UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of August 2012

Commission File Number: 001-33768

CNINSURE INC.

22/F, Yinhai Building
No. 299 Yanjiang Zhong Road
Guangzhou, Guangdong 510110
People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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Exhibit Index

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Exhibit 99.1

CNinsure Reports Second Quarter and First Half 2012 Unaudited Financial Results

GUANGZHOU, China, August 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CNinsure Inc., (Nasdaq: CISG), (the “Company” or “CNinsure”), a leading independent insurance intermediary company operating in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter and first half ended June 30, 2012.(1)

Financial Highlights for Second Quarter of 2012

·                      Total net revenues: RMB409.9 million (US$64.5 million), representing an increase of 2.3% from the corresponding period in 2011, as compared to the previous guidance of a less than 8% decrease.

·                      Operating income: RMB17.8 million (US$2.8 million), representing a decrease of 82.8% from the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP operating income (which excludes share-based compensation expenses) was RMB54.5 million (US$8.6 million), representing a decrease of 50.0% from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders: RMB32.8 million (US$5.2 million), representing a decrease of 67.2% from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders excluding share-based compensation expense: RMB69.5 million (US$10.9 million) representing a decrease of 34.2% from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Basic and diluted net income per ADS: RMB0.66 (US$0.10) and RMB0.65 (US$0.10), respectively, representing decreases of 67.3% and 66.6%, respectively, from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS: RMB1.39 (US$0.22) and RMB1.38 (US$0.22), respectively, representing decreases of 34.2% and 33.0%, respectively, from the corresponding period in 2011.

Financial Highlights for First Half of 2012

·                      Total net revenues: RMB747.3 million (US$117.6 million), representing an increase of 4.6% from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Operating income: RMB56.5 million (US$8.9 million), representing a decrease of 70.7% from the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP operating income (which excludes share-based compensation expenses) was RMB97.3 million (US$15.3 million), representing a decrease of 50.2% from the corresponding period in 2011.

(1) This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi (RMB) amounts into U.S. dollars (US$) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.353 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate as of June 29, 2012 in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as set forth in H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

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·                      Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders: RMB87.5 million (US$13.8 million), representing a decrease of 74.4% from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders, excluding (1) net income from discontinued operations(2) and (2) share-based compensation expense: RMB128.3 million (US$20.2 million) representing a decrease of 31.3% from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Basic and diluted net income per ADS: RMB1.75 (US$0.28) and RMB1.74 (US$0.27), respectively, representing decreases of 74.3% and 73.9%, respectively, from the corresponding period in 2011.

·                      Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS: RMB2.56 (US$0.40) and RMB2.55 (US$0.40), respectively, representing decreases of 31.3% and 30.1%, respectively, from the corresponding period in 2011.

Commenting on the second quarter and first half 2012 financial results, Mr. Chunlin Wang, CNinsure’s chief executive officer, stated, “As the complex macroeconomic situations in China continued into the first half of 2012, the China insurance market remains in a low single digit growth territory with total insurance premiums up 5.9% and life insurance premiums up by only 0.2% from the corresponding period of 2011.

“Against this backdrop, we had 2.3% top line growth for the second quarter of 2012, which exceeded our prior guidance. However, due to the challenging macroeconomic environment and intensified competition from insurers’ direct sales, revenue growth was outpaced by the growth of our costs and expenses, which grew 32.1% from the corresponding period in 2011. This further demonstrates that our original people-driven expansion model can no longer sustain under the current macroeconomic environment. In order to break the limits of our current model, we have been proactively rolling out a strategic transition towards e-commerce and higher value-added business starting from the second half of 2011. During the second quarter of 2012, we continued our efforts to build up the mobile sales agent business support system which is a key component of our e-commerce platform and execute our urban area-focused, elite sales force-driven and comprehensive financial services-oriented strategy within the life insurance segment as scheduled. Although we may experience lowered or even negative growth rates in the near to medium term during the transition period, we are confident that these initiatives will further enhance our long-term competitiveness and bring us back to rapid growth path in 2014.”

(2)Following the sale of Beijing Datong Investment Management Co., Ltd. (“Datong”) on March 25, 2011, the Company was required to present its financial results on both a continuing and discontinued basis. Profits and losses related to Datong are presented as discontinued operations while profits and losses for the remaining business are presented as continuing operations.

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Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2012

Total net revenues were RMB409.9 million (US$64.5 million) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012, representing an increase of 2.3% from RMB400.7 million for the corresponding period in 2011, primarily due to increases in net revenues from the claims adjusting and life insurance segments, which was partially offset by a slight decline in our property and casualty insurance business. The increase in the life insurance segment was mainly attributable to the growth in commissions derived from short-term life insurance policies and recurring commissions as a result of the cumulative effect of long-term life insurance policies. The increase in claims adjusting segment was mainly attributable to the growth in auto insurance related claims adjusting business.

Total operating costs and expenses were RMB392.1 million (US$61.7 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 32.1% from RMB296.9 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Commissions and fees expenses were RMB266.3 million (US$41.9 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 29.8% from RMB205.2 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to increase in per policy acquisition cost and commission cost , which was mainly driven by inflation and increased competitions from other channels such as insurance companies’ telemarketing and direct sales.

Selling expenses were RMB21.0 million (US$3.3 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 8.9% from RMB19.3 million for the corresponding period of 2011, primarily due to growth in sales volume.

General and administrative expenses were RMB104.8 million (US$16.5 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 44.7% from RMB72.4 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to the increase in share-based compensation expense from RMB5.4 million for the second quarter of 2011 to RMB36.7 million (US$5.8 million) for the second quarter of 2012, which mainly represented compensation expenses related to the options granted in March, 2012 and the application of graded vesting method of some of those options granted to employees on an accelerated basis in the second quarter of 2012.

As a result of the foregoing factors, operating income was RMB17.8 million (US$2.8 million) for the second quarter in 2012, representing a decrease of 82.8% from RMB103.8 million for the corresponding period of 2011. Non-GAAP operating income (which excludes share-based compensation expenses) was RMB54.5 million (US$8.6 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 50.0% from RMB109.2 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Operating margin was 4.4% for the second quarter of 2012, compared to 25.9% for the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP operating margin was 13.4% for the second quarter of 2012, compared to 27.2% for the corresponding period in 2011.

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Interest income was RMB22.5 million (US$3.5 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 71.0% from RMB13.1 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in interest income was primarily due to (i) RMB2.1 million (US$0.3 million) in interest charged on amounts due from related parties; and (ii) increases in interest-bearing bank balances and bank interest rates from the corresponding period in 2011.

Income tax expense was RMB14.4 million (US$2.3 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 36.9% from RMB22.8 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The effective income tax rate applicable to the Company was 33.8% for the second quarter of 2012, compared to 19.5% for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in effective tax rate was mainly due to the increase in share-based compensation expenses which are non tax-deductible.

Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders was RMB32.8 million (US$5.2 million) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 67.2% from RMB100.2 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Net margin was 8.0% for the second quarter of 2012 compared to 25.0% for the corresponding period in  2011.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders excluding share-based compensation expense was RMB69.5 million (US$10.9 million), representing a decrease of 34.2% from RMB105.7 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Non-GAAP net margin was 17.0% for the second quarter of 2012 compared to 26.3% for the corresponding period in 2011.

Basic net income per ADS was RMB0.66 (US$0.10) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 67.3% from RMB2.00 for the corresponding period in 2011. Diluted net income per ADS was RMB0.65 (US$0.10) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 66.6% from RMB1.96 for the corresponding period in 2011.

Non-GAAP basic net income per ADS was RMB1.39 (US$0.22) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 34.2% from RMB2.11 for the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS was RMB1.38 (US$0.22) for the second quarter of 2012, representing a decrease of 33.0% from RMB2.07 for the corresponding period in 2011.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company had RMB2.5 billion (US$391.0 million) in cash and cash equivalents.

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Financial Results for the First Half of 2012

Total net revenues were RMB747.3 million (US$117.6 million) for the first half ended June 30, 2012, representing an increase of 4.6% from RMB714.4 million for the corresponding period in 2011, which reflected the growth of the property and casualty insurance, life insurance and claims adjusting business segments. The growth of the property and casualty insurance segment was primarily driven by rising auto insurance commission rates, while growth of the life insurance segment was mainly attributable to commissions from short-term life insurance policies and recurring commissions as a result of the cumulative effect of long-term life insurance policies. The increase in claims adjusting segment was mainly attributable to the growth in auto insurance related claims adjusting business.

Total operating costs and expenses were RMB690.8 million (US$108.7 million) for the first half of 2012, representing an increase of 32.4% from RMB521.9 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Commissions and fees expenses were RMB479.7 million (US$75.5 million) for the first half of 2012, representing an increase of 33.8% from RMB358.7 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to increase in per policy acquisition cost and commission cost, which was mainly driven by inflation and increased competitions from other channels such as insurance companies’ telemarketing and direct sales.

Selling expenses were RMB39.7 million (US$6.2 million) for the first half of 2012, representing an increase of 4.5% from RMB38.0 million for the corresponding period in 2011 primarily due to growth in sales volume.

General and administrative expenses were RMB171.4 million (US$27.0 million) for the first half of 2012, representing an increase of 36.8% from RMB125.3 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to the increase in share-based compensation expense from RMB3.0 million for the first half of 2011 to RMB40.8 million (US$6.4 million) for the first half of 2012, which mainly represented compensation expenses related to options granted in March 2012 and the application of graded vesting method of some of those options granted to employees on an accelerated basis in the second quarter of 2012.

As a result of the foregoing factors, operating income was RMB56.5 million (US$8.9 million) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 70.7% from RMB192.5 million for the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP operating income (which excludes share-based compensation expenses) was RMB97.3 million (US$15.3 million) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 50.2% from RMB195.5 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Operating margin was 7.6% for the first half of 2012, compared to 26.9% for the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP operating margin was 13.1% for the first half of 2012, compared to 27.3% for the corresponding period in 2011.

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Interest income for the first half of 2012 was RMB44.9 million (US$7.1 million), representing an increase of 105.9% from RMB21.8 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in interest income was primarily due to (i) RMB7.3 million (US$1.1 million) in interest charged on amounts due from related parties; and (ii) increases in interest-bearing bank balances and bank interest rates from the corresponding period in 2011.

Income tax expense for the first half of 2012 was RMB28.1 million (US$4.4 million), representing a decrease of 34.9% from RMB43.2 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The effective income tax rate applicable to the Company was 26.9% for the first half of 2012, compared to 20.0% for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in effective tax rate was mainly due to the increase in share-based compensation expenses, which are non-deductible for tax purposes.

Net income from continuing operations was RMB85.9 million (US$13.5 million) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 51.6% from RMB177.6 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Net income from discontinued operations for the first half of 2012 was nil compared to RMB157.3 million for the corresponding period in 2011, which mainly represented a disposal gain from the sale of Datong.

Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders was RMB87.5 million (US$13.8 million) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 74.4% from RMB341.1 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Net margin was 11.7% for the first half of 2012 compared to 47.7% for the corresponding period in 2011.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders excluding (1) net income from discontinued operations and (2) share-based compensation expense was RMB128.3 million (US$20.2 million), representing a decrease of 31.3% from RMB186.8 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

Non-GAAP net margin was 17.2% for the first half of 2012 compared to 26.1% for the corresponding period in 2011.

Basic net income per ADS was RMB1.75 (US$0.28) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 74.3% from RMB6.80 for the corresponding period in 2011. Diluted net income per ADS was RMB1.74 (US$0.27) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 73.9% from RMB6.66 for the corresponding period in 2011.

Non-GAAP basic net income per ADS was RMB2.56 (US$0.40) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 31.3% from RMB3.72 for the corresponding period in 2011. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS was RMB2.55 (US$0.40) for the first half of 2012, representing a decrease of 30.1% from RMB3.65 for the corresponding period in 2011.

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Recent developments:

·                      On June 26, 2012, CNinsure received the Financial Innovation Award from the Guangdong Provincial Government and was granted a cash reward of RMB300,000. The Company has won this award for two consecutive years and is the only insurance intermediary in Guangdong province to have won this award in 2012.

·                      During the first half of 2012, CNinsure extended its headquarter-to-headquarter cooperation with Sunshine Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd., to include non-auto property and casualty insurance distribution. In addition, it also established headquarter-to-headquarter arrangements with Alltrust Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd. on auto insurance distribution, and Bohai Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd. on property and casualty insurance distribution.

·                      As of June 30, 2012, CNinsure’s distribution and service network consisted of 508 sales and services outlets operating in 26 provinces, compared to 582 sales and service outlets operating in 23 provinces as of June 30, 2011. CNinsure had 47,162 sales agents and 1,341 professional claims adjustors as of June 30, 2012, compared to 44,971 sales agents and 1,364 professional claims adjustors as of June 30, 2011. The decrease of the number of sales outlets as of June 30, 2012 was mainly because we shut down or combined some less productive sales outlets in the second quarter of 2012.

·                      Net revenues from commissions and fees derived from the property and casualty insurance, life insurance and claims adjusting businesses for the second quarter of 2012 contributed 66.1%, 21.0%, and 12.9% of the Company’s total net revenues, respectively, compared to 68.1%, 19.7% and 12.2%, respectively, for the corresponding period in 2011.

Business Outlook

CNinsure expects its total net revenues to remain approximately flat for the third quarter of 2012 compared to the corresponding period in 2011. This forecast reflects CNinsure’s current view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the second quarter and first half 2012 results at

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Additionally, a live and archived web cast of this call will be available at: http://www.corpasia.net/us/CISG/irwebsite/index.php?mod=event

About CNinsure Inc.

CNinsure is a leading independent intermediary company operating in China. CNinsure’s distribution network reaches many of China’s most economically developed regions and affluent cities. The Company distributes a wide variety of property and casualty and life insurance products underwritten by domestic and foreign insurance companies operating in China, and provides insurance claims adjusting as well as other insurance-related services.

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Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements, including the statements relating to the Company’s future financial and operating results, are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the management’s quotations and the Business Outlook section contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about CNinsure and the industry. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to its ability to attract and retain productive agents, especially entrepreneurial agents, its ability to maintain existing and develop new business relationships with insurance companies, its ability to execute its growth strategy, its ability to adapt to the evolving regulatory environment in the Chinese insurance industry, its ability to compete effectively against its competitors, quarterly variations in its operating results caused by factors beyond its control and macroeconomic conditions in China and their potential impact on the sales of insurance products. All information provided in this press release is as of August 22, 2012, and CNinsure undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although CNinsure believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by CNinsure is included in CNinsure’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the Company’s consolidated financial results under GAAP, the Company also provides non-GAAP financial measures, excluding (1) net income from discontinued operations for the first half of 2011, representing disposal gain from the sale of Datong, and (2) share-based compensation expenses for the second quarter and the first half of 2012 and the corresponding periods in 2011. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. One limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude the items that were significant in the second quarter and first half of 2012 and the corresponding period of 2011.  Another is that items such as share-based compensation expenses have been, and will continue to be, a significant recurring factor in our business.

In light of the limitations, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We encourage investors and other interested persons to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.  For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Reconciliations of GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” set forth at the end of this release.

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CNINSURE INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

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CNINSURE INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets-(Continued)

(In thousands)

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CNINSURE INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets-(Continued)

(In thousands)

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CNINSURE INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except for shares and per share data)

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CNINSURE INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations-(Continued)

(In thousands, except for shares and per share data)

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CNINSURE INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(In thousands)

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CNINSURE INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow-(Continued)

(In thousands)

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CNinsure Inc.

Reconciliations of GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(In RMB in thousands, except shares and per share data)