Ascentage Pharma Group International F-3ASR, filed Jul 20, 2026
Ascentage Pharma Group International (AAPG)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form F-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Ascentage Pharma Group International
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not
Applicable
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
| Cayman Islands | Not Applicable |
| (State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number) |
68
Xinqing Road
Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou, Jiangsu
China
+1 (301) 291-5658
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Thomas
J. Knapp
Ascentage Pharma Group Inc.
700 King Farm Blvd, Suite 510
Rockville, Maryland 20850
+1 (301) 520-1026
thomas.knapp@ascentage.com
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Era Anagnosti Gina
H. Lee |
Xuelin
(Steve) Wang, Esq. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP c/o 18th Floor, The Hong Kong Club Building 3A Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong +852-2533-3300 |
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective on filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
| † | The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement of Ascentage Pharma Group International, or the Registrant, contains two prospectuses:
| ● | a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the Registrant of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing four ordinary shares, from time to time in one or more offerings; and |
| ● | a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by the Registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of up to $200,000,000 of ADSs of the Registrant that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement (the “Sales Agreement”), dated July 17, 2026, with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch and BTIG, LLC, as the sales agents (the “Sales Agents”). |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in one or more prospectus supplements to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement or upon suspension of sales under the sales agreement prospectus, any portion of the $200,000,000 included in the sales agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no ADSs are sold under the Sales Agreement, the full $200,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.
PROSPECTUS
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
This prospectus will allow us to issue, or one or more selling security holders to be identified in supplements to this prospectus to sell, from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of the offering, ordinary shares represented by American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”).
This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide you with the specific terms of any offering in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this document. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.
Our securities may be sold directly by us or by selling security holders to you, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any underwriters or agents are involved in the sale of our securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable fees or commissions and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds that we or the selling security holders expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
The ADSs, each representing four ordinary shares, are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “AAPG.” On July 16, 2026, the last reported sale price of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market was $20.40 per ADS. Our ordinary shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (the “HKEx”) under the stock code “6855.” On July 16, 2026, the closing price of our ordinary shares on the HKEx was HK$39.34 per ordinary share, equivalent to a price of US$20.07 per ADS, assuming an exchange rate of HK$7.84 to US$1.00, which is the exchange rate set forth for cable transfers in the City of New York, as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on July 16, 2026. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, on the Nasdaq Global Market or any securities market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. Prospective purchasers of our securities are urged to obtain current information as to the market prices of our securities, where applicable.
Ascentage Pharma Group International (“Ascentage Pharma” or the “Company”) is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct operations primarily through our direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), Australia and the United States, including Suzhou Ascentage Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC, Guangzhou Healthquest Pharma Co., Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC (“Healthquest Pharma”), Ascentage Pharma Pty Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Australia, and Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., a corporation incorporated in Delaware.
The securities offered in this prospectus are securities of our Cayman Islands holding company, not of our operating subsidiaries. While we do not operate in an industry that is currently subject to foreign ownership limitations in the PRC, PRC regulatory authorities could decide to limit foreign ownership in our industry in the future, in which case there could be a risk that we would be unable to do business in the PRC as we are currently structured. In such event, despite our efforts to restructure to achieve compliance with the then applicable PRC laws and regulations in order to continue our operations in the PRC, we may experience material changes in our business and results of operations, our attempts may prove to be futile due to factors beyond our control and the value of the ADSs you invest in may significantly decline or become worthless. While our current corporate structure is not a variable interest entity (“VIE”) structure and we have no intention to rely on a VIE structure in our PRC operations, if the PRC laws and regulations were to change in the future, such changes may result in adverse changes in our operations, and the ADSs may decline significantly in value. See the section titled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
A majority of our business and operations is conducted in the PRC through our subsidiaries and thus we are exposed to legal and operational risks associated with operations in the PRC. The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a company with operations in the PRC to conduct its business. The PRC government exerts significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may 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 certain industries, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could result in a material change in our operations or the value of our securities, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Recent policy statements and regulatory actions by the PRC government, such as those related to human genetic data, biopharmaceutical, cybersecurity, data privacy and cross-border data flows may adversely impact our ability to conduct our business and research and development activities, accept foreign investments, or list on a foreign stock exchange, which may cause our securities to be prohibited from trading or to be delisted from Nasdaq or any other U.S. stock exchange.
Furthermore, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice. The PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities and foreign investment in China-based companies. On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”) and relevant notes and supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. The Trial Measures provide that if the issuer meets both of the following criteria, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be deemed an indirect overseas offering by a PRC domestic company: (1) 50% or more of any of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year is accounted for by PRC domestic companies; and (2) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, its main place(s) of business are located in mainland China or the majority of senior management staff in charge of its business operations and management are PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China.
The Trial Measures also state that any post-listing follow-on offering by an issuer in the same overseas market, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, shall be subject to the filing requirements within three business days after the completion of an offering. Therefore, any future offerings and listings of our securities in an overseas market shall be subject to the filing requirements under the CSRC Filing Rules. As such, we will be required to submit a filing to CSRC within three business days after the completion of the first sale of securities under this prospectus.
Any potential action taken by the PRC government to exert more oversight and control over overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities and foreign investment in China-based companies, once taken by the PRC government, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline, or, in extreme cases, become worthless. See the section titled “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition, our ability to pay dividends partially depends upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries.
Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “HFCAA”), if the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our ordinary shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued its report notifying the SEC of its determination that it was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, including our auditor who is headquartered in mainland China. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB were to determine in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, and if we were to continue to use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA. For more details, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–The PCAOB has historically been unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors of the benefits of such inspections” and “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–If the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditors located in China because of a position taken by a foreign authority and the SEC identifies the Company as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for two consecutive years, the ADSs will be delisted and our ordinary shares and ADSs will be prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, and a prohibition from trading, may materially and adversely affect the value of our ordinary shares” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Cash is transferred among the Company and our subsidiaries in the following manner: (1) funds are transferred to the Company’s subsidiaries from the Company as needed as capital contributions or shareholder loans, as the case may be; and (2) dividends or other distributions may be paid by our subsidiaries to the Company. Our subsidiaries generate and retain cash from operating activities and re-invest in their respective business. In the future, the Company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur will partially depend upon dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries. Apart from cash transferred in connection with paid-in capital and shareholder loans, no cash or other assets have been transferred between the Company and a subsidiary, no subsidiaries (including PRC subsidiaries) paid dividends or made other distributions to the Company, and no dividends or distributions were paid or made to U.S. investors. In the future, cash proceeds raised from financing activities may be transferred by the Company through our subsidiaries via capital contributions and shareholder loans, as the case may be, and our subsidiaries may pay dividends to their respective shareholders. Payment of dividends is subject to restrictions under the PRC law. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. For a detailed discussion of applicable PRC regulations governing distribution of dividends, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government regulation—PRC regulation—PRC regulations relating to dividend distribution” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition, the PRC government imposes regulations on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and the remittance of funds out of China. Governmental regulations of currency conversion may limit our ability to pay dividends and other obligations and affect the value of your investment. See “Prospectus Summary–Cash Flows through Our Organization” and our consolidated financial statements included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See “Dividends and Dividend Policy” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “foreign private issuer” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws, and under applicable SEC rules, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting and disclosure requirements. See “Prospectus Summary – Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” and “Prospectus Summary – Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer.”
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks that we have described on page 8 of this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors” and under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We may also include specific risk factors in supplements to this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Owning our securities may subject you to tax consequences both in the Cayman Islands and in the United States. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, your ability to enforce civil liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, a majority of our current directors are residents of countries other than the United States, and a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. See “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.”
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is July 17, 2026.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | Page | |
| ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | | ii |
| PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | | 1 |
| RISK FACTORS | | 8 |
| SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | | 9 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | | 12 |
| SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS | | 13 |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | | 14 |
| DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL | | 15 |
| DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | | 31 |
| TAXATION | | 50 |
| MATERIAL CHANGES | | 50 |
| LEGAL MATTERS | | 50 |
| EXPERTS | | 50 |
| ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES | | 51 |
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 53 | |
| INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE | 54 |
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This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 105 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we or any selling security holder may offer ordinary shares represented by ADSs in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or any selling security holder may offer. Each time we or a selling security holder sell our securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. Any such prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses to be provided to you may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations or information that apply to that offering. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should carefully read the registration statement, including exhibits to the registration statement, this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities offered.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
Neither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer take any responsibility for, or provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information others may give you. This prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date. If any statement in a document incorporated by reference is inconsistent with a statement in another document incorporated by reference having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modified or supersedes the earlier statement.
This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “Ascentage Pharma,” “the Company,” “our Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Ascentage Pharma Group International and its consolidated subsidiaries.
In this prospectus, references to “RMB” or “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China; references to “HK$” or “Hong Kong dollars” are to the legal currency of Hong Kong; and references to “dollars,” “U.S. dollars,” “US$” or “$” are to the legal currency of the United States of America.
ii
The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. We urge you to read this entire prospectus, including the more detailed consolidated financial statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements and other information incorporated by reference from our other filings with the SEC or included in any applicable prospectus supplement. Investing in our securities involves risks. Therefore, carefully consider the risk factors set forth in any prospectus supplements and in our most recent filings with the SEC including our Annual Reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K, as well as other information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, before purchasing our securities. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities.
Company Overview
We are a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, differentiated therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer. For more than two decades, our founders and team have leveraged their deep expertise to develop our proprietary drug discovery platform to pursue particularly challenging targets and significant unmet global medical needs. Our lead assets, Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax, have global potential to address the major hematological malignancies, including chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML, acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, which is expected to exceed US$166 billion in aggregate market size by 2035, according to Frost & Sullivan’s Global Innovative Small Molecule Drug Market Study, dated December 2024 (the “F&S Report”).
Our first lead asset, Olverembatinib, is a novel, third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or TKI. Olverembatinib was the first BCR-ABL1 inhibitor approved in China for the treatment of patients with CML in chronic phase, or CML-CP, with T315I mutations, CML in accelerated phase, or CML-AP, with T315I mutations, and CML-CP that is resistant and/or intolerant to first and second-generation TKIs. We are currently commercializing Olverembatinib in China. All commercialized indications of Olverembatinib have been included in the National Drug Reimbursement List, or NRDL, in China beginning January 2025.
We believe that Olverembatinib, with its real-world patients’ data in China, where it is approved, has the potential to be a global therapy for CML. The global CML market was around US$12.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to US$14.6 billion by 2035, according to the F&S Report. We are currently conducting a registrational Phase 3 trial, or POLARIS-2, of Olverembatinib as a monotherapy for CML that is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and European Medicines Agency or EMA. The clinical data obtained in China may not be accepted by the FDA or other foreign regulators to support ongoing or future clinical trials, and Olverembatinib is approved only in China, such that the outcome of our ongoing clinical trials is uncertain. We are also pursuing label expansion of Olverembatinib in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of first-line Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, or frontline Ph+ ALL, in an FDA and EMA cleared registrational Phase 3 trial, or POLARIS-1, and conducting another registrational Phase 3 trial, or POLARIS-3 evaluating Olverembatinib as a monotherapy for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST.
Our second lead asset, Lisaftoclax, is a novel Bcl-2 inhibitor that we are developing for the treatment of various hematological malignancies. In November 2024, we announced that our new drug application (“NDA”) for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory, or R/R, CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma, or SLL, was accepted with Priority Review designation by the Center of Drug Evaluation, or CDE, of China’s National Medical Products Administration, or NMPA. We believe this NDA is the second NDA filed in the world for a Bcl-2 inhibitor and the first in China for a Bcl-2 inhibitor for the treatment of patients with CLL/SLL that are resistant or intolerant to Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, or BTK, inhibitors. Lisaftoclax was approved in China by the NMPA for the treatment of adult patients with CLL/SLL who have previously received at least one systemic therapy including BTK inhibitors in July 2025. We started commercializing in China in July 2025 shortly after receiving approval. We intend to seek approval in multiple countries outside of China.
The global CLL/SLL market was around US$9.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to US$38.2 billion by 2035, according to the F&S Report. We are also conducting an FDA-regulated registrational Phase 3 trial, or GLORA, of Lisaftoclax in combination with BTK inhibitors for patients with CLL/SLL previously treated with BTK inhibitors for more than 12 months with sub-optimal response and pursuing approval of Lisaftoclax for frontline CLL/SLL in a registrational Phase 3 trial, or GLORA-2, of Lisaftoclax in combination with acalabrutinib.
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We believe that Lisaftoclax, with its short half-life and potential for patient-friendly ramp-up schedule, can serve as a backbone molecule for combination therapies for many hematological malignancies, including and beyond CLL/ SLL. Therefore, we are also evaluating Lisaftoclax in combination with azacitidine, or AZA, in two registrational Phase 3 trials, GLORA-3 (EMA and CDE cleared) and GLORA-4 (FDA, EMA and CDE cleared), for the frontline treatments of elderly, or unfit patients with AML or patients with higher risk, or HR, myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, respectively.
Backed by our strong scientific foundation, knowledge of small molecule discovery and capabilities to conduct clinical trials worldwide, we use state-of-the-art technologies to develop innovative therapeutic agents to treat cancers and address unmet medical needs within this patient population. Our initial focus has been to leverage our expertise in chemistry to synthesize inhibitors targeting proteins and pathways that drive the key hallmarks of cancer. Earlier in our pipeline, we are harnessing our understanding of protein degraders to develop therapies, such as proteolysis targeting chimera molecules, or PROTACs, that target traditionally undruggable proteins that are implicated in oncogenesis.
We are empowered by our technical expertise in structure-based drug design and our innovative drug discovery engine, which allows us to address unmet medical need by targeting key apoptotic pathways and validated tyrosine kinases. These core competencies have allowed us to develop small molecule and degrader therapies targeted at Bcl-2, Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, IAP and MDM2, in addition to building next-generation cell signaling inhibitors (i.e., BCR- ABL1, ALK, FAK inhibitors) and epigenome-modifying agents (i.e., PRC2 inhibitor). We are the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators, according to the F&S Report. We have nine ongoing U.S. and/or international registrational trials, including two that are FDA-regulated, for our six key clinical-stage assets. Beyond our two lead assets, we have several other clinical-stage assets in U.S. or international clinical trials.
Leveraging our robust internal research and development capabilities, we have built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights. We have also established collaborations and other relationships with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies around the world, including a collaboration and license agreement with Innovent and clinical collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer, and research and development relationships with leading research institutions, including but not limited to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan. As of December 31, 2025, we had 512 issued patents globally, 374 of which were issued outside of China.
We have assembled a talented, global team with experience in the research and development of innovative drugs, as well as commercial manufacturing, sales and marketing. Our success is shaped by this global team of approximately 767 employees across the United States, Europe, Australia, and China, as of December 31, 2025. Together, we are dedicated to continuously strengthening our research and development capabilities and accelerating the clinical development progress of our product pipeline with the goal of addressing the unmet medical needs of patients globally.
Corporate Information
Ascentage Pharma Group Corp Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability (“Ascentage Pharma (HK)”), was established in May 2009. Dr. Yang, Dr. Zhai, Dr. Wang and Dr. Guo, our co-founders, were the initial majority shareholders of Ascentage Pharma (HK).
In June 2010, Jiangsu Ascentage Pharma Co., Ltd, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the PRC (“Ascentage Jiangsu”), was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascentage Pharma (HK).
Ascentage Pharma (HK) went through a series of internal restructurings and equity financings in 2015 and 2016, pursuant to which Ascentage International Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong (“Ascentage International”), Hongkong Sansheng Medical Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability, and Shengda Taizhou Investment Centre LLP (“Shengda Taizhou)” acquired equity interests in Ascentage Jiangsu from Ascentage Pharma (HK). Shengda Taizhou held the equity interest in Ascentage Jiangsu for the benefit of Dr. Yang, Dr. Guo, Dr. Wang and Dr. Zhai.
In December 2016, Ascentage Jiangsu entered into a share transfer agreement for the acquisition of the entire equity interest of Healthquest Pharma from Dr. Zhai and Ren Jing.
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In November 2017, we commenced a reorganization (the “Reorganization”), consisting of the following principal steps: (i) Ascentage Pharma was incorporated as an exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands; (ii) Ascentage Pharma acquired all equity interests in Ascentage Pharma (HK) from Dr. Yang, Dr. Wang, Dr. Guo and Collected Mind (a BVI subsidiary of 3SBio Inc. (HKEX: 1530)), after which Ascentage Pharma (HK) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascentage Pharma; and (iii) in July 2018, Ascentage Pharma acquired all equity interests in Ascentage International from each of Dr. Yang, Dr. Wang and Dr. Guo, in exchange for ordinary shares issued to Ascentage Limited (a BVI company owned by Dr. Yang (45.53%), Dr. Guo (27.69%) and Dr. Wang (26.78%), each for themselves and as settlors of their respective family trusts), based on Ascentage International’s registered capital in Ascentage Jiangsu immediately preceding the acquisition. Ascentage Limited was dissolved in December 2023.
Upon the completion of the Reorganization, Ascentage Pharma became the top holding company of our company and its subsidiaries. Our daily operations are conducted primarily through our operating subsidiaries in mainland China, Hong Kong, the United States and Australia. Ascentage Pharma Group Corp Limited, Ascentage International Limited, Ascentage Investment International and Ascentage Investment Limited are investment holding intermediaries.
In March 2026, the Board approved the transfer of ownership of Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., Ascentage Pharma Pty Ltd., and Ascentage Pharma Europe Limited from Ascentage Pharma Group Corp Ltd. to Ascentage Pharma to streamline the organizational structure, which transfer closed in July 2026..
Our corporate headquarters are located at 68 Xinqing Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, and our telephone number is +1 (301) 291-5658. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., located at 700 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 510, Rockville, MD 20850, and its telephone number is +1 (301) 291-5658. Our registered office is located at the office of Walkers Corporate Limited, with the registered address of 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands. Our corporate website is www.ascentage.com. The information contained on or that can be accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, such as the Company, at http://www.sec.gov.
Cash Flows through Our Organization
Cash is transferred among the Company and our subsidiaries in the following manner: (1) funds are transferred to the Company’s subsidiaries from the Company as needed as capital contributions or shareholder loans, as the case may be; and (2) dividends or other distributions may be paid by our subsidiaries to the Company. Our subsidiaries generate and retain cash from operating activities and re-invest in their respective business. None of our subsidiaries have made distributions to shareholders. In the future, the Company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur partially depends upon dividends paid by our subsidiaries. Apart from cash transferred in connection with paid-in capital and shareholder loans, no cash or other assets have been transferred between the Company and a subsidiary, no subsidiaries (including PRC subsidiaries) paid dividends or made other distributions to the Company, and no dividends or distributions were paid or made to U.S. investors. In the future, cash proceeds raised from financing activities may be transferred by the Company through our subsidiaries via capital contributions and shareholder loans, as the case may be, and our subsidiaries may pay dividends to their respective shareholders. Payment of dividends is subject to restrictions under the PRC law. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. For a detailed discussion of applicable PRC regulations governing distribution of dividends, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government regulation—PRC regulation—PRC regulations relating to dividend distribution” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition, the PRC government imposes regulations on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and the remittance of funds out of China. Governmental regulations of currency conversion may limit our ability to pay dividends and other obligations and affect the value of your investment. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See “Dividends and Dividend Policy” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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Regulatory Permissions and Licenses for Our Operations in the PRC
We conduct our business in mainland China primarily through our PRC subsidiaries. Our operations in mainland China are governed by laws and regulations of mainland China.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures and relevant notes and supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. If a domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines. The Trial Measures provide that if the issuer meets both of the following criteria, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be deemed an indirect overseas offering by a PRC domestic company: (1) 50% or more of any of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year is accounted for by PRC domestic companies; and (2) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, its main place(s) of business are located in mainland China or the majority of senior management staff in charge of its business operations and management are PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. As advised by our PRC legal advisor, any offering under this prospectus (including any applicable prospectus supplement) will be identified as an indirect overseas issuance and listing under the Trial Measures. We are therefore subject to the approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC in connection with any such offering.
The Trial Measures also state that any post-listing follow-on offering by an issuer in the same overseas market, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, shall be subject to the filing requirements within three business days after the completion of an offering. Therefore, any future offerings and listings of our securities in an overseas market shall be subject to the filing requirements under the CSRC Filing Rules. As such, we will be required to submit a filing to CSRC within three business days after the completion of any offering of securities under this prospectus (including any applicable prospectus supplement).
We have been closely monitoring regulatory developments in China regarding any necessary approvals from the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), or other PRC regulatory authorities required for overseas listings and securities offerings. However, we cannot predict the impact of these regulations on the listing status of the ADSs and/or other securities, or on any of our future security offerings in foreign countries. For more detailed information, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–We are subject to continued approval, filing and other requirements of applicable U.S. securities laws and Nasdaq listing rules as a U.S. public company, and may be subject to further approval, filing or other requirements with PRC governmental authorities in connection with future capital-raising activities.”
If (1) we do not receive or maintain any required permissions or approvals, (2) we inadvertently concluded that certain permissions or approvals have been acquired or are not required, or (3) applicable laws, regulations or interpretations thereof change and we become subject to the requirement of additional permissions or approvals in the future, we may not be able to obtain such permissions or approvals in a timely manner, or at all, and such approvals may be rescinded even if obtained. Any such circumstance could subject us to sanctions imposed by the PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against us, and other forms of sanctions, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For more information, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC.”
Recent Regulatory Development
On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued the Opinions on Strictly Scrutinizing on Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions call for strengthened regulation over illegal securities activities, supervision of overseas securities offerings and listings by China-based companies, and propose to take effective measures, such as promoting the development of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with perceived risks or incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies.
The revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review as promulgated by a total of thirteen governmental departments of the PRC, including the CAC, came into effect on February 15, 2022. The revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review stipulated that, in addition to network products and services acquired by critical information infrastructure operators, online platform operators are also subject to cybersecurity review if they carry out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. Moreover, online platform operators listing in a foreign country with more than one million users’ personal information data must apply for a cybersecurity review with the Cybersecurity Review Office. The revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review further elaborated the factors to be considered when assessing the national security risks of the relevant activities. Since our business operation is not an operator of a network platform with personal information of over one million users, we should not be required to undergo the cybersecurity review for an offering under this prospectus (including any applicable prospectus supplement) and the listing of the ADSs under the revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review.
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On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, jointly with other relevant governmental authorities, promulgated the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Management of Overseas Securities Issuance and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (the “Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions”) which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions outline obligations of issuers listed in overseas markets with operations in mainland China when they provide information involving state secrets or sensitive information to their securities service providers (such as auditors) and overseas regulators. In addition, under the Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions, such issuers will also be required to obtain approval from the CSRC and other authorities in mainland China before accepting any investigation or inspection by overseas regulators. There are uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions.
Implications of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Pursuant to the HFCAA, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our ordinary shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued its report notifying the SEC of its determination that it was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, including our auditor who is headquartered in mainland China. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB were to determine in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, and if we were to continue to use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA. For more details, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–The PCAOB has historically been unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors of the benefits of such inspections” and “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–If the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditors located in China because of a position taken by a foreign authority and the SEC identifies the Company as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for two consecutive years, the ADSs will be delisted and our ordinary shares and ADSs will be prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, and a prohibition from trading, may materially and adversely affect the value of our ordinary shares” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Certain Risks Associated with Our Corporate Structure
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands that conducts most of our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. In addition, some our executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties or similar arrangements between China and the jurisdiction where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have treaties or similar arrangements and only has limited reciprocity arrangements with the United States, the Cayman Islands or many other countries and regions that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments as of the date of this prospectus. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment if it is decided as having violated the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or the Cayman Islands.
The SEC, U.S. Department of Justice and other U.S. authorities often have substantial difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in certain emerging markets, including China. Legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for investigations or litigation or to obtaining access to funds outside the United States, lack of support from local authorities, and other various factors make it difficult for the U.S. authorities to pursue actions against non-U.S. companies and individuals, who may have engaged in fraud or other wrongdoing. Additionally, public shareholders investing in the ADSs have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets where we operate, as shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including class actions under securities law and fraud claims, generally are difficult or impossible to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in many emerging markets, including China. See also “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in the regions where we operate against us or our management named in this Annual Report on Form 20-F based on foreign laws” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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Holding Company Structure
As of the date of this prospectus, Ascentage Pharma 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 its ordinary shares or the ADSs. Ascentage Pharma is a holding company with no operations of its own. Ascentage Pharma conducts its business operations through its subsidiaries, including its subsidiaries in China. If the PRC government deems that any of our business operations carried out by our Hong Kong or PRC subsidiaries were to be restricted or prohibited from foreign investment in the future, we may be required to stop our business operations in China, and we could be subject to material penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in the affected operations. Such events could result in a material change in our operations and a material change in the value of our securities, including causing the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. If we become profitable, Ascentage Pharma’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to the shareholders and ADS investors and to service any debt it may incur will come from dividends paid by its operating subsidiaries.
Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets offshore to Ascentage Pharma. In particular, under the current effective PRC laws and regulations, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits upon satisfaction of relevant statutory conditions and procedures. Distributable profits are the net profit after tax as determined under PRC GAAP, less any recovery of accumulated losses and appropriations to statutory and other reserves required to be made. Each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. In addition, the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by PRC companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC-resident enterprises are incorporated.
Furthermore, the payment of current account items, including profit distributions, trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its local branches, provided that (i) the declaration and payment of such current account items comply with applicable PRC laws and regulations and the constitutional documents of the related company, and (ii) the remittance of dividends and other distributions out of the PRC complies with the procedures required by the relevant PRC laws and regulations relating to foreign exchange administration and withholding tax provisions, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. However, where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of the PRC to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies, approval from or registration with competent government authorities or its authorized banks is required. The PRC government may take measures from time to time to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account or capital account transactions in accordance with the procedural requirements of PRC laws. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our offshore intermediary holding companies or ultimate parent company, and therefore, our shareholders or investors in the ADSs. Further, we cannot assure you that new regulations or policies will not be promulgated in the future, which may further restrict the remittance of RMB into or out of the PRC. We cannot assure you, in light of the restrictions in place, or any amendment to be made from time to time, that our current or future PRC subsidiaries will be able to satisfy their respective payment obligations that are denominated in foreign currencies, including the remittance of dividends outside of the PRC.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
| ● | exemption from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and |
| ● | to the extent that we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, (1) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (2) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, including golden parachute compensation. |
We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.235 billion; (2) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our U.S. initial public offering; (3) the date on which we have, during the preceding three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non- convertible debt; or (4) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which would occur if we have been a public company for at least 12 months and the market value of the ADSs and ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
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In addition, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. Since International Financial Reporting Standards make no distinction between public and private companies for purposes of compliance with new or revised accounting standards, the requirements for our compliance as a private company and as a public company are the same.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We are also considered a “foreign private issuer” under U.S. securities laws. In our capacity as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose certain disclosure obligations and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required to comply with Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material information.
We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We will remain a foreign private issuer until such time that more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (1) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents; (2) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (3) our business is administered principally in the United States.
The Securities That May Be Offered
Under this prospectus, we or any selling security holder may offer ADSs representing our ordinary shares, from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or the selling security holder may offer. Each time we or any selling security holder offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| ● | designation or classification; |
| ● | aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
| ● | maturity, if applicable; |
| ● | rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any; |
| ● | redemption, conversion or sinking fund terms, if any; |
| ● | voting or other rights, if any; and |
| ● | conversion or exercise prices, if any. |
The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We or any selling security holder may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we or any selling security holder offer securities through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
| ● | the names of those agents or underwriters; |
| ● | applicable fees and commissions to be paid to them; |
| ● | details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and |
| ● | the net proceeds to us. |
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus, including the matters addressed under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, as updated by our subsequent filings, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled “Information on the Company,” “Risk Factors” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as any amendments thereto, filed with the SEC.
All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “objective,” “should,” or the negative of these and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | our expectations regarding sales, manufacturing and commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax in China; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax outside of China and of our other proprietary product candidates, including trial initiation, patient enrollment, trial completion, data announcements, regulatory filings, and timing thereof; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the potential advantages of our products and product candidates over existing therapies or therapies currently in development and expectations regarding the status of current therapies being used or being developed that are or may be competitive to our product candidates and potential changes to standard of care, and their comparative efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, or PK, pharmacodynamics, or PD, bioavailability and other characteristics; |
| ● | our expectations with regard to our ability to create, identify, nominate, select, research and develop additional product candidates and to submit investigational new drug application, or INDs, and/or Clinical Trial Applications, or CTAs, for our pre-clinical product candidates and timing thereof; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the potential advantages of our proprietary technologies over existing technology platforms, including drugs and therapies currently in development, and the prospects for our ongoing and future technology collaborations; |
| ● | developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing therapies and technologies; |
| ● | our plans to expand our technology platform and the potential benefits of such platform; |
| ● | our expectations with regard to the willingness and ability of our current and future partners and collaborators to pursue the development, approval and commercialization of our products and product candidates; |
| ● | our and our partners’ product discovery, development and commercialization plans with respect to our products and product candidates and proprietary technologies; |
| ● | our potential to enter into new collaborations, including research and similar collaborations with research institutions and hospitals; |
| ● | our and our partners and collaborators’ ability to develop, acquire and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials and commercialize products that are approved; |
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| ● | our expectations around the potential initiation, timing and success of clinical trials initiated by third parties, including IIT, of therapies including our products and product candidates; |
| ● | the initiation, timing, progress and results of our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs; |
| ● | the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our products and product candidates; |
| ● | our ability to identify, and to negotiate contracts with, suitable contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, contract research organizations, or CROs, and the ability of such CMOs and CROs to manufacture sufficient quantities of our products and product candidates for clinical trials or commercialization in compliance with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs; |
| ● | the commercialization and market acceptance of our products and product candidates; |
| ● | our plans to continue to build our commercialization capabilities and to commercialize and market Olverembatinib, Lisaftoclax or other proprietary product candidates that may be approved; |
| ● | the pricing of and reimbursement for our approved products in different markets; |
| ● | the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business, products, product candidates and technologies; |
| ● | our and our partners’ ability to operate our businesses without infringing the intellectual property rights and proprietary technology of third parties; |
| ● | the scope of protection we and our partners are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our products, product candidates and technologies; |
| ● | our analysis of potential patent infringement claims and our rights with respect to such claims, and expectations around patent coverage and effectiveness of such coverage for competitive products and product candidates; |
| ● | our receipt of future milestone payments, royalties and other payments from our partners, licensors and other collaborators and the expected timing of such payments; |
| ● | the impact of regulatory developments, legislative actions and political conditions in the United States, China, Hong Kong and other jurisdictions, including trade policies and tariffs that may apply to products that we purchase or sell, or judicial decisions overturning or establishing new legal precedents; |
| ● | our ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws which are complex and have different jurisdictional requirements; |
| ● | our ability to effectively manage our anticipated growth; |
| ● | our ability to attract and retain suitably qualified employees and key personnel, particularly for our commercialization efforts; |
| ● | our expectations around increase of headcounts and operations in key geographic areas; |
| ● | the timing, receipt of and terms and conditions of any required approvals, licenses or permits and the failure to renew, or the revocation of, any such approvals, licenses or permits; |
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| ● | our estimates regarding future expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; |
| ● | our expectation that the use of proceeds from our public and private financings and the period over which such proceeds, together with our available cash, will be sufficient to meet our operating needs; |
| ● | our future financial performance; |
| ● | other risks and uncertainties, including those listed in this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” and those listed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate.
Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all.
Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to this prospectus completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
This prospectus contains market data and industry forecasts that were obtained from industry publications. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. We have not independently verified any third-party information. While we believe the market position, market opportunity and market size information included in this prospectus is generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise.
We will not, and do not, undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our current expectations and beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus.
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We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses that we may authorize to be provided to you in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby to fund the commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax, the ongoing clinical trials for our drug candidates, for working capital and for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of securities by any selling security holder.
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Information about selling security holders, if any, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
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We or any selling security holder may offer securities under this prospectus from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, “at-the-market” offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We or the selling security holder may sell the securities (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) through agents, (3) directly to one or more purchasers and/or (4) through a combination of any of these methods of sale or any other method permitted by law. We or any selling security holder may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, in accordance with applicable law and regulations and existing shareholders delegations of authority, at:
| ● | a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
| ● | market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| ● | negotiated prices. |
Each time that we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, if applicable.
We or any selling security holder may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We or any selling security holder may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any underwriter or agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities.
If we or any selling security holder utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we or such selling security holder will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
If we or any selling security holder utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we or such selling security holder will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale, and we will provide the name of any underwriter in the prospectus supplement which the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we or such selling security holder, or the purchasers of the securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the underwriter may compensate those dealers in the form of concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.
We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any compensation we or any selling security holder pay to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act and any commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting commissions. We or any selling security holder may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing the applicable security in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if the securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in other transactions with us or any selling security holder, or perform other services for us or any selling security holder, in the ordinary course of their business.
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The following description of our share capital summarizes certain provisions of our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Such summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Holders of ADSs will be able to exercise their rights with respect to the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs only in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. See the description under the caption “American Depositary Shares.”
General
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated with limited liability and our affairs are governed by our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “A&R MAA”), the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, or the Companies Act, and Cayman Islands common law.
The following are summaries of material provisions of our A&R MAA and the Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
Registered office and objects
Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is at the office of Walkers Corporate Limited, with the registered address of 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands. According to our A&R MAA, the objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.
Ordinary shares
General. Our authorized share capital is US$50,000 consisting of 500,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. As of April 1, 2026, 373,322,192 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. We may not issue share to bearer. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and transfer their ordinary shares.
Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to our A&R MAA and the Companies Act. In addition, our shareholders may, subject to the provisions of our A&R MAA, by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Our A&R MAA provide that dividends may be declared and paid out of our profits, realized or unrealized, or from any reserve set aside from profits which our board of directors determine is no longer needed. Dividends may also be declared and paid out of share premium account or any other fund or account which can be authorized for this purpose in accordance with the Companies Act. No dividend may be declared and paid unless our directors determine that, immediately after the payment, we will be able to pay our debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business and we have funds lawfully available for such purpose.
Voting rights. In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each ordinary share is entitled to one vote for each ordinary share registered in his or her name on our register of members. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by poll, except that the chairman of the meeting may, pursuant to the Hong Kong Listing Rules, allow a resolution to be voted by a show of hands.
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A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of two shareholders entitled to vote at general meetings present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our A&R MAA provide that in each financial year, we will hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in addition to any other meeting in that year, and will specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it. We will hold the annual general meeting within six months after the end of our financial year. Each general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, shall be an extraordinary general meeting. Shareholders’ annual general meetings and any other general meetings of our shareholders may be called by a majority of our board of directors or our chairman or upon a requisition of shareholders holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of the voting rights, on a one vote per share basis, in the share capital of the Company, in which case the directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting; however, our A&R MAA do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders. Advance notice of at least 21 days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other general meetings shall be called by at least 14 days’ notice in writing in accordance with our A&R MAA.
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting, while a special resolution also requires the affirmative vote of no less than three quarters of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our A&R MAA.
Transfer of ordinary shares. Subject to the restrictions in our A&R MAA, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
| ● | the instrument of transfer is lodged at the relevant registration office or, as the case may be, the transfer office, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
| ● | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; |
| ● | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
| ● | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; |
| ● | the shares are free from any lien in favor of the Company; and |
| ● | a fee of such maximum sum as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors may from time to time require is paid to us in respect thereof. |
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year as our board may determine.
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Liquidation. On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares or, on a winding up, with the sanction of a special resolution of our company and any other sanction required by the Companies Act and subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to the distribution of available surplus assets on liquidation attached to any class or classes of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares will be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares in proportion to the paid up par value of the shares held by them. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the paid up par value of the shares held by them. We are an exempted company with limited liability registered under the Companies Act, and under the Companies Act, the liability of our members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. Our current third amended and restated memorandum of association contains a declaration that the liability of our members is so limited.
If our Company is wound up (in whatever manner), the liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide among our shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of our Company whether the assets shall consist of property of one kind or shall consist of properties of different kinds and the liquidator may, for such purpose, set such value as it deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property to be divided and may determine how such division shall be carried out as amongst our shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of our shareholders as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no shareholder shall be compelled to accept any of our ordinary shares or other assets upon which there is a liability.
Calls on ordinary shares and forfeiture of ordinary shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 clear days prior to the specified time of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption, repurchase and surrender of ordinary shares. We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders thereof, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. We may also repurchase any of our ordinary shares, provided that the manner and terms of such purchase have been approved by our board of directors or by ordinary resolution of our shareholders, or are otherwise authorized by our A&R MAA. For example, at the annual general meeting of the shareholders held on May 10, 2024, the shareholders approved a resolution from the board of directors to repurchase no more than 10% of our total number of shares in issue as of the date of approval, valid until the 2025 annual general meeting of the shareholders. On March 27, 2025, our board of directors approved a resolution to submit for the approval of the shareholders at the 2025 annual general meeting, the extension of the resolution until the 2026 annual general meeting of the shareholders. In addition, on April 8, 2025, the Company announced the repurchase of 50,000 existing shares for the purpose of the 2022 RSU Scheme to satisfy the RSUs upon exercise. Under the Companies Act, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if the company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Variations of rights of shares. If at any time our share capital is divided into different classes or series of shares, the rights attached to any class or series of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or series), whether or not our company is being wound- up, may be varied with the consent in writing of three fourths of the voting rights of the holders of that class or series or with the sanction of a special resolution at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing class of shares.
Inspection of books and records. Holders of our ordinary shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (other than our current memorandum and articles of association, the register of mortgages and charges and any special resolutions passed by shareholders). However, under our A&R MAA, during the period when our shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and except when our register of shareholders is closed on terms equivalent to Section 632 of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, any of our shareholders may inspect during business hours any register of shareholders maintained in Hong Kong without charge and require the copies of extracts of it. Under Cayman Islands law, the names of our current directors can be obtained from a search conducted at the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands. The books of account shall be kept at our headquarters or at such other place or places as our board of directors thinks fit and shall always be open to the inspection of the members of our board of directors. No shareholder (unless otherwise a member of our board of directors) or other person shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of our Company except as conferred by the Companies Act or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or authorized by our board of directors or our Company at a general meeting of shareholders.
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Issuance of additional shares. Our A&R MAA authorizes our board of directors to issue additional ordinary shares from time to time as our board of directors shall determine, to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.
Our A&R MAA also authorizes our board of directors to establish from time to time one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
| ● | the designation of the series; |
| ● | the number of shares of the series; |
| ● | the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and |
| ● | the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences. |
Our board of directors may issue preferred shares without action by our shareholders to the extent authorized but unissued. Issuance of these shares may dilute the voting power of holders of ordinary shares.
Anti-takeover provisions. Some provisions of our A&R MAA may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
Exempted company. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except that an exempted company:
| ● | does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies; |
| ● | is not required to open its register of members for inspection; |
| ● | does not have to hold an annual general meeting; |
| ● | may issue shares with no par value; |
| ● | may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation; |
| ● | may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
| ● | may register as a limited duration company; and |
| ● | may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
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“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on that shareholder’s shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Register of members
Under the Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
| ● | the names and addresses of our members, a statement of the shares held by each member, and the statement shall (i) distinguish each share by its number (so long as the share has a number), (ii) confirm the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member, (iii) confirm the number and category of shares held by each member, and (iv) confirm whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the A&R MAA, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional; |
| ● | the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and |
| ● | the date on which any person ceased to be a member. |
Under the Companies Act, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (that is, the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members is deemed as a matter of the Companies Act to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. The shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name.
If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of our company, the person or member aggrieved (or any member of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
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Differences in Corporate Law
The Companies Act differs from laws applicable to corporations incorporated in the State of Delaware and their stockholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware and their stockholders.
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Cayman Islands | Delaware | ||
| Title of Organizational Documents | Memorandum and Articles of Association | Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws | ||
| Duties of Directors | As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes the following duties to the company-a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a personal profit based on his position as director (unless the company permits him to do so), a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his personal interest or his duty to a third party and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended.
A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. |
Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a fiduciary duty of care to protect the interests of the corporation and a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of the company and its stockholders. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberative manner and inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of the corporation’s employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the stockholders. |
| Limitations on Personal Liability of Directors and Officers | The Companies Act has no equivalent provision to Delaware law regarding the limitation of director’s liability. However, any provision which seeks to limit the liability of directors or officers to the extent that the liability is a consequence of the director or officer’s own fraud, dishonesty or willful default is unlikely to be enforceable as a matter of common law. | Subject to the limitations described below, a certificate of incorporation may provide for the elimination or limitation of the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Such provision cannot limit liability for breach of the fiduciary duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, a transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock repurchase or redemption. Similarly, a certificate of incorporation may provide for the elimination or limitation of the personal liability of specified officers to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as an officer. Such provision cannot limit liability for breach of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, a transaction from which the officer derived an improper personal benefit, or with respect to actions by or in the right of the corporation. In addition, an exculpatory provision with terms described above cannot limit liability for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective. |
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| Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Agents and Others | Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of directors and officers, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands Court to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against the consequences of committing a crime, or against the indemnified person’s own fraud, dishonesty or willful default.
Our A&R MAA provide that we will indemnify each director, managing director, alternate director, auditor, secretary and other officer of the company and the trustees (if any) for the time being acting in relation to any of our affairs, and their respective executors or administrators against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses incurred or sustained by such person by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty or supposed duty in their respective offices or trusts, other than by reason of such person’s own dishonesty or fraud. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our A&R MAA.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. |
A corporation has the power to indemnify any director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding who acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and if with respect to a criminal proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct would be unlawful, against amounts actually and reasonably incurred. A corporation also has the power to indemnify any director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in the corporation’s favor against expenses (including legal fees) actually and reasonably incurred if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and only if the person is not found liable, unless a court determines the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to the indemnification. Additionally, under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a Delaware corporation must indemnify its present or former directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred to the extent that the officer or director has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding brought against him or her by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation. | ||
| Interested Directors | Under our A&R MAA, directors who are in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with our company must declare the nature of their interest at a meeting of the board of directors. Following such declaration, a director may, subject to article 119(d) of the A&R MAA, vote in respect of any certain contract or proposed contract notwithstanding his or her interest, provided that in exercising any such vote, such director’s duties remain as described above. | Under Delaware law, a transaction in which a director has an interest is not void or voidable solely because of such interest or solely because such interested director is present at or participates in the meeting that authorizes the transaction if: (1) the material facts as to such interested director’s relationship or interests and as to the transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or committee thereof and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors are less than a quorum; (2) such material facts are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote on such transaction and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (3) the transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board of directors, a committee of the board, or the stockholders. Under Delaware law, a director or officer could be held liable for any transaction in which such director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. |
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| Voting Requirements | As a matter of Cayman Islands law, certain matters must be approved by special resolution of the shareholders, including amending or adopting memorandum or articles of association of a Cayman Islands company, reduction of share capital, change of name, authorization of a plan of merger, voluntary winding up of the company or the recalling of the voluntary liquidation of the company.
The Companies Act requires that a special resolution be passed by a majority of at least two-thirds or such higher percentage as set forth in the articles of association, of shareholders being entitled to vote and do vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting, or by unanimous written consent of shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting.
The Companies Act defines “special resolutions” only. A company’s articles of association can therefore tailor the definition of “ordinary resolutions” as a whole, or with respect to specific provisions. Our A&R MAA provide that an ordinary resolution is a resolution (1) passed by a simple majority of such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person (or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy) at a general meeting and regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each shareholder is entitled or (2) approved in writing by all of the shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the shareholders and the effective date of the resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument (or the last of such instruments, if more than one) is executed. |
Under Delaware law, each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder as of the applicable record date, unless otherwise provided in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Except as otherwise provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law or by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, under Delaware law, all matters brought before a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present (other than the election of directors) require the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter. Certain matters for stockholder approval, including the approval of certain merger agreements, the statutory conversion or domestication of the corporation, certain amendments to the certificate of incorporation, and the sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets will require approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding capital stock. The certificate of incorporation may also include a provision requiring supermajority approval by the directors or stockholders for any corporate action.
In addition, under Delaware law, certain business combinations involving certain interested stockholders of publicly traded corporations may require approval by a supermajority of the non-interested stockholders. |
| Voting for Directors | Our A&R MAA provide that our directors may be appointed by a resolution of our board of directors to fill a casual vacancy on the board of directors or as an addition to the board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. | Under Delaware law, unless otherwise specified in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. | ||
| Cumulative Voting | There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Our A&R MAA do not provide for cumulative voting on the election of the directors as described above. |
There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors unless provided for in the certificate of incorporation. | ||
| Directors’ Powers Regarding Bylaws | Our A&R MAA may only be amended by a special resolution of the shareholders of our company. | The certificate of incorporation may grant the directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws. |
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| Nomination and Removal of Directors and Filling Vacancies on Board | Nomination and removal of directors and filling of board vacancies are governed by the terms of the articles of association. Our A&R MAA provide that our shareholders may by ordinary resolution remove any of our director (including a managing director or other executive director) before the expiration of his or her term of office notwithstanding anything in our A&R MAA or in any agreement between our Company and such director (but without prejudice to any claim which such director may have for damages for any breach of any contract between him/her and our Company) and may by ordinary resolution elect another person in his or her stead. At each annual general meeting one-third of our directors for the time being, or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to but not less than one-third, shall retire from office by rotation provided that every director (including those appointed for a specific term) shall be subject to retirement by rotation at least once every three years. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election.
In addition, a director’s office shall be vacated if the director (1) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (2) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (3) is absent from our board meetings during a continuous period of six (6) months, without special leave of our board, and his or her alternate director (if any) has not attended in his or her stead during the period; (4) is prohibited by law from acting as a director; (5) has been validly required by the relevant stock exchange to cease to be a director; (6) resigns his office by notice in writing to the company; or (7) is removed from office by notice in writing served on him signed by not less than ¾ in number (or if that is not a round number, the nearest lower round number) of the directors (including himself) then in office. |
Stockholders may generally nominate directors if they comply with any applicable advance notice provisions and other procedural requirements in the corporation’s bylaws.
Holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors may remove a director with or without cause, except in certain cases involving a classified board or if the company uses cumulative voting. Unless otherwise provided for in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, directorship vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors elected or then in office, or by the stockholders. |
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| Mergers and Similar Arrangements | The Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (1) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (2) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a combined company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the combined company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (1) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (2) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions.
In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate, compromises or arrangements between a Cayman Islands company and its members (or any class of them).
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Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, a consolidation, a statutory conversion or domestication of the corporation, or a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. However, unless required by its certificate of incorporation, approval is not required by the holders of the outstanding stock of a constituent corporation surviving a merger if:
● the merger agreement does not amend in any respect its certificate of incorporation;
● each share of its stock outstanding prior to the merger will be an identical share of stock following the merger; and
● either no shares of the surviving corporation’s common stock and no shares, securities or obligations convertible into such stock will be issued or delivered pursuant to the merger, or the authorized unissued shares or treasury shares of the surviving corporation’s common stock to be issued or delivered pursuant to the merger plus those initially issuable upon conversion of any other shares, securities or obligations to be issued or delivered pursuant to the merger do not exceed 20% of the shares of the surviving corporation’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger.
A merger between a parent entity and its Delaware subsidiary does not require authorization by a resolution of the board of directors or stockholders of that subsidiary if the board of directors of the parent corporation approves the terms of such merger and a certificate of ownership and merger is filed. For this purpose a company is a “parent” of a subsidiary if it holds at least 90% of the outstanding shares of each class of the stock of the subsidiary that has voting power.
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Following amendments to the Companies Act that became effective on August 31, 2022, the majority-in-number “headcount test” in relation to the approval of members’ schemes of arrangement has been abolished.
Section 86(2A) of the Companies Act provides that, if 75% in value of the members (or class of members) of a Cayman Islands company agree to any compromise or arrangement, such compromise or arrangement shall, if sanctioned by the Cayman Court, be binding on all members (or class of members) of such company and on the company itself. Where a Cayman Islands company is in the course of being wound up, such compromise or arrangement would be binding on the liquidator and contributories of the company. In contrast, section 86(2) of the Companies Act continues to require (a) approval by a majority in number representing 75% in value; and (b) the sanction of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, in relation to any compromise or arrangement between a company and its creditors (or any class of them). At the initial directions hearing, the Cayman Islands court will make orders for (amongst other things) the convening of the meetings of creditors or members (or classes of them, as applicable). While a dissenting shareholder or creditor has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court would nevertheless be likely to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
● the company has complied with the directions set down by the Cayman Islands court; |
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a stockholder of record or beneficial owner of capital stock of a Delaware corporation generally has the right to dissent from and request payment of the fair value (excluding value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the transaction) for such person’s shares upon a merger, consolidation, statutory conversion or domestication in which the Delaware corporation is participating, subject to specified procedural requirements, including that such person does not vote in favor of the transaction. However, the Delaware General Corporation Law does not confer appraisal rights in certain circumstances, including if the dissenting stockholder or beneficial owner owns shares traded on a national securities exchange and will receive publicly traded shares in the transaction. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a person asserting appraisal rights does not receive any payment for their shares until a court determines the fair value of the shares. The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the court and assessed against the parties as the court deems equitable under the circumstances. |
● the meeting was properly held and the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met;
● the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; and
● the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his/her interest.
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| If a compromise or arrangement of a Cayman Islands company is approved by the members in the context of a members’ scheme and the Cayman Islands court subsequently sanctions such scheme (as described above), a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to the appraisal rights which it would have if the company in question were a Delaware corporation (being the right to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of its shares). This is because such scheme will be binding on all members (or class of members), regardless of whether all the members (or class of members) approved the scheme, upon the sanction order being made. Having said that, a dissenting shareholder would have the right to appeal the making of the sanction order to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, if there were grounds for doing so. |
| Shareholder Suits | In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company, and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands court can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge actions where:
● a company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires;
● the act complained of, although not ultra vires, could only be effected duly if authorized by more than a simple majority vote that has not been obtained; and
● those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”
A shareholder may also (subject to meeting the relevant requirements in the Companies Act) file winding up proceedings against our company on just and equitable grounds, based on similar factual circumstances. It is possible for the shareholder to seek alternative remedies to a winding up within the winding up petition, depending on the circumstances. Such alternative remedies include seeking a share buyout order from our company or seeking an order regulating the conduct of our company’s affairs in the future. |
Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to stockholders who satisfy certain procedural requirements under Delaware law for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court generally has discretion to permit a winning plaintiff to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action. |
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| Inspection of Corporate Records | Shareholders of a Cayman Islands exempted company have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of the register of members or other corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association and the register of mortgages and charges) of the company. However, these rights may be provided in the company’s articles of association. | Under Delaware law, stockholders of a Delaware corporation have the right during normal business hours to inspect for any proper purpose, and to obtain copies of lists of stockholders and other books and records of the corporation and its subsidiaries, if any, to the extent the books and records of such subsidiaries are available to the corporation. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at a stockholders’ meeting generally must be available for stockholder inspection for a purpose germane to the meeting at least ten days before the meeting. | ||
| Shareholder Proposals and Calling of Special Shareholder Meetings | The Companies Act provide shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our A&R MAA allow our shareholders holding in aggregate not less than one-tenth of the voting rights, on a one vote per share basis, in the share capital of the Company, to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our board is obliged to convene an extraordinary general meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. Other than this right to requisition a shareholders’ meeting, our A&R MAA do not provide our shareholders with any other right to put proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings, but our A&R MAA provide that we will do so for so long as our ordinary shares are traded on the HKEx. | Unless provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, Delaware law does not include a provision restricting the manner in which stockholders may bring business before a meeting.
Delaware law permits the board of directors or any person who is authorized under a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws to call a special meeting of stockholders. | ||
| Approval of Corporate Matters by Written Consent | The Companies Act provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of unanimous written resolutions signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held (if authorized by the articles of association). | Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, stockholders may take action by written consent signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting of stockholders at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. |
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| Dissolution; Winding Up | Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. Further, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the Court, just and equitable to do so. | Under Delaware law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by stockholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated and approved by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. A Delaware corporation may also be dissolved by decree or judgment of a Delaware court in certain circumstances. | ||
| Variation of Rights of Shares | Under Cayman Islands law and our A&R MAA, whenever our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares (and as otherwise determined by the directors), subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any shares, we may materially adversely vary the rights attached to any class with the written consent of the holders of not less than three-fourths of the voting rights of the holders of such class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast at such meeting. The necessary quorum of such meeting shall be not less than persons holding (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) or representing by proxy holding one-third of the issued shares of such class, and that any holder of shares of the class present in person (or in the case of the shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) or by proxy may demand a poll. | Under Delaware law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of both a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation and a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Delaware law, a corporation may also vary the rights of a series of a class of shares, but not the entire class, with the approval of both a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation and a majority of the outstanding shares of such series, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. |
| Dividends and Stock Repurchases | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any shares, or as otherwise provided for in the Companies Act and our A&R MAA, our directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on shares in issue and authorize payment of the same.
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any shares, our Company by ordinary resolution may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by our directors. |
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that, subject to any restrictions in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, dividends may be declared from the corporation’s surplus, or, if there is no surplus, from its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year, and Delaware common law also imposes a solvency requirement with respect to the payment of dividends. Dividends may not be declared out of net profits, however, if the corporation’s capital has been diminished to an amount less than the aggregate amount of all capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets until the deficiency in the amount of capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets is repaired. Furthermore, applicable Delaware statutory and common law generally provides that a corporation may redeem or repurchase its shares only if the redemption or repurchase would not impair the capital of the corporation and only if the corporation is solvent at the time of the redemption or repurchase, and the redemption or repurchase would not render the corporation insolvent. | ||
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| Anti-Takeover Provisions | Some provisions of our A&R MAA may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our A&R MAA, as amended and restated from time to time, for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company. |
Unless a corporation opts out of the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with a holder of 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock (as defined in Section 203), referred to as an interested stockholder, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder, except as otherwise provided in Section 203. For these purposes, the term “business combination” includes mergers, assets sales and other similar transactions with an interested stockholder. | ||
| Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders | There are no limitations imposed by our A&R MAA on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our ordinary shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our A&R MAA governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed. | There are no limitations in the Delaware General Corporation Law related to rights of non-resident or foreign stockholders to hold or exercise voting rights of a Delaware corporation. |
Listing
The ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “AAPG.” Our ordinary shares are listed on the HKEx under the stock code “6855.”
Exchange Controls
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands currently has no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions.
People’s Republic of China
The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, most recently amended in August 2008. Under the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans.
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The Circular on Reforming the Management Method regarding the Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, promulgated by the SAFE on March 30, 2015 and last amended on March 23, 2023, allows foreign-invested enterprises to make equity investments by using RMB funds converted from foreign exchange capital. Under Circular 19, the foreign exchange capital in the capital account of foreign- invested enterprises upon the confirmation of rights and interests of monetary contribution by the local foreign exchange bureau (or the book-entry registration of monetary contribution by the banks) can be settled at the banks based on the actual operation needs of the enterprises. The proportion of willingness-based foreign exchange settlement of capital for foreign-invested enterprises is temporarily set at 100%. The SAFE can adjust such proportion in due time based on the circumstances of the international balance of payments. However, Circular 19 and the Circular on Reforming and Regulating the Management Policies on the Settlement of Capital Projects, or Circular 16, promulgated by the SAFE on and effective as of June 9, 2016, continues to prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from, among other things, using RMB fund converted from its foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond its business scope, investment and financing in securities and other investments except for bank’s principal-secured products, providing loans to non-affiliated enterprises or constructing or purchasing real estate not for self-use. Recently, Circular 16 has further been amended by Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Deepening Reform and Promoting Cross-border Trade and Investment Facilitation issued by SAFE on December 4, 2023 to further clarify restrictions on the use of domestic institutions’ income from foreign exchange receipts under capital account and the RMB funds obtained from the settlement. The prohibition on constructing or purchasing real estate not for self-use was removed by the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Matters Concerning Deepening the Reform of Foreign Exchange Management for Cross-border Investment and Financing, or Circular 43, promulgated by the SAFE on and effective as of September 12, 2025.
On October 23, 2019, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Promoting the Facilitation of Cross-border Trade and Investment, or Circular 28. Pursuant to Circular 28, on the basis of allowing investment-oriented foreign- invested enterprise (including foreign-invested investment companies, foreign-invested venture capital enterprises and foreign-invested equity investment enterprises) to use capital funds for domestic equity investment in accordance with laws and regulations, non-investment foreign-invested enterprises will be allowed to use capital funds for domestic equity investment in accordance with the laws under the premise of not violating the Negative List and the authenticity and compliance of their domestic invested projects. Such provisions have recently been replaced by Circular on Further Deepening Reform and Promoting Cross-border Trade and Investment Facilitation that when non-investing foreign-funded enterprise makes domestic equity investment with capital funds in the domestic currency, the investee will handle the registration for the acceptance of domestic reinvestment and open a capital account to receive funds, and no entry registration of cash contribution is further required. The domestic institution that transfers the equity will, in accordance with the relevant provisions, register the receipt of domestic reinvestment and open a settlement account under the capital account to receive the consideration for equity transfer.
According to the Circular on Optimizing Administration of Foreign Exchange to Support the Development of Foreign- related Business issued by SAFE on April 10, 2020, eligible enterprises are allowed to make domestic payments by using their capital funds, foreign credits and the income under capital accounts of overseas listing, with no need to provide the evidentiary materials concerning authenticity of such capital for banks in advance, provided that their capital use will be authentic and in line with provisions, and conform to the prevailing administrative regulations on the use of income under capital accounts. The concerned bank will conduct spot checking in accordance with the relevant requirements.
On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China issued the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control and its Implementation Rules were issued by SAFE on January 5, 2007, both of which became effective on February 1, 2007. The Implementation Rules was later partly amended on May 29, 2016, and March 23, 2023. Under these regulations, all foreign exchange matters involved in the employee stock ownership plan, stock option plan and other similar plans, participated by onshore individuals shall be transacted upon approval from SAFE or its authorized branch. On February 15, 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Individuals Participating in the Stock Incentive Plan of An Overseas Listed Company, or Circular 7, to replace the Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Option Plan or Stock Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company. Under Circular 7, the board members, supervisors, officers or other employees, including PRC citizens and foreigners having lived within the territory of the PRC successively for at least one year of a PRC entity, who participate in stock incentive plans or equity compensation plans by an overseas publicly listed company, or the PRC participants, are required, through a PRC agent or PRC subsidiaries of such overseas publicly-listed company, to complete certain foreign exchange registration procedures with respect to the plans upon the examination by, and approval of, SAFE. We and our PRC participants who have been granted stock options are subject to Circular 7. If our PRC participants who hold such options or our PRC subsidiary fail to comply with these regulations, such participants and their PRC employer may be subject to fines and legal sanctions.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American depositary receipts
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary, is the issuer of the ADSs. Each ADS represents an ownership interest in a designated number or percentage of ordinary shares that we have deposited with the custodian, as agent of the depositary, under the deposit agreement among ourselves, the depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of American depositary receipts issued thereunder.
The depositary’s office is located at 383 Madison Avenue, Floor 11, New York, NY 10179.
The ADS-to-share ratio is subject to amendment as provided in the form of an American Depositary Receipt (an “ADR”) (which may give rise to fees contemplated by the form of ADR). In the future, each ADS will also represent any securities, cash or other property deposited with the depositary but which they have not distributed directly to you.
A beneficial owner is any person or entity having a beneficial ownership interest in ADSs. A beneficial owner need not be the holder of the ADR evidencing such ADS. If a beneficial owner of ADSs is not an ADR holder, it must rely on the holder of the ADR(s) evidencing such ADSs in order to assert any rights or receive any benefits under the deposit agreement. A beneficial owner shall only be able to exercise any right or receive any benefit under the deposit agreement solely through the holder of the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs owned by such beneficial owner. The arrangements between a beneficial owner of ADSs and the holder of the corresponding ADRs may affect the beneficial owner’s ability to exercise any rights it may have.
An ADR holder shall be deemed to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of any and all beneficial owners of the ADSs evidenced by the ADRs registered in such ADR holder’s name for all purposes under the deposit agreement and ADRs. The depositary’s only notification obligations under the deposit agreement and the ADRs is to registered ADR holders. Notice to an ADR holder shall be deemed, for all purposes of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, to constitute notice to any and all beneficial owners of the ADSs evidenced by such ADR holder’s ADRs.
Unless certificated ADRs are specifically requested, all ADSs will be issued on the books of our depositary in book-entry form and periodic statements will be mailed to you which reflect your ownership interest in such ADSs. In our description, references to American depositary receipts or ADRs shall include the statements you will receive that reflect your ownership of ADSs.
You may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, by having an ADS registered in your name on the books of the depositary, you are an ADR holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of an ADR holder described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
As an ADR holder or beneficial owner, you are not treated as a shareholder of ours and you do not have any shareholder rights. Cayman Island law governs shareholder rights. Because the depositary or its nominee is the shareholder of record for the ordinary shares represented by all outstanding ADSs, shareholder rights rest with such record holder. Your rights are those of an ADR holder or of a beneficial owner. Such rights derive from the terms of the deposit agreement entered into among us, the depositary and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs issued under the deposit agreement and, in the case of a beneficial owner, from the arrangements between the beneficial owner and the holder of the corresponding ADRs. The obligations of us and the depositary and its agents are also set out in the deposit agreement. Because the depositary or its nominee is actually the registered owner of the ordinary shares, you must rely on it to exercise the rights of a shareholder on your behalf.
The deposit agreement, the ADRs and the ADSs are governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the application of the conflict of law principles thereof. Any claim brought against us by any holder or beneficial owner or on behalf of our company with regard to the internal affairs of our company, including the ability to bring such a claim, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
The following is a summary of what we believe to be the material terms of the deposit agreement. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR that contains the terms of your ADSs. You can read a copy of the deposit agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Distributions on deposited securities, sales
How will I receive dividends and other distributions on the ordinary shares underlying my ADSs?
We may make various types of distributions with respect to our securities. The depositary has agreed that, to the extent practicable, it will pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or other deposited securities, after converting any cash received into U.S. dollars (if it determines such conversion may be made on a reasonable basis) and, in all cases, making any necessary deductions provided for in the deposit agreement. The depositary may utilize a division, branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to direct, manage and/or execute any public and/or private sale of securities and/or property under the deposit agreement. Such division, branch and/or affiliate may charge the depositary a fee in connection with such sales, which fee is considered an expense of the depositary chargeable to holders of ADSs. All sales of securities will be handled by the depositary in accordance with its then current policies. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying securities that your ADSs represent. In all instances where the deposit agreement or an ADR refers to a “sale” (or words of similar import) of securities or property, the depositary may, but shall not be obligated, to effect any such sale unless the securities to be sold are listed and publicly traded on a securities exchange or there is a public market for the property to be sold. To the extent the securities are not so listed and publicly traded or there is no public market for the property so distributed by us: (1) the depositary shall, in the event the deposit agreement is terminated and the depositary holds deposited securities that are not listed and publicly traded after the termination date of the deposit agreement, act in accordance with the termination provisions of the deposit agreement and form of ADR in respect of such securities and property; and (2) in the event the depositary or its custodian receives a distribution other than cash, our ordinary shares and/or rights to acquire our ordinary shares, and such distribution consists of securities or property that are not distributed by the depositary the depositary will be deemed to have sold the aggregate number of securities and/or property so received for nominal value and shall have no obligation to distribute such securities or any proceeds from the deemed sale thereof to the ADR holders. Furthermore, in the event the depositary endeavors to make a sale of ordinary shares, other securities or property, such securities and/or property may be sold in a block sale or single lot transaction.
Except as stated below, the depositary will distribute as soon as reasonably practical such distributions to ADR holders in proportion to their interests in the following manner:
| ● | Cash. The depositary will distribute any U.S. dollars available to it resulting from a cash dividend or other cash distribution or the net proceeds of sales of any other distribution or portion thereof (to the extent applicable), on an averaged or other practicable basis, subject to (1) appropriate adjustments for taxes withheld, (2) such distribution being permissible or practicable with respect to certain registered ADR holders, and (3) deduction of the depositary’s and/or its agents’ fees and expenses in (A) converting any foreign currency to U.S. dollars to the extent that it determines that such conversion may be made on a reasonable basis, (B) transferring foreign currency or U.S. dollars to the United States by such means as the depositary may determine to the extent that it determines that such transfer may be made on a reasonable basis, (C) obtaining any approval or license of any governmental authority required for such conversion or transfer, which is obtainable at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time and (D) making any sale by public or private means in any commercially reasonable manner. To the extent that any of the deposited securities is not or shall not be entitled, by reason of its date of issuance, or otherwise, to receive the full amount of such cash dividend, distribution, or net proceeds of sales, the depositary shall make appropriate adjustments in the amounts distributed to the ADR holders issued in respect of such deposited securities. To the extent we or the depositary shall be required to withhold and do withhold from any cash dividend, distribution or net proceeds from sales in respect of any deposited securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed on the ADSs issued in respect of such deposited securities shall be reduced accordingly. |
| ● | To the extent the depositary determines in its reasonable discretion that it would not be permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation, or it would not otherwise be practicable, to convert foreign currency into U.S. dollars and distribute such U.S. dollars to some or all of the ADR holders entitled thereto, the depositary may in its discretion distribute some or all of the foreign currency received by the depositary as it deems permissible and practicable to, or retain and hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the ADR holders entitled to receive the same. To the extent the depositary retains and holds any cash, foreign currency, securities or other property as permitted under the deposit agreement, any and all fees, charges and expenses related to, or arising from, the holding thereof shall be paid from such cash, foreign currency, securities or other property, or the net proceeds from the sale thereof, thereby reducing the amount so held. If exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert a foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution. |
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| ● | Shares. In the case of a distribution in ordinary shares, the depositary will issue additional ADRs to evidence the number of ADSs representing such ordinary shares. Only whole ADSs will be issued. Any ordinary shares that would result in fractional ADSs will be sold and the net proceeds of the public or private sales of such will be distributed in the same manner as cash to the ADR holders entitled thereto. |
| ● | Rights to receive additional shares. In the case of a distribution of rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares or other rights, if we timely provide evidence satisfactory to the depositary that it may lawfully distribute such rights, the depositary will distribute warrants or other instruments in the discretion of the depositary representing such rights. However, if we do not timely furnish such evidence, the depositary may: |
| (i) | sell such rights if practicable and distribute the net proceeds of the public or private sales of such rights in the same manner as cash to the ADR holders entitled thereto; or |
| (ii) | if it is not practicable to sell such rights by reason of the non-transferability of the rights, limited markets therefor, their short duration or otherwise, do nothing and allow such rights to lapse, in which case ADR holders will receive nothing and the rights may lapse. |
We have no obligation to file a registration statement under the Securities Act in order to make any rights available to ADR holders.
| ● | Other distributions. In the case of a distribution of securities or property other than those described above, the depositary may either (1) distribute such securities or property in any manner it deems equitable and practicable or (2) to the extent the depositary deems distribution of such securities or property not to be equitable and practicable, sell such securities or property and distribute any net proceeds of public or private sales in the same way it distributes cash. |
| ● | Elective distributions. In the case of a dividend payable at the election of our shareholders in cash or in additional ordinary shares, we will notify the depositary at least 30 days prior to the proposed distribution stating whether or not we wish such elective distribution to be made available to ADR holders. The depositary shall make such elective distribution available to ADR holders only if (1) we shall have timely requested that the elective distribution is available to ADR holders, (2) the depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable and (3) the depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of the deposit agreement including any legal opinions of counsel that the depositary in its reasonable discretion may request. If the above conditions are not satisfied, the depositary shall, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to the ADR holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the local market in respect of the ordinary shares for which no election is made, either (x) cash or (y) additional ADSs representing such additional ordinary shares. If the above conditions are satisfied, the depositary shall establish procedures to enable ADR holders to elect the receipt of the proposed dividend in cash or in additional ADSs. There can be no assurance that ADR holders or beneficial owners of ADSs generally, or any ADR holder or beneficial owner of ADSs in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of ordinary shares. |
If the depositary determines in its reasonable discretion that any distribution described above is not practicable with respect to any or all ADR holders, the depositary may choose any method of distribution that it deems practicable for such ADR holder, including the distribution of some or all of any cash, foreign currency, securities or other property (or appropriate documents evidencing the right to receive some or all of any such cash, foreign currency, security or other property), and/or it may retain some or all of such items, without paying interest on or investing them, on behalf of the ADR holder as deposited securities, in which case the ADSs will also represent the retained items. To the extent the depositary does not reasonably believe it will be permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation to convert foreign currency into U.S. dollars and distribute such U.S. dollars to some or all of the ADR holders, the depositary may in its discretion distribute some or all of the foreign currency received by the depositary to, or hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the ADR holders entitled to receive the same. To the extent the depositary holds such foreign currency, any and all costs and expenses related to, or arising from, the holding of such foreign currency shall be paid from such foreign currency thereby reducing the amount so held.
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Any U.S. dollars will be paid via wire transfer and/or distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents. Fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the depositary in accordance with its then current practices.
The depositary is not responsible if it fails to determine that any distribution or action is lawful or reasonably practicable.
There can be no assurance that the depositary will be able to convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any property, rights, ordinary shares or other securities at a specified price, nor that any of such transactions can be completed within a specified time period. All purchases and sales of securities will be handled by the depositary in accordance with its then current policies, which are currently set forth on the “Disclosures” page (or successor page) of www.adr.com (as updated by the depositary from time to time, “ADR.com”).
Deposit, withdrawal and cancellation
How does the depositary issue ADSs?
The depositary will issue ADSs if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive ordinary shares with the custodian and pay the fees and expenses owing to the depositary in connection with such issuance.
Ordinary shares deposited in the future with the custodian must be accompanied by certain delivery documentation and shall, at the time of such deposit, be registered in the name of “JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the benefit of holders of ADRs” or in such other name as the depositary shall direct.
The custodian will hold all deposited ordinary shares for the account and to the order of the depositary, in each case for the benefit of ADR holders, to the extent not prohibited by law. ADR holders and beneficial owners thus have no direct ownership interest in the ordinary shares and only have such rights as are contained in the deposit agreement. The custodian will also hold any additional securities, property and cash received on or in substitution for the deposited ordinary shares. The deposited ordinary shares and any such additional items are referred to as “deposited securities.”
Deposited securities are not intended to, and shall not, constitute proprietary assets of the depositary, the custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in deposited securities is intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the deposit agreement continue to be, vested in the beneficial owners of the ADSs representing such deposited securities. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in the deposit agreement, in the form of ADR and/or in any outstanding ADSs, the depositary, the custodian and their respective nominees are intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the deposit agreement be, the record holder(s) only of the deposited securities represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the ADR holders. The depositary, on its own behalf and on behalf of the custodian and their respective nominees, disclaims any beneficial ownership interest in the deposited securities held on behalf of the ADR holders.
Upon each deposit of ordinary shares, receipt of related delivery documentation and compliance with the other provisions of the deposit agreement, including the payment of the fees and charges of the depositary and any taxes or other fees or charges owing, the depositary will issue an ADR or ADRs in the name or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the number of ADSs to which such person is entitled. All of the ADSs issued will, unless specifically requested to the contrary, be part of the depositary’s direct registration system, and a registered holder will receive periodic statements from the depositary which will show the number of ADSs registered in such ADR holder’s name. An ADR holder can request that the ADSs not be held through the depositary’s direct registration system and that a certificated ADR be issued.
How do ADR holders cancel an ADS and obtain deposited securities?
When you turn in your ADR certificate at the depositary’s office, or when you provide proper instructions and documentation in the case of direct registration ADSs, subject to the provisions of or governing our ordinary shares (including, without limitation, our governing documents and all applicable laws, rules and regulations), the depositary will, upon payment of certain applicable fees, charges and taxes, deliver the underlying ordinary shares to you or upon your written order. Delivery of deposited securities in certificated form will be made at the custodian’s office (or from the custodian to the extent dematerialized). At your risk, expense and request, the depositary may deliver deposited securities (including any certificates therefor) at such other place as you may request.
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The depositary may only restrict the withdrawal of deposited securities in connection with:
| ● | temporary delays caused by closing our transfer books or those of the depositary or the deposit of ordinary shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends; |
| ● | the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges; or |
| ● | compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities. |
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Record dates
The depositary may, after consultation with us if practicable, fix record dates (which, to the extent applicable, shall be as near as practicable to any corresponding record dates set by us) for the determination of the registered ADR holders who will be entitled (or obligated, as the case may be):
| ● | to receive any distribution on or in respect of deposited securities, |
| ● | to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights, |
| ● | to pay any fees assessed by, or owing to, the depositary for administration of the ADR program and for any expenses as provided for in the ADR, or |
| ● | to receive any notice or to act or be obligated in respect of other matters, |
all subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.
Voting rights
How do I vote?
If you are an ADR holder and the depositary asks you to provide it with voting instructions, you may instruct the depositary how to exercise the voting rights for the ordinary shares which underlie your ADSs. As soon as practicable after receipt from us of notice of any meeting at which the holders of ordinary shares are entitled to vote, or of our solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of ordinary shares, the depositary shall fix the ADS record date in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, provided that if the depositary receives a written request from us in a timely manner and at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of such vote or meeting, the depositary shall, at our expense, distribute to the registered ADR holders a “voting notice” stating (1) final information particular to such vote and meeting and any solicitation materials, (2) that each ADR holder on the record date set by the depositary will, subject to any applicable provisions of the laws of the Cayman Islands, be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such ADR holder’s ADRs and (3) the manner in which such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the applicable provisions of deposit agreement, including instructions for giving a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. Each ADR holder shall be solely responsible for the forwarding of voting notices to the beneficial owners of ADSs registered in such ADR holder’s name. There is no guarantee that ADR holders and beneficial owners generally or any holder or beneficial owner in particular will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to enable such ADR holder or beneficial owner to return any voting instructions to the depositary in a timely manner.
Following actual receipt by the ADR department responsible for proxies and voting of ADR holders’ instructions (including, without limitation, instructions of any entity or entities acting on behalf of the nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC), the depositary shall, in the manner and on or before the time established by the depositary for such purpose, endeavor to vote or cause to be voted the deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such ADR holders’ ADRs in accordance with such instructions insofar as practicable and permitted under the provisions of or governing deposited securities.
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To the extent that (A) we have provided the depositary with at least 35 days’ notice of the proposed meeting, (B) the voting notice will be received by all holders and beneficial owners no less than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting and/or the cut-off date for the solicitation of consents, and (C) the depositary does not receive instructions on a particular agenda item from a holder (including, without limitation, any entity or entities acting on behalf of the nominee for DTC) in a timely manner, such holder shall be deemed, and, pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary is instructed to deem such holder, to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy for such agenda item(s) to a person designated by us to vote the deposited securities represented by the ADSs for which actual instructions were not so given by all such holders on such agenda item(s), provided that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no discretionary proxy shall be given unless (1) we inform the depositary in writing that (a) we wish such proxy to be given with respect to such agenda item(s), (b) there is no substantial opposition existing with respect to such agenda item(s) and (c) such agenda item(s), if approved, would not materially or adversely affect the rights of holders of ordinary shares, and (2) the depositary has obtained an opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the depositary, confirming that (i) the granting of such discretionary proxy does not subject the depositary to any reporting obligations in the Cayman Islands, (ii) the granting of such proxy will not result in a violation of the laws, rules, regulations or permits of the Cayman Islands, (iii) the voting arrangement and deemed instruction as contemplated in the deposit agreement will be given effect under the laws, rules and regulations of the Cayman Islands, and (iv) the granting of such discretionary proxy will not under any circumstances result in the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs being treated as assets of the depositary under the laws, rules or regulations of the Cayman Islands.
The depositary may from time to time access information available to it to consider whether any of the circumstances described in 1(b) or 1(c) the paragraph above exist, or request additional information from us in respect thereto. By taking any such action, the depositary shall not in any way be deemed or inferred to have been required, or have had any duty or responsibility (contractual or otherwise), to monitor or inquire whether any of the circumstances described above existed. In addition to the limitations provided for in the deposit agreement, holders and beneficial owners are advised and agree that (a) the depositary will rely fully and exclusively on us to inform it of any of the circumstances set forth above, and (b) neither the depositary, the custodian nor any of their respective agents shall be obliged to inquire or investigate whether any of the circumstances described in 1(b) or 1(c) the paragraph above exist and/or whether we complied with our obligation to timely inform the depositary of such circumstances. Neither the depositary, the custodian nor any of their respective agents shall incur any liability to holders or beneficial owners (i) as a result of our failure to determine that any of the circumstances described in 1(b) or 1(c) the paragraph above exist or our failure to timely notify the depositary of any such circumstances or (ii) if any agenda item which is approved at a meeting has, or is claimed to have, a material or adverse effect on the rights of holders of ordinary shares. Because there is no guarantee that holders and beneficial owners will receive the notices described above with sufficient time to enable such holders or beneficial owners to return any voting instructions to the depositary in a timely manner, holders and beneficial owners may be deemed to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us in such circumstances, and neither the depositary, the custodian nor any of their respective agents shall incur any liability to holders or beneficial owners in such circumstances.
Under our A&R MAA, voting at any meeting of our shareholders shall be decided by poll save that the chairman of the meeting may, pursuant to the Hong Kong Listing Rules, allow a resolution to be voted by a show of hands. In the event that voting on any resolution or matter is conducted on a show of hands basis, the depositary will refrain from voting and the voting instructions received by the depositary shall lapse. The depositary will not demand a poll or join in demanding a poll, whether or not requested to do so.
ADR holders are strongly encouraged to forward their voting instructions to the depositary as soon as possible. For instructions to be valid, the ADR department of the depositary that is responsible for proxies and voting must receive them in the manner and on or before the time specified, notwithstanding that such instructions may have been physically received by the depositary prior to such time. The depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion in respect of deposited securities. The depositary and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the deposited securities, for the manner in which any voting instructions are given or deemed to be given in accordance with the applicable provisions of the deposit agreement, including instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us, for the manner in which any vote is cast, including, without limitation, any vote cast by a person to whom the depositary is instructed to grant a discretionary proxy or deemed to have been instructed to grant a discretionary proxy pursuant to the applicable provisions of the deposit agreement, or for the effect of any such vote.
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Notwithstanding anything contained in the deposit agreement or any ADR, the depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by any law, rule or regulation, or by the rules, regulations or requirements of any stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the depositary in connection with any meeting of or solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of deposited securities, distribute to the registered holders of ADRs a notice that provides such ADR holders with or otherwise publicizes to such ADR holders instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials).
There is no guarantee that you will receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
Reports and other communications
Will ADR holders be able to view our reports?
The deposit agreement, the provisions of or governing deposited securities, and any written communications from us which are both received by the custodian or its nominee as a holder of deposited securities and made generally available to the holders of deposited securities, are available for inspection by ADR holders at the offices of the depositary in the United States, on the SEC’s internet website or upon request to the depositary (which request may be refused by the depositary at its discretion).
Additionally, if we make (i) any communications available to holders of our ordinary shares or any securities regulatory authority or stock exchange that could require, or result in, the depositary taking or planning to take any action pursuant to the deposit agreement or (ii) any communication that reasonably could require the depositary to take, or plan to take, action pursuant to the deposit agreement, we will furnish copies thereof (or English translations or summaries) to the depositary and the depositary will distribute the same to registered ADR holders.
Fees and expenses
What fees and expenses will I be responsible for paying?
The depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of ordinary shares, issuances in respect of ordinary share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose ADSs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, a fee of up to US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered, or upon which a share distribution or elective distribution is made or offered, as the case may be. The depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of a share distribution, rights and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.
The following additional fees, charges and expenses shall also be incurred by the ADR holders, the beneficial owners, by any party depositing or withdrawing ordinary shares or by any party surrendering ADSs and/or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADSs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is applicable:
| ● | a fee of up to US$0.05 per ADS held for any cash distribution made, or for any elective cash/stock dividend offered, pursuant to the deposit agreement; |
| ● | an aggregate fee of up to US$0.05 per ADS per calendar year (or portion thereof) for services performed by the depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year and shall be assessed against holders of ADRs as of the record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable in the manner described in the next succeeding provision); |
| ● | an amount for the reimbursement of such fees, charges and expenses as are incurred by the depositary and/or any of its agents (including, without limitation, the custodian, as well as charges and expenses incurred on behalf of ADR holders in connection with compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law, rule or regulation relating to foreign investment) in connection with the servicing of the shares or other deposited securities, the sale of securities (including, without limitation, deposited securities), the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (which fees and charges shall be assessed on a proportionate basis against ADR holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such ADR holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions); |
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| ● | a fee of up to US$0.05 per ADS held for the direct or indirect distribution of securities (other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs) or the net cash proceeds from the public or private sale of such securities, regardless of whether any such distribution and/or sale is made by, for, or received from, or (in each case) on behalf of, the depositary, us and/or any third party (which fee may be assessed against ADR holders as of a record date set by the depositary); |
| ● | stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges; |
| ● | a transaction fee per cancellation request (including any cancellation request made through SWIFT, facsimile transmission or any other method of communication) as disclosed on the “Disclosures” page (or successor page) of www.adr.com (as updated by the depositary from time to time, “ADR.com”) and any applicable delivery expenses (which are payable by such persons or ADR holders); |
| ● | transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfer of deposited securities on any applicable register in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities; and |
| ● | fees of any division, branch or affiliate of the depositary utilized by the depositary to direct, manage and/or execute any public and/or private sale of securities under the deposit agreement. |
To facilitate the administration of various depositary receipt transactions, including disbursement of dividends or other cash distributions and other corporate actions, the depositary may engage the foreign exchange desk within the banking division of the depositary, or the Bank, and/or its affiliates in order to enter into spot foreign exchange transactions to convert foreign currency into U.S. dollars. For certain currencies, foreign exchange transactions are entered into with the Bank or an affiliate, as the case may be, acting in a principal capacity. For other currencies, foreign exchange transactions are routed directly to and managed by an unaffiliated local custodian (or other third party local liquidity provider), and neither the Bank nor any of its affiliates is a party to such foreign exchange transactions.
The foreign exchange rate applied to a foreign exchange transaction will be either (a) a published benchmark rate, or (b) a rate determined by a third party local liquidity provider, in each case plus or minus a spread, as applicable. The depositary will disclose which foreign exchange rate and spread, if any, apply to such currency on the “Disclosures” page (or successor page) of ADR.com. Such applicable foreign exchange rate and spread may (and neither the depositary, the Bank nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to ensure that such rate does not) differ from rates and spreads at which comparable transactions are entered into with other customers or the range of foreign exchange rates and spreads at which the Bank or any of its affiliates enters into foreign exchange transactions in the relevant currency pair on the date of the foreign exchange transaction. Additionally, the timing of execution of a foreign exchange transaction varies according to local market dynamics, which may include regulatory requirements, market hours and liquidity in the foreign exchange market or other factors. Furthermore, the Bank and its affiliates may manage the associated risks of their position in the market in a manner they deem appropriate without regard to the impact of such activities on the depositary, us, ADR holders or beneficial owners. The spread applied does not reflect any gains or losses that may be earned or incurred by the Bank and its affiliates as a result of risk management or other hedging related activity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent we provide U.S. dollars to the depositary, neither the Bank nor any of its affiliates will execute a foreign exchange transaction as set forth herein. In such case, the depositary will distribute the U.S. dollars received from us.
Further details relating to the applicable foreign exchange rate, the applicable spread and the execution of foreign exchange transactions will be provided by the depositary on ADR.com. Each holder and beneficial owner by holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, and we, each acknowledge and agree that the terms applicable to foreign exchange transactions disclosed from time to time on ADR.com will apply to any foreign exchange transaction executed pursuant to the deposit agreement.
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We will pay all other fees, charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the depositary.
The right of the depositary to charge and receive payment of fees, charges and expenses survives the termination of the deposit agreement, and shall extend for those fees, charges and expenses incurred prior to the effectiveness of any resignation or removal of the depositary.
The fees and charges described above may be amended from time to time by agreement between us and the depositary.
The depositary anticipates reimbursing us for certain expenses incurred by us that are related to the establishment and maintenance of the ADR program upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. The depositary may make available to us a set amount or a portion of the depositary fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. The depositary may also agree to reduce or waive certain fees that would normally be charged on ADSs issued to or at the director of, or otherwise held by, us and/or certain holders and beneficial owners and holders and beneficial owners of ordinary shares of ours. The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing ordinary shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary will generally set off the amounts owing from distributions made to holders of ADSs. If, however, no distribution exists and payment owing is not timely received by the depositary, the depositary may refuse to provide any further services to ADR holders that have not paid those fees and expenses owing until such fees and expenses have been paid. At the discretion of the depositary, all fees and charges owing under the deposit agreement are due in advance and/or when declared owing by the depositary.
Payment of taxes
ADR holders and/or beneficial owners must pay any tax or other governmental charge payable by the custodian or the depositary on any ADS or ADR, deposited security or distribution. If any taxes or other governmental charges (including any penalties and/or interest) shall become payable by or on behalf of the custodian or the depositary with respect to any ADR, any deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced thereby or any distribution thereon such tax or other governmental charge shall be paid by the ADR holder thereof to the depositary and by holding or owning, or having held or owned, an ADR or any ADSs evidenced thereby, the ADR holder and all beneficial owners thereof, and all prior ADR holders and beneficial owners thereof, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the depositary and its agents in respect of such tax or other governmental charge. Notwithstanding the depositary’s right to seek payment from current or former ADR holders and beneficial owners, each ADR holder and beneficial owner, and each prior ADR holder and beneficial owner, by holding or owning, or having held or owned, an ADR or an interest in ADSs acknowledges and agrees that the depositary has no obligation to seek payment of amounts owing from any current or prior beneficial owner. If an ADR holder owes any tax or other governmental charge, the depositary may (1) deduct the amount thereof from any cash distributions, or (2) sell deposited securities (by public or private sale) and deduct the amount owing from the net proceeds of such sale. In either case, the ADR holder remains liable for any shortfall. If any tax or governmental charge is unpaid, the depositary may also refuse to effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or withdrawal of deposited securities until such payment is made. If any tax or governmental charge is required to be withheld on any cash distribution, the depositary may deduct the amount required to be withheld from any cash distribution or, in the case of a non-cash distribution, sell the distributed property or securities (by public or private sale) in such amounts and in such manner as the depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes and distribute any remaining net proceeds or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes to the ADR holders entitled thereto. Neither we nor the depositary nor any of the depositary’s or our respective agents shall be liable to holders or beneficial owners of the ADSs and ADRs for failure of any holders or beneficial owners to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and/or regulations.
To the extent not prohibited by law, rule, regulation, fiduciary duty, contractual or confidential obligation or otherwise, the depositary will forward to us such information in the depositary’s possession from the transfer records maintained by the depositary in accordance with the depositary’s policies and procedures as we may reasonably request in writing to enable us to file any reports required to be filed by us with governmental authorities or agencies to comply with applicable laws; provided, however, that the depositary will have no liability for the accuracy of any such information and will, in connection with any such accuracy and inaccuracy, not be required to incur or become subject to any liability, cost or expense and will be indemnified by us in connection therewith.
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As an ADR holder or beneficial owner, you will be agreeing to indemnify us, the depositary, its custodian and any of our or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained, which obligations shall survive any transfer or surrender of ADSs or the termination of the deposit agreement.
Reclassifications, recapitalizations and mergers
If we take certain actions that affect the deposited securities, including (1) any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or other reclassification of deposited securities or (2) any distributions of ordinary shares or other property not made to holders of ADRs or (3) any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, then the depositary may choose to, and shall if reasonably requested by us:
| ● | amend the form of ADR; |
| ● | distribute additional or amended ADRs; |
| ● | distribute cash, securities or other property it has received in connection with such actions; |
| ● | sell by public or private sale any securities or property received and distribute the proceeds as cash; or |
| ● | none of the above. |
If the depositary does not choose any of the above options, any of the cash, securities or other property it receives will constitute part of the deposited securities and each ADS will then represent a proportionate interest in such property.
Amendment and termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADSs without your consent for any reason. ADR holders must be given at least 30 days’ notice of any amendment that imposes or increases any fees on a per ADS basis, charges or expenses (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, a transaction fee per cancellation request (including any cancellation request made through SWIFT, facsimile transmission or any other method of communication), applicable delivery expenses or other such fees, charges or expenses), or otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of ADR holders or beneficial owners. If an ADR holder or beneficial owner continues to hold an ADR or ADRs, or an interest therein, after being so notified, such ADR holder and any beneficial owner are deemed to agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as so amended. No amendment, however, will impair your right to surrender your ADSs and receive the underlying securities, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Any amendments or supplements that (1) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by us and the depositary) in order for (A) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act, or (B) the ADSs or ordinary shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (2) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by ADR holders, shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of ADR holders or beneficial owners. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations that would require amendment or supplement of the deposit agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, we and the depositary may amend or supplement the deposit agreement and the form of ADR (and all outstanding ADRs) at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the deposit agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to ADR holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance.
Notice of any amendment to the deposit agreement or form of ADR shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such case, the notice given to the ADR holders identifies a means for ADR holders and beneficial owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (i.e., upon retrieval from the SEC’s, the depositary’s or our website or upon request from the depositary).
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How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary may at any time, and shall at our written direction, terminate the deposit agreement and the ADRs by mailing notice of such termination to the registered holders of ADRs at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination; provided, however, if the depositary shall have (1) resigned as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered ADR holders unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement within 60 days of the date of such resignation, and (2) been removed as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders of ADRs unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement on the 60th day after our notice of removal was first provided to the depositary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the deposit agreement, the depositary may terminate the deposit agreement (A) without notifying us, but subject to giving 30 days’ notice to the ADR holders, under the following circumstances: (i) in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation proceedings or insolvency, (ii) if the ADRs are delisted from a “national securities exchange” (that has registered with the Commission under Section 6 of the Exchange Act), (iii) if we effect (or will effect) a redemption of all or substantially all of the deposited securities, or a cash or share distribution representing a return of all or substantially all of the value of the deposited securities, (iv) there are no deposited securities with respect to ADSs remaining, including if the deposited securities are cancelled, or the deposit securities have been deemed to have no value, or (v) there occurs a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other transaction as a result of which securities or other property are delivered in exchange for or in lieu of deposited securities, and (B) immediately without prior notice to us, any ADR holder or beneficial owner or any other person if (i) required by any law, rule or regulation relating to sanctions by any governmental authority or body, (ii) the depositary would be subject to liability under or pursuant to any law, rule or regulation, or (iii) required by any governmental authority or body, in each case under (b) as determined by the depositary in its reasonable discretion.
If our ordinary shares are not listed and publicly traded on a stock exchange or in a securities market as of the date so fixed for termination or if, for any reason, the depositary does not sell the deposited securities, then after such date fixed for termination, the depositary shall use its reasonable efforts to ensure that the ADSs cease to be eligible for settlement within DTC and that neither DTC nor any of its nominees shall thereafter be an ADR holder. At such time as the ADSs cease to be DTC eligible and/or neither DTC nor any of its nominees is an ADR holder, to the extent we are not, to the depositary’s knowledge, insolvent or in bankruptcy or liquidation, the depositary shall (A) cancel all outstanding ADRs; (B) request DTC to provide the depositary with information on those holding ADSs through DTC and, upon receipt thereof, revise the ADR register to reflect the information provided by DTC; (C) instruct its custodian to deliver all deposited securities to us, a subsidiary or affiliate of ours (the company representative) or an independent trust company engaged by us (the trustee) to hold those deposited securities in trust for the beneficial owners of the ADRs if we are not permitted to hold any of the deposited securities under applicable law and/or we have directed the depositary to deliver such deposited securities to the company representative or trustee along with a stock transfer form and/or such other instruments of transfer covering such deposited securities as are needed under applicable law, in either case referring to the names set forth on the ADR register and (D) provide us with a copy of the ADR register.
Upon receipt of any instrument of transfer covering such deposited securities and the ADR Register, we have agreed that we will, to the extent not prohibited by any law, rule or regulation, approve the transfer of the deposited securities previously represented by their ADRs to the persons listed on the ADR register (as applicable), procure the relevant updates to our register of members to reflect the transfer of the deposited securities previously represented by their ADRs to the persons listed on the ADR register (as applicable) and provide the depositary with a certified copy of the updated register of our shareholders.
To the extent the depositary reasonably believes that we are insolvent, or if we are in receivership, have filed for bankruptcy and/or are otherwise in restructuring, administration or liquidation, and in any such case the deposited securities are not listed and publicly traded on a securities exchange after the termination date, or if, for any reason, the depositary believes it is not able to or cannot practicably sell the deposited securities promptly and without undue effort, the deposited securities shall be deemed to have no value (and such holder shall be deemed to have instructed the depositary that the deposited securities have no value). The depositary may (and, by holding an ADR or an interest therein, all holders irrevocably consent and agree that the depositary may) instruct its custodian to deliver all deposited securities to us (acting, as applicable by an administrator, receiver, administrative receiver, liquidator, provisional liquidator, restructuring officer, interim restructuring officer, trustee, controller or other entity overseeing the bankruptcy, insolvency, administration, restructuring or liquidation process) and notify us that the deposited ordinary shares are surrendered for no consideration. The deposit agreement requires us, subject to applicable law, to promptly accept the surrender of the deposited ordinary shares for no consideration and deliver to the depositary a written notice confirming (A) the acceptance of the surrender of the deposited securities for no consideration and (B) the cancellation of such deposited ordinary shares. Promptly after notifying us that the deposited ordinary shares are surrendered for no consideration and irrespective of whether we have complied with the immediately preceding sentence, the depositary shall notify ADR holders that their ADSs have been cancelled with no consideration being payable to such ADR holders.
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Upon the depositary’s compliance with the provisions of any of the above three paragraphs, the depositary and its agents shall be discharged from all, and cease to have any, obligations under the deposit agreement and the ADRs.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in connection with any termination in accordance with the provisions in this section, the depositary may, in its sole discretion and without notice to us, establish an unsponsored American depositary share program (on such terms as the depositary may determine) for our ordinary shares and make available to ADR holders a means to withdraw the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs issued under the deposit agreement and to direct the deposit of such ordinary shares into such unsponsored American depositary share program, subject, in each case, to receipt by the depositary, at its discretion, of the fees, charges and expenses provided for in the ADR and the fees, charges and expenses applicable to the unsponsored American depositary share program; provided that the depositary agrees that we will have no liability for the establishment of such unsponsored American depositary share program.
If our ordinary shares are listed and publicly traded on a securities exchange and the depositary believes that it is able, permissible and practicable to sell the deposited securities without undue effort, then the depositary may endeavor to publicly or privately sell (as long as it may lawfully do so) the deposited securities, which sale may be effected in a block sale/single lot transaction and, after the settlement of such sale(s), to the extent legally permissible and practicable, distribute or hold in an account (which may be a segregated or unsegregated account) the net proceeds of such sale(s), less any amounts owing to the depositary (including, without limitation, cancellation fees), together with any other cash then held by it under the deposit agreement, in trust, without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the holders entitled thereto. After making such sale, the depositary shall be discharged from all obligations in respect of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash.
Limitations on obligations and liability
Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the depositary; limits on liability to ADR holders, beneficial owners and others
Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or cancellation of any ADRs, or the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, and from time to time in the case of the production of proofs, we or the depositary or its custodian may require:
| ● | payment with respect thereto of (1) any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge, (2) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of ordinary shares or other deposited securities upon any applicable register and (3) any applicable fees and expenses described in the deposit agreement; |
| ● | the production of proof satisfactory to it of (1) the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature and (2) such other information, including without limitation, information as to citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, beneficial or other ownership of, or interest in, any securities, compliance with applicable law, regulations, provisions of or governing deposited securities and terms of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, as it may deem necessary or proper; and |
| ● | compliance with such regulations as the depositary may establish consistent with the deposit agreement or as the depositary believes are required, necessary or advisable in order to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits of ordinary shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or the withdrawal of ordinary shares, may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the ADR register or any register for deposited securities is closed or when any such action is deemed required, necessary or advisable by the depositary for any reason provided that the ability to withdraw ordinary shares may only be limited under the following circumstances: (1) temporary delays caused by closing transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books or the deposit of ordinary shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (2) the payment of fees, taxes, and similar charges, and (3) compliance with any laws or governmental regulations relating to ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities. The depositary may close the ADR register (and/or any portion thereof) at any time or from time to time when deemed expedient by it. Additionally, at our reasonable request, the depositary may close the issuance book portion of the ADR register solely in order to enable us to comply with applicable law; provided that the depositary will have no liability and will be indemnified by us in such event.
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The deposit agreement expressly limits the obligations and liability of the depositary, the depositary’s custodian or ourselves and each of our and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, provided, however, that no provision of the deposit agreement is intended to constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights that ADR holders or beneficial owners may have under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable. The deposit agreement provides that each of us, the depositary and our respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates will:
| ● | incur or assume no liability (including, without limitation, to ADR holders or beneficial owners) if any present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, the Cayman Islands, the PRC or any other country or jurisdiction, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or any securities exchange or market or automated quotation system, the provisions of or governing any deposited securities, any present or future provision of our memorandum and articles of association, any act of God, war, terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, extraordinary market conditions, work stoppage, strike, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions, cyber, ransomware or malware attack, computer failure or circumstance our, the depositary’s or our respective directors’, officers’, employees’, agents’ or affiliates’ direct and immediate control shall prevent or delay, or shall cause any of them to be subject to any civil or criminal penalty in connection with, any act which the deposit agreement or the ADRs provide shall be done or performed by any such party (including, without limitation, voting); |
| ● | incur or assume no liability (including, without limitation, to ADR holders or beneficial owners) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or things which by the terms of the deposit agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed or any exercise or failure to exercise discretion under the deposit agreement or the ADRs including, without limitation, any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable; |
| ● | incur or assume no liability (including, without limitation, to holders or beneficial owners) if it performs its obligations specifically set forth in the deposit agreement and ADRs without gross negligence or willful misconduct; |
| ● | in the case of the depositary and its agents, be under no obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities the ADSs or the ADRs; |
| ● | in the case of us and our agents, be under no obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities the ADSs or the ADRs, which in our or our agents’ opinion, as the case may be, may involve us in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to us or our agent, as the case may be, against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability is furnished as often as may be requested; |
| ● | not be liable (including, without limitation, to ADR holders or beneficial owners) for any action or inaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from any legal counsel, any accountant, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit, any registered holder of ADRs, or any other person believed by it to be competent to give such advice or information and/or, in the case of the depositary, from us; or |
| ● | be able to rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction, instruction or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, presented or given by the proper party or parties. |
The depositary shall not be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary duty to ADR holders or beneficial owners.
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The depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the deposit agreement, any registered holder or holders of ADRs, any ADRs or otherwise related to the deposit agreement or ADRs to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. The depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by, or the insolvency of, any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system. Furthermore, the depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any custodian that is not a branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the deposit agreement or any ADRs, the depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, any act or omission to act on the part of the custodian except to the extent that any registered ADR holder has incurred liability directly as a result of the custodian having (1) committed fraud or willful misconduct in the provision of custodial services to the depositary or (2) failed to use reasonable care in the provision of custodial services to the depositary as determined in accordance with the standards prevailing in the jurisdiction in which the custodian is located. The depositary and the custodian(s) may use third party delivery services and providers of information regarding matters such as, but not limited to, pricing, proxy voting, corporate actions, class action litigation and other services in connection with the ADRs and the deposit agreement, and use local agents to provide services such as, but not limited to, attendance at any meetings of security holders of our company. Although the depositary and the custodian will use reasonable care (and cause their agents to use reasonable care) in the selection and retention of such third-party providers and local agents, they will not be responsible for any errors or omissions made by them in providing the relevant information or services.
The depositary has no obligation to inform ADR holders or beneficial owners about the requirements of the laws, rules or regulations or any changes therein or thereto of the Cayman Islands, the PRC, the United States or any other country or jurisdiction or of any governmental or regulatory authority or any securities exchange or market or automated quotation system.
Additionally, none of the depositary, the custodian or us, or any of their or our respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for the failure by any registered holder of ADRs or beneficial owner to obtain the benefits of credits or refunds of non-U.S. tax paid against such ADR holder’s or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. The depositary is under no obligation to provide the ADR holders and beneficial owners, or any of them, with any information about our tax status. None of us, the depositary, the custodian or any of our or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability for any tax or tax consequences that may be incurred by registered ADR holders or beneficial owners on account of their ownership or disposition of ADRs or ADSs.
Neither the depositary nor its agents will be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the deposited securities, for the manner in which any voting instructions are given, including instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us, for the manner in which any vote is cast, including, without limitation, any vote cast by a person to whom the depositary is instructed to grant a discretionary proxy pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, or for the effect of any such vote. The depositary shall endeavor to effect any sale of securities or other property and any conversion of currency, securities or other property, in each case as is referred to or contemplated in the deposit agreement or the form of ADR, in accordance with the depositary’s normal practices and procedures under the circumstances applicable to such sale or conversion, but shall have no liability (in the absence of its own willful default or gross negligence or that of its agents, officers, directors or employees) with respect to the terms of any such sale or conversion, including the price at which such sale or conversion is effected, or if such sale or conversion shall not be practicable, or shall not be believed, deemed or determined to be practicable by the depositary. Specifically, the depositary shall not have any liability for the price received in connection with any public or private sale of securities (including, without limitation, for any sale made at a nominal price), the timing thereof or any delay in action or omission to act nor shall it be responsible for any error or delay in action, omission to act, default or negligence on the part of the party so retained in connection with any such sale or proposed sale. The depositary shall not incur any liability in connection with or arising from any failure, inability or refusal by us or any other party, including any share registrar, transfer agent or other agent appointed by us, the depositary or any other party, to process any transfer, delivery or distribution of cash, ordinary shares, other securities or other property, including without limitation upon the termination of the deposit agreement, or otherwise to comply with any provisions of the deposit agreement that are applicable to it. The depositary may rely upon instructions from us or our counsel in respect of any approval or license required for any currency conversion, transfer or distribution. The depositary shall not incur any liability for the content of any information submitted to it by us or on our behalf for distribution to ADR holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the deposited securities, for the validity or worth of the deposited securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the deposit agreement or for the failure or timeliness of any notice from us. The depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the depositary. Neither the depositary nor us, nor any of their or our respective agents shall be liable to the other for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (excluding reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) or lost profits, in any form, or Special Damages, incurred by any of them or us, or liable to any other person or entity (including, without limitation, holders and beneficial owners) for any Special Damages, or any fees or expenses of counsel in connection therewith, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought; provided, however, that (i) notwithstanding the foregoing, the depositary and its agents will be entitled to legal fees and expenses in defending against any claim for Special Damages and (ii) to the extent Special Damages arise from or out of a claim brought by a third party (including, without limitation, holders and beneficial owners) against the depositary or any of its agents, the depositary and its agents shall be entitled to full indemnification from us for all such Special Damages, and reasonable fees and expenses of counsel in connection therewith, unless such Special Damages are found to have been a direct result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the depositary.
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The depositary and its agents may own and deal in any class of securities of ours and our affiliates and in ADSs.
Disclosure of interest in ADSs
To the extent that the provisions of or governing any deposited securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of, or interest in, deposited securities, other shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, you as ADR holders or beneficial owners agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable instructions we may provide in respect thereof.
Books of depositary
The depositary or its agent maintains a register for the registration, registration of transfer, combination, split-up, substitution and cancellation of ADRs, which register shall include the depositary’s direct registration system. Registered holders of ADRs may inspect such records at the depositary’s office at all reasonable times, but solely for the purpose of communicating with other ADR holders in the interest of our business or a matter relating to the deposit agreement. Such register (and/or any portion thereof) may be closed at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by the depositary.
The depositary will maintain facilities for the delivery and receipt of ADRs.
Appointment
In the deposit agreement, each registered holder of ADRs and each beneficial owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs or ADRs (or any interest in any of them) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement will be deemed for all purposes to:
| ● | be a party to and bound by the terms of the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR or ADRs, |
| ● | appoint the depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR or ADRs, to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable laws and to take such action as the depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR and ADRs, the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof; and |
| ● | acknowledge and agree that (1) nothing in the deposit agreement or any ADR shall give rise to a partnership or joint venture among the parties thereto, nor establish a fiduciary or similar relationship among such parties, (2) the depositary, its divisions, branches and affiliates, and their respective agents, may from time to time be in the possession of non-public information about us, ADR holders, beneficial owners and/or their respective affiliates, (3) the depositary and its divisions, branches and affiliates may at any time have multiple banking relationships with us, ADR holders, beneficial owners and/or the affiliates of any of them, (4) the depositary and its divisions, branches and affiliates may, from time to time, be engaged in transactions in which parties adverse to us, ADR holders, or beneficial owners may have interests, (5) nothing contained in the deposit agreement or any ADR(s) shall (A) preclude the depositary or any of its divisions, branches or affiliates from engaging in any such transactions or establishing or maintaining any such relationships, or (B) obligate the depositary or any of its divisions, branches or affiliates to disclose any such transactions or relationships or to account for any profit made or payment received in any such transactions or relationships, (6) the depositary shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any information held by any branch, division or affiliate of the depositary and (7) notice to an ADR holder shall be deemed, for all purposes of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, to constitute notice to any and all beneficial owners of the ADSs evidenced by such ADR holder’s ADRs. For all purposes under the deposit agreement and the ADRs, the ADR holders thereof shall be deemed to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of any and all beneficial owners of the ADSs evidenced by such ADRs. |
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Consent to jurisdiction
In the deposit agreement, we have appointed an agent for service of process on our behalf. Any action based on the deposit agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated therein or thereby may be instituted by the depositary against us in the state or federal courts in New York, New York or any competent court in the Cayman Islands, the United States and/or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
Under the deposit agreement, by holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, holders and beneficial owners each irrevocably agree that (1) any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving holders or beneficial owners brought by us or the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated therein or thereby, may be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and by holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein each irrevocably waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding and (2) any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving us and/or the depositary brought by holders or beneficial owners, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated therein or thereby, including, without limitation, claims under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, may only be instituted only in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or in the state courts of New York County in New York if either (a) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the particular dispute or (b) the designation of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the exclusive forum for the particular dispute is, or becomes, invalid, illegal or unenforceable). In the deposit agreement each holder and beneficial owner irrevocably waives any objection which it may at any time have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Additionally, by holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, holders and beneficial owners acknowledge and agree that they will not be able to commence or pursue any legal suit, action or proceeding against the depositary or its agents in any jurisdiction other than as described in this paragraph.
Notwithstanding anything in the deposit agreement to the contrary, by directly or indirectly holding or owing an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, holders and beneficial owners each agree that the depositary may, in its sole discretion, elect to institute any dispute, suit, action, controversy, claim or proceeding directly or indirectly based on, arising out of or relating to the deposit agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated therein or thereby, including without limitation any question regarding its or their existence, validity, interpretation, performance or termination against any other party or parties, by having such dispute referred to and finally resolved by an arbitration; provided, however, to the extent there are specific federal securities law violation aspects to any claims against us and/or the depositary, such specific, and only such specific, claims may be brought by any holder or beneficial owner in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or in the state courts of New York County in New York if either (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the particular dispute or (ii) the designation of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the exclusive forum for the particular dispute is, or becomes, invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and all other aspects, claims, disputes, legal suits, actions and/or proceedings brought by such holder or beneficial owner, including those brought along with, or in addition to, federal securities law violation claims, would be referred to, or remain in arbitration. Any such arbitration shall, at the depositary’s election, be conducted either in New York, New York in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association or in Hong Kong following the arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre serving as the appointing authority and the language of any such arbitration shall be English. In all cases, the fees of the arbitrators and other costs incurred by the parties in connection with such arbitration shall be paid by the party (or parties) that is (or are) unsuccessful in such arbitration. Holders and beneficial owners shall not be entitled to join or consolidate disputes by or against others in any arbitration, or to include in any arbitration any dispute as a representative or member of a class, or act in any arbitration in the interest of the general public or in a private attorney general capacity.
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Jury trial waiver
In the deposit agreement, each party thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each holder and beneficial owner of, and/or holder of interests in, ADSs or ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding against the depositary and/or us directly or indirectly arising out of, based on or relating in any way to the ordinary shares or other deposited securities, the ADSs or the ADRs, the deposit agreement or any transaction contemplated therein, or the breach thereof (whether based on contract, tort, common law or any other theory), including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws.
If we or the depositary were to oppose a jury trial demand based on such waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable in the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable state and federal law, including whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a trial by jury. The waiver to right to a trial by jury in the deposit agreement is not intended to be deemed a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of our or the depositary’s compliance with any provisions of U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Conversion between ordinary shares and ADSs
Dealings and settlement of ordinary shares in Hong Kong
Dealings in our ordinary shares on the HKEx are conducted in Hong Kong dollars. Our ordinary shares are traded on the HKEx in board lots of 100 ordinary shares. The transaction costs of dealings in our ordinary shares on the HKEx include:
| ● | Hong Kong Stock Exchange trading fee of 0.005% of the consideration of the transaction, charged to each of the buyer and seller; |
| ● | SFC transaction levy of 0.0027% of the consideration of the transaction, charged to each of the buyer and seller; |
| ● | Accounting and Financial Reporting Council transaction levy of 0.00015% of the consideration of the transaction, charged to each of the buyer and seller; |
| ● | Trading tariff of HK$0.50 on each and every purchase or sale transaction. The decision on whether or not to pass the trading tariff onto investors is at the discretion of brokers; |
| ● | Transfer deed stamp duty of HK$5.00 per transfer deed (if applicable), payable by the seller; |
| ● | Ad valorem stamp duty at a total rate of 0.2% of the value of the transaction, with 0.1% payable by each of the buyer and the seller; |
| ● | Stock settlement fee, which is currently 0.002% of the gross transaction value, subject to a minimum fee of HK$2.00 and a maximum fee of HK$100.00 per side per trade; |
| ● | Brokerage commission, which is freely negotiable with the broker (other than brokerage commissions for IPO transactions which are currently set at 1% of the subscription or purchase price and will be payable by the person subscribing for or purchasing the securities); and |
| ● | Charge by the Hong Kong share registrar between HK$2.50 to HK$20, depending on the speed of service (or such higher fee as may from time to time be permitted under the Hong Kong Listing Rules), for each transfer of ordinary shares from one registered owner to another, each share certificate canceled or issued by it and any applicable fee as stated in the share transfer forms used in Hong Kong. |
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Investors must settle their trades executed on the HKEx through their brokers directly or through custodians. For an investor who has deposited his/her ordinary shares in his/her stock account or in his/her designated CCASS (“Central Clearing and Settlement System”) Participant’s stock account maintained with CCASS, settlement will be effected in CCASS in accordance with the General Rules of CCASS and CCASS Operational Procedures in effect from time to time. For an investor who holds the physical certificates, settlement certificates and the duly executed transfer forms must be delivered to his/her broker or custodian before the settlement date.
An investor may arrange with his/her broker or custodian on a settlement date in respect of his/her trades executed on the HKEx. Under the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the General Rules of CCASS and CCASS Operational Procedures in effect from time to time, the date of settlement must be the second business day (a day on which the settlement services of CCASS are open for use by CCASS Participants) following the trade date (T+2). For trades settled under CCASS, the General Rules of CCASS and CCASS Operational Procedures in effect from time to time provided that the defaulting broker may be compelled to compulsorily buy-in by HKSCC the day after the date of settlement (T+3), or if it is not practicable to do so on T+3, at any time thereafter. HKSCC may also impose fines from T+2 onwards.
The ADSs
The ADSs trade on Nasdaq. Dealings in the ADSs are conducted in U.S. Dollars. ADSs may be held either:
| ● | Directly: (1) by having an ADR which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in the holder’s name; or (2) by having uncertified ADSs in the direct registration system, which is a system administered by the DTC; or |
| ● | Indirectly, through a broker or other financial institution. |
The depositary for the ADSs is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., whose principal executive office is located at 383 Madison Avenue, Floor 11, New York, NY 10179.
Depositing ordinary shares trading in Hong Kong for delivery of ADSs
An investor who holds ordinary shares registered in Hong Kong and who wishes to receive delivery of ADSs to trade on Nasdaq must deposit or have his or her broker deposit the ordinary shares with the Depositary’s Hong Kong custodian in exchange for ADSs. A deposit of ordinary shares trading in Hong Kong in exchange for ADSs involves the following procedures:
| ● | If ordinary shares have been deposited with CCASS, the investor must transfer ordinary shares to the depositary’s account with the custodian within CCASS by following the CCASS procedures for transfer and submit and deliver a duly completed and signed letter of transmittal to the custodian via his or her broker. |
| ● | If ordinary shares are held outside CCASS, the investor must arrange to deposit his or her ordinary shares into the CCASS for delivery to the depositary’s account with the custodian within CCASS, and must submit and deliver a duly completed and signed letter of transmittal to the custodian via his or her broker. |
| ● | Upon payment of its fees and expenses, payment or net of the depositary’s fees and expenses, and payment of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, if applicable, and subject in all cases to the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will register the corresponding number of ADSs in the name(s) requested by an investor and will deliver the ADSs to the designated DTC account of the person(s) designated by an investor or his or her broker if such ADSs are to be held in book-entry form through DTC’s “Direct Registration System.” |
For ordinary shares deposited in CCASS, under normal circumstances, the above steps generally require two business days, provided that the investor has provided timely and complete instructions. For ordinary shares held outside CCASS in physical form, the above steps may take 14 business days, or more, to complete. Temporary delays may arise. For example, the transfer books of the depositary may from time to time be closed to ADS issuances. The investor will be unable to trade the ADSs until the procedures are completed.
Surrender of ADSs for delivery of ordinary shares trading in Hong Kong
An investor who holds ADSs and who wishes to receive ordinary shares that trade on the HKEx must cancel the ADSs the investor holds, withdraw ordinary shares from the ADS program and cause his or her broker or other financial institution to trade such ordinary shares on the HKEx.
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An investor that holds ADSs indirectly through a broker or other financial institution should follow the procedure of the broker or financial institution and instruct the broker to arrange for cancelation of the ADSs and transfer of the underlying ordinary shares from the depositary’s account with the custodian within the CCASS system to the investor’s Hong Kong stock account. For investors holding ADSs directly, the following steps must be taken:
| ● | To withdraw ordinary shares from the ADS program, an investor who holds ADSs may turn in such ADSs at the office of the depositary (and the applicable ADR(s) if the ADSs are held in certificated form), and send an instruction to cancel such ADSs to the depositary. |
| ● | Upon payment or net of its fees, payment of CCASS’ fees and expenses, and payment of expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, if applicable, and subject in all cases to the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will instruct the custodian to deliver ordinary shares underlying the canceled ADSs to the CCASS account designated by an investor. |
| ● | If an investor prefers to receive ordinary shares outside CCASS, he or she must receive ordinary shares in CCASS first and then arrange for withdrawal from CCASS. Investors can then obtain a transfer form signed by HKSCC Nominees Limited (as the transferor) and register ordinary shares in their own names with the Hong Kong share registrar. |
For ordinary shares to be received in CCASS, under normal circumstances, the above steps generally require two business days, provided that the investor has provided timely and complete instructions.
For ordinary shares to be received outside CCASS in physical form, the above steps may take 14 business days, or more, to complete. The investor will be unable to trade the ordinary shares on the HKEx until the procedures are completed.
Temporary delays may arise. For example, the transfer books of the depositary may from time to time be closed to ADS cancelations. In addition, completion of the above steps and procedures for delivery for ordinary shares in a CCASS account is subject to there being a sufficient number of ordinary shares on the Hong Kong share register to facilitate a withdrawal from the ADS program directly into the CCASS. We are not under any obligation to maintain or increase the number of ordinary shares on the Hong Kong share register to facilitate such withdrawals.
Depositary requirements
Before the depositary delivers ADSs or permits withdrawal of ordinary shares, the depositary may require:
| ● | payment of all amounts required pursuant to the deposit agreement, including the issuance and cancellation fees therein, any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charges and any stock transfer or registration fees in effect; |
| ● | production of satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and |
| ● | compliance with procedures it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including completion and presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer, or register issuances, transfers, and cancellations of ADSs generally when the transfer books of the depositary or our Hong Kong share registrar or Cayman Islands share registrar are closed or at any time if the depositary or we determine it advisable to do so, subject to such refusal complying with U.S. federal securities laws.
All costs attributable to the transfer of ordinary shares to effect a withdrawal from or deposit of ordinary shares into the ADS program will be borne by the investor requesting the transfer. In particular, holders of ordinary shares and ADSs should note that the Hong Kong share registrar will charge between HK$2.50 to HK$20, depending on the speed of service (or such higher fee as may from time to time be permitted under the Hong Kong Listing Rules), for each transfer of ordinary shares from one registered owner to another, each share certificate canceled or issued by it and any applicable fee as stated in the share transfer forms used in Hong Kong. In addition, holders of ordinary shares and ADSs must pay up to US$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) for each issuance of ADSs and each cancelation of ADSs, as the case may be, in connection with the deposit of ordinary shares into, or withdrawal of ordinary shares from, the ADS program.
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The material Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in the prospectus supplement pertaining to those securities.
Except as described above or otherwise described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and in our Reports on Form 6-K incorporated by reference into this prospectus, no reportable material changes have occurred since December 31, 2025.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the validity of our ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by the ADSs, and certain other matters governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands will be passed on for us by Walkers (Hong Kong). Certain legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by JunHe LLP. Unless otherwise indicated in any prospectus supplement, DLA Piper LLP (US), Washington D.C., will be representing us in regards to certain matters governed by U.S. law in connection with any offering. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of Ascentage Pharma Group International appearing in Ascentage Pharma Group International’s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2025 have been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP is located at 50/F, Shanghai World Financial Center, 100 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China.
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company, such as:
| ● | political and economic stability; |
| ● | an effective judicial system; |
| ● | a favorable tax system; |
| ● | the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and |
| ● | the availability of professional and support services. |
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include, but are not limited to:
| ● | the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors as compared to the United States; and |
| ● | Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our constituent documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. Most of our directors and executive officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., located at 700 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 510, Rockville, MD 20850 as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States. Walkers (Hong Kong), our legal counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and JunHe LLP, our legal counsel as to PRC law, have advised us, respectively, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and the PRC, respectively, would:
| ● | recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or |
| ● | entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or China against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
There is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law relating to whether a judgment obtained from the United States courts under civil liability provisions of the securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature. The courts of the Cayman Islands may not recognize or enforce the judgment against a Cayman Islands company, and because the courts of the Cayman Islands have yet to rule on whether such judgments are penal or punitive in nature, it is uncertain whether such judgments from the U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. Walkers (Hong Kong) has advised us that the courts of the Cayman Islands would recognize as a valid judgment, a final and conclusive judgment in personam obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States under which a sum of money is payable (other than a sum of money payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty) or, in certain circumstances, an in personam judgment for non-monetary relief, and would give a judgment based thereon provided that (a) such courts had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such judgment, (b) such courts did not contravene the rules of natural justice of the Cayman Islands, (c) such judgment was not obtained by fraud, (d) the enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands, (e) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of the Cayman Islands, and (f) there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
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JunHe LLP has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law and other applicable laws and regulations. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. There exists no treaty and few other forms of reciprocity between China and the United States or the Cayman Islands governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in China will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. Under the PRC Civil Procedures Law and PRC Law on the Application of Laws to Foreign-related Civil Relations, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law before a PRC court against a company for disputes relating to contracts or other property interests, and the PRC court may accept a cause of action based on the laws or the parties’ express mutual agreement in contracts choosing PRC courts for dispute resolution if such foreign shareholders can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, that the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case and that there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the suit. The PRC court will determine whether to accept the complaint in accordance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law and PRC Law on the Application of Laws to Foreign-related Civil Relations. Foreign citizens and companies will have the same rights as PRC citizens and companies in an action unless the home jurisdiction of such foreign citizens or companies restricts the rights of PRC citizens and companies.
In addition, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in China in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding our ADSs or ordinary shares, to establish a connection to China for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to a foreign private issuer. Under the Exchange Act, we file annual reports on Form 20-F and other information with the SEC. We also furnish to the SEC under cover of Form 6-K material information required to be made public in Hong Kong, filed with and made public by any stock exchange on which we are listed or distributed by us to our shareholders. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from, among other things, the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
We also maintain a website at www.ascentage.com through which you can access our SEC filings. The information set forth on our website is not part of this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement. The SEC file number for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is 001-42484.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this document:
| ● | our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2026; |
| ● | any future reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after this prospectus that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference in this prospectus; |
| ● | the description of ADSs representing our ordinary shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-6 filed with the SEC on January 16, 2025, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and |
| ● | to the extent permitted by applicable securities law, any other documents which we elect to incorporate by reference into this prospectus. |
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) prior to the termination of any offering of securities under this prospectus. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus.
Notwithstanding the statements in the preceding paragraphs, no document, report or exhibit (or portion of any of the foregoing) or any other information that we have “furnished” to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act shall be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., 68 Xinqing Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, telephone: +1 (301) 291-5658. You may also access these documents on our website, www.ascentage.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
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American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS
July 17, 2026
PROSPECTUS
Up
to $200,000,000
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
We have entered into a sales agreement (the “Sales Agreement”), with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citigroup”), Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch (“Deutsche Bank”), and BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”), as sales agents and/or principals (each, a “Sales Agent,” and collectively, the “Sales Agents”), relating to the sale of American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, each ADS representing four ordinary shares, offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell ADSs having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million from time to time through the Sales Agents.
The ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “AAPG”. On July 16, 2026, the last reported sale price of the ADSs was $20.40 per ADS. Our ordinary shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (the “HKEx”) under the stock code “6855.” On July 16, 2026, the closing price of our ordinary shares on the HKEx was HK$39.34 per ordinary share, equivalent to a price of US$20.07 per ADS, assuming an exchange rate of HK$7.84 to US$1.00, which is the exchange rate set forth for cable transfers in the City of New York, as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on July 16, 2026.
Sales of the ADSs, if any, under this prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act or any other method permitted by applicable law. The Sales Agents are not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but will act as sales agent and use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange on our behalf for the sale of all ADSs requested to be sold by us, consistent with its normal sales and trading practices, on mutually agreed terms between us and the Sales Agents. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will pay the Sales Agents a commission up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per ADS sold under the Sales Agreement. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-26 of this prospectus for additional information. In connection with the sale of the ADSs on our behalf, each of the Sales Agents may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Sales Agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify the Sales Agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have also agreed to contribute to payments the Sales Agents may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
Ascentage Pharma Group International (“Ascentage Pharma”) is not a Chinese operating company but rather a Cayman Islands exempted company that conducts operations in multiple countries, including the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), Australia and the United States through its subsidiaries, including Suzhou Ascentage Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC, Guangzhou Healthquest Pharma Co., Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC (“Healthquest Pharma”), Shenghe Inno Bio, a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC, Shanghai Centagen Bio Co., Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC, Ascentage Pharma Pty Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Australia, and Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., a corporation incorporated in Delaware. Our operations in the PRC are primarily conducted through our PRC subsidiaries. Under this holding company structure, investors in the ADSs are purchasing equity interests in the Cayman Islands exempted company and obtaining indirect ownership interests in the operating companies, including the PRC operating companies.
This holding company structure involves unique risks to investors and investors may never hold equity interests in our operating companies, including the PRC operating companies. While we do not operate in an industry that is currently subject to foreign ownership limitations in the PRC, PRC regulatory authorities could decide to limit foreign ownership in our industry in the future, in which case there could be a risk that we would be unable to do business in the PRC as we are currently structured. In such event, despite our efforts to restructure to comply with the then applicable PRC laws and regulations in order to continue our operations in the PRC, we may experience material changes in our business and results of operations, our attempts may prove to be futile due to factors beyond our control and the value of the ADSs you invest in may significantly decline or become worthless. While our current corporate structure is not a variable interest entity (“VIE”) structure and we have no intention to rely on a VIE structure in our PRC operations, if the PRC laws and regulations were to change in the future, such changes may result in adverse changes in our operations, and the ADSs may decline significantly in value. See the section titled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
A majority of our business and operations is conducted in the PRC through our subsidiaries and thus we are exposed to legal and operational risks associated with operations in the PRC. The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a company with operations in the PRC to conduct its business. The PRC government exerts significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may 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 certain industries, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could result in a material change in our operations or the value of our securities, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Recent policy statements and regulatory actions by the PRC government, such as those related to human genetic data, biopharmaceutical, cybersecurity, data privacy and cross-border data flows may adversely impact our ability to conduct our business and research and development activities, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign stock exchange, which may cause our securities to be prohibited from trading or to be delisted from Nasdaq or any other U.S. stock exchange.
Furthermore, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice. The PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities and foreign investment in China-based companies. On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”) and relevant notes and supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. The Trial Measures provide that if the issuer meets both of the following criteria, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be deemed an indirect overseas offering by a PRC domestic company: (1) 50% or more of any of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year is accounted for by PRC domestic companies; and (2) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, its main place(s) of business are located in mainland China or the majority of senior management staff in charge of its business operations and management are PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China.
The Trial Measures also state that any post-listing follow-on offering by an issuer in the same overseas market, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, shall be subject to the filing requirements within three business days after the completion of the offering. Therefore, any future offerings and listings of our securities in an overseas market shall be subject to the filing requirements under the CSRC Filing Rules. As such, we are required to submit a filing to CSRC within three business days after the completion of this offering.
Any potential action taken by the PRC government to exert more oversight and control over overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities and foreign investment in China-based companies, once taken by the PRC government, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline, or, in extreme cases, become worthless. See the section titled “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition, our ability to pay dividends partially depends upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries.
Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “HFCAA”), if the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our ordinary shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued its report notifying the SEC of its determination that it was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, including our auditor who is headquartered in mainland China. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB were to determine in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, and if we were to continue to use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA. For more details, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–The PCAOB has historically been unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors of the benefits of such inspections” and “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–If the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditors located in China because of a position taken by a foreign authority and the SEC identifies the Company as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for two consecutive years, the ADSs will be delisted and our ordinary shares and ADSs will be prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, and a prohibition from trading, may materially and adversely affect the value of our ordinary shares” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Cash is transferred among Ascentage Pharma and our subsidiaries in the following manner: (1) funds are transferred to Ascentage Pharma’s subsidiaries from Ascentage Pharma as needed as capital contributions or shareholder loans, as the case may be; and (2) dividends or other distributions may be paid by our subsidiaries to Ascentage Pharma. Our subsidiaries generate and retain cash from operating activities and re-invest in their respective business. In the future, Ascentage Pharma’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur will partially depend upon dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries. Apart from cash transferred in connection with paid-in capital and shareholder loans, no cash or other assets have been transferred between Ascentage Pharma and a subsidiary, no subsidiaries (including PRC subsidiaries) paid dividends or made other distributions to Ascentage Pharma, and no dividends or distributions were paid or made to U.S. investors. In the future, cash proceeds raised from financing activities may be transferred by Ascentage Pharma through our subsidiaries via capital contributions and shareholder loans, as the case may be, and our subsidiaries may pay dividends to their respective shareholders. Payment of dividends is subject to restrictions under the PRC law. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. For a detailed discussion of applicable PRC regulations governing distribution of dividends, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government regulation—PRC regulation—PRC regulations relating to dividend distribution” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition, the PRC government imposes regulations on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and the remittance of funds out of China. Governmental regulations of currency conversion may limit our ability to pay dividends and other obligations and affect the value of your investment. See “Prospectus Summary–Cash Flows through Our Organization” and our consolidated financial statements included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See “Dividends and Dividend Policy” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “foreign private issuer” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws, and under applicable SEC rules, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting and disclosure requirements. See “Prospectus Summary – Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” and “Prospectus Summary – Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer.”
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page S-10 of this prospectus and in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Citigroup | Deutsche Bank | BTIG |
The date of this prospectus is July 17, 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | | S-ii |
| PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION | | S-iii |
| PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | | S-1 |
| THE OFFERING | | S-9 |
| RISK FACTORS | | S-10 |
| SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | | S-12 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | | S-15 |
| CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS | | S-16 |
| DILUTION | | S-17 |
| MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS | | S-19 |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | | S-26 |
| MATERIAL CHANGES | | S-28 |
| LEGAL MATTERS | | S-28 |
| EXPERTS | | S-28 |
| ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES | | S-29 |
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | S-31 | |
| INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE | S-32 | |
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This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell ADSs representing our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering.
This prospectus and the documents incorporated into this prospectus by reference include important information about us, the securities being offered and other information you should know before investing in our securities. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date (for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus), the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
Neither we, nor the Sales Agents, have authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we, nor the Sales Agents, take any responsibility for, or provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information others may give you. We are not, and the Sales Agents are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “Ascentage Pharma,” “the Company,” “our Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Ascentage Pharma Group International and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
We present our consolidated financial statements in Renminbi and in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). None of the financial statements incorporated by reference into this prospectus were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
In this prospectus, references to “RMB” or “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China; references to “HK$” or “Hong Kong dollars” are to the legal currency of Hong Kong; and references to “dollars,” “U.S. dollars,” “US$” or “$” are to the legal currency of the United States of America. Throughout this prospectus, references to ADSs mean ADSs or ordinary shares represented by such ADSs, as the case may be.
We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.
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The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. We urge you to read this entire prospectus, including the more detailed consolidated financial statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements and other information incorporated by reference from our other filings with the SEC. Investing in our securities involves risks. Therefore, carefully consider the risk factors set forth in this prospectus and in our most recent filings with the SEC including our Annual Reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K, as well as other information in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, before purchasing our securities. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities.
Company Overview
We are a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, differentiated therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer. For more than two decades, our founders and team have leveraged their deep expertise to develop our proprietary drug discovery platform to pursue particularly challenging targets and significant unmet global medical needs. Our lead assets, Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax, have global potential to address the major hematological malignancies, including chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML, acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, which is expected to exceed US$166 billion in aggregate market size by 2035, according to the Frost & Sullivan’s Global Innovative Small Molecule Drug Market Study, dated December 2024 (the “F&S Report”).
Our first lead asset, Olverembatinib, is a novel, third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or TKI. Olverembatinib was the first BCR-ABL1 inhibitor approved in China for the treatment of patients with CML in chronic phase, or CML-CP, with T315I mutations, CML in accelerated phase, or CML-AP, with T315I mutations, and CML-CP that is resistant and/or intolerant to first and second-generation TKIs. We are currently commercializing Olverembatinib in China. All commercialized indications of Olverembatinib have been included in the National Drug Reimbursement List, or NRDL, in China beginning January 2025.
We believe that Olverembatinib, with its real-world patients’ data in China, where it is approved, has the potential to be a global therapy for CML. The global CML market was around US$12.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to US$14.6 billion by 2035, according to the F&S Report. We are currently conducting a registrational Phase 3 trial, or POLARIS-2, of Olverembatinib as a monotherapy for CML that is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and European Medicines Agency or EMA. The clinical data obtained in China may not be accepted by the FDA or other foreign regulators to support ongoing or future clinical trials, and Olverembatinib is approved only in China, such that the outcome of our ongoing clinical trials is uncertain. We are also pursuing label expansion of Olverembatinib in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of first-line Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, or frontline Ph+ ALL, in an FDA and EMA cleared registrational Phase 3 trial, or POLARIS-1, and conducting another registrational Phase 3 trial, or POLARIS-3 evaluating Olverembatinib as a monotherapy for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST.
Our second lead asset, Lisaftoclax, is a novel Bcl-2 inhibitor that we are developing for the treatment of various hematological malignancies. In November 2024, we announced that our new drug application (“NDA”) for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory, or R/R, CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma, or SLL, was accepted with Priority Review designation by the Center of Drug Evaluation, or CDE, of China’s National Medical Products Administration, or NMPA. We believe this NDA is the second NDA filed in the world for a Bcl-2 inhibitor and the first in China for a Bcl-2 inhibitor for the treatment of patients with CLL/SLL that are resistant or intolerant to Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, or BTK, inhibitors. Lisaftoclax was approved in China by the NMPA for the treatment of adult patients with CLL/SLL who have previously received at least one systemic therapy including BTK inhibitors in July 2025. We started commercializing in China in July 2025 shortly after receiving approval. We intend to seek approval in multiple countries outside of China.
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The global CLL/SLL market was around US$9.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to US$38.2 billion by 2035, according to the F&S Report. We are also conducting an FDA-regulated registrational Phase 3 trial, or GLORA, of Lisaftoclax in combination with BTK inhibitors for patients with CLL/SLL previously treated with BTK inhibitors for more than 12 months with sub-optimal response and pursuing approval of Lisaftoclax for frontline CLL/SLL in a registrational Phase 3 trial, or GLORA-2, of Lisaftoclax in combination with acalabrutinib.
We believe that Lisaftoclax, with its short half-life and potential for patient-friendly ramp-up schedule, can serve as a backbone molecule for combination therapies for many hematological malignancies, including and beyond CLL/ SLL. Therefore, we are also evaluating Lisaftoclax in combination with azacitidine, or AZA, in two registrational Phase 3 trials, GLORA-3 (EMA and CDE cleared) and GLORA-4 (FDA, EMA and CDE cleared), for the frontline treatments of elderly, or unfit patients with AML or patients with higher risk, or HR, myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, respectively.
Backed by our strong scientific foundation, knowledge of small molecule discovery and capabilities to conduct clinical trials worldwide, we use state-of-the-art technologies to develop innovative therapeutic agents to treat cancers and address unmet medical needs within this patient population. Our initial focus has been to leverage our expertise in chemistry to synthesize inhibitors targeting proteins and pathways that drive the key hallmarks of cancer. Earlier in our pipeline, we are harnessing our understanding of protein degraders to develop therapies, such as proteolysis targeting chimera molecules, or PROTACs, that target traditionally undruggable proteins that are implicated in oncogenesis.
We are empowered by our technical expertise in structure-based drug design and our innovative drug discovery engine, which allows us to address unmet medical need by targeting key apoptotic pathways and validated tyrosine kinases. These core competencies have allowed us to develop small molecule and degrader therapies targeted at Bcl-2, Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, IAP and MDM2, in addition to building next-generation cell signaling inhibitors (i.e., BCR- ABL1, ALK, FAK inhibitors) and epigenome-modifying agents (i.e., PRC2 inhibitor). We are the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators, according to the F&S Report. We have nine ongoing U.S. and/or international registrational trials, including two that are FDA-regulated, for our six key clinical-stage assets. Beyond our two lead assets, we have several other clinical-stage assets in U.S. or international clinical trials.
Leveraging our robust internal research and development capabilities, we have built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights. We have also established collaborations and other relationships with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies around the world, including a collaboration and license agreement with Innovent and clinical collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer, and research and development relationships with leading research institutions, including but not limited to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan. As of December 31, 2025, we had 512 issued patents globally, 374 of which were issued outside of China.
We have assembled a talented, global team with experience in the research and development of innovative drugs, as well as commercial manufacturing, sales and marketing. Our success is shaped by this global team of approximately 767 employees across the United States, Europe, Australia, and China, as of December 31, 2025. Together, we are dedicated to continuously strengthening our research and development capabilities and accelerating the clinical development progress of our product pipeline with the goal of addressing the unmet medical needs of patients globally.
Corporate Information
Ascentage Pharma Group Corp Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability (“Ascentage Pharma (HK)”), was established in May 2009. Dr. Yang, Dr. Zhai, Dr. Wang and Dr. Guo, our co-founders, were the initial majority shareholders of Ascentage Pharma (HK).
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In June 2010, Jiangsu Ascentage Pharma Co., Ltd, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the PRC (“Ascentage Jiangsu”), was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascentage Pharma (HK).
Ascentage Pharma (HK) went through a series of internal restructurings and equity financings in 2015 and 2016, pursuant to which Ascentage International Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong (“Ascentage International”), Hongkong Sansheng Medical Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability, and Shengda Taizhou Investment Centre LLP (“Shengda Taizhou)” acquired equity interests in Ascentage Jiangsu from Ascentage Pharma (HK). Shengda Taizhou held the equity interest in Ascentage Jiangsu for the benefit of Dr. Yang, Dr. Guo, Dr. Wang and Dr. Zhai.
In December 2016, Ascentage Jiangsu entered into a share transfer agreement for the acquisition of the entire equity interest of Healthquest Pharma from Dr. Zhai and Ren Jing.
In November 2017, we commenced a reorganization (the “Reorganization”), consisting of the following principal steps: (i) Ascentage Pharma was incorporated as an exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands; (ii) Ascentage Pharma acquired all equity interests in Ascentage Pharma (HK) from Dr. Yang, Dr. Wang, Dr. Guo and Collected Mind (a BVI subsidiary of 3SBio Inc. (HKEX: 1530)), after which Ascentage Pharma (HK) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascentage Pharma; and (iii) in July 2018, Ascentage Pharma acquired all equity interests in Ascentage International from each of Dr. Yang, Dr. Wang and Dr. Guo, in exchange for ordinary shares issued to Ascentage Limited (a BVI company owned by Dr. Yang (45.53%), Dr. Guo (27.69%) and Dr. Wang (26.78%), each for themselves and as settlors of their respective family trusts), based on Ascentage International’s registered capital in Ascentage Jiangsu immediately preceding the acquisition. Ascentage Limited was dissolved in December 2023.
Upon the completion of the Reorganization, Ascentage Pharma became the top holding company of our company and its subsidiaries. Our daily operations are conducted primarily through our operating subsidiaries in mainland China, Hong Kong, the United States and Australia. Ascentage Pharma Group Corp Limited, Ascentage International Limited, Ascentage Investment International and Ascentage Investment Limited are investment holding intermediaries.
In March 2026, the Board approved the transfer of ownership of Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., Ascentage Pharma Pty Ltd., and Ascentage Pharma Europe Limited from Ascentage Pharma Group Corp Ltd. to Ascentage Pharma to streamline the organizational structure, which transfer closed in July 2026.
Our corporate headquarters are located at 68 Xinqing Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, and our telephone number is +1 (301) 291-5658. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., located at 700 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 510, Rockville, MD 20850, and its telephone number is +1 (301) 291-5658. Our registered office is located at the office of Walkers Corporate Limited, with the registered address of 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands. Our corporate website is www.ascentage.com. The information contained on or that can be accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, such as the Company, at http://www.sec.gov.
Cash Flows through Our Organization
Cash is transferred among the Company and our subsidiaries in the following manner: (1) funds are transferred to the Company’s subsidiaries from the Company as needed as capital contributions or shareholder loans, as the case may be; and (2) dividends or other distributions may be paid by our subsidiaries to the Company. Our subsidiaries generate and retain cash from operating activities and re-invest in their respective business. None of our subsidiaries have made distributions to shareholders. In the future, the Company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur partially depends upon dividends paid by our subsidiaries. Apart from cash transferred in connection with paid-in capital and shareholder loans, no cash or other assets have been transferred between the Company and a subsidiary, no subsidiaries (including PRC subsidiaries) paid dividends or made other distributions to the Company, and no dividends or distributions were paid or made to U.S. investors. In the future, cash proceeds raised from financing activities may be transferred by the Company through our subsidiaries via capital contributions and shareholder loans, as the case may be, and our subsidiaries may pay dividends to their respective shareholders. Payment of dividends is subject to restrictions under the PRC law. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. For a detailed discussion of applicable PRC regulations governing distribution of dividends, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Government regulation—PRC regulation—PRC regulations relating to dividend distribution” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition, the PRC government imposes regulations on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and the remittance of funds out of China. Governmental regulations of currency conversion may limit our ability to pay dividends and other obligations and affect the value of your investment. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See “Dividends and Dividend Policy” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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Regulatory Permissions and Licenses for Our Operations in the PRC
We conduct our business in mainland China primarily through our PRC subsidiaries. Our operations in mainland China are governed by laws and regulations of mainland China.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures and relevant notes and supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. If a domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines. The Trial Measures provide that if the issuer meets both of the following criteria, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be deemed an indirect overseas offering by a PRC domestic company: (1) 50% or more of any of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year is accounted for by PRC domestic companies; and (2) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, its main place(s) of business are located in mainland China or the majority of senior management staff in charge of its business operations and management are PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. As advised by our PRC legal advisor, any offering under this prospectus will be identified as an indirect overseas issuance and listing under the Trial Measures. We are therefore subject to the approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC in connection with any such offering.
The Trial Measures also state that any post-listing follow-on offering by an issuer in the same overseas market, including issuance of shares, convertible notes and other similar securities, shall be subject to the filing requirements within three business days after the completion of an offering. Therefore, any future offerings and listings of our securities in an overseas market shall be subject to the filing requirements under the CSRC Filing Rules. As such, we will be required to submit a filing to CSRC within three business days after the completion of any offering of securities under this prospectus.
We have been closely monitoring regulatory developments in China regarding any necessary approvals from the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), or other PRC regulatory authorities required for overseas listings and securities offerings. However, we cannot predict the impact of these regulations on the listing status of the ADSs and/or other securities, or on any of our future security offerings in foreign countries. For more detailed information, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–We are subject to continued approval, filing and other requirements of applicable U.S. securities laws and Nasdaq listing rules as a U.S. public company, and may be subject to further approval, filing or other requirements with PRC governmental authorities in connection with future capital-raising activities.”
If (1) we do not receive or maintain any required permissions or approvals, (2) we inadvertently concluded that certain permissions or approvals have been acquired or are not required, or (3) applicable laws, regulations or interpretations thereof change and we become subject to the requirement of additional permissions or approvals in the future, we may not be able to obtain such permissions or approvals in a timely manner, or at all, and such approvals may be rescinded even if obtained. Any such circumstance could subject us to sanctions imposed by the PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against us, and other forms of sanctions, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For more information, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC.”
Recent Regulatory Development
On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued the Opinions on Strictly Scrutinizing on Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions call for strengthened regulation over illegal securities activities, supervision of overseas securities offerings and listings by China-based companies, and propose to take effective measures, such as promoting the development of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with perceived risks or incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies.
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The revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review as promulgated by a total of thirteen governmental departments of the PRC, including the CAC, came into effect on February 15, 2022. The revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review stipulated that, in addition to network products and services acquired by critical information infrastructure operators, online platform operators are also subject to cybersecurity review if they carry out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. Moreover, online platform operators listing in a foreign country with more than one million users’ personal information data must apply for a cybersecurity review with the Cybersecurity Review Office. The revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review further elaborated the factors to be considered when assessing the national security risks of the relevant activities. Since our business operation is not an operator of a network platform with personal information of over one million users, we should not be required to undergo the cybersecurity review for an offering under this prospectus and the listing of the ADSs under the revised Measures of Cybersecurity Review.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, jointly with other relevant governmental authorities, promulgated the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Management of Overseas Securities Issuance and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (the “Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions”) which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions outline obligations of issuers listed in overseas markets with operations in mainland China when they provide information involving state secrets or sensitive information to their securities service providers (such as auditors) and overseas regulators. In addition, under the Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions, such issuers will also be required to obtain approval from the CSRC and other authorities in mainland China before accepting any investigation or inspection by overseas regulators. There are uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions.
Implications of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Pursuant to the HFCAA, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our ordinary shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued its report notifying the SEC of its determination that it was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, including our auditor who is headquartered in mainland China. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB were to determine in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, and if we were to continue to use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA. For more details, see “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–The PCAOB has historically been unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors of the benefits of such inspections” and “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–If the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditors located in China because of a position taken by a foreign authority and the SEC identifies the Company as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for two consecutive years, the ADSs will be delisted and our ordinary shares and ADSs will be prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, and a prohibition from trading, may materially and adversely affect the value of our ordinary shares” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Certain Risks Associated with Our Corporate Structure
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands that conducts most of our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. In addition, some our executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China.
S-5
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties or similar arrangements between China and the jurisdiction where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have treaties or similar arrangements and only has limited reciprocity arrangements with the United States, the Cayman Islands or many other countries and regions that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments as of the date of this prospectus. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment if it is decided as having violated the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or the Cayman Islands.
The SEC, U.S. Department of Justice and other U.S. authorities often have substantial difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in certain emerging markets, including China. Legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for investigations or litigation or to obtaining access to funds outside the United States, lack of support from local authorities, and other various factors make it difficult for the U.S. authorities to pursue actions against non-U.S. companies and individuals, who may have engaged in fraud or other wrongdoing. Additionally, public shareholders investing in the ADSs have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets where we operate, as shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including class actions under securities law and fraud claims, generally are difficult or impossible to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in many emerging markets, including China. See also “Risk factors–Risks related to doing business in the PRC–You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in the regions where we operate against us or our management named in this Annual Report on Form 20-F based on foreign laws” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Holding Company Structure
As of the date of this prospectus, Ascentage Pharma 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 its ordinary shares or the ADSs. Ascentage Pharma is a holding company with no operations of its own. Ascentage Pharma conducts its business operations through its subsidiaries, including its subsidiaries in China. If the PRC government deems that any of our business operations carried out by our Hong Kong or PRC subsidiaries were to be restricted or prohibited from foreign investment in the future, we may be required to stop our business operations in China, and we could be subject to material penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in the affected operations. Such events could result in a material change in our operations and a material change in the value of our securities, including causing the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. If we become profitable, Ascentage Pharma’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to the shareholders and ADS investors and to service any debt it may incur will come from dividends paid by its operating subsidiaries.
Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets offshore to Ascentage Pharma. In particular, under the current effective PRC laws and regulations, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits upon satisfaction of relevant statutory conditions and procedures. Distributable profits are the net profit after tax as determined under PRC GAAP, less any recovery of accumulated losses and appropriations to statutory and other reserves required to be made. Each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. In addition, the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by PRC companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC-resident enterprises are incorporated.
S-6
Furthermore, the payment of current account items, including profit distributions, trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its local branches, provided that (i) the declaration and payment of such current account items comply with applicable PRC laws and regulations and the constitutional documents of the related company, and (ii) the remittance of dividends and other distributions out of the PRC complies with the procedures required by the relevant PRC laws and regulations relating to foreign exchange administration and withholding tax provisions, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. However, where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of the PRC to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies, approval from or registration with competent government authorities or its authorized banks is required. The PRC government may take measures from time to time to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account or capital account transactions in accordance with the procedural requirements of PRC laws. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our offshore intermediary holding companies or ultimate parent company, and therefore, our shareholders or investors in the ADSs. Further, we cannot assure you that new regulations or policies will not be promulgated in the future, which may further restrict the remittance of RMB into or out of the PRC. We cannot assure you, in light of the restrictions in place, or any amendment to be made from time to time, that our current or future PRC subsidiaries will be able to satisfy their respective payment obligations that are denominated in foreign currencies, including the remittance of dividends outside of the PRC.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
| ● | exemption from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and |
| ● | to the extent that we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, (1) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (2) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, including golden parachute compensation. |
S-7
We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.235 billion; (2) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our U.S. initial public offering; (3) the date on which we have, during the preceding three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non- convertible debt; or (4) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act, which would occur if we have been a public company for at least 12 months and the market value of the ADSs and ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
In addition, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. Since International Financial Reporting Standards make no distinction between public and private companies for purposes of compliance with new or revised accounting standards, the requirements for our compliance as a private company and as a public company are the same.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We are also considered a “foreign private issuer” under U.S. securities laws. In our capacity as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose certain disclosure obligations and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required to comply with Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material information.
We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We will remain a foreign private issuer until such time that more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (1) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents; (2) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (3) our business is administered principally in the United States.
S-8
| ADSs offered by us | ADSs representing our ordinary shares, having an aggregate offering price of up to $200,000,000. | |
| ADSs to be outstanding immediately after this offering | Up to 383,126,113 shares (as more fully described in the notes following this table), assuming sales of 9,803,921 ADSs in this offering at an offering price of $20.40 per share, which was the last reported sale price of the ADSs on Nasdaq on July 16, 2026. The actual number of ADSs issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering. | |
| Plan of Distribution | “At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through the Sales Agents. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-26 of this prospectus. | |
| The ADSs | Each ADS represents four ordinary shares. The offered ADSs may be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs. The Depositary will hold the ordinary shares underlying the ADS and you will have the rights of an ADS holder as provided in the deposit agreement among us, the Depositary and all owners and holders of ADSs issued thereunder. | |
| Depositary | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | |
| Use of Proceeds | We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby to fund the commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax, the ongoing clinical trials for our drug candidates, for working capital and for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-15 of this prospectus. | |
| Risk Factors | Investing in our securities involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” on page S-10 of this prospectus, and in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. | |
| HKEx trading stock code for our ordinary shares | “6855” | |
| Nasdaq Global Market symbol for the ADSs | “AAPG” |
The number of ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs and treasury shares) issued and outstanding as of April 1, 2026, was 373,322,192 which excludes:
| ● | 2,785,470 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under the Post-IPO Share Option Scheme; |
| ● | 6,294 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2018 RSU Scheme; |
| ● | 443,127 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2021 RSU Scheme; and |
| ● | 5,582,518 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2022 RSU Scheme. |
S-9
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described below and under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. Please also read carefully the section below titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
You may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per ADS of your investment.
The offering price per ADS in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per ADS outstanding prior to this offering. After giving effect to the sale of ADSs in the aggregate amount of $200.0 million at an assumed offering price of $26.24 per ADS, the last reported sale price of the ADSs on December 31, 2025, on the Nasdaq Global Market, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2025 would have been $3.72 per ADS. You will experience additional dilution at the end of the vesting period for our free shares that we have granted, and upon exercise of any outstanding warrants or options to purchase ordinary shares, or if we otherwise issue additional ordinary shares or ADSs below the offering price. See the section titled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering. Because the sales of the securities offered hereby will be made directly into the market or in negotiated transactions, the prices at which we sell these securities will vary and these variations may be significant. Purchasers of the securities we sell, as well as our existing shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell the securities at prices significantly below the price at which they invested.
The ADSs offered hereby will be sold at other than fixed prices, and investors who buy ADSs at different times will likely pay different prices.
Because the sales of ADSs offered hereby will be made at other than fixed prices from time to time, the prices at which we sell these ADSs will vary and these variations may be significant. Investors who participate in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices depending on the price of the ADS on the Nasdaq Global Market at the time of the investment. We will have discretion, subject to investor demand, to vary the timing, prices, and the numbers of ADSs sold. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their investment as a result of sales they made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
Raising additional capital, including as a result of this offering, may cause dilution to our shareholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our product candidates or technologies.
To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities, including from this offering, or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a shareholder. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.
S-10
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may be required to relinquish valuable rights to our research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other arrangements with third parties when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to third parties to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may use them in ways with which you do not agree and in ways that may not increase the value of your investment.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds that we receive from this offering. We may spend or invest these proceeds in a way with which our shareholders and ADS holders disagree. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business and financial condition. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our investors.
The actual number of ADSs we will issue under the Sales Agreement at any one time or in total is uncertain.
We have not committed to sell, and the Sales Agents have not committed to purchase or underwrite, any specific number of ADSs under the Sales Agreement. The number of ADSs that are sold in this offering will be determined by us throughout the duration of the Sales Agreement based on, among other things, market conditions and the market price of the ADSs and ordinary shares. Accordingly, it is not possible to predict the number of ADSs that will ultimately be issued under the Sales Agreement, if any ADSs are issued thereunder.
Purchasers of ADSs in the offering may be subject to limitations on the transfer of their ADSs and the withdrawal of the underlying ordinary shares.
ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. 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 think it is advisable to do so because of any requirement of law, government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason subject to a holder of ADSs’ right to cancel his or her ADSs and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares. Temporary delays in the cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of the underlying ordinary shares may arise because the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books, the transfer of ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting or we are paying a dividend on our ordinary shares. In addition, a holder of ADSs may not be able to cancel his or her ADSs and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares when he or she owes money for fees, taxes and similar charges and when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of ordinary shares or other deposited securities. See the section of this prospectus titled “Description of American Depositary Shares.”
Tax authorities may disagree with our positions and conclusions regarding certain tax positions, resulting in unanticipated costs, taxes or non-realization of expected benefits.
A tax authority may disagree with tax positions that we have taken, which could result in increased tax liabilities. For example, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or another tax authority could challenge our allocation of income by tax jurisdiction and the amounts paid between our affiliated companies pursuant to our intercompany arrangements and transfer pricing policies, including amounts paid with respect to our intellectual property development. Similarly, a tax authority could assert that we are subject to tax in a jurisdiction where we believe we have not established a taxable connection, often referred to as a “permanent establishment” under international tax treaties, and such an assertion, if successful, could increase our expected tax liability in one or more jurisdictions. A tax authority may take the position that material income tax liabilities, interest and penalties are payable by us, in which case, we expect that we might contest such assessment. Contesting such an assessment may be lengthy and costly and if we were unsuccessful in disputing the assessment, the implications could increase our anticipated effective tax rate, where applicable.
Future sales of ordinary shares or ADSs by existing shareholders could depress the market price of the ordinary shares or ADSs.
Future sales of a substantial number of the ADSs or ordinary shares, including as part of this offering, or the perception that such sales will occur, could cause a decline in the market price of the ADSs and/or ordinary shares. Sales in the United States of the ADSs and ordinary shares held by our directors, officers and affiliated shareholders or ADS holders are subject to restrictions. If these shareholders or ADS holders sell substantial amounts of ordinary shares or ADSs in the public market, or the market perceives that such sales may occur, the market price of the ADSs or ordinary shares and our ability to raise capital through an issue of equity securities in the future could be adversely affected.
S-11
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled “Information on the Company,” “Risk Factors” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as any amendments thereto, filed with the SEC.
All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “objective,” “should,” or the negative of these and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | our expectations regarding sales, manufacturing and commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax in China; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax outside of China and of our other proprietary product candidates, including trial initiation, patient enrollment, trial completion, data announcements, regulatory filings, and timing thereof; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the potential advantages of our products and product candidates over existing therapies or therapies currently in development and expectations regarding the status of current therapies being used or being developed that are or may be competitive to our product candidates and potential changes to standard of care, and their comparative efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, or PK, pharmacodynamics, or PD, bioavailability and other characteristics; |
| ● | our expectations with regard to our ability to create, identify, nominate, select, research and develop additional product candidates and to submit investigational new drug application, or INDs, and/or Clinical Trial Applications, or CTAs, for our pre-clinical product candidates and timing thereof; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the potential advantages of our proprietary technologies over existing technology platforms, including drugs and therapies currently in development, and the prospects for our ongoing and future technology collaborations; |
| ● | developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing therapies and technologies; |
| ● | our plans to expand our technology platform and the potential benefits of such platform; |
| ● | our expectations with regard to the willingness and ability of our current and future partners and collaborators to pursue the development, approval and commercialization of our products and product candidates; |
| ● | our and our partners’ product discovery, development and commercialization plans with respect to our products and product candidates and proprietary technologies; |
S-12
| ● | our potential to enter into new collaborations, including research and similar collaborations with research institutions and hospitals; |
| ● | our and our partners and collaborators’ ability to develop, acquire and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials and commercialize products that are approved; |
| ● | our expectations around the potential initiation, timing and success of clinical trials initiated by third parties, including IIT, of therapies including our products and product candidates; |
| ● | the initiation, timing, progress and results of our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs; |
| ● | the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our products and product candidates; |
| ● | our ability to identify, and to negotiate contracts with, suitable contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, contract research organizations, or CROs, and the ability of such CMOs and CROs to manufacture sufficient quantities of our products and product candidates for clinical trials or commercialization in compliance with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs; |
| ● | the commercialization and market acceptance of our products and product candidates; |
| ● | our plans to continue to build our commercialization capabilities and to commercialize and market Olverembatinib, Lisaftoclax or other proprietary product candidates that may be approved; |
| ● | the pricing of and reimbursement for our approved products in different markets; |
| ● | the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business, products, product candidates and technologies; |
| ● | our and our partners’ ability to operate our businesses without infringing the intellectual property rights and proprietary technology of third parties; |
| ● | the scope of protection we and our partners are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our products, product candidates and technologies; |
| ● | our analysis of potential patent infringement claims and our rights with respect to such claims, and expectations around patent coverage and effectiveness of such coverage for competitive products and product candidates; |
| ● | our receipt of future milestone payments, royalties and other payments from our partners, licensors and other collaborators and the expected timing of such payments; |
| ● | the impact of regulatory developments, legislative actions and political conditions in the United States, China, Hong Kong and other jurisdictions, including trade policies and tariffs that may apply to products that we purchase or sell, or judicial decisions overturning or establishing new legal precedents; |
| ● | our ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws which are complex and have different jurisdictional requirements; |
S-13
| ● | our ability to effectively manage our anticipated growth; |
| ● | our ability to attract and retain suitably qualified employees and key personnel, particularly for our commercialization efforts; |
| ● | our expectations around increase of headcounts and operations in key geographic areas; |
| ● | the timing, receipt of and terms and conditions of any required approvals, licenses or permits and the failure to renew, or the revocation of, any such approvals, licenses or permits; |
| ● | our estimates regarding future expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; |
| ● | our expectation that the use of proceeds from our public and private financings and the period over which such proceeds, together with our available cash, will be sufficient to meet our operating needs; |
| ● | our future financial performance; |
| ● | other risks and uncertainties, including those listed in this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” and those listed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate.
Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all.
Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to this prospectus completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
This prospectus contains market data and industry forecasts that were obtained from industry publications. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. We have not independently verified any third-party information. While we believe the market position, market opportunity and market size information included in this prospectus is generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise.
We will not, and do not, undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our current expectations and beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus.
S-14
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby to fund the commercialization of Olverembatinib and Lisaftoclax, the ongoing clinical trials for our drug candidates, for working capital and for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
S-15
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
The following table presents our total capitalization and cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025:
| ● | on an actual basis; and |
| ● | on an as adjusted basis assuming that an aggregate of 7,393,293 ADSs are sold at a price of US$26.24 per ADS, which was the last reported sale price of our ADSs on the Nasdaq on December 31, 2025, converted into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate of RMB6.9931 to US$1.00, which is the exchange rate set forth for cable transfers in the City of New York, as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on December 31, 2025, and after deducting the commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
You should read the financial data in the following table in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
| As of December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share data) | Actual | As-Adjusted | ||||||||||||||
| US$ | RMB | US$ | RMB | |||||||||||||
| Short-term borrowing | 148,718 | 1,040,000 | 148,718 | 1,040,000 | ||||||||||||
| Current portion of long term bank loans | 25,053 | 175,19 | 25,053 | 175,198 | ||||||||||||
| Non-current bank loans | 106,151 | 742,325 | 106,151 | 742,325 | ||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ (deficit) equity: | | |||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, 373,321,692 shares issued and outstanding | 37 | 256 | 40 | 277 | ||||||||||||
| Treasury shares | (413 | ) | (2,961 | ) | (413 | ) | (2,961 | ) | ||||||||
| Share premium | 1,275,093 | 8,916,852 | 1,302,832 | 9,110,831 | ||||||||||||
| Capital and reserves | (56,802 | ) | (397,225 | ) | (56,802 | ) | (397,225 | ) | ||||||||
| Exchange fluctuation reserve | (25,684) | (179,602 | ) | (25,684 | ) | (179,602 | ) | |||||||||
| Accumulated losses | (997,667 | ) | (6,976,784 | ) | (997,667 | ) | (6,976,784 | ) | ||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 1,394 | 9,750 | 1,394 | 9,750 | ||||||||||||
| Total equity | 195,948 | 1,370,286 | 223,699 | 1,564,286 | ||||||||||||
| Total capitalization | 475,870 | 3,327,809 | 503,621 | 3,521,809 | ||||||||||||
The number of ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs and treasury shares) issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025, was 373,321,692 which excludes:
| ● | 2,152,227 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under the Post-IPO Share Option Scheme; |
| ● | 6,294 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2018 RSU Scheme; |
| ● | 443,127 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2021 RSU Scheme; and |
| ● | 82,500 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2022 RSU Scheme. |
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Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2025 was $181.4 million, or $1.94 per ADS with this and all other convenience translations presented in this section, “Dilution,” based on a rate of RMB6.9931 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth for cable transfers in the City of New York, as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on December 31, 2025. Net tangible book value per ordinary share is determined by dividing (1) our total assets less our intangible assets and our total liabilities by (2) 373,321,692 ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2025.
After giving effect to the sale of the ADSs in the aggregate amount of $200.0 million at an assumed offering price of $26.24 per ADS, the last reported sale price of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market on December 31, 2025, and after deducting estimated commissions and offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2025 would have been $3.72 per ADS. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $1.78 per ADS to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $22.52 per ADS to investors purchasing our ADSs in this offering.
The following table illustrates this calculation on a per ADS basis. The information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual prices at which ADSs are sold, the actual number of ADSs sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time the ADSs are sold pursuant to this prospectus.
| Assumed public offering price per ADS | $ | 26.24 | |||||
| Net tangible book value per ADS as of December 31, 2025 | $ | 1.94 | |||||
| Increase in net tangible book value per ADS attributable to this offering | $ | 1.78 | |||||
| As adjusted net tangible book value per ADS as of December 31, 2025, after giving effect to this offering | $ | 3.72 | |||||
| Dilution per ADSs to investors participating in this offering | $ | 22.52 |
The number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025, was 373,321,692, which excludes:
| ● | 2,152,227 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under the Post-IPO Share Option Scheme; |
| ● | 6,294 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2018 RSU Scheme; |
| ● | 443,127 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2021 RSU Scheme; and |
| ● | 82,500 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2022 RSU Scheme. |
The ADSs subject to the Sales Agreement will be sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $1.00 per ADS in the price at which the ADSs are sold from the assumed offering price of $26.24 per ADS shown in the table above, assuming all of our securities in the aggregate amount of $200.0 million during the term of the Sales Agreement are sold at that price, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after the offering to $0.28 per ADS, which would represent a decrease in net tangible book value per ADS to new investors in this offering of $3.45 per ADS, after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per ADS in the price at which the ADSs are sold from the assumed offering price of $26.24 per ADS shown in the table above, assuming all of our securities in the aggregate amount of $200.0 million during the term of the Sales Agreement are sold at that price, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after the offering to $0.28 per ADS, which would represent a decrease in net tangible book value per ADS to new investors in this offering of $26.24 per ADS, after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only.
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TAXATION
The following discussion of Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the ownership and disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus and is intended for general information only and does not constitute tax advice. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors as to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax considerations to them of the ownership and disposition of the ADSs and ordinary shares in their particular circumstances.
Cayman Islands Taxation
According to Walkers (Hong Kong), our Cayman Islands counsel, the Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our ordinary shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our ordinary shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our ordinary shares or ADSs be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
People’s Republic of China Taxation
According to JunHe LLP, our PRC counsel, under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise. In April 2009, the SAT issued a circular, known as Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China only if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (2) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (3) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (4) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe that Ascentage Pharma is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. Ascentage Pharma is not controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group, and we do not believe that Ascentage Pharma meets all of the conditions above. Ascentage Pharma is a company incorporated outside of the PRC. For similar reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” There can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with us.
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If the PRC tax authorities determine that Ascentage Pharma is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes or if dividends we pay to our shareholders are otherwise treated as sourced from within the PRC, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from such dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non- resident enterprises, including the holders of the ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including the ADS holders) may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non- PRC individual shareholders (including the ADS holders) would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders if we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise or if such dividends or gains are otherwise treated as sourced from within the PRC. If any PRC tax were to apply to such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty (and in the case of dividends will be withheld at source). It is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of Ascentage Pharma would be able to obtain the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC if Ascentage Pharma is treated as a PRC resident enterprise.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) and holds the ADSs or ordinary shares as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. This discussion is based upon existing U.S. federal tax law (including proposed Treasury regulations and the income tax treaty between PRC and the United States, or the Treaty), which is subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been sought from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to any U.S. federal income tax considerations described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion, moreover, does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, and alternative minimum tax considerations, the Medicare tax on net investment income, or any state, local and non-U.S. tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. The following summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances or to persons in special tax situations such as:
| ● | banks and other financial institutions; |
| ● | insurance companies; |
| ● | pension plans; |
| ● | cooperatives; |
| ● | regulated investment companies; |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; |
| ● | broker-dealers; |
| ● | dealers or traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting; |
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| ● | certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents; |
| ● | tax-exempt entities (including private foundations); |
| ● | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; |
| ● | holders who acquire their ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; |
| ● | investors that will hold their ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| ● | investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value); |
| ● | persons that hold their ADSs or ordinary shares in connection with a trade or business outside the United States; |
| ● | persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to their ADSs or ordinary shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; or |
| ● | partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through such entities; |
all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those discussed below.
Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal taxation to its particular circumstances, and the state, local, non-U.S. and other tax considerations of the ownership and disposition of the ADSs or our ordinary shares.
General
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| ● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| ● | a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code. |
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If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in a partnerships holding the ADSs or ordinary shares are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is generally expected that a U.S. Holder of ADSs will be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADSs. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a U.S. Holder of the ADSs will be treated in this manner. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Dividends
We do not currently expect to make distributions on the ADSs or ordinary shares. In the event we do make distributions of cash or other property subject to the discussion under “—Passive foreign investment company rules” below, any cash distributions paid on the ADSs or ordinary shares (including the amount of any PRC tax withheld) out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder, in the case of ordinary shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADSs. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, any distribution we pay will generally be treated as a “dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received on the ADSs or ordinary shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.
Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to tax at the lower capital gain tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income,” provided that certain conditions are satisfied, including that (1) in the case of U.S. Holders of ADSs, the ADSs shares with respect to which the dividends are paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or, in the case of U.S. Holders of either ADSs or ordinary shares, if we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC tax law, we are eligible for the benefit the Treaty, (2) we are neither a PFIC (as defined below) nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder (as discussed below) for the fiscal year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding fiscal year and (3) certain holding period and other requirements are met. We expect that the ADSs will be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States and that we will be a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends (if any) paid on the ADSs. There can be no assurance that the ADSs will continue to be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in later years. Because the ordinary shares will not be listed on a U.S. exchange, dividends received with respect to ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs may not be treated as qualified dividends. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares.
If we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (see the section of this prospectus titled “Taxation–People’s Republic of China Taxation”) we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. If we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by the ADSs, and regardless of whether the ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation described in the preceding paragraph.
For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, dividends paid on the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as income from foreign sources and generally will constitute passive category income. If PRC withholding taxes apply to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, such U.S. Holder may be able to obtain a reduced rate of PRC withholding taxes under the Treaty if certain requirements are met. In addition, subject to certain conditions and limitations, PRC withholding taxes on dividends that are non-refundable under the Treaty may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
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A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld may instead claim a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholding, but only for a year in which such holder elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. For example, subject to temporary interim relief provided by the IRS, Treasury regulations provide that, in the absence of an election to apply the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty, in order for non-U.S. income taxes to be creditable, the relevant non-U.S. income tax rules must be consistent with certain U.S. federal income tax principles, and we have not determined whether the PRC income tax system meets these requirements. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale or other disposition
Subject to the discussion under “—Passive foreign investment company rules” below, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. The gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders who have held the ADSs or ordinary shares for more than one year will generally be eligible for reduced tax rates. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that the U.S. Holder recognizes will generally be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, which will generally limit the availability of foreign tax credits. However, if we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may elect to treat such gain as foreign source income and claim a foreign tax credit in respect of any PRC taxes on disposition gains. Under Treasury regulations, subject to temporary interim relief provided by the IRS, if a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or fails to make the election to treat any gain as foreign source, then such U.S. holder may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC tax imposed on the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. Additionally, other limitations under the foreign tax credit rules may preclude the U.S. Holder from claiming a foreign tax credit with respect to such PRC taxes. If a U.S. Holder is precluded from claiming a foreign tax credit, it is possible that any PRC taxes on disposition gains may either be deductible or reduce the amount realized on the disposition. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the creditability of any PRC tax.
Passive foreign investment company rules
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be classified as a “passive foreign investment company”, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, if either (1) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income, or the income test, or (2) 50% or more of the amount of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income, or the asset test. For this purpose, cash and assets readily convertible into cash are categorized as passive assets and the company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are taken into account. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties (other than certain royalties treated as derived in an active conduct of a trade or business), and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of the stock.
For purposes of the PFIC asset test, the amount of our assets will generally be determined by reference to their value, which may be determined by reference to our market capitalization. However, if we are considered to be a controlled foreign corporation (a “CFC”) that is not “publicly traded” for purposes of the PFIC rules during the tested period, the amount of our assets will generally be determined by reference to our adjusted bases in our assets. Further, for purposes of applying the PFIC asset test to us, if any entity in which we own 25% or more of the total value of the outstanding shares of such entity is considered to be a CFC that is not publicly traded, the amount of such entity’s assets would generally be determined by reference to its adjusted bases in its assets.
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No assurances can be provided that we or any of our subsidiaries are not a CFC or will not be a CFC, and consequently, no assurances can be given that the PFIC asset test will not be applied to us based on the adjusted bases of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in their assets. Provided that we and our subsidiaries were not, and do not become, CFCs, based on the composition of our income and assets and the estimated value of our assets, which is based on our current market capitalization, we do not presently expect to be a PFIC for our current fiscal year or future fiscal years. However, no assurance can be given that we will not be a PFIC for the current fiscal year or future fiscal years because the determination of whether we will be or become a PFIC for any taxable year is a fact intensive determination made annually after the close of each taxable year that depends, in part, upon the composition and classification of our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of the ADSs may cause us to be or become classified as a PFIC for the current or future fiscal years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market price of our ordinary shares or ADSs from time to time (which may be volatile). Among other matters, if our market capitalization is less than anticipated or subsequently declines, we may be or become classified as a PFIC for the current fiscal year or future fiscal years.
If we are a PFIC for any fiscal year during which a U.S. Holder holds the ADSs or ordinary shares, and unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules on (1) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a fiscal year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding fiscal years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares) and (2) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, or collectively, the Excess Distribution Rules. Under the Excess Distribution Rules:
| ● | the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares; |
| ● | the amount allocated to the current fiscal year and any fiscal years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first fiscal year in which we are a PFIC, each a pre-PFIC year, will be taxable as ordinary income; and |
| ● | the amount allocated to each prior fiscal year, other than a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that year, increased by an additional tax equal to the interest on the resulting tax deemed deferred with respect to each such fiscal year. |
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the ADSs or ordinary shares and any of the entities in which we hold equity interests is also a PFIC, in each case, a lower-tier PFIC, such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of the entities in which we hold equity interests.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owns ADSs or ordinary shares, we will generally continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to the U.S. Holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. Holder owns the ADSs or ordinary shares, even if we cease to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status, unless the U.S. Holder made a timely “deemed sale” election, in which case any gain on the deemed sale would be taxed under the PFIC rules described above.
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As an alternative to the Excess Distribution Rules, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock. If a U.S. Holder makes this election with respect to our ordinary shares or ADSs, the holder will generally (1) include as ordinary income for each fiscal year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ADSs and ordinary shares held at the end of the fiscal year over the adjusted tax basis of such ADSs and (2) deduct as an ordinary loss in each such fiscal year the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over the fair market value of such ADSs and ordinary shares held at the end of the fiscal year, but such deduction will only be allowed to the extent of the amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of the ADSs and we cease to be a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above during any period that we are not a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of the ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will only be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. If we cease to be a PFIC when you have a mark-to-market election in effect, gain or loss realized by you on the sale of the ADSs will be a capital gain or loss.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter, or regularly traded, on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable United States Treasury regulations. For those purposes, we expect that the ADSs will be treated as marketable stock and our ordinary shares may be treated as marketable stock as well. We anticipate that the ADSs should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard. Once made, the election cannot be revoked without the consent of the IRS unless the ADSs cease to be marketable stock. If we are a PFIC for any year in which a U.S. holder owns ordinary shares but before a mark-to- market election is made, the Excess Distribution Rules described above will apply to any mark-to-market gain recognized in the year the election is made.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the general PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Another alternative to the Excess Distribution Rules is if a U.S. Holder makes a valid “qualifying electing fund,” or QEF, election.
A QEF election is available only if a U.S. Holder receives an annual information statement from the PFIC setting forth its net ordinary income and net capital gains, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. In the event that we are a PFIC, we cannot provide assurance that we will perform the necessary calculations or provide you with the information statement necessary to make a QEF election. Accordingly, you may not be able to make or maintain such an election with respect to your ordinary shares or ADSs.
If a U.S. Holder owns the ADSs or ordinary shares during any fiscal year that we are a PFIC, the holder must generally file an annual IRS Form 8621. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations of owning and disposing of the ADSs or ordinary shares if we are or become a PFIC, including the availability and possibility of making a mark-to-market election or qualified electing fund election.
Information reporting and backup withholding
U.S. Holders may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and U.S. backup withholding with respect to dividends on and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes this status if required to do so.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and a U.S. Holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Information with respect to foreign financial assets
Certain U.S. Holders may be required to report information relating to the ordinary shares or ADSs if the aggregate value of these assets and certain other foreign financial assets, including equity of foreign entities, exceeds certain threshold amounts, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for ordinary shares or ADSs held in accounts maintained by certain U.S. financial institutions). U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their reporting obligations with respect to their ownership and disposition of the ordinary shares or ADSs.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A SUMMARY OF THE MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE ADSs OR ORDINARY SHARES AND IS BASED UPON LAWS AND RELEVANT INTERPRETATIONS THEREOF IN EFFECT AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, ALL OF WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, POSSIBLY WITH RETROACTIVE EFFECT. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO IT OF AN INVESTMENT IN ADSs OR ORDINARY SHARES IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTOR’S OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
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We entered into the Sales Agreement with Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, and BTIG, as our sales agents, on July 17, 2026, under which we may offer and sell up to $200.0 million of ADSs representing our ordinary shares from time to time through the Sales Agents. Sales of the ADSs, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. The Sales Agents may also sell the ADSs by any other method permitted by law. The Company will not make any sales of the ADSs under the Sales Agreement during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information. The Company will not make any sales of the ADSs under the Sales Agreement (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information or (ii) at any time when the Company has imposed a trading blackout.
Each time we wish to issue and sell the ADSs under the Sales Agreement, we will notify one of the Sales Agents of the number of ADSs to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of ADSs to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed the applicable Sales Agent, unless the Sales Agent declines to accept the terms of such notice, the Sales Agent has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of the Sales Agent under the Sales Agreement to sell the ADSs are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.
The Company’s Ordinary Shares are listed on the Kong Stock Exchange and as a result the Company is subject to compliance with the rules of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKEx”). The sale and issuance of any ADSs pursuant to this prospectus must satisfy the HKEX Listing Rules (the “Listing Rules”) either through strict compliance or through obtaining certain compliance waivers. The Company has sought granting of certain waivers from strict compliance with certain requirements of the Listing Rules (the “Listing Rules Waivers”) related to the following compliance matters:
(a) a waiver from strict compliance with Note 1 to Rule 13.36(2)(b) and Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules in respect of dribble out trades. This waiver is sought because, dribbling out shares through open market sales under the ATM program (such sales being referred to as “dribble out trades”) is conducted through anonymous, electronically matched broker transactions on Nasdaq, and neither the Company nor the Sales Agents would have the ability to identify or exclude connected persons from purchasing ADSs in the open market. Requiring the Company to comply with Chapter 14A and Note 1 to Rule 13.36(2)(b) for such anonymous open market transactions would be unduly burdensome and impractical and would not achieve the regulatory purpose for which these rules were made; and
(b) a waiver from strict compliance with Rules 13.28(2)-(5) of the Listing Rules at the time of filing this registration statement and in respect of dribble out trades. This waiver is sought to allow the Company to engage in dribble out trades without the regulatory burden of providing the precise terms (number of shares, price, and aggregate proceeds) of these trades, which are inherently not determinable until sales are actually effected.. The Company will publish a separate Rule 13.28 announcement for each agency block transaction and will disclose the information required under Rules 13.28(2)-(5) in next day disclosure returns for dribble out trades.
Any sales under the Sales Agreement will take place only after the Listing Rules Waivers have been granted by the HKEx.
S-26
The ADSs may be sold at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
The settlement of sales of ADSs between us and the applicable Sales Agents is generally anticipated to occur on the first trading day following the date on which the sale was made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and the applicable Sales Agent or that is required by SEC rule or industry practice. Sales of the ADSs as contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the Sales Agent may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The applicable Sales Agent will provide to us written confirmation following the close of trading on the trading day immediately following the trading day on which it has made sales of ADSs under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of ADSs sold on such day and the gross sales proceeds thereof, the aggregate compensation payable to the Sales Agents and the net proceeds payable to the Company. We will report at least quarterly the number of ADSs sold through the Sales Agents under the Sales Agreement and the net proceeds to us (before expenses) and the aggregate compensation paid by us to the Sales Agents with respect to such sales.
We will pay the Sales Agents a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales of ADSs sold through any of the Sales Agents under the Sales Agreement. We may also agree with the applicable agent to sell our ADSs using sales efforts and methods that may constitute “distributions” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act and for which we may agree to pay the applicable agent a commission that may exceed 3.0% of the gross sales price.
The estimated offering expenses payable by us, excluding any commission payable to the Sales Agents under the Sales Agreement, are approximately $500,000, which includes legal, accounting and printing costs and various other fees associated with registering the ADSs. We have also agreed to reimburse the Sales Agents for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $350,000. The remaining sales proceeds, after deducting any expenses payable by us and any transaction fees imposed by a governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization in connection with the sales, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares.
In connection with the sale of the ADSs on our behalf, the Sales Agents may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to the Sales Agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.
We and the Sales Agents have reason to believe that our ADSs are not an “actively-traded security” as defined under Rule 101(c)(l) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we have agreed with the Sales Agent that sales of our ADSs pursuant to the Sales Agreement or any terms agreement will be suspended during the applicable restricted period until Rule 101(c)(1) or another exemptive provision has been satisfied in the judgment of each party.
We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Sales Agents against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments the Sales Agents may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. As sales agents, neither of the Sales Agents will engage in any transactions that stabilize ADSs.
The offering of ADSs pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all ADSs subject to the Sales Agreement and (ii) the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and each Sales Agent, with respect to itself, may terminate the Sales Agreement at any time.
This summary of the material provisions of the Sales Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Sales Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The Sales Agents and their affiliates have from time to time provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking, fiduciary and advisory services for us for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees and expenses. The Sales Agents and their affiliates may from time to time engage in other transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses. In the course of their business, the Sales Agents may actively trade our securities for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, the Sales Agents may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by the Sales Agents, and the Sales Agents may distribute the prospectus electronically.
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Except as described above or otherwise described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and in our Reports on Form 6-K incorporated by reference into this prospectus, no reportable material changes have occurred since December 31, 2025.
Certain legal matters as to U.S. federal securities and New York State law will be passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US), Washington D.C. The Sales Agents are being represented in connection with this offering by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. The validity of the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs offered in this offering and other certain legal matters as to Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for us by Walkers (Hong Kong). Certain legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by JunHe LLP and for the Sales Agents by Commerce & Finance Law Offices. DLA Piper LLP (US), Washington D.C. may rely upon Walkers (Hong Kong) with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and JunHe LLP with respect to matters governed by PRC law. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP may rely upon Commerce & Finance Law Offices with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
The consolidated financial statements of Ascentage Pharma Group International appearing in Ascentage Pharma Group International’s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2025 have been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP is located at 50/F, Shanghai World Financial Center, 100 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China.
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company, such as:
| ● | political and economic stability; |
| ● | an effective judicial system; |
| ● | a favorable tax system; |
| ● | the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and |
| ● | the availability of professional and support services. |
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include, but are not limited to:
| ● | the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors as compared to the United States; and |
| ● | Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our constituent documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. Most of our directors and executive officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., located at 700 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 510, Rockville, MD 20850 as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States. Walkers (Hong Kong), our legal counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and JunHe LLP, our legal counsel as to PRC law, have advised us, respectively, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and the PRC, respectively, would:
| ● | recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or |
| ● | entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or China against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
S-29
There is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law relating to whether a judgment obtained from the United States courts under civil liability provisions of the securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature. The courts of the Cayman Islands may not recognize or enforce the judgment against a Cayman Islands company, and because the courts of the Cayman Islands have yet to rule on whether such judgments are penal or punitive in nature, it is uncertain whether such judgments from the U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. Walkers (Hong Kong) has advised us that the courts of the Cayman Islands would recognize as a valid judgment, a final and conclusive judgment in personam obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States under which a sum of money is payable (other than a sum of money payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty) or, in certain circumstances, an in personam judgment for non-monetary relief, and would give a judgment based thereon provided that (a) such courts had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such judgment, (b) such courts did not contravene the rules of natural justice of the Cayman Islands, (c) such judgment was not obtained by fraud, (d) the enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands, (e) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of the Cayman Islands, and (f) there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
JunHe LLP has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law and other applicable laws and regulations. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. There exists no treaty and few other forms of reciprocity between China and the United States or the Cayman Islands governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in China will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. Under the PRC Civil Procedures Law and PRC Law on the Application of Laws to Foreign-related Civil Relations, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law before a PRC court against a company for disputes relating to contracts or other property interests, and the PRC court may accept a cause of action based on the laws or the parties’ express mutual agreement in contracts choosing PRC courts for dispute resolution if such foreign shareholders can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, that the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case and that there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the suit. The PRC court will determine whether to accept the complaint in accordance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law and PRC Law on the Application of Laws to Foreign-related Civil Relations. Foreign citizens and companies will have the same rights as PRC citizens and companies in an action unless the home jurisdiction of such foreign citizens or companies restricts the rights of PRC citizens and companies.
In addition, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in China in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding our ADSs or ordinary shares, to establish a connection to China for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.
S-30
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to a foreign private issuer. Under the Exchange Act, we file annual reports on Form 20-F and other information with the SEC. We also furnish to the SEC under cover of Form 6-K material information required to be made public in Hong Kong, filed with and made public by any stock exchange on which we are listed or distributed by us to our shareholders. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from, among other things, the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Statements in this prospectus about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
We also maintain a website at www.ascentage.com through which you can access our SEC filings. The information set forth on our website is not part of this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this document:
| ● | our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2026; |
| ● | any future reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after this prospectus that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference in this prospectus; |
| ● | the description of ADSs representing our ordinary shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-6 filed with the SEC on January 16, 2025, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and |
| ● | to the extent permitted by applicable securities law, any other documents which we elect to incorporate by reference into this prospectus. |
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) prior to the termination of any offering of securities under this prospectus. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus.
Notwithstanding the statements in the preceding paragraphs, no document, report or exhibit (or portion of any of the foregoing) or any other information that we have “furnished” to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act shall be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., 68 Xinqing Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, telephone: +1 (301) 291-5658. You may also access these documents on our website, www.ascentage.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
S-32
Up to $200,000,000
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS
| Citigroup | Deutsche Bank | BTIG |
July 17, 2026
PART
II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide indemnification of officers and directors (apart from auditors), except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to the public policy, such as providing indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we will indemnify each director, managing director, alternate director, auditor, secretary and other officer for the time being of the Company and the trustees (if any) for the time being acting in relation to any of our affairs, and their respective executors or administrators against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses incurred or sustained by such person by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty or supposed duty in their respective offices or trusts, other than by reason of such person’s own dishonesty or fraud.
Under our form of indemnification agreement, we agree to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director or executive officer.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 9. Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed with this registration statement or are incorporated herein by reference.
| * | To be subsequently filed, if applicable, by an amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any Report on Form 6-K, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| ** | Filed herewith. |
II-1
Item 10. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3.
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(7) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s Annual Report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(8) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Suzhou, China, on July 17, 2026.
| ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL | ||
| By: | /s/ Dajun Yang | |
| Name: | Dajun Yang | |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
We, the undersigned officers and directors of Ascentage Pharma Group International hereby severally constitute and appoint Dajun Yang and Thomas J. Knapp, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to any of them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below the Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed herewith and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statement, and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with said Registration Statement, and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally to do all such things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Ascentage Pharma Group International to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys, and each of them, or their substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name | Position | Date | ||
| /s/ Dajun Yang | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Dajun Yang, M.D., Ph.D. | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Veet Misra | Chief Financial Officer | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Veet Misra | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ Marina S. Bozilenko | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Marina S. Bozilenko | ||||
| /s/ Marc E. Lippman | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Marc E. Lippman, M.D. | ||||
| /s/ Simon Dazhong Lu | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Simon Dazhong Lu, Ph.D. | ||||
| /s/ Wei Ren | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Wei Ren | ||||
| /s/ David Sidransky | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| David Sidransky, M.D. | ||||
| /s/ Shaomeng Wang | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Shaomeng Wang, Ph.D. | ||||
| /s/ Changqing Ye | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Changqing Ye | ||||
| /s/ Debra Yu | Director | July 17, 2026 | ||
| Debra Yu |
II-4
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Ascentage Pharma Group International, has signed this registration statement on July 17, 2026.
| ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL | ||
| By: | /s/ Dajun Yang | |
| Name: | Dajun Yang | |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
II-5
Exhibit 1.2
SALES AGREEMENT
July 17, 2026
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch
BTIG, LLC
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
c/o Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch
60/F, International Commerce Centre
1 Austin Road West
Kowloon, Hong Kong
c/o BTIG, LLC
65 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ascentage Pharma Group International, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell from time to time through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch (“DB”) and BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”), each as sales agent and/or principal (each, an “Agent”, and collectively, the “Agents”), American Depositary Shares (the “ADS”), each representing four ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”), par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Placement ADSs”) on the terms set forth in this sales agreement (this “Agreement”).
The ADSs will be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) to be issued pursuant to that certain deposit agreement, dated as of January 28, 2025 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary (the “Depositary”), and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs evidencing ADSs issued thereunder.
Section 1: DEFINITIONS
(a) Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the following respective meanings:
“Affiliate” of a Person means another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first- mentioned Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agency Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and expiring on the date this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.
“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
“Floor Price” means the minimum price, set by the Company in the Issuance Notice, below which the applicable Agent shall not sell Placement ADSs during the applicable period set forth in the Issuance Notice, which may be adjusted by the Company at any time during the period set forth in the Issuance Notice by delivering written notice of such change to the applicable Agent and which in no event shall be less than $1.00 without the prior written consent of such Agent, which may be withheld in such Agent’s sole discretion.
“Issuance Amount” means the aggregate Sales Price of the Placement ADSs to be sold by the applicable Agent pursuant to any Issuance Notice.
“Issuance Notice” means a written notice delivered to the applicable Agent by the Company in accordance with this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A that is executed by its Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer.
“Issuance Notice Date” means any Trading Day during the Agency Period that an Issuance Notice is delivered pursuant to Section 3(b)(i).
“Issuance Price” means the Sales Price less the Selling Commission.
“Maximum Program Amount” means Placement ADSs with an aggregate Sales Price of the lesser of (a) the number or dollar amount of Placement ADSs registered under the effective Registration Statement (defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made, (b) the number of Placement ADSs for which Ordinary Shares have been authorized but not yet issued (less Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized share capital), (c) the number or dollar amount of Placement ADSs permitted to be sold under Form F-3 or (d) the number or dollar amount of Placement ADSs for which the Company has filed a Prospectus (defined below).
“Person” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental authority or other entity of any kind.
“Principal Market” means the Nasdaq Global Market or such other national securities exchange on which the ADSs, including any Placement ADSs, are then listed.
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“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” means any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale of Placement ADSs.
“Sales Price” means the actual sale execution price of each Placement ADS placed by the applicable Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
“Selling Commission” means up to three percent (3.0%) of the gross proceeds of Placement ADSs sold pursuant to this Agreement, or as otherwise agreed between the Company and the applicable Agent with respect to any Placement ADSs sold pursuant to this Agreement.
“Settlement Date” means the first business day that is also a Trading Day, or such other time period as required by the Exchange Act or by the rules promulgated thereunder, following each Trading Day during the period set forth in the Issuance Notice on which Placement ADSs are sold pursuant to this Agreement, when the Company shall deliver to the applicable Agent the amount of Placement ADSs sold on such Trading Day and the applicable Agent shall deliver to the Company the Issuance Price received on such sales.
“Trading Day" means any day on which the Principal Market is open for trading.
Section 2: REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agents that as of (1) the date of this Agreement, (2) each Issuance Notice Date, (3) each Settlement Date, (4) each Triggering Event Date (as defined below) with respect to which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(p) (and such requirement is not waived) and (5) as of each Time of Sale (as defined below) (each of the times referenced above is referred to herein as a “Representation Date”), except as may be disclosed in the Prospectus (including any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements thereto) on or before a Representation Date:
(a) Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed or will file, as applicable, with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, on Form F-3ASR that contains a base prospectus (the “Original Registration Statement”). Such registration statement registers the issuance and sale by the Company of the Placement ADSs under the Securities Act. The Company may file one or more additional registration statements from time to time that will contain a base prospectus and related prospectus or prospectus supplement, if applicable, with respect to the Placement ADSs. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement(s), as of any time, refers to (i) initially, the Original Registration Statement and (ii) on and after the date on which the Placement ADSs may no longer be offered and sold pursuant to the Original Registration Statement, any registration statement filed by the Company for the purpose of continuing the offering of the Placement ADSs, in each case, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, including all financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto and all documents and information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act as from time to time amended or supplemented, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement, as amended in the form in which it has been filed most recently with the Commission, including the documents and information incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act, is referred to herein as the “Base Prospectus.” Any prospectus supplement filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act relating to a particular issuance of the Placement ADSs, including all documents and information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act, in each case, as from time to time amended or supplemented, is referred to herein as the “Prospectus Supplement.” The Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and any applicable Free Writing Prospectus thereto, in the form the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and any such Free Writing Prospectus are first furnished to the Agents for use in connection with the offering and sale of Placement ADSs, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” Except that if any revised prospectus is provided to the Agents by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Placement ADSs that is not required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, the term “Prospectus” shall refer to such revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the Agents for such use. As used in this Agreement, the terms “amendment” or “supplement” when applied to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing by the Company with the Commission of any document under the Exchange Act after the date hereof that is or is deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
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All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the Securities Act to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation, the filing of any document under the Exchange Act which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the Securities Act to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date. The Company’s obligations under this Agreement to furnish, provide or deliver or make available (and all other references of like import) copies of any report or statement shall be deemed satisfied if the same is filed with the Commission through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).
The Original Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and will become effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the regulations of the Securities Act. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act objecting to the Company’s use of the automatic shelf registration form. At the time the Registration Statement became or will become effective, and at the time the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F was filed with the Commission, if later, the Company met the then-applicable requirements for use of Form F-3 under the Securities Act. During the Agency Period, each time the Company files an annual report on Form 20-F or undergoes a fundamental change, the Company will use its best efforts to meet the then-applicable requirements for use of Form F-3 under the Securities Act.
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(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Original Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or will become effective under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information, if any. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
The Prospectus when filed complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed with the Commission through EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Agents for use in connection with the issuance and sale of the Placement ADSs. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became or becomes effective and at each Representation Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) considered together (collectively, the “Time of Sale Information”) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at each Representation Date and at each Settlement Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the three immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Agent furnished to the Company in writing by such Agent expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Agents to the Company consists of the information described in Section 6 below. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required. The Registration Statement and the offer and sale of the Placement ADSs as contemplated hereby meet the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act and comply with said rule.
(c) Ineligible Issuer Status. The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering of the Placement ADSs pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and each such Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date, at each Representation Date and at each Settlement Date through the completion of the issuance and sale of the Placement ADSs did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts with or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein. Except for the Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and electronic road shows, if any, furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, prepare, use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus.
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(d) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, at the time they were filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Exchange Act Compliance. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, and any Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became effective and at each Time of Sale (as defined below), as the case may be, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the time of effectiveness of the Original Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Placement ADSs in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act, and (D) as of the Time of Sale, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(g) Foreign Private Issuer. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(h) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
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(i) Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Deficiencies in or Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures (i) comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company, (ii) have been designed to ensure that information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries, including information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, particularly during the periods in which the Company’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared, (iii) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent audited financial year; and (iv) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there have been no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal period that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(j) This Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(k) Authorization of the Placement ADSs. The Placement ADSs and the Ordinary Shares underlying such Placement ADSs have been duly and validly authorized for issuance and sale by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and conforms in all material respects to the description of the ADSs and the Ordinary Shares contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; the issuance of the Placement ADSs and the Ordinary Shares underlying such Placement ADSs is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights that have not been duly waived.
(l) Deposit Agreement. The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Depositary, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles. Upon due issuance by the Depositary of the ADRs evidencing the Placement ADSs against the deposit of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Placement ADSs in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, such ADRs will be duly and validly issued and the persons in whose names the ADRs are registered will be entitled to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement. The issuance and sale of the Placement ADSs by the Company and the deposit of the Ordinary Shares with the Depositary and the issuance of the ADRs evidencing the Ordinary Shares as contemplated by this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement will neither (i) cause any holder of any Ordinary Shares or ADSs, securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Ordinary Shares or ADSs or options, warrants or other rights to purchase Ordinary Shares or ADSs or any other securities of the Company to have any right to acquire any preferred shares of the Company nor (ii) trigger any anti-dilution rights of any such holder with respect to such Ordinary Shares, ADSs, securities, options, warrants or rights, except as have been duly and reliably satisfied or waived as of the date hereof. The Deposit Agreement and the ADRs conform in all material respects to each description thereof in the Prospectus. Each holder of ADRs issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement shall be entitled, subject to the Deposit Agreement, to seek enforcement of its rights through the Depositary or its nominee registered as a representative of the holders of the ADRs in a direct suit, action or proceeding against the Company.
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(m) Holdings. No holder of any Placement ADSs or underlying Ordinary Shares after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement is or will be subject to any personal liability in respect of any liability of the Company by virtue only of its holding of any such Placement ADSs or underlying Ordinary Shares; and except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no limitations on the rights of holders of the Placement ADSs to hold or transfer their securities.
(n) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived or satisfied and have been disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
(o) No Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been (x) any change in the share capital (other than as a result of (i) the exercise, if any, of options or the award, if any, of options or restricted shares in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or (ii) the issuance, if any, of Ordinary Shares or ADSs upon conversion or settlement of Company securities as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus) or long term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); as used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change or effect, in or affecting (i) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Placement ADSs, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
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(p) Independent Accountants. The accountant(s) who have audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are (i) independent public accountant(s) as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) are registered public accounting firm(s) as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.
(q) Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, statement of financial positions, consolidated statements of changes in equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects and in accordance with IFRS the information required to be stated therein. The summary financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. To the Company’s knowledge, no person who has been suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or who has failed to comply with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300 promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or otherwise aided the preparation of, or audited the financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial data filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(r) Company’s Accounting Controls. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that (i) complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS and (iii) is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences (it being understood that this subsection shall not require the Company to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) as of an earlier date than it would otherwise be required to so comply under applicable law).
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(s) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under, and to consummate the transactions contemplated in, this Agreement. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified, or to be in good standing would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and each subsidiary of the Company that is required to be listed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or Exhibit 8.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the most recent fiscal year has been so listed (each, a “Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”). Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in each Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through other subsidiaries of the Company, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in any Significant Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary or any other person or entity.
(t) Capitalization and Other Share Capital Matters. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the section “Capitalization and Indebtedness” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus). All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights and conform in all material respects to the description of the Ordinary Shares and ADSs contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All of the issued share capital of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Stock Exchange Listing. The Company’s Ordinary Shares have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, the ADSs are listed on the Principal Market, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act or the listing of the ADSs (including the Placement ADSs) on the Principal Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the Principal Market is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. To the Company’s knowledge, it is in compliance with all applicable listing requirements of the Principal Market.
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(v) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The issue and sale of the Placement ADSs and the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of this clause (A) for such defaults, breaches, or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) the memorandum and articles of association (or other applicable organizational document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (C) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of this clause (C) for such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Placement ADSs or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the underwriting terms and arrangements, the approval for listing additional ADSs on the Principal Market and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (the “SEHK”), the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and supporting guidelines issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”), as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “CSRC Filing Rules”) or the securities laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction in connection with the issue and sale of the Placement ADSs and the compliance by the Company with this Agreement.
(w) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Other than as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or such officer or director), would individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others; there are no current or pending actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so described therein; and there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to or described in the Registration Statement, as applicable, that are not so filed or described.
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(x) Intellectual Property Rights. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or license or can obtain on commercially reasonable terms adequate rights to all trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, social media accounts and identifiers, and other source identifiers, and all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, inventions, patents, copyrights and copyrightable works, licenses, approvals, technology, know-how, trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, and all other intellectual property and similar proprietary rights in any jurisdiction throughout the world (including all registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, as applicable) (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) used or held for use in the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, neither the manufacture of, nor the use or sale of, any of the product candidates described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conflict with, infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property Rights of any third party (it being understood that the representations and warranties in clauses (ii) and (iii) are made without giving effect to any exemption under applicable law to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be entitled (e.g., 35 U.S.C. Section 271(e)(1))); (iv) other than as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no rights of third parties (including any liens or encumbrances), except for customary retained and reversionary rights of third-party licensors and the rights of customers and strategic partners to use Company Intellectual Property Rights in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, to any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned or purported to be owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by any third party (x) challenging the Company’s or any subsidiary of the Company’s rights in or to, or alleging a violation of any of the terms of, any of their owned or licensed Intellectual Property Rights, (y) alleging that the Company or any of its subsidiaries has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party, or (z) challenging the validity, scope or enforceability of any Intellectual Property Rights owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and in the case of each of clauses (x), (y) and (z), the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of and are otherwise unaware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim; (vi) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement, misappropriation, breach or default, or other violation by any third parties of any Intellectual Property Rights owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (vii) the Company and its subsidiaries have at all times taken reasonable steps in accordance with normal industry practice to maintain the confidentiality of all Intellectual Property Rights, the value of which to the Company or any of its subsidiaries is contingent upon maintaining the confidentiality thereof, and no such Intellectual Property Rights have been disclosed other than to employees, representatives and agents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or to third parties, each of whom is bound by a written confidentiality agreement; (viii) all founders, current and former employees, and consultants involved in the development of Intellectual Property Rights for or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries have signed written and enforceable confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with the Company or any of its applicable subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or the applicable subsidiary either (A) has obtained ownership of and is the exclusive owner of such Intellectual Property Rights, or (B) has obtained a valid and unrestricted right to exploit such Intellectual Property Rights, sufficient for the conduct of the business as currently conducted and as proposed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to be conducted; except, in the case of each of (i) through (viii) above, where the outcome of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (ix) all Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries are subsisting and, to the Company’s knowledge, solely with respect to issued patents and trademarks, are valid and enforceable.
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(y) Open Source Software. (i) The Company and its subsidiaries use and have used any and all software and other materials distributed under a license approved by the Open Source Initiative at https://opensource.org/licenses (“Open Source Software”) in compliance with all license terms applicable to such Open Source Software; and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries uses or distributes or has used or distributed any Open Source Software in any manner that requires or has required (A) the Company or any of its subsidiaries to permit reverse engineering of any software code or other technology owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) any software code or other technology owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be (1) disclosed or distributed in source code form, (2) licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (3) redistributed at no charge, except as would not, in the cases of clause (i) or (ii), individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all material licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits required by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business, as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including, without limitation, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), the National Medical Products Administration of China (“NMPA”) and equivalent foreign regulatory authorities, except where the failure so to possess would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such required material license, sub-license, certificate, authorization or permit, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(aa) Title to Properties. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and personal property (other than with respect to Intellectual Property Rights, which is addressed exclusively in subsection (x) above) owned by them, to the extent applicable, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are, to the Company’s knowledge, held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases (subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors generally; (ii) the application of general principles of equity; and (iii) applicable law and public policy with respect to rights to indemnity and contribution) with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries.
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(bb) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves required by IFRS have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has had (nor does the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries and which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc) Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and will not be, either after receipt of payment for the Placement ADSs or after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(dd) Insurance. Except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has insurance covering its property, operations, personnel and businesses, including clinical trial insurance as applicable and business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are generally maintained by similarly situated companies and which the Company believes are reasonably adequate to protect the Company; and the Company has not (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.
(ee) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s knowledge, Affiliates, has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the ADSs or of any “reference security” (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) with respect to the ADSs, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement ADSs or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M.
(ff) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(gg) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Agents or to counsel for the Agents by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Placement ADSs is true, complete, correct and compliant with FINRA rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules or NASD conduct rules is true, complete and correct.
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(hh) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments; Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, Affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) made, offered, promised or authorized any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense (or taken any act in furtherance thereof); (ii) made, offered, promised or authorized any direct or indirect unlawful payment; (iii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery or related law, statute or regulation (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”); (v) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit; or (vi) has been the subject of any actual, or, to the Company’s knowledge, suspected, threatened allegations, government or regulatory investigations, litigation, voluntary, mandatory, or directed disclosure to any government entity (including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, or U.K. Serious Fraud Office), or whistleblower reports in any way related to the Anti-Corruption Laws; the Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering of the Placement ADSs in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of Anti-Corruption Laws or Money Laundering Laws.
(ii) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except in all cases where such violation, claim, request, notice, proceeding, investigation or other matter would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries: (x) is in compliance with all, and has not violated any, applicable federal, state or local laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees and orders relating to pollution, hazardous or toxic substances, wastes, pollutants, contaminants or the protection of human health or safety, the environment or natural resources (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) has received and is in compliance with all, and has not violated any, permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of it under any Environmental Laws to conduct its business; and (z) has not received notice of any actual or potential liability of the Company, or obligation of the Company under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws by the Company, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and iii) except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known by the Company to be contemplated, against the Company under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which the Company reasonably believes no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, and (y) the Company is not aware of any facts regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
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(jj) ERISA Compliance. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which Ascentage Pharma Group Inc. (“Ascentage US”) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no Plan has failed (whether or not waived), or is reasonably expected to fail, to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) applicable to such Plan; (iv) no Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk status” (within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA) and no Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA is in “endangered status” or “critical status” (within the meaning of Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA); (v) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (vi) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan; (vii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, to the Company’s knowledge, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; (viii) neither the Company nor Ascentage US has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (ix) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by Ascentage US in the current fiscal year of the Company and Ascentage US compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s and Ascentage US’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (B) a material increase in the Company’s and Ascentage US’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s and Ascentage US’ most recently completed fiscal year, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (ix) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(kk) Brokers. Except as set forth herein or otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(ll) No Outstanding Loans or Other Extensions of Credit. The Company does not have any outstanding extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company except for such extensions of credit as are expressly permitted by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(mm) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable (i) has operated and currently operates its business in compliance in all material respects with all statutes, rules and regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, storage, import, export or disposal of any of the Company’s product candidates, including, without limitation, requirements governing investigational drugs and devices under the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and rules and regulations thereunder, regulations relating to Good Clinical Practices and Good Laboratory Practices, the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and rules and regulations thereunder, the Investigational Device Exemption regulations and the Quality System Regulation, and the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (collectively, “Applicable Laws”), and (ii) has not received any FDA Form 483, written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or written notice from the FDA, the NMPA, any court or arbitrator or governmental or other regulatory authority alleging or asserting non-compliance with (A) any Applicable Laws or (B) any permits required by any such Applicable Laws.
(nn) Dividend Restrictions. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to such subsidiary’s equity securities or from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or to any other subsidiary.
(oo) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Chapter 455 of the Laws of Hong Kong), the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance (Chapter 615 of the Laws of Hong Kong) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the applicable anti-money laundering laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulation or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.
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(pp) Clinical Data and Regulatory Compliance. Any studies, tests and preclinical and clinical trials conducted by the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, any studies, tests and preclinical and clinical trials conducted on behalf of the Company or in which the Company has participated, were, and if still pending are, being conducted in accordance with experimental protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to accepted professional scientific standards and all applicable rules and regulations, including those of the FDA, the NMPA and comparable regulatory agencies outside of the United States, to which the Company is subject and, for studies submitted to regulatory authorities as a basis for regulatory approval and preclinical and clinical trials, current Good Clinical Practices and Good Laboratory Practices except where the failure to be so conducted would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; the descriptions of the results of such studies, tests and trials contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are, to the Company’s knowledge, accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such studies, tests and trials; the Company is not aware of any studies, tests or trials, the results of which the Company believes reasonably call into question the study, test, or trial results described or referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus when viewed in the context in which such results are described and the clinical state of development; and, except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company has not received any notices or correspondence from the FDA or any other comparable federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authority requiring the termination or suspension of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company.
(qq) Manufacturing Compliance. The manufacturing facilities and operations of Company’s suppliers and manufacturers are not, to the Company’s knowledge, operated in violation of applicable statutes, rules, regulations and policies of the FDA and comparable regulatory agencies outside of the United States to which the Company is subject.
(rr) Sanctions. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, Affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (i) currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC), or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person,” the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”) or (ii) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Crimea Region and the non-government controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065, Russia and Belarus (a “Sanctioned Jurisdiction”) in each case in violation of Sanctions, and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Placement ADSs hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (x) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions unless otherwise authorized, or (y) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions; Since April 24, 2019, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is engaged in, or has engaged in, any dealings or transactions with or involving any individual or entity that was or is, as applicable, at the time of such dealing or transaction, the subject or target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Jurisdiction, unless otherwise authorized; the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, and maintain, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve continued compliance with Sanctions. This section shall only be sought and given for the benefit of the Agents if and to the extent that doing so would be permissible for the Agents pursuant to (i) the Council Regulation (EC) No. 2271/96 of 22 November 1996 (the “EU Blocking Regulation”) or any other law or regulation implementing the EU Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union; (ii) the EU Blocking Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018; or (iii section 7 of the German Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung) (in connection with section 4 paragraph 1 no. 3 of the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz))).
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(ss) Sarbanes-Oxley. To the extent applicable to the Company, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(tt) Stamp Taxes. Except for any net income, capital gains, franchise taxes imposed on the Agents by the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), Hong Kong Special Administrative Regions (“Hong Kong SAR”) and the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein as a result of any present or former connection (other than any connection resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement) between the Agents and the jurisdiction imposing such tax, no stamp duties, issuance, transfer or other taxes or duties are payable by or on behalf of the Agents in the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, the Cayman Islands, the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof in connection with (A) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, (B) the issuance and delivery of the Placement ADSs in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus, (C) the deposit of Placement ADSs with the Depositary, (D) the issuance of the Placement ADSs by the Depositary, (E) the sale and delivery to or by the Agents of the Placement ADSs as contemplated herein and in the Prospectus, or (F) the execution, delivery, performance and admission in court proceedings of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (provided that no representation is made hereby with respect to any stamp duty (if any) payable in Hong Kong SAR in connection with any transfer of any shares or other securities that is chargeable to stamp duty under the laws of Hong Kong SAR, and any such stamp duty (if any) shall be for the account of the person(s) liable therefor under such laws); provided that this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement may be subject to Cayman Islands stamp duty if they are executed in or brought into the Cayman Islands and transfers of stock or rights thereto made within New York state may be subject to New York state stock transfer tax.
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(uu) Cybersecurity. Except as stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries’ respective information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, applications, technology, data and databases (including Personal Data (as defined below) and the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data) used in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ respective businesses and in the possession or otherwise in the control of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear, to the Company’s knowledge, of all Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other malicious code; (ii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have taken reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the IT Systems and Data and, without limiting the foregoing, the Company and its subsidiaries have used commercially reasonable efforts to establish and maintain, and have established, maintained, implemented and complied with, reasonable information technology, information security, cybersecurity and data protection controls, policies and procedures, including oversight, access controls, encryption, technological and physical safeguards and business continuity/disaster recovery and security plans, which controls, policies and procedures are designed to protect against and prevent security breaches, unauthorized destruction, loss, distribution, use, access, disablement, misappropriation or modification, or other compromise or misuse of any IT Systems and Data (“Breach”); and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, there has been no such Breach and the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any such Breach.
(vv) Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have complied and are presently in compliance with all of their internal privacy policies, privacy- and data protection-related contractual obligations, and applicable laws, statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory authority, in each case, relating to the collection, use, transfer, import, export, storage, protection, disposal and disclosure by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of personal, personally identifiable, household (in the case of household data, to the extent it is “Personal Information” under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as modified by the California Privacy Rights Act), or sensitive, confidential or regulated data or information (collectively, “Data Security Obligations,” and such data and information, “Personal Data”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notification of or written complaint regarding and are unaware of any other facts that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably indicate non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and (iii) there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened in writing, alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
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(ww) Other Underwriting Agreements. The Company is not a party to any agreement with an agent or underwriter for any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction.
(xx) Compliance with Health Care Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have been, in compliance with all Health Care Laws in all material respects and to the extent applicable to the Company’s current business. For purposes of this Agreement, “Health Care Laws” means: (i) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 301 et seq.), the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.), and the regulations promulgated thereunder; (ii) all applicable federal, state, local and foreign health care fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(b)), the Civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq.), the criminal false statements law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), 18 U.S.C. Sections 286 and 287, the health care fraud criminal provisions under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the Stark Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1395nn), the civil monetary penalties law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7a), the exclusion law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7), the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1320-7h), and applicable laws governing government funded or sponsored healthcare programs; (iii) HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.); (iv) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; (v) licensure, quality, safety and accreditation requirements under applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws or regulatory bodies; and (vi) all other local, state, federal, national, supranational and foreign laws, relating to the regulation of the Company or its subsidiaries, and (vii) the directives and regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes and any state or non-U.S. counterpart thereof, including the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Health Care Laws nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is any such claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action threatened. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Health Care Laws, and all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and accurate on the date filed in all material respects (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any corporate integrity agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any governmental or regulatory authority. Additionally, neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor any of their respective employees, officers, directors, or, to the Company’s knowledge, agents has been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or is subject to a governmental inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action that could reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.
(yy) Authority to Enter into the Sales Agreement. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken.
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(zz) No Violation of Organizational Documents, Laws or Existing Instruments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its memorandum and articles of association (or other applicable organizational document), (ii) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(aaa) Accuracy of Certain Disclosure. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of American Depositary Shares” and “Description of Share Capital,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the ADSs, the Ordinary Shares and the Deposit Agreement, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.
(bbb) No Material Labor Disturbances. No material labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its principal suppliers or contractors, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement material to the Company.
(ccc) No Ratings. There are no debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company nor any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.
(ddd) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(eee) Valid Choice of Law. The choice of laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of Cayman Islands, the PRC and the Hong Kong SAR and will be observed and given effect to by the courts of Cayman Islands, the PRC and the Hong Kong SAR, subject to the restrictions described under the caption “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and subject to applicable mandatory laws of the Hong Kong SAR, considerations of public policy and bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 8(g) of this Agreement and Section 20(a) of the Deposit Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each New York state and United States federal court sitting in the City of New York and has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding brought in such court.
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(fff) CSRC and SAFE compliance. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has taken all reasonable steps to inform each of its shareholders, directors and officers that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen to comply with any applicable rules and regulations of the relevant PRC government agencies (including but not limited to the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the CSRC and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”)) relating to overseas investment by PRC residents and citizens (the “PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Regulations”), including, without limitation, requesting each such Person that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen, to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Regulations (including any applicable rules and regulations of the SAFE), except where such non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ggg) PRC Mergers and Acquisitions Rules Compliance. The Company is aware of and has been advised as to the content of the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors and any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related thereto (the “PRC Mergers and Acquisitions Rules”) jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and the SAFE on August 8, 2006, and as amended by the Ministry of Commerce on June 22, 2009, including the provisions thereof which purport to require offshore special purpose entities formed for listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on an overseas stock exchange. The Company has received legal advice specifically with respect to the PRC Mergers and Acquisitions Rules from its PRC counsel, and the Company understands such legal advice. In addition, the Company has communicated such legal advice in full to each of its directors that signed the Registration Statement and each such director has confirmed that he or she understands such legal advice. The issuance and sale of the Securities, the listing and trading of the Placement ADSs on the Nasdaq and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement (i) are not and will not be materially and adversely affected by the PRC Mergers and Acquisitions Rules and (ii) do not require the prior approval of the CSRC.
(hhh) Not an Actively-Traded Security. The Company’s ADS is not an “actively-traded security” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
(iii) No Prior CSRC Submission. The Company has not submitted any undertakings in connection with the sales of Placement ADSs to CSRC or other PRC regulators that the Agents are not aware of.
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(jjj) Outbound Investment Security Program. The Company is not engaged in any “covered activity,” as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 850, Provisions Pertaining to U.S. Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern (“Outbound Investment Security Program”). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries currently holds or has plans to hold, directly or indirectly, a board seat on, a voting or equity interest in, or any contractual power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person of a country of concern (as identified in the Outbound Investment Security Program) that engages in one or more “covered activities.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale of Placement ADSs under this Agreement qualifies for the exemption applicable to investments in publicly traded securities under the Outbound Investment Security Program.
Any certificate signed by any officer or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Agents or counsel for the Agents in connection with an issuance of Placement ADSs shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Agents as to the matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate.
The Company acknowledges that the Agents and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 4(q) and Section 4(r) hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Agents, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
Section 3: ISSUANCE AND SALE OF PLACEMENT ADSs
(a) Sale of Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to issue and sell Placement ADSs through the applicable Agent acting as sales agent, or directly to the applicable Agent acting as principal, from time to time. Sales of the Placement ADSs, if any, through an Agent acting as sales agent or directly to an Agent acting as principal will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the Principal Market or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, with an aggregate Sales Price of up to the Maximum Program Amount, based on and in accordance with Issuance Notices as the Company may deliver, during the Agency Period. The Company acknowledges and agrees that sales of Placement ADSs under this Agreement may be made through affiliates of the Agents, and that the Agents may otherwise fulfill their respective obligations pursuant to this Agreement to or through an affiliated broker-dealer. On any Trading Day, the Company may sell Placement ADSs through only one Agent.
(b) Mechanics of Issuances.
(i) Issuance Notice. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, on any Trading Day during the Agency Period on which the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) and Section 5(b) shall have been satisfied, the Company may exercise its right to request an issuance of Placement ADSs by delivering to the applicable Agent an Issuance Notice with at least six business day’s prior written notice, or such other period as may be agreed among the Company and the Agent; provided, however, that (A) in no event may the Company deliver an Issuance Notice to the extent that (I) the sum of (x) the aggregate Sales Price of the requested Issuance Amount, plus (y) the aggregate Sales Price of all Placement ADSs issued under all previous Issuance Notices effected pursuant to this Agreement, would exceed the Maximum Program Amount; and (B) prior to delivery of any Issuance Notice, the period set forth for any previous Issuance Notice shall have expired or been terminated. An Issuance Notice shall be considered delivered on the Trading Day that it is received by e-mail to the persons set forth in Schedule A hereto and confirmed by the Company by telephone (including a voicemail message to the persons so identified), with the understanding that, with adequate prior written notice, the applicable Agent may modify the list of such persons from time to time.
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(ii) Agent Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, upon the receipt of an Issuance Notice, the applicable Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal sales and trading practices to place the Placement ADSs with respect to which such Agent has agreed to act as sales agent, subject to, and in accordance with the information specified in, the Issuance Notice, unless the sale of the Placement ADSs described therein has been suspended, cancelled or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties to this Agreement may modify an Issuance Notice at any time provided they both agree in writing to any such modification.
(iii) Method of Offer and Sale. The Placement ADSs may be offered and sold (A) in privately negotiated transactions with the consent of the Company; (B) as block transactions; or (C) by any other method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Principal Market of the ADSs. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require either party to agree to the method of offer and sale specified in the preceding sentence, and (except as specified in clauses (A) and (B) above) the method of placement of any Placement ADSs by the applicable Agent shall be at such Agent’s discretion.
(iv) Confirmation to the Company. If acting as sales agent hereunder, the applicable Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the close of trading on the Principal Market on each Trading Day on which it has placed Placement ADSs hereunder setting forth the number of Placement ADSs sold on such Trading Day, the corresponding Sales Price and the Issuance Price payable to the Company in respect thereof.
(v) Settlement. Each issuance of Placement ADSs will be settled on the applicable Settlement Date for such issuance of Placement ADSs and, subject to the provisions of Section 5, on or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause the Depositary to, issue the Placement ADSs being sold by crediting the applicable Agent or its designee’s account at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (DWAC) System, or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto and, upon receipt of such Placement ADSs, which in all cases shall be duly authorized, freely tradable, transferable, registered ADSs in good deliverable form, the applicable Agent will deliver, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the related Issuance Price in same day funds delivered to an account designated by the Company prior to the Settlement Date. The Company may sell Placement ADSs to the applicable Agent as principal at a price agreed upon at each relevant time Placement ADSs are sold pursuant to this Agreement (each, a “Time of Sale”).
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(vi) Suspension or Termination of Sales. Consistent with standard market settlement practices, the Company or the applicable Agent may, upon notice to the other party hereto in writing or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable email), suspend any sale of Placement ADSs, and the period set forth in an Issuance Notice shall immediately terminate; provided, however, that (A) such suspension and termination shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement ADSs placed or sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice; (B) if the Company suspends or terminates any sale of Placement ADSs after the applicable Agent confirms such sale to the Company, the Company shall still be obligated to comply with Section 3(b)(v) with respect to such Placement ADSs; and (C) if the Company or the Depositary (under the Deposit Agreement) defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement ADSs on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that it will (i) hold the applicable Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage or expense (including, without limitation, penalties, interest and reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or the Depositary and (ii) pay such Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, in performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Agents may borrow Placement ADSs from stock lenders in the event that the Company has not delivered Placement ADSs to settle sales as required by subsection (v) above, and may use the Placement ADSs to settle or close out such borrowings. The Company agrees that no such notice shall be effective against an Agent unless it is made to the persons identified in writing by such Agent pursuant to Section 3(b)(i).
(vii) No Guarantee of Placement, Etc. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that any Agent will be successful in placing Placement ADSs; (B) no Agent will incur any liability or obligation to the Company or any other Person if it does not sell Placement ADSs; and (C) no Agent shall be under any obligation to purchase Placement ADSs on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by such Agent and the Company.
(viii) Material Non-Public Information. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company and the Agents agree that the Company shall not deliver any Issuance Notice to the applicable Agent, and no Agent shall be obligated to place any Placement ADSs, (i) during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending immediately prior to the filing with, or furnishing to, the SEC of a Form 6-K containing the Company's financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, (ii) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information or (iii) at any time when the Company has imposed a trading blackout.
(ix) Fees. As compensation for services rendered, the Company shall pay to the applicable Agent, on the applicable Settlement Date, the Selling Commission for the applicable Issuance Amount (including with respect to any suspended or terminated sale pursuant to Section 3(b)(vi)) by the applicable Agent deducting the Selling Commission from the applicable Issuance Amount.
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(x) Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Placement ADSs (including all printing and engraving costs); (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares and the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the ADSs; (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Placement ADSs; (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors; (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement; (vi) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Agents in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Placement ADSs for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the Agents, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum and any supplements thereto, advising the Agents of such qualifications, registrations, determinations and exemptions (such fees and expenses of counsel for the Agents not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate); (vii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agents’ counsel, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agents in connection with, FINRA review, if any, and approval of the Agents’ participation in the offering and distribution of the Placement ADSs (such fees and expenses of counsel for the Agents not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate); (viii) the filing fees incident to FINRA review, if any; and (ix) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Placement ADSs on the Principal Market or listing the Ordinary Shares on the SEHK.
Section 4: ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
The Company covenants and agrees with the Agents as follows, in addition to any other covenants and agreements made elsewhere in this Agreement:
(a) Exchange Act Compliance. During the Agency Period, the Company shall (i) file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act, as applicable to the Company, in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act; and (ii) either, in the Company’s sole discretion, include in an annual report on Form 20-F or a report on Form 6-K filed or submitted by the Company in respect of any quarterly period or fiscal interim period, as applicable, in which sales of Placement ADSs were made by or through an Agent under this Agreement, a summary detailing, for the relevant period, (1) the number of Placement ADSs, if any, sold by or through an Agent pursuant to this Agreement during such period and (2) the net proceeds, if any, received by the Company from such sales or, to the extent required by applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, any report on Form 6-K filed or submitted by the Company under clause (ii) herein in respect of any quarterly period that is not a fiscal interim period, such report shall solely provide the information required in clause (ii) and does not create an obligation for the Company to provide any other financial information for such quarter. In addition, the Company shall not be obligated to provide or otherwise disclose to the Agents any non-public information related to the sale of Placement ADSs sold under this Agreement other than in connection with a Company Periodic Report Date, including any such non-public information provided or disclosed to SEHK.
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(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Agents in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission; (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, or any Free Writing Prospectus; (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the ADSs from any securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes; and (v) of the Company ceasing to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rule 424(b) and Rule 433, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus so that the Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Agents or counsel for the Agents it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, including the Securities Act, the Company agrees (subject to Section 4(d) and Section 4(f)) to promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish at its own expense to the Agents, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law including the Securities Act. Neither the Agents’ consent to, or delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the Company’s obligations under Sections 4(d) and Section 4(f). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to file such amendment or supplement if there is no pending Issuance Notice and the Company believes that it is in its best interests not to file such amendment or supplement; provided, however, the Company agrees not to provide an Issuance Notice or otherwise sell under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed or it is determined that such amendment or supplement is no longer required; provided further, that the failure of the Company to file such amendment or supplement request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability under Section 3(d) or Section 6 hereof, or affect the Agents’ right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement.
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(d) Agents’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. Prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement (including any registration statement filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) or the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement through incorporation of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Agents for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, insofar as such proposed amendment or supplement relates to the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the Agents’ prior consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and the Company shall file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(e) Use of Free Writing Prospectus. Neither the Company nor the Agents has prepared, used, referred to or distributed, or will prepare, use, refer to or distribute, without the other party’s prior written consent, any “written communication” that constitutes a “free writing prospectus” as such terms are defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement (any such free writing prospectus being referred to herein as a “Free Writing Prospectus”).
(f) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall furnish to the Agents for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto without the Agents’ consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company shall furnish to the Agents, without charge, as many copies of any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, or used by the Company, as the Agents may reasonably request. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 173(d)) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Placement ADSs (but in any event if at any time through and including the date of this Agreement) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict or so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such subsequent time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided, however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Agents for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented free writing prospectus and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Agents’ consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(g) Filing of Agent Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not take any action that would result in any Agent or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Agent that such Agent otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
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(h) Copies of Registration Statement and Prospectus. After the date of this Agreement through the last time that a prospectus is required by the Securities Act (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 173(d)) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Placement ADSs, the Company agrees to furnish the Agents with copies (which may be electronic copies) of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, and with copies of the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act or Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, both in such quantities as the Agents may reasonably request from time to time; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required under the Securities Act or under the blue sky or securities laws of any jurisdiction at any time on or prior to the applicable Settlement Date for any period set forth in an Issuance Notice in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement ADSs and if at such time any event has occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it is necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Agents and to request that the Agents suspend offers to sell Placement ADSs (and, if so notified, the Agents shall cease such offers as soon as practicable); and if the Company decides to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented, to advise the Agents promptly by telephone (with confirmation in writing) and to prepare and cause to be filed promptly with the Commission an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; provided, however, that if during such same period any Agent is required to deliver a prospectus in respect of transactions in the Placement ADSs, the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission such an amendment or supplement.
(i) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Agents and counsel for the Agents to qualify or register the Placement ADSs for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or securities laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Agents, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement ADSs. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Agents promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Placement ADSs for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof as soon as practicable.
(j) Earnings Statement. To the extent not available on EDGAR, as soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Agents an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal interim period of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4(j).
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(k) Listing; Reservation of Ordinary Shares. (a) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Placement ADSs on, and satisfy the requirements of, the Principal Market and the listing of the Ordinary Shares on, and satisfy the requirements of, the SEHK; and (b) the Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, sufficient Ordinary Shares for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement, including deposit with the Depositary for issuance of the Placement ADSs.
(l) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares.
(m) Depositary. The Company has engaged and will maintain, at its sole expense, a depositary for the ADSs.
(n) Due Diligence. During the term of this Agreement, the Company will reasonably cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during normal business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agents may reasonably request from time to time.
(o) Representations and Warranties. The Company acknowledges that each delivery of an Issuance Notice and each delivery of Placement ADSs on a Settlement Date shall be deemed to be (i) an affirmation to the applicable Agent that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such Issuance Notice or of such Settlement Date, as the case may be, as though made at and as of each such date, except as may be disclosed in the Prospectus (including any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements thereto); and (ii) an undertaking that the Company will advise the Agents if any of such representations and warranties will not be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Placement ADSs relating to such Issuance Notice, as though made at and as of each such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Placement ADSs).
(p) Deliverables at Triggering Event Dates; Certificates. The Company agrees that on or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice and, during the term of this Agreement after the date of the first Issuance Notice, upon:
(A) the filing of the Prospectus or the amendment or supplement of any Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement ADSs or a prospectus filed pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii)(B)), by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker or supplement, but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus;
(B) the filing with the Commission of an annual report on Form 20-F or a report on Form 6-K filed by the Company in respect of any fiscal interim period (including any Form 20-F/A or Form 6-K/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed annual report on Form 20-F or report on Form 6-K filed by the Company in respect of any fiscal interim period), in each case, of the Company;
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(C) the filing with the Commission of a Report on Form 6-K of the Company containing amended financial information that is considered “filed” under the Exchange Act; or
(D) otherwise as each Agent may reasonably request;
(any such event, a “Triggering Event Date”), the Company shall furnish the Agents (but in the case of clause (C) above only if the Agents reasonably determine that the information contained in such report on Form 6-K of the Company is material) with a certificate as of the Triggering Event Date, in the form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel, substantially similar to the form previously provided to the Agents and their counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, (A) confirming that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct, (B) confirming that the Company has performed all of its obligations hereunder to be performed on or prior to the date of such certificate and as to the matters set forth in Section 5(a)(iii) hereof, (C) confirming that there are no material changes to the Company’s business or intellectual property, as applicable, during the period covered by such report, and (D) containing any other certification that the Agents shall reasonably request. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 4(p) shall be waived for any Triggering Event Date occurring at a time when no Issuance Notice is pending or a suspension is in effect, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers instructions for the sale of Placement ADSs hereunder (which for such fiscal interim period shall be considered a Triggering Event Date) and the next occurring Triggering Event Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement ADSs following a Triggering Event Date when a suspension was in effect and did not provide the Agents with a certificate under this Section 4(p), then before the Company delivers the instructions for the sale of Placement ADSs or any Agent sells any Placement ADSs pursuant to such instructions, the Company shall provide the Agents with a certificate in conformity with this Section 4(p) dated as of the date that the instructions for the sale of Placement ADSs are issued.
(q) Company Legal Opinions and Negative Assurance Letter. On or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice and on or prior to each Triggering Event Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(p) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agents (i) a written legal opinion and negative assurance letter from DLA Piper LLP (US), U.S. counsel for the Company, (ii) a written legal opinion from DLA Piper (Hong Kong), Hong Kong counsel for the Company, (iii) a written legal opinion from JunHe LLP, PRC counsel for the Company, (iv) a written legal opinion from Walkers (Hong Kong), Cayman Islands counsel for the Company and Ascentage Investment International, a subsidiary of the Company, (v) a written legal opinion from Goodwin Procter LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company with respect to certain U.S. intellectual property matters, (vi) a written legal opinion from Honigman LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company with respect to certain U.S. intellectual property matters, (vii) a written legal opinion from JunHe LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company with respect to certain U.S. intellectual property matters, (viii) a written legal opinion from JunHe LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company with respect to certain PRC intellectual property matters, (ix) a written legal opinion from Barnes & Thornburg LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company with respect to certain U.S. intellectual property matters, (x) a written legal opinion from Marshall, Gerstein and Borun LLP, intellectual property counsel for the University of Michigan, and (xi) a written legal opinion from the University of Michigan, the licensor of certain U.S. patents and patent applications licensed to the Company, each dated the date of delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel, substantially similar to the form previously provided to the Agents and their counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided that (i) the Company shall be required to furnish no more than one full set of written legal opinions and negative assurance letters, as applicable, of Company counsel in connection with the filing of an annual report on Form 20-F and (ii) with respect to any report on 6-K filed in connection with an interim fiscal period other than an Annual Report on Form 20-F, unless otherwise requested by the Agents, (A) the Company shall only be required to furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agents written opinions and/or negative assurance letters set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) referred to in this Section 4(q), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel, and (B) no opinions shall be required for clause (v) through (xi) referred to in this Section 4(q) and the Agents shall rely on a previously delivered opinion letter, modified as appropriate for any passage of time or Triggering Event Date (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of such Triggering Event Date). The requirement to provide the opinions and negative assurance letters under this Section 4(q) shall be waived for any Triggering Event Date occurring at a time when no Issuance Notice is pending or a suspension is in effect, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers instructions for the sale of Placement ADSs hereunder (which for such fiscal interim period shall be considered a Triggering Event Date) and the next occurring Triggering Event Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement ADSs following a Triggering Event Date when a suspension was in effect and did not provide the Agents with the opinions and negative assurance letters under this Section 4(q), then before the Company delivers the instructions for the sale of Placement ADSs or any Agent sells any Placement ADSs pursuant to such instructions, the Company shall provide the Agents with the full set of opinions and negative assurance letters in conformity with this Section 4(q) dated as of the date that the instructions for the sale of Placement ADSs are issued.
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(r) Depositary Legal Opinion. On or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice and on or prior to each Triggering Event Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(p) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Depositary shall cause to be furnished to the Agents a written legal opinion from Ziegler, Ziegler & Associates LLP, counsel for the Depositary, each dated the date of delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel, substantially similar to the form previously provided to the Agents and their counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided that (i) the counsel for the Depositary shall be required to furnish no more than one full set of written legal opinion in connection with the filing of an annual report on Form 20-F and (ii) with respect to any report on 6-K filed in connection with an interim fiscal period other than an Annual Report on 20-F, the counsel for the Depositary may, in lieu of such opinion, furnish a reliance letter permitting the Agents to rely on a previously delivered opinion letter, modified as appropriate for any passage of time or Triggering Event Date (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of such Triggering Event Date).
(s) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice and on or prior to each Triggering Event Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(p) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accounting firm who has audited the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, to furnish the Agents a comfort letter, dated the date of delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel, substantially similar to the form previously provided to the Agents and their counsel; provided, however, that any such comfort letter will only be required on the Triggering Event Date specified to the extent that it contains financial statements filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into a Prospectus. If requested by the Agents, the Company shall also cause a comfort letter to be furnished to the Agents upon the occurrence of any material transaction or event requiring the filing of a report on Form 6-K containing material amended financial information of the Company, including the restatement of the Company’s financial statements, promptly following the filing of such report on Form 6-K. After the initial comfort letter is furnished on or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice, the Company shall be required to furnish no more than one comfort letter hereunder per fiscal interim period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, it is understood and agreed between the Company and the Agents that no Agent shall be obligated to make any offer or sale of Placement ADSs at any time after the lapse of 135 days from the date of the most recent financial statements reviewed or audited by the independent registered public accounting firm and included in their then latest comfort letter, unless and until a new comfort letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel, has been delivered to the Agents with respect to the most recently completed quarterly or interim period, as applicable, subject to any changes in PCOAB rules.
(t) Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice and on or prior to each Triggering Event Date, the Company shall furnish the Agents a certificate executed by the Secretary of the Company, signing in such capacity, dated the date of delivery (i) certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of the resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors of the Company authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Placement ADSs pursuant to this Agreement), which authorization shall be in full force and effect on and as of the date of such certificate, (ii) certifying and attesting to the office, incumbency, due authority and specimen signatures of each Person who executed this Agreement for or on behalf of the Company, and (iii) containing any other certification that the Agents shall reasonably request.
(u) Agents’ Own Account; Clients’ Account. The Company consents to the Agents trading, in compliance with applicable law, in the ADSs for the Agents’ own account and for the account of their clients at the same time as sales of the Placement ADSs occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(v) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Placement ADSs in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
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(w) Market Activities. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Placement ADSs or any other reference security, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement ADSs or otherwise, and the Company will, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each of its Affiliates to, comply with all applicable provisions of Regulation M. If the limitations of Rule 102 of Regulation M (“Rule 102”) do not apply with respect to the Placement ADSs or any other reference security pursuant to any exception set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102, then promptly upon notice from the Agents (or, if later, at the time stated in the notice), the Company will, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each of its Affiliates to, comply with Rule 102 as though such exception were not available but the other provisions of Rule 102 (as interpreted by the Commission) did apply. The Company shall promptly notify the Agents if it no longer meets the requirements set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102.
(x) Renewal Deadline. If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Original Registration Statement (the “Renewal Deadline”), this Agreement is still in effect or any Placement ADSs purchased by an Agent as principal remain unsold, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, (i) promptly notify the Agents and (ii) promptly file, if it is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Placement ADSs, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents. If, at the time the Company intends to file such a new automatic shelf registration statement, it is not eligible to do so, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, (i) promptly notify the Agents, (ii) promptly file a new shelf registration statement on the proper form relating to the Placement ADSs, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such new shelf registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline, and (iv) promptly notify the Agents of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Placement ADSs to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement.
(y) Ceasing Eligibility for Use of Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form. If, at any time during the term of this Agreement or otherwise when Placement ADSs purchased by an Agent as principal remain unsold, the Company receives a notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Agents, (ii) promptly file a new shelf registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to such Placement ADSs, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such new shelf registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iv) promptly notify the Agents of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Placement ADSs to continue as contemplated in the Registration Statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible.
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(z) Notice of Other Sale. Upon commencement of an offering of Placement ADSs under this Agreement and until the close of business on the Settlement Date for any related transaction, unless the Company gives the Agents at least two business days’ prior written notice, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any ADSs or Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for ADSs or Ordinary Shares (other than Placement ADSs hereunder), warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire ADSs or Ordinary Shares; and without the written consent of the Agents, will not directly or indirectly enter into any agreement with an agent or underwriter for any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction to offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any ADSs or Ordinary Shares (other than the Placement ADSs offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for ADSs or Ordinary Shares, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire ADSs or Ordinary Shares prior to the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that such restrictions will not be required in connection with the Company’s (i) issuance and sale of the Placement ADSs to be sold hereunder, (ii) issuance or sale of Ordinary Shares, ADSs, options to purchase Ordinary Shares or ADSs or Ordinary Shares or ADSs issuable upon the exercise, settlement or vesting of options or other equity awards pursuant to any employee or director share option, incentive or benefit plan, share purchase or ownership plan, long-term incentive plan, dividend reinvestment plan, inducement award under Nasdaq rules or other compensation plan of the Company or its subsidiaries, whether now in effect or hereafter implemented, (iii) issuance or sale of Ordinary Shares or ADSs issuable upon exchange, conversion or redemption of securities or the exercise, settlement or vesting of warrants, options or other equity awards outstanding at the date of this Agreement or granted or issued after the date of this Agreement in compliance with this Section 4(z), (iv) modification of any outstanding options, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Ordinary Shares or ADSs, (v) the filing of one or more registration statements on Form S-8 with the Commission with respect to Ordinary Shares or ADSs issued or issuable under any equity compensation or incentive plans, (vi) any Ordinary Shares, ADSs or other securities issued in connection with a transaction that includes a commercial relationship (including joint ventures, marketing or distribution arrangements, collaboration agreements, intellectual property license agreements, or lending agreements or arrangements) or any acquisition of assets or acquisition of equity of another entity, or (vii) any offer or sale of Ordinary Shares on the SEHK.
(aa) Advanced Notification. The Company will not sell any Placement ADSs through any Agent without giving such Agent at least six business day’s prior written notice, or such other period as may be agreed among the Company and the Agent, by email.
(bb) CSRC Filing. The Company (A) will comply with all requirements and timely submit all requisite filings in connection with the sale of the Placement ADSs (including, without limitation, the filing report of the Company in relation to the sale of Placement ADSs, including any amendments, supplements and/or modifications thereof, to be submitted to the CSRC pursuant to Article 13 of the CSRC Filing Rules (as defined below) (the “CSRC Filing Report”) and supplementary explanation, filings and/or responses for the purpose of replying to queries and comments raised by the CSRC) (the “CSRC Filings”)) with the CSRC pursuant to the CSRC Filing Rules and all applicable laws, and the Company has not received any written notice of rejection, withdrawal or revocation from the CSRC in connection with such CSRC Filings. Each of the CSRC Filings made by or on behalf of the Company will be in compliance with the disclosure requirements pursuant to the CSRC Filing Rules; (B) will make CSRC Filings required by the rules of the CSRC and perform other obligations required thereby, including obligations in connection with (a) the maintenance of adequate and effective internal control measures and internal systems for maintenance of data protection, confidentiality and archive administration; (b) the relevant requirements and approval and filing procedures in connection with its handling, disclosure, transfer and retention of transfer of state secrets and working secrets of government agencies or any other documents or materials that would otherwise be detrimental to national securities or public interest (the “Relevant Information”); (c) maintenance of confidentiality of any Relevant Information and (d) where there is any material information that shall be reported to the CSRC pursuant to the applicable laws (including, without limitation, the CSRC Rules), prompt notification to the CSRC or the relevant PRC government authorities and providing it with such material information in accordance with the applicable laws, and promptly notifying the Agents of such material information to the extent permitted by the applicable laws; (C) will ensure that each of the letters, filings, correspondences, communications, documents, responses, undertakings and submissions in any form, including any amendments, supplements and/or modifications thereof, made or to be made to the CSRC relating to or in connection with the sales of the Placement ADSs pursuant to the CSRC Filing Rules and other applicable rules and requirements of the CSRC (including, without limitation, the filing report of the Company in relation to this offering, including any amendments, supplements and/or modifications thereof, submitted to the CSRC pursuant to Article 13 of the CSRC Filing Rules and CSRC Filings will be complete, true and accurate and not misleading in any respect, and will not omit any information which would make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, misleading in any respect or contain any statement or commentary that in any manner misrepresents, disparages or being defamatory of any person or any jurisdiction as of the date of relevant filing with the CSRC.
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(cc) CSRC Undertaking. In connection with the sale of the Placement ADSs subject to the CSRC Filing Rules, the Company will (i) provide information and assistance as reasonably requested by the Agents, (ii) maintain compliance with the CSRC Rules regarding the accuracy and adequacy of information provided in the documents submitted to the CSRC, (iii) ensure there are no circumstances prohibiting the sale of Placement ADSs under CSRC Rules, (iv) comply with PRC data and confidentiality laws regarding the offering, and (v) indemnify and hold harmless the Agents, and any individual acting on behalf of the Agents, including any individual signing any letter of undertaking in connection with the sale of the Placement ADSs, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, and any actions in respect thereof (including, without limitation, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to the purchase or sale of the Placement ADSs).
(dd) CSRC Indemnification. The Company shall, on the date hereof, execute and deliver a back-to-back confirmation and an indemnification letter to the Agents with respect to, among other things, the truth, accuracy and completeness of information contained in each CSRC Filings, in a form substantially agreed with such Agents.
Section 5: CONDITIONS TO DELIVERY OF ISSUANCE NOTICES AND TO SETTLEMENT
(a) Conditions Precedent to the Right of the Company to Deliver an Issuance Notice and the Obligation of the Applicable Agent to Sell Placement ADSs. The right of the Company to deliver an Issuance Notice hereunder is subject to the satisfaction, on the date of delivery of such Issuance Notice, and the obligation of the applicable Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts to place Placement ADSs during the applicable period set forth in the Issuance Notice is subject to the satisfaction, on each Trading Day during the applicable period set forth in the Issuance Notice, of each of the following conditions:
(i) Accuracy of the Company’s Representations and Warranties; Performance by the Company. The Company shall have delivered the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4(p) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 4(p). The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to such date, including, but not limited to, the covenants contained in Section 4(q), Section 4(r) and Section 4(s). (ii) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby that prohibits or directly and materially adversely affects any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no proceeding shall have been commenced that may have the effect of prohibiting or materially adversely affecting any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(iii) Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, (a) in the judgment of the Agents there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect; and (b) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.
(iv) No Suspension of Trading in or Delisting of ADSs; Other Events. The trading of the ADSs (including without limitation the Placement ADSs) shall not have been suspended by the Commission, the Principal Market or FINRA and the ADSs (including without limitation the Placement ADSs) shall have been approved for listing or quotation on and shall not have been delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or any of their constituent markets. There shall not have occurred (and be continuing in the case of occurrences under clauses (i) and (ii) below) any of the following: (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission, by the Principal Market or by the SEHK or trading in securities generally on the Principal Market shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any federal or New York authorities; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Agents is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Placement ADSs in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities.
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(v) Agents’ Counsel Opinion and Negative Assurances Letter. On or prior to the date of the first Issuance Notice and on or prior to each Triggering Event Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(p) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, (i) Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the Agents’ U.S. counsel, shall have furnished to the Agents a negative assurance letter and written legal opinion and (ii) Commerce & Finance Law Offices, the Agents’ PRC counsel shall have furnished to the Agents a written legal opinion, each dated the date of delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented.
(b) Documents Required to be Delivered on each Issuance Notice Date. The applicable Agent’s obligation to use its commercially reasonable efforts to place Placement ADSs hereunder shall additionally be conditioned upon the delivery to such Agent on or before the Issuance Notice Date of a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Agent, executed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect that all conditions to the delivery of such Issuance Notice shall have been satisfied as at the date of such certificate (which certificate shall not be required if the foregoing representations shall be set forth in the Issuance Notice).
(c) No Misstatement or Material Omission. No Agent shall have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in such Agent’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in such Agent’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
Section 6: INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
(a) Indemnification of the Agents. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agents, their respective affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Agent Indemnitees”) against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, to which any Agent or such officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or the laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Placement ADSs have been offered or sold or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (iii) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Agent in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Placement ADSs or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Agent through its bad faith or willful misconduct, and to reimburse each Agent and each such officer, employee and controlling person for any and all documented expenses (including the documented fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Agents) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Agent or such officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; or (iv) in any of the CSRC Filings relating to or in connection with sales of Placement ADSs or any amendments or supplements thereto (whether or not approved by the Agents or any of them) containing any untrue, incorrect or inaccurate or alleged untrue, incorrect or inaccurate statement of fact, or omitting or being alleged to have omitted a fact necessary to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, or not containing, or being alleged not to contain, all information in the context of sales of Placement ADSs or otherwise required to be contained thereto or being or alleged to be defamatory of any person or any jurisdiction, in each case and reimburse each such Agent Indemnitees for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such person in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental or regulatory inquiry related to the sale of Placement ADSs, whether or not such foregoing person is a party to any action or proceeding; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any such Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Agents to the Company consists of the information set forth in the first two sentences of the second to last paragraph of the “Plan of Distribution” section in the Prospectus (the “Agent Information”). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 6(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
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(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Agent agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Company Indemnitees”) against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or the laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Placement ADSs have been offered or sold or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Agent), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to reimburse the Company and each such director, officer and controlling person for any and all documented expenses (including the documented fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Company) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Company or such officer, director or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall only apply to any loss, claim damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent Information furnished by such Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any such Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 6(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that such Agent may otherwise have.
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(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), which counsel (together with any local counsel) for the indemnified parties shall be selected by the indemnified party (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 6(a) and Section 6(b) above), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party and shall be paid as they are incurred.
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(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 6 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 6(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request; and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
(e) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and each applicable Agent, on the other hand, from the offering of the Placement ADSs pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and each applicable Agent, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and each applicable Agent, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Placement ADSs pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total gross proceeds from the offering of the Placement ADSs (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total commissions received by such Agent. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and each applicable Agent, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or such Agent, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
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(f) The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6(c), any documented legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 6(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 6(e); provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 6(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(f) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(e).
