a whole. Our Class A ordinary shares, our ADSs or other equity securities may decline in value or become worthless if we are unable to effectively enforce our contractual control rights over the assets and operations of the VIEs that conduct a significant portion of our business in China. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus for detailed discussion.
As used in this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our,” or “Youdao” refers to Youdao, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and, in the context of describing our consolidated financial information, business operations and operating data, the VIEs and their subsidiaries. We refer to NetEase Youdao Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Youdao Information”), NetEase Youdao (Hangzhou) Smart Technology Co., Ltd. (“Youdao Smart Technology”) and NetEase Youdao Information Technology (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Youdao Hangzhou”) as the PRC subsidiaries in the context of describing of their activities. We refer to Beijing NetEase Youdao Computer System Co., Ltd. (“Youdao Computer”) and Hangzhou NetEase Linjiedian Education Technology Co., Ltd. (“Linjiedian Education”) as the VIEs in the context of describing their activities and contractual arrangements with us. The VIEs primarily conduct operations in China, and such VIEs are consolidated for accounting purposes but is not entities in which we own equity, and our company does not conduct operations by ourselves.
We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties as a company based in and primarily operating in China. The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a China-based company, like us, to conduct its business, accept foreign investments or maintain our status as a company listed on a U.S. stock exchange. For example, we face risks associated with regulatory approvals of offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, cybersecurity and data privacy, regulations on the use of variable interest entities, as well as the lack of inspection from the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, on our auditors. The PRC government may also intervene with or influence our operations as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. The PRC government has recently published new policies that significantly affected our industry and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future further release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any such action could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or in extreme cases, become worthless.
Under relevant PRC laws and regulations, we are permitted to remit funds to the VIEs through loans rather than capital contributions. As a result, Youdao, Inc. made capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries through intermediate holding company, and were accounted as long-term investments of Youdao, Inc. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, Youdao, Inc. did not make any loans to the VIEs. Youdao, Inc. extended loans to Youdao Information in 2020 and 2021, which were accounted as loans to subsidiary. These funds have been used by our PRC subsidiaries for their operations. The VIEs fund their operations primarily using cash generated from operating and financing activities. Our PRC subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to their shareholders, and eventually to Youdao, Inc., only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Such payment of dividends by entities registered in China is subject to limitations, which could result in limitations on the availability of cash to fund dividends or make distributions to shareholders of our securities. For example, our PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation of the companies. Youdao, Inc. has not previously declared or paid any cash dividend or dividend in kind, and has no plan to declare or pay any dividends in the near future on our shares or the ADSs representing our ordinary shares. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have cash management policies in place that dictate how funds are transferred between Youdao, Inc., our subsidiaries, the VIEs and the investors. Rather, the funds can be transferred in accordance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations.
Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts