings. We had no outstanding debt as of December 31, 2005. The following table sets forth the summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

Substantially all of our operations are in China. The ability of our PRC operating subsidiaries to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars and transfer such U.S. dollars to us is subject to PRC foreign exchange regulations, including the restriction that foreign invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at banks in the PRC authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents.

Cash flow from operating activities

We provided cash in operating activities of RMB90.3 million (US$11.2 million) in 2005. This was primarily attributable to our cash receipts from sales of enterprise software offset by our placement of RMB56.1 million (US$7.0 million) in term deposits. We generated cash from operating activities of RMB58.0 million in 2004. This was primarily attributable to our cash receipts from sales of enterprise software offset by our placement of RMB85.2 million in term deposits. We generated cash from operating activities of RMB46.4 million in 2003. This was primarily attributable to our cash receipts from sales of enterprise software offset by our placement of RMB40.8 million in term deposits.

Cash flow from investing activities

Cash used in investing activities was RMB54.8 million (US$6.8 million) in 2005. This was primarily attributable to a deposit payment for the acquisition of an additional floor of the building under construction in Beijing and purchases of property, plant and equipment. Investing activities used cash of RMB94.2 million in 2004. This was primarily attributable to our purchase of three floors and the naming rights of a building under construction in Beijing, computer equipment, furniture, fixtures and office equipment and the acquisition of minority interests in our subsidiaries, offset by the repayment of loans by Import & Export. Investing activities provided cash of RMB1.2 million in 2003. This was primarily attributable to our receipt of loan repayments from iTowNet and Import & Export offset by purchases of property, plant and equipment, which primarily consisted of computer equipment, fixtures and office furniture for our representative office in Hong Kong.

Cash flow from financing activities

Financing activities provided cash of RMB2.0 million (US$253,000) in 2005. This was comprised primarily of receipt of proceeds on exercise of stock options by our employees offset by our repayment of outstanding advances from shareholders. Financing activities provided cash of RMB565.6 million in 2004. This was comprised primarily of the net proceeds from our initial public offering in December 2004 of RMB531.4 million and approximately US$3.0 million of escrowed net proceeds from our capital-raising activities in 2003, which we received from escrow in September 2004, offset by our repayment of loans to Jitter Bug. Financing activities provided cash of RMB70.2 million in 2003. This was comprised primarily of the net proceeds from our equity offerings in 2003.

Capital resources

Our primary source of liquidity is cash flow from operating activities and the net proceeds from our equity offerings. Our cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on hand and bank deposits. As of December 31, 2005, we had RMB731.5 million (US$90.6 million) in cash and cash equivalents. In

addition, as of December 31, 2005, we had invested RMB207.0 million (US$25.7 million) in term deposits, which are payable at varying maturities from 3 to 6 months.

We believe that our available cash and cash equivalents and cash provided by operating activities will be sufficient to meet our capital needs for at least the next 12 months. Except for our net cash provided by operating activities, we currently have no plans to seek additional sources of liquidity in the near future. However, we cannot assure you that our business or operations will not change in a manner that would consume our available capital resources more rapidly than anticipated, especially as we continue to evaluate other investment and acquisition opportunities. As of December 31, 2005, we had no lines of credit or other credit facilities.

Capital expenditures

For details of our capital expenditures, see Item 4 of this annual report, “Information on the Company – History and development of the company.”

Our research and development department works continuously to develop new software products as well as new software functions with additional import/export related applications to complement our existing enterprise software, thereby enhancing value for our users. Our research and development department is divided into the following three sub-departments:

In the past, we have developed products and services both independently and through cooperation with a variety of database providers, enterprise resource planners, decision support statistical consultants, software integration providers and others. Although we intend to continue to work closely with outside third parties in product development efforts, we expect the core technology and know-how for future enhancements to our existing and new products will be developed internally and may be supplemented by technology licensed from third parties. See Item 3 of this annual report, “Key Information — Risk factors — Risks related to our business — We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights and others may claim that we have infringed on their intellectual property rights, which could cause us to be less competitive, may expose us to litigation and may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.” We have not granted any ownership interest in any of our products to any party that has worked with us in our product development efforts. In the past, we shared ownership in a foreign trade business system software with Jingjiang A-Bin Software Workshop, or A-Bin, and a declaration software system that is not a part of iDeclare.CIQ, with Beijing Regard. We are not selling either software and, to our knowledge, neither A-Bin nor Beijing Regard is currently selling such software.