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(e), no Agent shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the agent fees received by such Agent in connection with the offering contemplated hereby. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6(e), each Agent Indemnitee (other than the Agents) shall have the same rights to contribution as such Agent, and each Company Indemnitee shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
Section 7: TERMINATION AND SURVIVAL
(a) Term. Subject to the provisions of this Section 7, the term of this Agreement shall continue from the date of this Agreement until terminated by a party pursuant to this Section 7.
(b) Termination; Survival Following Termination.
(i) This Agreement may be terminated for any reason, at any time, by either the Company or an Agent, as to itself, upon providing two (2) Trading Days’ prior written notice to the other parties hereto; provided that, (A) this Agreement and the obligations hereunder will remain in full force and effect with respect to the Agents that have not so terminated their obligations, (B) if the Company terminates this Agreement after an Agent confirms to the Company any sale of Placement ADSs, the Company shall remain obligated to comply with Section 3(b)(v) with respect to such Placement ADSs, and (C) Section 2, Section 6, Section 7 and Section 8 shall survive termination of this Agreement. If termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement ADSs, such sale shall nevertheless settle in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(ii) In addition to the survival provision of Section 7(b)(i), the respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the Agents set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Agent or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Placement ADSs sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
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Section 8: MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Press Releases and Disclosure. The Company may issue a press release describing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, and may file with the Commission a report on Form 6-K, with this Agreement attached as an exhibit thereto, describing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall consult with the Agents prior to making such disclosures, and the parties hereto shall use all commercially reasonable efforts, acting in good faith, to agree upon a text for such disclosures that is reasonably satisfactory to all parties hereto. No party hereto shall issue thereafter any press release or like public statement (including, without limitation, any disclosure required in reports filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act) related to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written approval of the other party hereto, except as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the party seeking to make disclosure to comply with the requirements of applicable law or stock exchange rules and except for the disclosure required pursuant to Section 4(a) of this Agreement, in the Company’s annual reports on Form 20-F or reports on Form 6-K filed by the Company in respect of any interim period. If any such press release or like public statement is so required, the party making such disclosure shall consult with the other party prior to making such disclosure, and the parties shall use all commercially reasonable efforts, acting in good faith, to agree upon a text for such disclosure that is reasonably satisfactory to all parties hereto.
(b) No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the determination of any fees, are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company and the Agents, (ii) when acting as a principal under this Agreement, each respective Agent is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) no Agent has assumed nor will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Agent has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Agent has any obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Agents and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) no Agent has provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
(c) Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Agent’s research analysts and research departments are required to and should be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and as such, Agent’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company understands that each Agent is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(d) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by email or any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Agents shall be directed to them: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Attention: General Counsel, facsimile number 1-646-291-1469; Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch is 60/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Attention: Prospectus Department (email: Prospectus.cpdg@db.com); BTIG, LLC, 65 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Equity Capital Markets (email: BTIGUSATMTrading@btig.com), with a copy which shall not constitute notice to BTIG, LLC, 350 Bush Street, 9th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, Attention: General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer (Email: BTIGcompliance@btig.com, IBLegal@btig.com). Placement notices to BTIG shall be directed to Carrie Taylor (Email: ctaylor@btig.com, BTIGUSATMTrading@btig.com, BTIGcompliance@btig.com); and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., located at 700 King Farm Blvd, Suite 510, Rockville, Maryland 20850, Attention: Chief Financial Officer (email: Veet.Misra@ascentage.com), with a copy to General Counsel (email: thomas.knapp@ascentage.com).
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others in accordance with this Section 8(d).
(e) Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 6, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Placement ADSs as such from an Agent merely by reason of such purchase.
(f) Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Article, Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Article, Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Article, Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
(g) Governing Law Provisions. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party hereto not located in the United States irrevocably appoints Ascentage Pharma Group Inc., located at 700 King Farm Blvd, Suite 510, Rockville, Maryland 20850 as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be instituted in any Specified Court. With respect to any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”), each of the Company and the Agents irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction of any Cayman Islands, Hong Kong SAR, the PRC, U.S. federal or New York state court, from service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts, and, with respect to a judgment of any Specified Court (a “Related Judgment”), each of the Company and the Agents waives any such immunity in the Specified Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.
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(h) General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and may be delivered by facsimile transmission or by electronic delivery of a portable document format (PDF) file (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com). This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Article and Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9: Agreement and Acknowledgment with Respect to the Exercise of Bail-in Powers.
(a) Exercise of European Union Bail-in Powers. Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Agreement or any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between any Agent and any other party to this Agreement, each of the other parties to this Agreement acknowledges, accepts and agrees to be bound by:
(i) the effect of the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority in relation to any BRRD Liability of an Agent (the “Relevant BRRD Party”) to such other party under this Agreement, that (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof:
| (A) | the reduction of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon; |
| (B) | the conversion of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability into shares, other securities or other obligations of the Relevant BRRD Party or another person, and the issue to or conferral on such other party to this Agreement of such shares, securities or obligations; |
| (C) | the cancellation of the BRRD Liability; or |
| (D) | the amendment or alteration of any interest, if applicable, thereon, the maturity or the dates on which any payments are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and |
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(b) the variation of the terms of this Agreement, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority.
For purposes of this section:
“Bail-in Legislation” means in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which at any time implements, the BRRD, the relevant implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement as described in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule from time to time;
“Bail-in Powers” means any Write-down and Conversion Powers as defined in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule, in relation to the relevant Bail-in Legislation;
“BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms;
“BRRD Liability” means a liability in respect of which the relevant Write Down and Conversion Powers in the applicable Bail-in Legislation may be exercised;
“EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such, then in effect, and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time at https://www.lma.eu.com/application/files/9616/1537/4785/EU_BAIL-IN_Legislation_Schedule.pdf; and
“Relevant Resolution Authority” means the resolution authority with the ability to exercise any Bail-in Powers in relation to the Relevant BRRD Party.
Section 10: MiFID II Product Governance.
Solely for the purposes of the requirements of Article 9(8) of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the “Product Governance Rules”) regarding the mutual responsibilities of manufacturers under the Product Governance Rules:
| (a) | Deutsche Bank (the “Manufacturer”) acknowledges that it understands the responsibilities conferred upon it under the Product Governance Rules relating to each of the product approval process, the target market and the proposed distribution channels as applying to the Placement ADSs and the related information set out in any announcements in connection with the Placement ADSs; and |
| (b) | the other parties to this Agreement (other than Deutsche Bank) note the application of the Product Governance Rules and acknowledge the target market and distribution channels identified as applying to the Placement ADSs by the Manufacturer and the related information set out in any announcements in connection with the Placement ADSs. |
[Signature Page Immediately Follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms
| Very truly yours, | ||
| ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL | ||
| By: | /s/ Dajun Yang | |
| Name: | Dajun Yang, MD., PHD | |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to the Sales Agreement]
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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by each Agent in New York, New York as of the date first above written.
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ John Whittaker | |
| Name: | John Whittaker | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG, HONG KONG BRANCH | ||
| (Incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany and its members’ liability is limited) | ||
| By: | /s/ Rui Wang | |
| Name: | Rui Wang | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| By: | /s/ Albert Chang | |
| Name: | Albert Chang | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| BTIG, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Bob Dentice | |
| Name: | Bob Dentice | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
[Signature Page to the Sales Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
ISSUANCE NOTICE
[Date]
[Applicable Agent]
[Address of Applicable Agent]
Attn: [__________]
Reference is made to the Sales Agreement between Ascentage Pharma Group International (the “Company”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch and BTIG, LLC (each, an “Agent,” and collectively, the “Agents”) dated as of July 17, 2026. The Company confirms that all conditions to the delivery of this Issuance Notice are satisfied as of the date hereof.
Date of Delivery of Issuance Notice (determined pursuant to Section 3(b)(i)):
_______________________
Issuance Amount (equal to the total Sales Price for such Placement ADSs):
$_____________________________
Number of days in selling period:
First date of selling period:
Last date of selling period:
Settlement Date(s) if other than standard T+1 settlement:
Floor Price Limitation (in no event less than $1.00 without the prior written consent of the applicable Agent, which consent may be withheld in such Agent’s sole discretion): $ ____ per Placement ADS
Comments:
Ascentage Pharma Group International
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
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Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS AMENDED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL
亞 盛 醫 藥 集 團
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED MAY 20, 2026)
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS AMENDED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL
亞 盛 醫 藥 集 團
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED MAY 20, 2026)
| 1. | The name of the company is Ascentage Pharma Group International 亞盛醫藥集團 (the “Company”). |
| 2. | The registered office of the Company is situated at the offices of Walkers Corporate Limited, 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands or at such other location as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
| 3. | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and except as prohibited or limited by the laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object and shall have and be capable of from time to time and at all! times exercising any and all of the powers at any time or from time to time exercisable by a natural person or body corporate in any part of the world whether as principal, agent, contractor or otherwise. |
| 4. | Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the objects of the Company shall include, but without limitation, the following: |
| (a) | To carry on the business of an investment company and for that purpose to acquire and hold, either in the name of the Company or in that of any nominee, land and real estate, gold and silver bullion, shares (including shares in the Company), stocks, debentures, debenture stock, bonds, notes, obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by any company wherever incorporated or carrying on business and debentures, debenture stock, bonds, notes, obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by any government, sovereign, ruler, commissioners, public body or authority, supreme, dependent, municipal, local or otherwise in any part of the world. |
| (b) | To lend money with or without security either at interest or without and to invest money of the Company in such manner as the Directors think fit. |
| (c) | To acquire by purchase, lease, exchange, or otherwise lands, houses, buildings and other property or any interest in the same in any part of the world. |
| (d) | To carry on the business of a commodity, commodity futures and forward contracts trader and for that purpose to enter into spot, future or forward contracts for the purchase and sale of any commodity including, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any raw materials, processed materials, agricultural products, produce or livestock, gold and silver bullion, specie and precious or semi-precious stones, goods, articles, services, currencies, rights and interests which may now or in the future be bought and sold in commerce and whether such trading is effected on an organised commodity exchange or otherwise and either to take delivery of, or to sell or exchange any such commodities pursuant to any contract capable of being entered into on any such commodities exchange. |
| (e) | To carry on whether as principals, agents or otherwise the business of providing and supplying goods, equipment, materials and services of whatsoever nature, and of financiers, company promoters, realtors, financial agents, land owners and dealers in or managers of companies, estates, lands, buildings, goods, materials, services, stocks, leases, annuities and securities of whatsoever type or kind. |
| (f) | To purchase or otherwise acquire and hold any rights, privileges, concessions, patents, patent rights, licences, secret processes and any real or personal property of any kind whatsoever. |
| (g) | To build, equip, furnish, outfit, repair, purchase, own, charter and lease steam, motor, sail or other vessels, ships, boats, tugs, barges, lighters or other property to be used in the business of shipping, transportation, chartering and other communication and transport operations for the use of the Company or for others, and to sell, charter, lease, mortgage, pledge or transfer the same or any interest therein to others. |
| (h) | To carry on the business of importers, exporters and merchants of goods, produce, stores and articles of all kinds both wholesale and retail, packers, customs brokers, ship agents, warehousemen, bonded or otherwise and carriers and to transact every kind of agency, factor and brokerage business or transaction which may seem to the Company directly or indirectly conducive to its interests. |
| (i) | To carry on the business of consultants in connection with all manner of services and advisers on all matters relating to companies, firms, partnerships, charities, political and non-political persons and organisations, governments, principalities, sovereign and republican states and countries and to carry on all or any of the businesses of financial, industrial, development, architectural, engineering, manufacturing, contracting, management, advertising, professional business and personal consultants and to advise upon the means and methods for extending, developing, marketing and improving all types of projects, developments, businesses or industries and all systems or processes relating to such businesses and the financing, planning, distribution, marketing and sale thereof. |
| (j) | To act as a management company in all branches of that activity and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to act as managers of investments and hotels, estates, real property, buildings and businesses of every kind and generally to carry on business as managers, consultants or agents for or representatives of owners of property of every kind, manufacturers, funds, syndicates, persons, firms and companies for any purpose whatsoever. |
| (k) | To carry on any other trade or business which may seem to the Company capable of being carried on conveniently in connection with any business of the Company. |
| (l) | To borrow or raise money by the issue of ordinary debenture stock or on mortgage or in such other manner as the Company shall think fit. |
| (m) | To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue all instruments both negotiable and non-negotiable and transferable including promissory notes, bills of exchange, bills of lading, warrants, debentures and bonds. |
| (n) | To establish branches or agencies in the Cayman Islands and elsewhere and to regulate and to discontinue the same. |
| (o) | To distribute any of the property of the Company among the members of the Company in specie. |
| (p) | To acquire and take over the whole or any part of the business, property and liabilities of any person or persons, firm or company or to take or otherwise acquire and hold shares, stock, debentures or other securities of or interest in any other company carrying on any business or possessed of any property or rights. |
| (q) | To grant pensions, allowances, gratuities and bonuses to employees or ex-employees of the Company or the dependents of such persons and to support, establish or subscribe to any charitable or other institutions, clubs, societies or funds or to any national or patriotic fund. |
| (r) | To lend and advance moneys or give credit to such persons and on such terms as may be thought fit and to guarantee or stand surety for the obligations of any third party whether such third party is related to the Company or otherwise and whether or not such guarantee or surety is to provide any benefits to the Company and for that purpose to mortgage or charge the Company’s undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof, on such terms and conditions as may be thought expedient in support of any such obligations binding on the Company whether contingent or otherwise. |
| (s) | To enter into partnership or into any arrangements for sharing profits, union of interests, co-operation, joint venture, reciprocal concession, amalgamation or otherwise with any person or persons or company engaged or interested or about to become engaged or interested in the carrying on or conduct of any business or enterprise from which this Company would or might derive any benefit whether direct or indirect and to lend money, guarantee the contracts of or otherwise assist any such person or company and to take subscribe for or otherwise acquire shares and securities of any such company and to sell, hold, re issue with or without guarantee or otherwise deal with the same. |
| (t) | To enter into any arrangements with any authorities, municipal or local or otherwise and to obtain from any such authority any rights, privileges or concessions which the Company may think it desirable to obtain and to carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements, rights, privileges or concessions. |
| (u) | To do all such things as are incidental to or which the Company may think conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. |
| 5. | If the Company is registered as an exempted company as defined in the Cayman Islands Companies Act, it shall have the power, subject to the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act and with the approval of a special resolution, to continue as a body incorporated under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands and to be de-registered in the Cayman Islands. |
| 6. | The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 7. | The liability of the members of the Company is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. |
| 8. | The authorised share capital of the Company is US$50,000 consisting of 500,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each with the power for the Company to increase or reduce the said capital and to issue any part of its capital, original or increased, with or without any preference, priority or special privilege or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions; and so that, unless the condition of issue shall otherwise expressly declare, every issue of shares, whether declared to be preference or otherwise, shall be subject to the power hereinbefore contained. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ARTICLE | PAGE | |
| TABLE A | 1 | |
| INTERPRETATION | 1 | |
| SHARES, WARRANTS AND MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS | 7 | |
| REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS AND SHARE CERTIFICATES | 11 | |
| LIEN | 13 | |
| CALLS ON SHARES | 13 | |
| TRANSFER OF SHARES | 15 | |
| TRANSMISSION OF SHARES | 17 | |
| FORFEITURE OF SHARES | 17 | |
| TREASURY SHARES | 19 | |
| GENERAL MEETINGS | 19 | |
| PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS | 23 | |
| VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS | 25 | |
| APPOINTMENT OF PROXY AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE | 27 | |
| REGISTERED OFFICE | 30 | |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 30 | |
| APPOINTMENT AND ROTATION OF DIRECTORS | 35 | |
| BORROWING POWERS | 36 | |
| MANAGING DIRECTORS, ETC | 37 | |
| MANAGEMENT | 38 | |
| MANAGERS | 38 | |
| CHAIRMAN AND OTHER OFFICERS | 38 | |
| PROCEEDINGS OF THE DIRECTORS | 39 | |
| MINUTES AND CORPORATE RECORDS | 41 | |
| SECRETARY | 41 | |
| GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND USE OF THE SEAL | 41 | |
| AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS | 43 | |
| CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES | 43 | |
| DIVIDENDS AND RESERVES | 44 | |
| RECORD DATE | 50 | |
| ANNUAL RETURNS | 50 | |
| ACCOUNTS | 51 | |
| AUDITORS | 52 | |
| NOTICES | 52 | |
| INFORMATION | 55 | |
| WINDING UP | 55 | |
| INDEMNITY | 56 | |
| UNTRACEABLE SHAREHOLDERS | 56 | |
| DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS | 57 | |
| SUBSCRIPTION RIGHT RESERVE | 58 | |
| STOCK | 60 |
i
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS AMENDED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL
亞 盛 醫 藥 集 團
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED MAY 20, 2026) TABLE A
| 1. | Table “A” of the Companies Act (as revised) shall not apply to the Company. |
INTERPRETATION
| (a) | Any marginal notes, titles or lead in references to Articles and the index of the Memorandum and Articles of Association shall not form part of the Memorandum or Articles of Association and shall not affect their interpretation. In interpreting these Articles of Association, unless there be something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith: |
“address” shall have the ordinary meaning given to it and shall include any facsimile number, electronic number or address or website used for the purposes of any communication pursuant to these Articles;
“appointor” means in relation to an alternate Director, the Director who appointed the alternate to act as his alternate;
“Articles” means these Articles of Association in their present form and all supplementary, amended or substituted articles for the time being in force;
“Auditors” means the persons appointed by the Company from time to time to perform the duties of auditors of the Company;
“Board” means the board of Directors of the Company as constituted from time to time or as the context may require the majority of Directors present and voting at a meeting of the Directors at which a quorum is present;
“Branch Register” means any branch register in respect of any category or categories of Shareholders of the Company established by the Company in accordance with the Companies Act;
“Call” shall include any instalment of a call;
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“Clearing House” means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares of the Company are listed or quoted with the permission of the Company on a stock exchange in such jurisdiction;
“Close Associate(s)” shall have the meaning as defined in the Listing Rules;
“Companies Act” means the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands;
“Companies Ordinance” means the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 622 of the Laws of Hong Kong as amended from time to time;
“Company” means the above named company;
“Debenture” and “Debenture Holder” means and includes respectively debenture stock and debenture stockholder;
“Directors” means such person or persons as shall be appointed to the Board from time to time;
“Dividend” means dividends, distributions in specie or in kind, capital distributions and capitalisation issues;
“electronic communication” means a communication sent, transmitted, conveyed and received by wire, by radio, by optical means or by other electromagnetic means in any form through any medium;
“electronic meeting” means a general meeting held and conducted wholly and exclusively by virtual attendance and participation by Shareholders and/or proxies by means of electronic facilities;
“Head Office” means such office of the Company as the Board may from time to time determine to be the principal office of the Company;
“HK Stock Exchange” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
“HK$” or “Hong Kong dollars” means Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency for the time being of Hong Kong;
“Holding Company” has the meaning ascribed to it by Section 13 of the Companies Ordinance;
“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
“hybrid meeting” means a general meeting held and conducted by (i) physical attendance by Shareholders and/or proxies at the Principal Meeting Place and, where applicable, one or more other Meeting Locations and (ii) virtual attendance and participation by Shareholders and/or proxies by means of electronic facilities;
“Listing Rules” shall mean the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (as amended from time to time);
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“Meeting Location” and “Meeting Locations” have the meanings ascribed to them in Article 67;
“Month” means a calendar month;
“Newspapers” means at least one English language daily newspaper and at least one Chinese language daily newspaper, in each case published and circulating generally in the Relevant Territory and specified or not excluded for this purpose by the stock exchange in the Relevant Territory;
“Ordinary Resolution” means a resolution as described in Article 1(c)(ii) of these Articles;
“Paid” means, as it relates to a Share, paid or credited as paid;
“Person” means any natural person, firm, company, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association or other entity (whether or not having a separate legal personality) or any of them as the context so requires, other than in respect of a Director or Officer in which circumstances Person shall mean any person or entity permitted to act as such in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands;
“physical meeting” means a general meeting held and conducted by physical attendance and participation by Shareholders and/or proxies at the Principal Meeting Place and/or, where applicable, one or more other Meeting Locations;
“Principal Meeting Place” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 76; “Principal Register” means:
| (a) | where the Company has not established one or more Branch Registers pursuant to the Companies Act and these Articles, the register of Members of the Company required to be kept pursuant to the Companies Act; and |
| (b) | where the Company has established one or more Branch Registers pursuant to the Companies Act and these Articles, the Register maintained by the Company pursuant to the Companies Act and these Articles that is not designated by the Directors as a Branch Register. |
“Register” means the Principal Register and any Branch Register of Shareholders of the Company to be maintained at such place within or outside the Cayman Islands as the Board shall determine from time to time;
“Registered Office” means the registered office of the Company for the time being as required by the Companies Act;
“Registration Office” means such place or places in the Relevant Territory or elsewhere where the Board from time to time determine to keep a Branch Register and where (except in cases where the Board otherwise agrees) transfers or other documents of title for the applicable Shares are to be lodged for registration and are to be registered;
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“Relevant Period” means the period commencing from the date on which any of the securities of the Company first become listed on the HK Stock Exchange to and including the date immediately before the day on which none of such securities are so listed (and so that if at any time listing of any such securities is suspended for any reason whatsoever and for any length of time, they shall nevertheless be treated, for the purpose of this definition, as listed);
“Relevant Territory” means Hong Kong or such other territory where any of the securities of the Company is listed on a stock exchange in that territory;
“Seal” means the common seal of the Company;
“Secretary” means any Person for the time being performing the duties of that office of the Company and includes any assistant, deputy, acting or temporary secretary;
“Securities Seal” means a seal for use for sealing certificates for shares or other securities issued by the Company which is a facsimile of the Seal of the Company with the addition on its face of the words Securities Seal;
“Share” means a share in the share capital of the Company and includes stock except where a distinction between stock and Shares is expressed or implied. All references to “Shares” herein shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Classes or Series as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt in these Articles the expression “Share” shall include a fraction of a Share;
“Shareholder” or “Member” means the person who is duly registered in the Register as holder for the time being of any Share and includes persons who are jointly so registered;
“Special Resolution” means a resolution as described in Article 1(c)(i) of these Articles;
“Subsidiary” has the meaning ascribed to it by Section 15 of the Companies Ordinance;
“Transfer Office” means the place where the Principal Register is located for the time being; and
“Treasury Shares” means Shares that were previously issued but were purchased, redeemed, surrendered or otherwise acquired by the Company and not cancelled.
| (b) | In these Articles, unless there be something in the subject or context inconsistent herewith: |
| (i) | words denoting the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa; |
| (ii) | words importing any gender shall include every gender and words importing persons shall include partnerships, firms, companies and corporations; |
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| (iii) | subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article, any words or expressions defined in the Companies Act (except any statutory modification thereof not in force when these Articles become binding on the Company) shall bear the same meaning in these Articles, save that “company” shall where the context permits include any company incorporated in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere; |
| (iv) | references to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as relating to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; |
| (v) | references to writing or similar expressions shall include printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words or figures in a legible and non-transitory form or, to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Companies Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, any visible substitute for writing (including an electronic communication), or modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, and including where the representation or reproduction takes the form of an electronic display, provided that, where applicable, both the mode of service of the relevant document or notice and any Shareholder’s election comply with the Companies Act and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; |
| (vi) | references to a document being signed or executed include references to it being signed or executed under hand or under seal or by electronic signature or by electronic communication or by any other method and references to a notice or document include a notice or document recorded or stored in any digital, electronic, electrical, magnetic or other retrievable form or medium and information in visible form whether having physical substance or not; |
| (vii) | a reference to a meeting shall mean a meeting convened and held in any manner permitted by these Articles and any Shareholder, proxy or Director virtually attending and participating at a meeting by means of electronic facilities shall be deemed to be present and participating at that meeting for all purposes of the Companies Act and these Articles, and attend, participate, attending, participating, attendance and participation shall be construed accordingly; |
| (viii) | references to a person’s participation in the business of a general meeting include, without limitation, and as relevant, the right (including, in the case of a corporation, through a duly authorised representative) to speak or communicate, vote, be represented by a proxy and have access in hard copy or electronic form to all documents which are required by the Companies Act or these Articles to be made available at the meeting, and participate and participating in the business of a general meeting shall be construed accordingly; |
| (ix) | references to a poll include, without limitation, a poll conducted using electronic facilities; |
| (x) | references to a vote, votes, voting or votes cast include, without limitation, a vote, votes, voting or votes cast in each case using electronic facilities; |
| (xi) | references to attendance, attend, attending and attended include, without limitation, virtual attendance, attend virtually, attending virtually and virtually attended in each case using electronic facilities; |
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| (xii) | references to any person being present or being present in person include, without limitation, such person being virtually present using electronic facilities; |
| (xiii) | references to any person doing anything personally or being present personally include, without limitation, such person doing anything virtually using electronic facilities or being virtually present using electronic facilities; |
| (xiv) | references to any person voting in person include, without limitation, any person voting using electronic facilities; |
| (xv) | references to electronic facilities include, without limitation, website addresses, webinars, webcast, video or any form of conference call system (telephone, video, web or otherwise); |
| (xvi) | references to any notice in writing include, without limitation, notices given by any electronic means or published on a website or websites; and |
| (xvii) | where a Shareholder is a corporation, any reference in these Articles to a Shareholder shall include a duly authorised representative of such Shareholder. |
| (c) | Subject to the preceding Articles, any words defined in the Companies Act shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meaning in these Articles. In addition, for the purposes of these Articles: |
| (i) | at all times during the Relevant Period, a resolution shall be a Special Resolution when it has been passed by a majority of not less than ¾ of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or by proxy or, in the cases of Shareholders which are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representatives at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given; |
| (ii) | a resolution shall be an Ordinary Resolution when it has been passed by a simple majority of such Shareholders as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of any Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative at a general meeting held in accordance with these Articles and of which not less than 14 days’ notice has been duly given; and |
| (iii) | a resolution in writing signed (in such manner as to indicate, expressly or impliedly, unconditional approval) by or on behalf of all Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company shall, for the purpose of these Articles, be treated as an Ordinary Resolution duly passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held and, where relevant as a Special Resolution so passed. Any such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed at a meeting held on the date on which it was signed by the last person to sign, and where the resolution states a date as being the date of his signature thereof by any Shareholder the statement shall be prima facie evidence that it was signed by him on that date. Such a resolution may consist of several documents in the like form, and signed by one or more relevant Shareholders. |
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| (d) | A Special Resolution shall be effective for any purpose for which an Ordinary Resolution is expressed to be required under any provision of these Articles. |
| (e) | Section 8 and Section 19 of the Electronic Transactions Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands shall not apply to these Articles to the extent such impose obligations or requirements in addition to those set out in these Articles. |
| 2. | To the extent that the same is permissible under Cayman Islands law and subject to Article 13, a Special Resolution shall be required to alter the Memorandum of Association of the Company, to approve any amendment of the Articles or to change the name of the Company. |
SHARES, WARRANTS AND MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
| 3. | Subject to the Listing Rules and without prejudice to any special rights or restrictions for the time being attaching to any Shares or any class of Shares including preference Shares, any Share may be issued upon such terms and conditions and with such preferred, deferred or other qualified or special rights, or such restrictions, whether in regard to Dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise, as the Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such determination or so far as the same may not make specific provision, as the Board may determine) and any Share may be issued on the terms that it is liable to be redeemed upon the happening of a specified event or upon a given date and either at the option of the Company, or at the option of the holder. No Shares shall be issued to bearer. |
| 4. | Subject to the Listing Rules, the Board may issue warrants to subscribe for any class of Shares or other securities of the Company, which warrants may be issued on such terms as the Board may from time to time determine. Where warrants are issued to bearer, no certificate thereof shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless the Board is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original certificate thereof has been destroyed and the Company has received an indemnity in such form as the Board shall think fit with regard to the issue of any such replacement certificate. |
| 5. | (a) | If at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the special rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided for by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, be varied or abrogated either with the consent in writing of not less than three fourths of the voting rights of the holders of that class or with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. To every such separate general meeting the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall mutatis mutandis apply, but so that the necessary quorum shall be not less than persons holding (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or representing by proxy holding one-third of the issued Shares of that class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person (or in the case of the Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy may demand a poll. |
| (b) | The provisions of this Article shall apply to the variation or abrogation of the rights attached to the Shares of any class as if each group of Shares of the class differently treated formed a separate class the rights whereof are to be varied or abrogated. |
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| (c) | The special rights conferred upon the holders of any Shares or class of Shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to the terms of issue of such Shares be deemed to be altered by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith. |
| 6. | The authorised share capital of the Company on the date of the adoption of these Articles is US$50,000 consisting of 500,000,000 shares of US$0.0001 each. |
| 7. | The Company in general meeting may from time to time, whether or not all the Shares for the time being authorised shall have been issued and whether or not all the Shares for the time being issued shall have been fully paid up, by Ordinary Resolution increase its share capital by the creation of new Shares, such new capital to be of such amount and to be divided into Shares of such class or classes and of such amounts in Hong Kong dollars or such other currency as the Shareholders may think fit and as the resolution may prescribe. |
| 8. | Any new Shares shall be issued upon such terms and conditions and with such rights, privileges or restrictions attached thereto as the general meeting resolving upon the creation thereof shall direct, and if no direction be given, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and of these Articles, as the Board shall determine; and in particular such Shares may be issued with a preferential or qualified right to participate in Dividends and in the distribution of assets of the Company and with a special right or without any right of voting. |
| 9. | The Board may, before the issue of any new Shares, determine that the same, or any of them, shall be offered in the first instance, and either at par or at a premium, to all the existing holders of any class of Shares in proportion as nearly as may be to the number of Shares of such class held by them respectively, or make any other provisions as to the allotment and issue such Shares, but in default of any such determination or so far as the same shall not extend, such Shares may be dealt with as if they formed part of the capital of the Company existing prior to the issue of the same. |
| 10. | Except so far as otherwise provided by the conditions of issue or by these Articles, any capital raised by the creation of new Shares shall be treated as if it formed part of the original capital of the Company and such Shares shall be subject to the provisions contained in these Articles with reference to the payment of calls and instalments, transfer and transmission, forfeiture, lien, cancellation, surrender, voting and otherwise. |
| 11. | (a) | All unissued Shares and other securities of the Company shall be at the disposal of the Board and it may offer, allot (with or without conferring a right of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such times, for such consideration and generally on such terms (subject to Article 9) as it in its absolute discretion thinks fit, but so that no Shares shall be issued at a discount. The Board shall, as regards any offer or allotment of Shares, comply with the provisions of the Companies Act, if and so far as such provisions may be applicable thereto. |
| (b) | Neither the Company nor the Board shall be obliged, when making or granting any allotment of, offer of, option over or disposal of Shares or other securities of the Company, to make, or make available, and may resolve not to make, or make available, any such allotment, offer, option or Shares or other securities to Shareholders or others with registered addresses in any jurisdiction outside of the Relevant Territory, or in any particular territory or territories being a territory or territories where, in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities, this would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable, or the existence or extent of the requirement for such registration statement or special formalities might be expensive (whether in absolute terms or in relation to the rights of the Shareholder(s) who may be affected) or time consuming to determine. The Board shall be entitled to make such arrangements to deal with fractional entitlements arising on an offer of any unissued Shares or other securities as it thinks fit, including the aggregation and the sale thereof for the benefit of the Company. Shareholders who may be affected as a result of any of the matters referred to in this paragraph (b) shall not be, and shall be deemed not to be, a separate class of Shareholders for any purposes whatsoever. |
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| 12. | (a) | The Company may at any time pay commission to any person for subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolute or conditional) for any Shares, but so that the conditions and requirements of the Companies Act shall be observed and complied with, and in each case the commission shall not exceed 10% of the price at which the Shares are issued. |
| (b) | If any Shares are issued for the purpose of raising money to defray the expenses of the construction of any works or buildings or the provision of any plant which cannot be made profitable within a period of one year, the Company may pay interest on so much of that share capital as is for the time being paid up for the period and, subject to any conditions and restrictions mentioned in the Companies Act, may charge the sum so paid by way of interest to capital as part of the cost of construction of the works or buildings, or the provisions of the plant. |
| 13. | The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution: |
| (a) | increase its share capital as provided by Article 7; |
| (b) | consolidate or divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger or smaller amount than its existing Shares; and on any consolidation of fully paid Shares into Shares of larger amount, the Board may settle any difficulty which may arise as it thinks expedient and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) may as between the holders of Shares to be consolidated determine which particular Shares are to be consolidated into a consolidated Share, and if it shall happen that any person shall become entitled to fractions of a consolidated Share or Shares, such fractions may be sold by some person appointed by the Board for that purpose and the person so appointed may transfer the Shares so sold to the purchaser thereof and the validity of such transfer shall not be questioned, and so that the net proceeds of such sale (after deduction of the expenses of such sale) may either be distributed among the persons who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction or fractions of a consolidated Share or Shares rateably in accordance with their rights and interest or may be paid to the Company for the Company’s benefit; |
| (c) | divide its unissued Shares into several classes and attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; |
| (d) | sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum of Association, subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Companies Act, and so that the resolution whereby any Share is sub-divided may determine that, as between the holders of the Shares resulting from such sub-division, one or more of the Shares may have any such preferred or other special rights over, or may have such deferred rights or be subject to any such restrictions as compared with the others as the Company has power to attach to unissued or new Shares; |
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| (e) | cancel any Shares which at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled; |
| (f) | make provision for the issue and allotment of Shares which do not carry any voting rights; |
| (g) | change the currency of denomination of its share capital; and |
| (h) | reduce its share premium account in any manner authorised, and subject to any conditions prescribed by law. |
| 14. | The Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital or undistributable reserve in any manner authorised, and subject to any conditions prescribed, by law. |
| 15. | (a) | Subject to the Companies Act, or any other law or so far as not prohibited by any law and subject to any rights conferred on the holders of any class of Shares, the Company shall have the power to purchase or otherwise acquire all or any of its own Shares (which expression as used in this Article includes redeemable Shares) provided that the manner and terms of purchase have first been authorised by an Ordinary Resolution of the Shareholders, and to purchase or otherwise acquire warrants and other securities for the subscription or purchase of its own Shares, and shares and warrants and other securities for the subscription or purchase of any shares in any company which is its Holding Company and may make payment therefor in any manner and terms authorised or not prohibited by law, including out of capital, or to give, directly or indirectly, by means of a loan, a guarantee, an indemnity, the provision of security or otherwise howsoever, financial assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase or other acquisition made or to be made by any person of any Shares or warrants or other securities in the Company or any company which is a Holding Company of the Company and should the Company purchase or otherwise acquire its own Shares or warrants or other securities neither the Company nor the Board shall be required to select the Shares or warrants or other securities to be purchased or otherwise acquired rateably or in any other manner and terms as between the holders of Shares or warrants or other securities of the same class or as between them and the holders of Shares or warrants or other securities of any other class or in accordance with the rights as to Dividends or capital conferred by any class of Shares provided always that any such purchase or other acquisition or financial assistance shall only be made in accordance with the relevant code, rules or regulations issued from time to time by the HK Stock Exchange and/or the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong from time to time in force. |
| (b) | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and the Memorandum of Association of the Company, and to any special rights conferred on the holders of any Shares or attaching to any class of Shares, Shares may be issued on the terms that they may, at the option of the Company or the holders thereof, be liable to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner, including out of capital, as the Board may deem fit. |
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| (c) | Where the Company purchases for redemption a redeemable Share, purchases not made through the market or by tender shall be limited to a maximum price, and if purchases are by tender, tenders shall be available to all Shareholders alike. |
| (d) | The purchase or redemption of any Share shall not be deemed to give rise to the purchase or redemption of any other Share. |
| (e) | The holder of the Shares being purchased or redeemed shall be bound to deliver up to the Company at the Head Office or such other place as the Board shall specify the certificate(s) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him the purchase or redemption monies in respect thereof. |
REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS AND SHARE CERTIFICATES
| 16. | Except as otherwise expressly provided by these Articles or as required by law or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share upon any trust and, except as aforesaid, the Company shall not be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share or any interest in any fractional part of a Share or any other right or claim to or in respect of any Shares except an absolute right to the entirety thereof of the registered holder. |
| 17. | (a) | The Board shall cause to be kept the Register and there shall be entered therein the particulars required under the Companies Act. |
| (b) | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, if the Board considers it necessary or appropriate, the Company may establish and maintain a Principal Register or Branch Register at such location as the Board thinks fit and, during the Relevant Period, the Company shall keep its Principal Register or Branch Register in Hong Kong. |
| (c) | During the Relevant Period (except when the Register is closed on terms equivalent to section 632 of the Companies Ordinance) as at the date of the adoption of these Articles (or its equivalent provisions from time to time), any Shareholder may inspect during business hours any Register maintained in Hong Kong without charge and require the provision to him of copies or extracts thereof in all respects as if the Company were incorporated under and were subject to the Companies Ordinance. |
| (d) | The Register may be closed at such time or for such period not exceeding in the whole 30 days in each year as the Board may determine. |
| 18. | (a) | Every person whose name is entered as a Shareholder in the Register shall be entitled to receive within the relevant time limit as prescribed in the Companies Act or as the HK Stock Exchange may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after allotment or lodgement of a transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide or is required by the applicable rules of the stock exchange of the Relevant Territory) one certificate for all his Shares, or, if he shall so request, in a case where the allotment or transfer is of a number of Shares in excess of the number for the time being forming a stock exchange board lot for the purposes of the stock exchange of the Relevant Territory on which the Shares are listed upon payment of such sum (in the case of a transfer, not exceeding in the case of any share capital listed on a stock exchange in Hong Kong, HK$2.50 or such other sum as may from time to time be allowed or not prohibited under the Listing Rules, and in the case of any other Shares, such sum in such currency as the Board may from time to time determine to be reasonable in the territory in which the relevant Register is situated, or otherwise such other sum as the Company may by Ordinary Resolution determine) for every certificate after the first as the Board may from time to time determine, such number of certificates for Shares in stock exchange board lots or whole multiples thereof as he shall request and one for the balance (if any) of the Shares in question, provided that in respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue a certificate or certificates to each such person, and the issue and delivery of a certificate or certificates to one of the joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders. |
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| (b) | The Company may, in the event of a change in the form of definitive Share certificate adopted by the Board, issue new definitive certificates to all holders of Shares appearing on the Register in replacement of old definitive certificates issued to such holders. The Board may resolve whether or not to require the return of the old certificates as a condition precedent to the issue of replacement certificates and, as regards any old certificates which have been lost or defaced, to impose such conditions (including as to indemnity) as the Board shall see fit. If the Board elects not to require the return of the old certificates, the same shall be deemed to have been cancelled and of no further effect for all purposes. |
| 19. | Every certificate for Shares, warrants or debentures or representing any other form of securities of the Company shall be issued under the Seal of the Company, which for this purpose may be a duplicate Seal. |
| 20. | Every share certificate hereafter issued shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which it is issued and the amount paid thereon and may otherwise be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. A share certificate shall relate to only one class of Shares, and where the capital of the Company includes Shares with different voting rights, the designation of each class of Shares, other than those which carry the general right to vote at general meetings, must include the words “restricted voting” or “limited voting” or “non-voting” or some other appropriate designation which is commensurate with the rights attaching to the relevant class of Shares. |
| 21. | (a) | The Company shall not be bound to register more than four persons as joint holders of any Share. |
| (b) | If any Shares shall stand in the names of two or more persons, the person first named in the Register shall be deemed to be sole holder thereof as regards service of notice and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, all or any other matter connected with the Company, except the transfer of the Share. |
| 22. | If a share certificate is defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced on payment of such fee, if any, (not exceeding, in the case of any share capital listed on a stock exchange in Hong Kong, HK$2.50 or such other sum as may from time to time be allowed or not prohibited under the Listing Rules, and, in the case of any other capital, such sum in such currency as the Board may from time to time determine to be reasonable in the territory in which the relevant Register is situated, or such other sum as the Company may by Ordinary Resolution determine) as the Board shall from time to time determine and on such terms and conditions, if any, as to publication of notices, evidence and indemnity as the Board thinks fit and in the case of wearing out or defacement, after delivery up of the old certificate. In the case of destruction or loss, the person to whom such replacement certificate is given shall also bear and pay to the Company all costs and out-of-pocket expenses incidental to the investigation by the Company of the evidence of such destruction or loss and of such indemnity. |
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LIEN
| 23. | The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every Share (not being a fully paid Share) for all moneys, whether presently payable or not, called or payable at a fixed time in respect of that Share; and the Company shall also have a first and paramount lien and charge on all Shares (other than fully paid-up Shares) standing registered in the name of a Shareholder, whether singly or jointly with any other person or persons, for all the debts and liabilities of such Shareholder or his estate to the Company and whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company of any equitable or other interest of any person other than such Shareholder, and whether the period for the payment or discharge of the same shall have actually arrived or not, and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such Shareholder or his estate and any other person, whether a Shareholder of the Company or not. The Company’s lien (if any) on a Share shall extend to all Dividends and bonuses declared in respect thereof. The Board may at any time either generally or in any particular case waive any lien that has arisen, or declare any Share to be exempt wholly or partially from the provisions of this Article. |
| 24. | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable or the liability or engagement in respect of which such lien exists is liable to be presently fulfilled or discharged, nor until the expiration of 14 days after a notice in writing, stating and demanding payment of the sum presently payable or specifying the liability or engagement and demanding fulfilment or discharge thereof and giving notice of intention to sell in default, shall have been given, in the manner in which notices may be sent to Shareholders of the Company as provided in these Articles, to the registered holder for the time being of the Shares, or the person entitled by reason of such holder’s death, bankruptcy or winding-up to the Shares. |