As of December 31, 2005, we had 307 employees dedicated to research and development, 18 of whom have master’s degrees and two of whom have Ph.D. degrees. Most of our research and development efforts are located in our principal executive offices in Beijing and in our research and development center in Fengtai.

Our expenses for research and development activities totaled RMB2.7 million in 2003, RMB4.8 million in 2004 and RMB11.2 million (US$1.4 million) in 2005.

We believe that timely development of new and enhanced products and services is necessary for us to remain competitive in the marketplace. Accordingly, we intend to continue recruiting and hiring research and development personnel and to make other investments in research and development. We are in the process of establishing two additional research and development centers, one in the eastern region of China and one in the southern region of China, and we expect those research and development centers to be fully functional by the end of 2006.

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the period from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005 that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.

We have no outstanding derivative financial instruments, off-balance sheet guarantees, interest rate swap transactions or foreign currency forward contracts. We do not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts.

We have entered into leasing arrangements relating to our office premises. Our contractual obligations regarding these lease arrangements generally consist of rental payments and other charges that are due and payable on a monthly basis during the term of the relevant lease. In general, our lessors have the right to terminate the lease agreements and repossess the leased premises if we fail to make the prescribed payments for two consecutive months, or the expiration of a reasonable period after service of notice for non-payment of rent by the lessors. The following sets forth our commitments under these leases as of December 31, 2005:

As of December 31, 2005, we had no purchase obligations or long-term commitments other than the lease obligations described above.

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard, or SFAS, No. 123 (revised 2004), or SFAS No. 123-R). "Share-Based Payment'', which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation''. SFAS No. 123-R supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees''. Generally, the approach in SFAS No. 123-R is similar to the approach described in SFAS No. 123. However, SFAS No. 123-R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on the grant-date fair values. Pro forma disclosure previously permitted under SFAS No. 123 is no longer an alternative. The new standard, as recently amended, will be effective for the Company in the annual reporting period beginning after January 1, 2006. Under SFAS No. 123-R, the Company could elect the modified prospective or modified retroactive option for transition on the adoption of this new standard. Under the modified retroactive option, prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the proforma disclosures previously required for those periods by SFAS No. 123. Under the modified prospective option, compensation expense for all unvested stock options must be recognized on or after the required effective date based on the grant-date fair value of those stock options. The Company would follow the same guidelines in the modified prospective transition method for awards granted subsequent to adoption and those that were granted after it became a public company and not yet vested. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123-R, the Company will continue to utilize the accounting method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 and has adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148 as allowed by SFAS No. 123.

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, "Inventory Costs - an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4'', or SFAS No.151. SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting that requires abnormal amounts of idle facility expenses, freight, handling costs, and spoilage costs to be recognized as current-period charges. It also requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS No. 151 will be effective for inventory costs incurred on or after July 1, 2005. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, "Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets - an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29'', or SFAS 153, which amends Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions'' to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. SFAS 153 is effective for nonmonetary assets exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections'', or SFAS 154, which replaces Accounting Principles Board Opinions No. 20 "Accounting Changes'' and SFAS No. 3, "Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements - An Amendment of APB Opinion No. 28.'' SFAS 154 provides guidance on the accounting for and reporting of accounting changes and error corrections. It establishes retrospective application, or the latest practicable date, as the required method for reporting a change in accounting principle and the reporting of a correction of an error. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In September 2005 the Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, published Issue 04-13, Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty. The Issue addresses the accounting and disclosure requirements of accounting for purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty. In certain situations, as discussed further in the Issue, generally accepted accounting principles may require these types of transactions be carried at historical cost of inventory as opposed to the inventory's fair value, and potentially to defer revenue recognition primarily in situations wherein the transactions may not represent a completed revenue earnings cycle. The Issue is applicable for arrangements entered into by entities for interim or annual periods beginning after March 15, 2006, the Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this Issue will have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No., or FIN, 47, "Accounting for Conditional Assets Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of SFAS No. 143". FIN 47 clarifies that an entity is required to recognize a liability for legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity if the fair value can be reasonably estimated even though the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event. FIN 47 is required to be adopted for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this interpretation will have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The following table sets forth the name, age and position of our directors and executive officers as of May 31, 2006:

Shuang Wang founded our predecessor, Ninetowns Technology, in 1995 and is now a director and our Chief Executive Officer. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Wang was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ninetowns Technology Co., Ltd., a company engaged in sales of computer hardware in China. From 1989 to 1992, Mr. Wang was the executive deputy general manager of Shenzhen Zhongnong Enterprise Corporation, a company engaged in import and export of agricultural products. In March 2002, Mr. Wang was awarded the Traverse Cup Prize by Software World Magazine and Microelectronic Industry Development and Research jointly with a number of industry magazines in China for Mr. Wang’s outstanding performance in and significant contributions to the information technology industry. In March 2003, Mr. Wang was also recognized as one of the “2002 top ten leaders of the PRC software industry in China” by Software World Magazine jointly with China Central TV for his significant contributions to the software industry. Mr. Wang is also the Chairman of the Board of Beijing New Take, Beijing Digital and Beijing Ninetowns Times; the vice-chairman and a non-executive director of iTowNet; and a director of Jitter Bug, Ixworth, New Take, Shielder and Ninetowns Ports. Mr. Wang holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Beijing Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in optics engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology and an engineering qualification certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture of the PRC.

Kin Fai Ng has served as a director since October 2003, a senior vice president of our company since 2000 and our company secretary since June 2006. He has also been a director of New Take, Jitter Bug, Ixworth and Beijing New Take since 2000. From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Ng was an executive officer at Baolong Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., a company engaged in property development in China.

Dachun Zhang has served as a director since October 2003. From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Zhang served as an executive director of Yew Sang Hong Holdings Limited, an electrical engineering contractor. Mr. Zhang was the vice president of COSCO Group Limited, a shipping company, the executive deputy chairman and president of COSCO (Hong Kong) Group Limited, chairman of COSCO (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Zhang served as an executive director and the president of China Merchants Group Limited, a conglomerate based in China that is engaged in the transportation and harbor operation businesses, from 1998 to 1999 and the chairman of the board of directors of China Merchants Holdings International Company Limited from 1998 to 2000. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Zhang served as the chairman of the board of directors of China Chengxin Securities Rating Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the credit rating business in China. Mr. Zhang holds a bachelor’s degree in language and literature from Poznan University in Poland, a master’s degree in shipping from the

University of Wales in the United Kingdom and the qualification certificate of a senior economist in shipping management conferred by the Ministry of Communications of the PRC.

Fushan Chen has served as a director since October 2003. Mr. Chen, who is presently retired, served as the general manager and the director of the Hong Kong Branch of the China Classification Society, a shipping industry trade organization, from 1995 to 2001. Mr. Chen also served as the deputy director of the Ship Inspection Bureau of the PRC and the vice-chairman of the China Classification Society and the China Classification Association, respectively, from 1989 to 1995. Mr. Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in ship casting from Nanjing Shipping Institute.

Xiaomin Sun has served as a director since July 2004. Mr. Sun is currently the president of Sanjiu Enterprise Group, or Sanjiu, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, and has served in such position since May 2004. Recently, the China Banking Regulatory Commission issued to financial institutions in China a list of 15 companies and warned the financial institutions to be on alert when making loans to these companies. Sanjiu was included on this list. Mr. Sun was appointed as the president of Sanjiu in May 2004 by the State-Owned Asset Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the PRC to help resolve the financial problems of Sanjiu, which had developed prior to Mr. Sun’s appointment. Mr. Sun also serves from time to time as an arbitrator in the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission. From August 2000 to May 2004, Mr. Sun served as vice president of China General Technology (Group) Holdings Ltd., an import and export enterprise based in China. From 1986 to 1998, Mr. Sun served as the General Manager of the Legal Department of China National Technical Import & Export Corporation, a foreign trade corporation based in China. Mr. Sun holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the Department of Law of the University of Beijing.

Mark Ming Hsun Lee has served as a director since October 2004. Since June 2006, Mr. Lee was the founder, the chief executive officer, president and a director of DeviceVM Ltd., a company engaged in the software business. Since March 2006, Mr. Lee also served as a director of Dali System Co., Ltd. Mr. Lee was the founder, chief executive officer, president and a director of OSA Technologies, Inc., a company engaged in the software business, and has served in such positions from April 2000 to April 2004. From April 2004 to June 2006, Mr. Lee served as the senior vice president of Avocent Corp., a provider of computer keyboard, video and mouse switching and network connectivity solutions, since it acquired OSA Technologies, Inc. in April 2004. From the summer of 1991 to April 2000, Mr. Lee served in various positions, including enterprise platform marketing manager, senior information technology architect and engineer, design engineer and software quality assurance engineer for Intel Corporation. Mr. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Lee also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University.

Xiaoguang Ren has served as our President since January 2004. From 1995 to December 2003, Mr. Ren served in various positions with our company, including vice president and senior vice president for sales and marketing. Mr. Ren has also been a director of Ixworth and Jitter Bug since February 2000. From 1988 to 1995, Mr. Ren served as the general manager of Beijing University Fangyuen Life Science Co., Ltd. and Tsingtao Minyi High Technology Co., Ltd, both companies engaged in the software development business. Mr. Ren is also a director of iTowNet, New Take, Beijing New Take, Ninetowns Times and Ninetowns Ports, a director and general manager of Beijing Digital and the sole supervisor of Shanghai New Take. Mr. Ren holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Heilongjiang University and a master’s degree in computer science from the Computing Technologies Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Tommy Siu Lun Fork has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2002. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Fork was the Qualified Accountant and Company Secretary of Zheda Lande Scitech Limited, a provider of telecommunications services, from 2001 to 2002. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Fork was a senior manager of assurance and advisory services of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Mr. Fork holds a bachelor’s degree in Science from The University of Hong Kong and is a Certified Public Accountant in Hong Kong.

Eric Chen Yu Ho has served as our Chief Strategy Officer since March 2004. From July 2002 to March 2004, Mr. Ho served as a private equity investment director for AIG Investment Corporation. From September 1999 to July 2002, Mr. Ho was a founder and managing partner of SoftChina Venture Group and from October 1996 to September 1999, Mr. Ho served as the head of research for Capital Securities Corporation in Taiwan. SoftChina Venture Group is a venture capital investment company and Capital Securities Corporation is an investment bank. Prior to joining Capital Securities Corporation, Mr. Ho worked in various investment management positions with Fidelity Investments and Merrill Lynch & Co. in the United States. From December 2000 to March 2004, Mr. Ho served as a director and a member of the compensation committee of OSA Technologies, Inc. Mr. Ho currently serves as a director of Carry International Technology Co. Ltd., a software development company in Taiwan. Mr. Ho received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from National Taipei University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ho is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst in the United States.

Min Dong formed our predecessor, Ninetowns Technology, in 1995 and is now our Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs, Administration and Human Resources. Prior to co-founding Ninetowns Technology in 1995, Ms. Dong served as a lecturer at Central Finance and Economic University in China. Ms. Dong has been a director of Jitter Bug and Ixworth since February 2000. Ms. Dong is also a director of New Take, Shielder, Beijing New Take, Beijing Digital, Ninetowns Ports and Tsingdao Fujin, and a director and the general manager of Ninetowns Times. Ms. Dong is the spouse of Mr. Wang. Ms. Dong holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in law from China Politics and Law University.

Bolin Wu has served as our General Manager, Research and Development and Chief Technology Officer since 1997. Prior to joining our company in 1997, Mr. Wu was in charge of the software engineering department of Tsingtao Minyi High Technology Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the software development business, from 1995 to 1997 and served as an assistant professor at Shandong Textile Polytechnic Institute and the Automation Faculty of Qingdao University from 1992 to 1995. Mr. Wu currently serves as the sole member of the supervisory board of iTowNet. Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree in application electronics from Hangzhou University of Commerce and a master’s degree in automation and computer science from Shanghai Jiaotong University.

John Yan Wang has served as our Senior Vice President of Business Development since May 2004. Mr. Wang served as an independent consultant for investments to Zhongtian International, a company engaged in the software service business, from May 2003 to May 2004. From May 2002 to April 2003, Mr. Wang was the President of Dawncom Company Limited, an electronics wholesaler. He was the Chief Operating Officer of Beijing Pansky Group, a company engaged in computer system integration and service, from May 2000 to April 2002. From August 1998 to May 2000, Mr. Wang served as the country manager of Novell China, a network software company. He also served as the channel sales and marketing director of Informix China Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the computer database business, from June 1994 to July 1998 and a sales manager of UNISYS China, a company engaged in the computer system business, from January 1990 to June 1994. From July 1986 to December 1989, Mr. Wang served as an engineer in the Ministry of Light Industry in China. Mr. Wang holds a bachelor’s

degree in automation control from Shaanxi (Xian) Science and Technology University and a master’s degree in computer network from The Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Effective March 1, 2006, Mr. Wai resigned from the board of directors and as our Chief Legal Advisor and Company Secretary. On December 3, 2005 and on December 4, 2005, Tat Man Lee and Stephen Jung Tsuei resigned from the board of directors, respectively.

The business address of each of our directors and executive officers is our principal executive office at 5th Floor, Union Plaza, 20 Chaowai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020 PRC.

As of December 31, 2005, we do not have any outstanding loans or credit to any of our directors or executive officers, and we have not provided guarantees for borrowings by any of these persons. For 2005, the aggregate amount of compensation paid by us to all of our directors and executive officers was RMB7.7 million (US$958,000).

Our full-time employees in China also participate in a government-mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan pursuant to which pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance and other welfare benefits are provided to those employees. The total provision for such employee benefits, corresponding to the full amount of our obligation in connection therewith, was RMB676,000, RMB1.4 million and RMB4.1 million (US$500,000) for 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

2003 Plan

Our board of directors adopted the 2003 Plan in November 2003. We have granted share options relating to 2,574,400 ordinary shares under the 2003 Plan, which is the maximum number of share options allowed to be outstanding under the 2003 Plan. A general description of the terms of the 2003 Plan is set forth below.

Plan administration. Our board of directors currently administers the 2003 Plan.

Eligibility. Under the 2003 Plan, share options may be issued to employees and directors of our company or our subsidiaries.

Acceleration of vesting upon general offers or winding up. The 2003 Plan provides for acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a general offer or winding up transaction.

Share options. Share options under the 2003 Plan are evidenced by an option certificate which contains, among other things, provisions concerning the exercise price and vesting schedule of the share options. The exercise price of all of the options granted under our 2003 Plan is HK$25 per ordinary share, which we believe was the fair market value of our ordinary shares on the grant date of such options. One-fourth of the share options granted under the 2003 Plan become exercisable on each of May 18, 2004, November 18, 2004, November 18, 2005 and November 18, 2006. Generally, share options under the 2003 Plan are terminated if the grantee’s employment is terminated by us, or terminated within 12 months from the date of the grantee’s retirement, disability, change in our corporate structure, expiry of employment contract or termination of employment at the discretion of the board.

Termination of 2003 Plan. Under the 2003 Plan, our board of directors may at any time terminate the 2003 Plan, except that the provisions of the 2003 Plan will remain in respect of share options granted prior to such termination.

On August 13, 2004, Mr. Wang and Ms. Dong entered into a deed of undertaking with AIG Asian Opportunity Fund, L.P., or AOF, and American International Assurance Company (Bermuda) Limited, or AIA, agreeing to (i) procure Value Chain to distribute all of the cash consideration received from the reorganization transaction to Mr. Wang and Ms. Dong, (ii) exercise all of their vested share options under our 2003 Plan for 122,752 ordinary shares and apply the cash from the reorganization transaction to the exercise of such options, (iii) exercise the remaining share options under our 2003 Plan for 368,260 ordinary shares as soon as such options become vested and exercisable and (iv) refrain from transferring, assigning or creating any encumbrance over their share options under our 2003 Plan.

The following table summarizes, as of May 31, 2006, the outstanding options granted under our 2003 Plan to our directors, executive officers and other employers as a group.

Amended and Restated 2004 Plan

Our board of directors adopted the Amended and Restated 2004 Plan on October 21, 2005 and our shareholders approved the Amended and Restated 2004 Plan on December 2, 2005. The Amended and Restated 2004 Plan contains certain amendments to the 2004 Plan, including an increase in the aggregate number of ordinary shares that may be issued under the Amended and Restated 2004 Plan from 1.8 million ordinary shares to 4.3 million ordinary shares, an addition of an “ever-green” provision and the ability to grant share appreciation rights, restricted share awards and performance awards.

The Amended and Restated 2004 Plan provides for the grant of incentive share options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, to our employees and employees of our affiliates and subsidiaries.

Our board of directors or a committee appointed by our board of directors administers our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan. The administrator has the power to determine the terms of the share options,

including the exercise price, the number of shares subject to each such award and the circumstances for vesting.

The administrator determines the exercise price of options granted under our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan, but with respect to incentive share options, the exercise price must at least be equal to 100.0% of the fair market value of our ordinary shares on the date of grant. The term of an incentive share option may not exceed ten years from the grant date, except that with respect to any participant who owns 10.0% or more of the voting power of all classes of our outstanding stock, the term must not exceed five years from the grant date and the exercise price must equal at least 110.0% of the fair market value on the grant date.

After termination of an employee, director or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her option for the period of time stated in the option agreement. Generally, (i) if termination is due to death or disability, the option will remain exercisable for one year following such termination; (ii) if termination is due to retirement, the option will remain exercisable for six months following such termination; and (iii) if termination is for cause, the option will be forfeited immediately. In all other cases, the option will generally remain exercisable for 30 days following such termination. However, an option generally may not be exercised after the expiration of its term.

Our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of options and only the recipient of an option may exercise an award during his or her lifetime.

Our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan generally provides that in the event of a “change of control” involving our company, the administrator may arrange for the successor corporation to assume or substitute an equivalent award for each outstanding option. The administrator may in the alternative pay cash or other consideration in exchange for cancellation of the outstanding options.

Our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan will automatically terminate in 2015, unless we terminate it sooner. In addition, our board of directors has the authority to amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Amended and Restated 2004 Plan provided such action does not impair the rights of any participant.

The following table summarizes, as of May 31, 2006, the outstanding options granted under our Amended and Restated 2004 Plan to our directors, executive officers and other employers as a group.

Our board of directors consists of six members, including four independent directors. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as currently in effect, provide for a board of directors comprised of not less than two directors. Each of our directors holds office until a successor has been duly elected and appointed, unless the director was appointed by our board of directors, in which case such director holds office until the next following annual meeting of shareholders at which time such director is eligible for re-election.

In 2005, our directors met in person or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent eight times. Each director attended all the meetings of our board and its committees on which he served after becoming a member of our board, except that Mr. Xiaomen Sun was absent in one of the meetings of our board and the audit committee.

We have not entered into any service agreement that provides for benefits upon termination of service with any of our directors or executive officers.

Duties of directors

Our board of directors has the ultimate responsibility for the administration of our affairs. Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a duty of loyalty and must act honestly, in good faith and with a view to our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the care, diligence and skills that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In fulfilling their duties to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. A shareholder may in certain circumstances have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached.

Board committees

Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating committee.

Audit committee. Our audit committee currently consists of Dachun Zhang, Xiaomin Sun and Mark Lee. Our board of directors has determined that all of our audit committee members are “independent directors” within the meaning of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15) and meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and that Mr. Lee has the necessary financial sophistication under Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4350(d)(2)(A). Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:

Compensation committee. Our current compensation committee consists of Dachun Zhang, Xiaomin Sun and Mark Lee. Our board of directors has determined that all of our compensation committee members are “independent directors” within the meaning of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15). Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:

Nominating committee. Our current nominating committee consists of Dachun Zhang, Xiaomin Sun and Mark Lee. Our board of directors has determined that all of our nominating committee members are “independent directors” within the meaning of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15). Our nominating committee will be responsible for, among other things:

Corporate governance

Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics for our chief executive officer and senior financial officers and a code of business conduct and ethics, which is applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. Our code of ethics and code of business conduct and ethics are publicly available on our website. In addition, our board of directors has adopted a set of corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines reflect certain guiding principles with respect to the structure, procedures and committees of our board of directors. The guidelines are not intended to change or interpret any law, or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

As of December 31, 2005, we had 880 full-time employees. Of our employees, 17 were in management, 59 were in finance, 43 were in administration and human resources, 307 were in research and development and 454 were in sales and marketing.

Our employees located in China other than Hong Kong are covered by the retirement schemes defined by PRC local practice and regulations, which are essentially defined contribution schemes. Certain of our employees who are located in Hong Kong have joined the Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme which is also a defined contribution scheme. The amounts we paid to these defined contribution schemes were RMB436,000, RMB863,000 and RMB2.6 million (US$320,000) for 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. In addition, we are required by law to contribute approximately 9.0% in Beijing, 10.0% in Shanghai and 12% in Guangzhou of the average salaries of all employees for mandatory medical benefits and approximately 1.5% in Beijing and 2.0% in both Shanghai and Guangzhou of the salaries of some employees for unemployment benefits. The PRC government is directly responsible for the payments of the benefits to these employees. The amounts contributed amounted to RMB240,000, RMB487,000 and RMB1.5 million (US$190,000) for 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified technical and management personnel, for whom competition is intense. Our employees are not covered by any collective bargaining agreement and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe we enjoy good relations with our employees.

The following table sets forth information known to us with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of May 31, 2006, taking into account the number of ordinary shares underlying our outstanding options, by each person who is known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of our ordinary shares; each of our directors; each of our named executive officers; and all of our named executive officers and directors as a group.