| 25. | The net proceeds of such sale after the payment of the costs of such sale shall be applied in or towards payment or satisfaction of the debt or liability or engagement in respect whereof the lien exists, so far as the same is presently payable, and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the Shares prior to the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the time of the sale. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale, the Board may authorise some person to transfer the Shares sold to the purchaser thereof and may enter the purchaser’s name in the Register as holder of the Shares, and the purchaser shall not be bound to see the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. |
CALLS ON SHARES
| 26. | The Board may from time to time make such calls as it thinks fit upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on the Shares held by them respectively (whether on account of the nominal value of the Shares or by way of premiums) and not by the conditions of allotment thereof made payable at a fixed time. A call may be made payable either in one sum or by instalments. |
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| 27. | At least 14 days’ notice of any call shall be given to the relevant Shareholders specifying the time and place of payment and to whom such call shall be paid. |
| 28. | A copy of the notice referred to in Article 27 shall be sent to relevant Shareholders in the manner in which notices may be sent to Shareholders by the Company as herein provided. |
| 29. | In addition to the giving of notice in accordance with Article 28, notice of the person appointed to receive payment of every call and of the times and places appointed for payment may be given to the relevant Shareholders by notice to be inserted at least once in the Newspapers. |
| 30. | Every Shareholder upon whom a call is made shall pay the amount of every call so made on him to the person and at the time or times and place or places as the Board shall appoint. |
| 31. | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorising such call was passed. |
| 32. | The joint holders of a Share shall be severally as well as jointly liable for the payment of all calls and instalments due in respect of such Share or other moneys due in respect thereof. |
| 33. | The Board from time to time at its discretion may extend the time fixed for any call, and may extend such time as regards all or any of the Shareholders, whom due to residence outside the Relevant Territory or other cause the Board may deem entitled to any such extension but no Shareholder shall be entitled to any such extension except as a matter of grace and favour. |
| 34. | If the sum payable in respect of any call or instalment is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the person or persons from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the same at such rate not exceeding 20% per annum as the Board shall fix from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual payment, but the Board may waive payment of such interest wholly or in part. |
| 35. | No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any Dividend or bonus or to be present or vote (save as proxy or authorised representative for another Shareholder) at any general meeting, either personally, or (save as proxy or authorised representative for another Shareholder) by proxy, or be reckoned in a quorum, or to exercise any other privilege as a Shareholder until all calls or instalments due from him to the Company, whether alone or jointly or jointly and severally with any other person, together with interest and expenses (if any) shall have been paid. |
| 36. | On the trial or hearing of any action or other proceedings for the recovery of any money due for any call, it shall be sufficient to prove that the name of the Shareholder sued is entered in the Register as the holder, or one of the holders, of the Shares in respect of which such debt accrues; that the resolution of the Board making the call has been duly recorded in the minute book of the Board; and that notice of such call was given to the Shareholder sued, in pursuance of these Articles, and it shall not be necessary to prove the appointment of the Directors who made such call, nor any other matters whatsoever, but the proof of the matters aforesaid shall be conclusive evidence of the debt. |
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| 37. | (a) | Any sum which by the terms of allotment of a Share is made payable upon allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the nominal value of the Share and/or by way of premium, shall for all purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and notified and payable on the date fixed for payment, and in case of non-payment all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture and the like, shall apply as if such sums had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
| (b) | The Board may on the issue of Shares differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the time of payment. |
| 38. | The Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same, and either in money or money’s worth, all or any part of the money uncalled and unpaid or instalments payable upon any Shares held by him, and in respect of all or any of the moneys so advanced may pay interest at such rate (if any) not exceeding 20% per annum, as the Board may decide but a payment in advance of a call shall not entitle the Shareholder to receive any Dividend subsequently declared or to exercise any other rights or privileges as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or the due portion of the Shares upon which payment has been advanced by such Shareholder before it is called up. The Board may at any time repay the amount so advanced upon giving to such Shareholder not less than one Month’s notice in writing of its intention on that behalf, unless before the expiration of such notice the amount so advanced shall have been called up on the Shares in respect of which it was advanced. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
| 39. | Subject to the Companies Act, all transfers of Shares shall be effected by transfer in writing in the usual or common form or in such other form as the Board may accept provided always that it shall be in such a form prescribed by the HK Stock Exchange and may be under hand only or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), under hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other means of execution as the Board may approve from time to time. |
| 40. | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and by or on behalf of the transferee provided that the Board may dispense with the execution of the instrument of transfer by the transferor or the transferee or accept mechanically executed transfers in any case in which it in its absolute discretion thinks fit to do so. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof. Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the Board from recognising a renunciation of the allotment or provisional allotment of any Share by the allottee in favour of some other person. |
| 41. | (a) | The Board may, in its absolute discretion at any time and from time to time, remove any Share on the Principal Register to any Branch Register or any Share on any branch Register to the Principal Register or any other Branch Register. |
| (b) | Unless the Board otherwise agrees (which agreement may be on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board in its absolute discretion may from time to time stipulate, and which agreement it shall, without giving any reason therefore, be entitled in its absolute discretion to give or withhold) no Shares on the Principal Register shall be removed to any Branch Register nor shall Shares on any Branch Register be removed to the Principal Register or any other Branch Register and all removals and other documents of title relating to or affecting the title to any share or other securities of the Company shall be lodged for registration, and be registered, in the case of any Shares on a Branch Register, at the relevant Registration Office, and, in the case of any Shares on the Principal Register, at the Transfer Office. |
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| (c) | Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the Company shall as soon as practicable and on a regular basis record in the Principal Register all removals of Shares effected on any Branch Register and shall at all times maintain the Principal Register and all Branch Registers in all respects in accordance with the Companies Act. |
| 42. | Fully paid Shares shall be free from any restriction with respect to the right of the holder thereof to transfer such Shares (except when permitted by the HK Stock Exchange) and shall also be free from all liens. The Board however, may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register a transfer of any Share which is not fully paid to a person of whom it does not approve or any Share issued under any share option scheme upon which a restriction on transfer imposed thereby still subsists, and it may also refuse to register a transfer of any Share (whether fully paid up or not) to more than four joint holders or a transfer of any Shares (not being a fully paid up Share) on which the Company has a lien. |
| 43. | The Board may also decline to recognise any instrument of transfer unless: |
| (a) | a fee of such maximum as the HK Stock Exchange may from time to time determine to be payable (or such lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require) has been paid to the Company; |
| (b) | the instrument of transfer is lodged at the relevant Registration Office or, as the case may be, the Transfer Office accompanied by the certificate of the Shares to which it relates, and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person so to do); |
| (c) | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Share; |
| (d) | the Shares concerned are free of any lien in favour of the Company; and |
| (e) | if applicable, the instrument of transfer is properly stamped. |
| 44. | The Board may refuse to register a transfer of any Share to an infant or to a person of unsound mind or under other legal disability. |
| 45. | If the Board shall refuse to register a transfer of any Share, it shall, within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal and, except where the subject Share is not a fully paid Share, the reason(s) for such refusal. |
| 46. | Upon every transfer of Shares, the certificate in respect thereof held by the transferor shall be given up to be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled accordingly, and a new certificate shall be issued to the transferee in respect of the Shares transferred to him as provided in Article 18, and if any of the Shares included in the certificate so given up shall be retained by the transferor a new certificate in respect thereof shall be issued to him as provided in Article 18. The Company shall retain the instrument of transfer. |
| 47. | The registration of transfers may be suspended when the Register is closed in accordance with Article 17(d). |
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TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
| 48. | In the case of the death of a Shareholder, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased where he was a sole or only surviving holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the Shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased holder (whether sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any Share solely or jointly held by him. |
| 49. | Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a Shareholder may, upon such evidence as to his title being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board, and subject as hereinafter provided, elect either to be registered himself as holder of the Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the transferee thereof. |
| 50. | If the person becoming entitled to a Share pursuant to Article 49 shall elect to be registered himself as the holder of such Share, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him, at (unless the Board otherwise agrees) the Registration Office, stating that he so elects. If he shall elect to have his nominee registered, he shall testify his election by executing a transfer of such Share to his nominee. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Articles relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfers of Shares shall be applicable to any such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the death, bankruptcy or winding-up of the Shareholder had not occurred and the notice or transfer were a transfer executed by such Shareholder. |
| 51. | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death, bankruptcy or winding-up of the holder shall be entitled to the same Dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the Share. However, the Board may, if it thinks fit, withhold the payment of any Dividend payable or other advantages in respect of such Share until such person shall become the registered holder of the Share or shall have effectually transferred such Share, but, subject to the requirements of Article 92 being met, such a person may vote at general meetings of the Company. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
| 52. | If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment of a call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Board may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of the call or instalment remains unpaid, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 34, serve notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued and which may still accrue up to the date of actual payment. |
| 53. | The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of 14 days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and it shall also name the place where payment is to be made such place being the Registered Office or a Registration Office or another place within the Relevant Territory. The notice shall also state that, in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed, the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
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| 54. | If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends and bonuses declared in respect of the forfeited Share and not actually paid before the forfeiture. The Board may accept the surrender of any Share liable to be forfeited hereunder and in such cases references in these Articles to forfeiture shall include surrender. |
| 55. | Any Share so forfeited shall be deemed to be the property of the Company, and may be re-allotted, sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Board thinks fit and at any time before a sale or disposition, the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Board thinks fit. |
| 56. | A person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited Shares, but shall, nevertheless, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which, at the date of forfeiture, were payable by him to the Company in respect of the forfeited Shares, together with (if the Board shall in its discretion so require) interest thereon from the date of forfeiture until the date of actual payment (including the payment of such interest) at such rate not exceeding 20% per annum as the Board may prescribe, and the Board may enforce the payment thereof if it thinks fit, and without any deduction or allowance for the value of the Shares at the date of forfeiture, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all such moneys in respect of the Shares. For the purposes of this Article any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share, is payable thereon at a fixed time which is subsequent to the date of forfeiture, whether on account of the nominal value of the Share or by way of premium, shall notwithstanding that such time has not yet arrived be deemed to be payable on the date of forfeiture, and the same shall become due and payable immediately upon the forfeiture, but interest thereon shall only be payable in respect of any period between the said fixed time and the date of actual payment. |
| 57. | A certificate in writing that the declarant is a Director or the Secretary, and that a Share has been duly forfeited or surrendered on a date stated in the certificate, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for the Share on any re-allotment, sale or disposition thereof and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the person to whom the Share is re-allotted, sold or disposed of and such person shall thereupon be registered as the holder of the Share, and shall not be bound to see to the application of the subscription or purchase money, (if any), nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, re-allotment, sale or disposal of such Share. |
| 58. | When any Share shall have been forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be given to the Shareholder in whose name it stood immediately prior to the forfeiture, and an entry of the forfeiture, with the date thereof, shall forthwith be made in the Register, but no forfeiture shall be in any manner invalidated by any omission or neglect to give such notice or make any such entry. |
| 59. | Notwithstanding any such forfeiture as aforesaid the Board may at any time, before any Shares so forfeited shall have been re-allotted, sold or otherwise disposed of, cancel the forfeiture on such terms as it thinks fit or permit the Shares so forfeited to be bought back or redeemed upon the terms of payment of all calls and interest due upon and expenses incurred in respect of the Shares, and upon such further terms (if any) as it thinks fit. |
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| 60. | The forfeiture of a Share shall not prejudice the right of the Company to any call already made or any instalment payment thereon. |
| 61. | (a) | The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the nominal value of the Share or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
| (b) | In the event of a forfeiture of Shares the Shareholder shall be bound to deliver and shall forthwith deliver to the Company the certificate or certificates held by him for the Shares so forfeited and in any event the certificates representing Shares so forfeited shall be void and of no further effect. |
TREASURY SHARES
| 62. | Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires (by way of surrender or otherwise) may, at the option of the Company, be cancelled immediately or held as Treasury Shares in accordance with the Companies Act. In the event that the Directors do not specify that the relevant Shares are to be held as Treasury Shares, such Shares shall be cancelled. |
| 63. | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be declared or paid in respect of a Treasury Share. |
| 64. | The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares provided that: |
| (a) | the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; and |
| (b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Companies Act, save that an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share is permitted and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
| 65. | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company on such terms and conditions as determined by the Directors. |
GENERAL MEETINGS
| 66. | Other than the year of the Company’s adoption of these Articles, in each financial year during the Relevant Period, the Company shall hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting in addition to any other meeting in that year and shall specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it. The Company shall hold the annual general meeting within six months after the end of its financial year. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Board may determine. |
| 67. | The Board may, at its absolute discretion, arrange for persons entitled to attend a general meeting to do so by either one or both of the following: (i) physical attendance at a location (the “Meeting Location”) or locations (the “Meeting Locations”) as determined by the Board in its absolute discretion and (ii) virtual attendance by means of electronic facilities as determined by the Board in its absolute discretion. Without prejudice to any other provision of these Articles, any Shareholder or any proxy physically attending in any such way and any Shareholder or any proxy virtually attending in any electronic meeting or any hybrid meeting in any such way is deemed to be present at and shall be counted in the quorum of the meeting. |
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| 68. | All general meetings are subject to the following: |
| (a) | where all the Shareholders or their proxies physically attend at more than one Meeting Location, the meeting shall be treated as having commenced if it has commenced at the Principal Meeting Place; |
| (b) | in the case of a hybrid meeting, the meeting shall be treated as having commenced if it has commenced at the Meeting Location or, if there is more than one Meeting Location, the Principal Meeting Place; |
| (c) | in the case of an electronic meeting, the meeting shall be treated as having commenced if it has commenced at the place where the chair of such meeting is physically present; |
| (d) | Shareholders present in person or by proxy at a Meeting Location and/or Shareholders or their proxies virtually attending any electronic meeting or hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities shall be counted in the quorum for and entitled to vote at the meeting in question, and that meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid provided that, where applicable, the chair of the meeting is satisfied that adequate electronic facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that Shareholders attending and participating at a meeting by means of electronic facilities are able to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened; |
| (e) | subject to Article 70, where Shareholders (and any of their proxies) attend a meeting by being present at one of the Meeting Locations and/or where Shareholders (and any of their proxies) virtually attend any electronic meeting or hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities, a failure (for any reason) of the electronic facilities or communication equipment, or any other failure in the arrangements for enabling those in a Meeting Location other than the Principal Meeting Place to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened or in the case of an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting, the inability of one or more Shareholders or proxies to access, or continue to access, the electronic facilities despite adequate electronic facilities having been made available by the Company, shall not affect the validity of the meeting or the resolutions passed, or any business conducted there or any action taken pursuant to such business provided that there is a quorum present throughout the meeting; |
| (f) | if there is more than one Meeting Location, the provisions of these Articles concerning the service and giving of notice for the meeting, and the time for lodging proxies, shall apply by reference to the Principal Meeting Place; and |
| (g) | in the case of an electronic meeting or (unless Article 68(f) applies) a hybrid meeting, the time for lodging proxies shall be as stated in the notice for the meeting. |
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| 69. | The Board and, at any general meeting, the chair of the meeting may from time to time make arrangements for managing attendance and/or participation and/or voting at the Principal Meeting Place, any other Meeting Location and/or any electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting (whether involving the issue of tickets or some other means of identification, passcode, seat reservation, electronic voting or otherwise) as it shall in its absolute discretion consider appropriate, and may from time to time change any such arrangements. |
| 70. | If it appears to the chair of the general meeting that: |
| (a) | the electronic facilities at the Principal Meeting Place or at any other Meeting Location at which the meeting may be attended have become inadequate for the purposes of conducting the meeting or are otherwise not sufficient to allow the meeting to be conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions set out in the notice of the meeting; |
| (b) | in the case of an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting, electronic facilities being made available by the Company have become inadequate; |
| (c) | it is not possible to ascertain the view of those present or to give all persons entitled to do so a reasonable opportunity to communicate and/or vote at the meeting; or |
| (d) | there is violence or the threat of violence, unruly behaviour or other disruption occurring at the meeting or it is not possible to secure the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting, |
then without prejudice to any other power which the chair of the meeting may have under these Articles or at common law, the chair may, at their absolute discretion, without the consent of the meeting, and before or after the meeting has started and irrespective of whether a quorum is present, interrupt or adjourn the meeting (including adjournment for an indefinite period). All business conducted at the meeting up to the time of such adjournment shall be valid.
| 71. | The Board and, at any general meeting, the chair of the meeting may make any arrangement, determine and/or implement any requirements, procedures or measures which the Board or the chair of the meeting, as the case may be, considers appropriate to ensure the security and facilitate the orderly and effective conduct of a meeting (including, without limitation, requirements for evidence of identity to be produced by those attending the meeting, and determining the number and frequency of and the time allowed for questions that may be raised at a meeting). Shareholders shall also comply with all requirements imposed by the owner of the premises at which the meeting is held. Any decision made under this Article shall be final and conclusive and a person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements or requirements may be refused entry to the meeting or ejected (physically or electronically) from the meeting. |
| 72. | All persons seeking to attend and participate in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting shall be responsible for maintaining adequate facilities to enable them to do so. Subject to Article 70, any inability of a person or persons to attend or participate in a general meeting by way of electronic facilities shall not invalidate the proceedings of and/or resolutions passed at that meeting. |
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| 73. | Without prejudice to Articles 67 to 72, a meeting may also be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such meeting shall be deemed to constitute presence at such meeting |
| 74. | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. All general meetings (including an annual general meeting or any adjourned meeting) may be held as a physical meeting in any part of the world and at one or more locations as provided in Article 67, as a hybrid meeting or as an electronic meeting, as may be determined by the Board. |
| 75. | The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting. Extraordinary general meetings shall also be convened on the requisition of one or more Shareholders holding, at the date of deposit of the requisition, not less than one tenth of the voting rights, on a one vote per Share basis, in the share capital of the Company. Such requisition shall be made in writing to the Board or the Secretary for the purpose of requiring an extraordinary general meeting to be called by the Board for the transaction of any business specified in such requisition. Such meeting shall be held within two Months after the deposit of such requisition. If within 21 days of such deposit, the Board fails to proceed to convene such meeting, the requisitionist(s) himself (themselves) may do so in the same manner, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionist(s) as a result of the failure of the Board shall be reimbursed to the requisitionist(s) by the Company. The requisitionist(s) may add resolutions to the agenda of a general meeting requisitioned under this Article. |
| 76. | An annual general meeting of the Company shall be called by at least 21 days’ notice in writing, and a general meeting of the Company, other than an annual general meeting, shall be called by at least 14 days’ notice in writing. The notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day for which it is given, and shall specify (i) the time, date and agenda of the meeting (ii) save for an electronic meeting, the place of the meeting and if there is more than one Meeting Location as determined by the Board pursuant to Article 67, the principal place of the meeting (such principal place of the meeting being the “Principal Meeting Place”), (iii) if the general meeting is to be a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting, the notice shall include a statement to that effect and with details of the electronic facilities for attendance and participation by electronic means at the meeting or where such details will be made available by the Company prior to the meeting, and (iv) particulars of the resolutions to be considered at that meeting and in the case of special business (as defined in Article 78), the general nature of that business, and shall be given, in manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by the Company in general meeting, to such persons as are, under these Articles, entitled to receive such notices from the Company, provided that a meeting of the Company shall notwithstanding that it is called by shorter notice than that specified in this Article be deemed to have been duly called if it can be demonstrated to the HK Stock Exchange that reasonable written notice can be given in less time, and it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in the case of a meeting called as the annual general meeting, by all the Shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than 95% of the total voting rights at the meeting of all members of the Company. |
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| 77. | (a) | The accidental omission to give any notice to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate any resolution passed or any proceedings at any such meeting. |
| (b) | In the case where forms of proxy or notice of appointment of corporate representative are to be sent out with any notice, the accidental omission to send such forms of proxy or notice of appointment of corporate representative to, or the non-receipt of such forms by, any person entitled to receive notice of the relevant meeting shall not invalidate any resolution passed or any proceeding at any such meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
| 78. | All business shall be deemed special that is transacted at an extraordinary general meeting and also all business shall be deemed special that is transacted at an annual general meeting with the exception of the following, which shall be deemed ordinary business: |
| (a) | the declaration and sanctioning of Dividends; |
| (b) | the consideration and adoption of the accounts and balance sheets and the reports of the Directors and Auditors and other documents required to be annexed to the balance sheets; |
| (c) | the election of Directors in place of those retiring; |
| (d) | the appointment of Auditors; |
| (e) | the fixing of, or the determining of the method of fixing of the remuneration of the Directors and of the Auditors; |
| (f) | the granting of any mandate or authority to the Board to offer, allot, grant options over, or otherwise dispose of the unissued Shares representing not more than 20% (or such other percentage as may from time to time be specified in the Listing Rules) in nominal value of its then existing issued share capital and the number of any securities repurchased pursuant to paragraph (g) of this Article; and |
| (g) | the granting of any mandate or authority to the Board to repurchase securities of the Company. |
| 79. | For all purposes the quorum for a general meeting shall be two Shareholders present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and entitled to vote. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless the requisite quorum shall be present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business and continues to be present until the conclusion of the meeting. |
| 80. | If within 15 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Shareholders, shall be dissolved, but in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week and at such time and place (where applicable) as shall be decided by the Board, and if at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 15 minutes from the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Shareholder or the Shareholders present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting was called. |
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| 81. | The chairman (if any) of the Company or if he is absent or declines to take the chair at such meeting, the vice chairman (if any) of the Company shall take the chair at every general meeting, or, if there be no such chairman or vice chairman, or, if at any general meeting neither of such chairman or vice chairman is present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding such meeting, or both such persons decline to take the chair at such meeting, the Directors present shall choose one of their number as chairman of the meeting, and if no Director be present or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair or if the chairman chosen shall retire from the chair, then the Shareholders present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 82. | The chairman of a general meeting (be it a physical meeting, a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting) may attend, preside as chair at, and conduct proceedings of, such meeting by means of electronic facilities. |
| 83. | Subject to Article 70, the chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of any general meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall, if so directed by the meeting, adjourn any meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place and from one form to another (such as a physical meeting, a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting) as the meeting shall determine. Whenever a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, at least seven clear days’ notice, specifying the details set out in Article 76 shall be given in the same manner as in the case of an original meeting but it shall not be necessary to specify in such notice the nature of the business to be transacted at the adjourned meeting. Save as aforesaid, no notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at any adjourned meeting needs to be given nor shall any Shareholder be entitled to any such notice. No business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than the business which might have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. |
| 84. | At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by poll save that the chairman of the meeting may, pursuant to the Listing Rules, allow a resolution to be voted by a show of hands. Where a show of hands is allowed, before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll may be demanded by: |
| (a) | at least two Shareholders present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy for the time being entitled to vote at the meeting; or |
| (b) | any Shareholder or Shareholders present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights, on a one vote per Share basis, of all the Shareholders having the right to vote at the meeting; or |
| (c) | any Shareholder or Shareholders present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and holding Shares conferring a right to vote at the meeting being Shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the Shares conferring that right. |
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| 85. | Where a resolution is voted on by a show of hands, a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has on a show of hands been carried or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or not carried by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect made in the minute book of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the facts without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution. |
| 86. | A poll shall be taken in such manner (including the use of ballot or voting papers or tickets or other electronic means) and at such time and place as the chairman of the meeting directs. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was required or demanded. In the event that a poll is demanded after the chairman of the meeting allows a show of hands pursuant to Article 84, the demand for a poll may be withdrawn, with the consent of the chairman of the meeting, at any time before the close of the meeting at which the poll was demanded or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier. |
| 87. | Any poll on the election of a chairman of a meeting or on any question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting and without adjournment. |
| 88. | In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. In case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of any vote, the chairman of the meeting shall determine the same, and such determination shall be final and conclusive. |
| 89. | The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which a poll has been demanded. |
| 90. | If an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution under consideration but shall in good faith be ruled out of order by the chairman of the meeting, the proceedings shall not be invalidated by any error in such ruling. In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a Special Resolution no amendment thereto (other than a mere clerical amendment to correct a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon. |
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
| 91. | Subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any class or classes of Shares, at any general meeting on a poll every Shareholder present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy, shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder which is fully paid or credited as fully paid (but so that no amount paid or credited as paid on a Share in advance of calls or instalments shall be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid on the Share), and on a show of hands every Shareholder who is present in person (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy shall (save as provided otherwise in this Article) have one vote. On a poll a Shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all his votes in the same way. Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, where more than one proxy is appointed by a Shareholder which is a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), each such proxy shall have one vote on a show of hands and on a poll, each such proxy is under no obligation to cast all his votes in the same way. |
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| 91A. | Shareholders must have the right to: (a) speak at general meetings of the Company; and (b) vote at a general meeting except where a Shareholder is required, by the Listing Rules, to abstain from voting to approve the matter under consideration. |
| 91B. | Where the Company has knowledge that any Shareholder is, under the Listing Rules, required to abstain from voting on any particular resolution or restricted to voting only for or only against any particular resolution, any votes cast by or on behalf of such Shareholder in contravention of such requirement or restriction shall not be counted. |
| 92. | Any person entitled under Article 51 to be registered as the holder of any Shares may vote at any general meeting in respect thereof in the same manner as if he were the registered holder of such Shares, provided that at least 48 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting (as the case may be) at which he proposes to vote, he shall satisfy the Board of his right to be registered as the holder of such Shares or the Board shall have previously admitted his right to vote at such meeting in respect thereof. |
| 93. | Where there are joint registered holders of any Share, any one of such persons may vote at any meeting, either personally or by proxy, in respect of such Share as if he were solely entitled thereto; but if more than one of such joint holders be present at any meeting personally or by proxy, that one of the said persons so present whose name stands first on the Register in respect of such Share shall alone be entitled to vote in respect thereof. Several executors or administrators of a deceased Shareholder, and several trustees in bankruptcy or liquidators of a Shareholder in whose name any Share stands shall for the purposes of this Article be deemed joint holders thereof. |
| 94. | A Shareholder of unsound mind or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy may vote, whether on a poll or on a show of hands, by his committee or receiver, or other person in the nature of a committee or receiver appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver or other person may vote on a poll by proxy. Evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote shall be delivered to such place or one of such places (if any) as is specified in accordance with these Articles for the deposit of instruments of proxy or, if no place is specified, at the Registration Office, not later than the latest time at which an instrument of proxy must, if it is to be valid for the meeting, be delivered. |
| 95. | Save as expressly provided in these Articles or otherwise determined by the Board, no person other than a Shareholder duly registered and who shall have paid everything for the time being due from him payable to the Company in respect of his Shares shall be entitled to be present or to vote (save as proxy or authorised representative for another Shareholder) whether personally, by proxy or by attorney or to be reckoned in the quorum, at any general meeting. |
| 96. | No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any person exercising or purporting to exercise a vote or the admissibility of any vote except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered, and every vote not disallowed at such meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting, whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
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APPOINTMENT OF PROXY AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE
| 97. | Any Shareholder entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the Company shall be entitled to appoint another person as his proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A Shareholder who is the holder of two or more Shares may appoint more than one proxy to represent him and vote on his behalf at a general meeting of the Company or at a class meeting. A proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Company. On a poll or a show of hands votes may be given either personally (or, in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy. A proxy shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of a Shareholder who is an individual and for whom he acts as proxy as such Shareholder could exercise. In addition, a proxy shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of a Shareholder which is a corporation and for which he acts as proxy as such Shareholder could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder. |
| 98. | No appointment of a proxy shall be valid unless it names the person appointed and his appointor. The Board may, unless it is satisfied that the person purporting to act as proxy is the person named in the relevant instrument for his appointment and the validity and authenticity of the signature of his appointor, decline such person’s admission to the relevant meeting, reject his vote or, in the event that a poll is demanded after the chairman of the meeting allows a show of hands pursuant to Article 84, his demand for a poll and no Shareholder who may be affected by any exercise by the Board of its power in this connection shall have any claim against the Directors or any of them nor may any such exercise by the Board of its powers invalidate the proceedings of the meeting in respect of which they were exercised or any resolution passed or defeated at such meeting. |
| 99. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or if the appointor is a corporation, either under seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. |
| 100. | (a) | The Company may, at its absolute discretion, provide an electronic address for the receipt of any document or information relating to proxies for a general meeting (including any instrument of proxy or invitation to appoint a proxy, any document necessary to show the validity of, or otherwise relating to, an appointment of proxy (whether or not required under these Articles) and notice of termination of the authority of a proxy). If such an electronic address is provided, the Company shall be deemed to have agreed that any such document or information (relating to proxies as aforesaid) may be sent by electronic means to that address, subject as hereafter provided and subject to any other limitations or conditions specified by the Company when providing the address. Without limitation, the Company may from time to time determine that any such electronic address may be used generally for such matters or specifically for particular meetings or purposes and, if so, the Company may provide different electronic addresses for different purposes. The Company may also impose any conditions on the transmission of and its receipt of such electronic communications including, for the avoidance of doubt, imposing any security or encryption arrangements as may be specified by the Company. If any document or information referred to in this Article is sent to the Company by electronic means, such document or information is not treated as validly delivered to or deposited with the Company if the same is not received by the Company at its designated electronic address provided in accordance with this Article or if no electronic address is so designated by the Company for the receipt of such document or information. |
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| (b) | The instrument appointing a proxy and, if requested by the Board, the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at such place or one of such places (if any) as is specified in the notice of meeting or in the instrument of proxy issued by the Company (or, if no place is specified, at the Registration Office) not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting (as the case may be) at which the person named in such instrument proposes to vote, and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. No instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 12 Months from the date of its execution, except at an adjourned meeting where the meeting was originally held within 12 Months from such date. Delivery of an instrument appointing a proxy shall not preclude a Shareholder from attending and voting in person (or in the case of a Shareholder being a corporation, its duly authorised representative) at the meeting concerned and, in such event, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to be revoked. |
| 101. | Every instrument of proxy, whether for a specified meeting or otherwise, shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time approve, provided that it shall not preclude the use of the two-way form. Any form issued to a Shareholder for use by him for appointing a proxy to attend and vote at an extraordinary general meeting or at an annual general meeting at which any business is to be transacted shall be such as to enable the Shareholder, according to his intentions, to instruct the proxy to vote in favour of or against (or, in default of instructions, to exercise his discretion in respect of) each resolution dealing with any such business. |
| 102. | The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a general meeting shall: (i) be deemed to confer authority upon the proxy to demand or join in demanding a poll and to vote on any resolution (or amendment thereto) put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit; and (ii) unless the contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates. |
| 103. | A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or power of attorney or other authority under which the proxy was executed or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer as aforesaid shall have been received by the Company at its Registration Office, or at such other place as is referred to in Article 100(b), at least two hours before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the proxy is used. |
| 104. | (a) | Any corporation which is a Shareholder may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body or by power of attorney, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Shareholders of the Company, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder of the Company. References in these Articles to a Shareholder present in person at a meeting shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include a corporation which is a Shareholder represented at the meeting by such duly authorised representative. |
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| (b) | Where a Shareholder is a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), it may (subject to Article 93) authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative or representatives at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Shareholders, or at any meeting of the creditors of the Company provided that if more than one person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. A person so authorised pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) which he represents as that Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) could exercise as if such person were an individual Shareholder, including the right to speak and vote. |
| 105. | Unless the Board agrees otherwise, an appointment of a corporate representative shall not be valid as against the Company unless: |
| (a) | in the case of such an appointment by a Shareholder which is a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), a written notification of the appointment issued by any director, the secretary or any authorised officer(s) of such Shareholder shall have been delivered at such place or one of such places (if any) as is specified in the notice of meeting or in the form of notice issued by the Company, or handed to the chairman of the meeting at the meeting or, if no place is specified, at the principal place of business maintained by the Company in the Relevant Territory from time to time before the time of holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person so authorised proposes to vote or handed to the chairman of the meeting at the meeting; and |
| (b) | in the case of such an appointment by any other corporate Shareholder, a copy of the resolution of its directors or other governing body of the Shareholder authorising the appointment of the corporate representative or a form of notice of appointment of corporate representative issued by the Company for such purpose or a copy of the relevant power of attorney, together with an up-to-date copy of the Shareholder’s constitutive documents and a list of directors or members of the governing body of the Shareholder as at the date of such resolution, or, as the case may be, power of attorney, in each case certified by a director, secretary or a member of the governing body of that Shareholder and notarised, or, in the case of a form of notice of appointment issued by the Company as aforesaid, completed and signed in accordance with the instructions thereon or in the case of a power of attorney a notarised copy of the relevant authority under which it was signed, shall have been deposited at such place or one of such places (if any) as is specified in the notice of meeting or in the form of notice issued by the Company as aforesaid (or, if no place is specified, at the Registration Office) not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting or poll (as the case may be) at which the corporate representative proposes to vote. |
| 106. | No appointment of a corporate representative shall be valid unless it names the person authorised to act as the appointor’s representative and the appointor is also named. The Board may, unless it is satisfied that a person purporting to act as a corporate representative is the person named in the relevant instrument for his appointment, decline such person’s admission to the relevant meeting and/or reject his vote or demand for a poll and no Shareholder who may be affected by any exercise by the Board of its power in this connection shall have any claim against the Board or any of them nor may any such exercise by the Board of its powers invalidate the proceedings of the meeting in respect of which they were exercised or any resolution passed or defeated at such meeting. |
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REGISTERED OFFICE
| 107. | The Registered Office of the Company shall be at such place in the Cayman Islands as the Board shall from time to time decide. |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| 108. | The number of Directors shall not be less than two (2). The Company shall keep at its Registered Office a register of its directors and officers in accordance with the Companies Act. |
| 109. | A Director may at any time, by notice in writing signed by him delivered to the Registered Office or at the Head Office or at a meeting of the Board, appoint any person (including another Director) to act as alternate Director in his place during his absence and may in like manner at any time terminate such appointment. If such person is not another Director such appointment unless previously approved by the Board shall have effect only upon and subject to being so approved. The appointment of an alternate Director shall terminate on the happening of any event which, were he a Director, would cause him to vacate such office or if his appointor ceases to be a Director. An alternate Director may act as alternate to more than one Director. |
| 110. | (a) | An alternate Director shall (subject to his giving to the Company an address, telephone and facsimile number within the territory of the Head Office for the time being for the giving of notices on him and except when absent from the territory in which the Head Office is for the time being situate) be entitled (in addition to his appointor) to receive and (in lieu of his appointor) to waive notices of meetings of the Board and of any committee of the Board of which his appointor is a member and shall be entitled to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present and generally at such meeting to perform all the functions of his appointor as a Director and for the purposes of the proceedings at such meeting the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if he (instead of his appointor) were a Director. If he shall be himself a Director or shall attend any such meeting as an alternate for more than one Director his voting rights shall be cumulative. If his appointor is for the time being absent from the territory in which the Head Office is for the time being situate or otherwise not available or unable to act, his signature to any resolution in writing of the Directors or any such committee shall be as effective as the signature of his appointor. His attestation of the affixing of the Seal shall be as effective as the signature and attestation of his appointor. An alternate Director shall not, save as aforesaid, have power to act as a Director nor shall he be deemed to be a Director for the purposes of these Articles. |
| (b) | An alternate Director shall be entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements or transactions and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified to the same extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director, but he shall not be entitled to receive from the Company in respect of his appointment as alternate Director any remuneration except only such part (if any) of the ordinary remuneration otherwise payable to his appointor as such appointor may by notice in writing to the Company from time to time direct. |
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| (c) | A certificate by a Director (including for the purpose of this paragraph (c) an alternate Director) or the Secretary that a Director (who may be the one signing the certificate) was at the time of a resolution of the Directors or any committee thereof absent from the territory of the Head Office or otherwise not available or unable to act or has not supplied an address, telephone and facsimile number within the territory of the Head Office for the purposes of giving of notice to him shall in favour of all persons without express notice to the contrary, be conclusive of the matter so certified. |
| 111. | A Director or an alternate Director shall not be required to hold any qualification Shares but shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at all general meetings of the Company and all meetings of any class of Shareholders of the Company. |
| 112. | The Directors shall be entitled to receive by way of ordinary remuneration for their services as Directors such sum as shall from time to time be determined by the Company in general meeting or by the Board, such sum (unless otherwise directed by the resolution by which it is voted) to be divided amongst the Directors in such proportions and in such manner as they may agree, or failing agreement, equally, except that in such event any Director holding office for less than the whole of the relevant period in respect of which the ordinary remuneration is paid shall only rank in such division in proportion to the time during such period for which he has held office. Such remuneration shall be in addition to any other remuneration to which a Director who holds any salaried employment or office in the Company may be entitled by reason of such employment or office. |
| 113. | The Directors shall also be entitled to be repaid all travelling, hotel and other expenses reasonably incurred by them respectively in or about the performance of their duties as Directors, including their expenses of travelling to and from Board meetings, committee meetings or general meetings or otherwise incurred whilst engaged on the business of the Company or in the discharge of their duties as Directors. |
| 114. | The Board may grant special remuneration to any Director who shall perform or has performed any special or extra services at the request of the Company. Such special remuneration may be made payable to such Director in addition to or in substitution for his ordinary remuneration as a Director, and may be made payable by way of salary, commission or participation in profits or otherwise as may be arranged. |
| 115. | Notwithstanding Articles 100, 101 and 102, the remuneration of a managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director or an executive director or a Director appointed to any other office in the management of the Company may from time to time be fixed by the Board and may be by way of salary, commission, or participation in profits or otherwise or by all or any of those modes and with such other benefits (including pension and/or gratuity and/or other benefits on retirement) and allowances as the Board may from time to time decide. Such remuneration shall be in addition to his ordinary remuneration as a Director. |
| 116. | (a) | Payments to any Director or past director of the Company of any sum by way of compensation for loss of office or as consideration for or in connection with his retirement from office (not being a payment to which the director of the Company or past director is contractually or statutorily entitled) must be approved by the Company in general meeting. |
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| (b) | Except as would, if the Company were a company incorporated in Hong Kong, be permitted by the Companies Ordinance as in force at the date of adoption of these Articles, and except as permitted under the Companies Act, the Company shall not directly or indirectly: |
| (i) | make a loan to a Director or a director of any Holding Company of the Company or any of their respective Close Associates; |
| (ii) | enter into any guarantee or provide any security in connection with a loan made by any person to a Director or a director of any Holding Company of the Company or any of their respective Close Associates; or |
| (iii) | if any one or more of the Directors hold (jointly or severally or directly or indirectly) a controlling interest in another company, make a loan to that other company or enter into any guarantee or provide any security in connection with a loan made by any person to that other company. |
| (c) | Article 116(a) and (b) shall only apply during the Relevant Period. |
| 117. | A Director shall vacate his office: |
| (a) | if he becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors generally; or |
| (b) | if he dies or becomes of unsound mind as determined pursuant to an order made by any competent court or official on the grounds that he is or may be suffering from mental disorder or is otherwise incapable of managing his affairs and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or |
| (c) | if he absents himself from the meetings of the Board during a continuous period of six months, without special leave of absence from the Board, and his alternate Director (if any) shall not during such period have attended in his stead, and the Board pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated his office; or |
| (d) | if he becomes prohibited by law from acting as a Director, or he ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of law or is removed from office pursuant to these Articles; or |
| (e) | if he has been validly required by the stock exchange of the Relevant Territory to cease to be a Director and the relevant time period for application for review of or appeal against such requirement has lapsed and no application for review or appeal has been filed or is underway against such requirement; or |
| (f) | if by notice in writing delivered to the Company at its Registered Office or at the Head Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board he resigns his office; or |
| (g) | if he shall be removed from office by an Ordinary Resolution of the Company under Article 126; or |
| (h) | if he shall be removed from the office by notice in writing served on him signed by not less than ¾ in number (or if that is not a round number, the nearest lower round number) of the Directors (including himself) then in office. |
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| 118. | No Director shall be required to vacate office or be ineligible for re-election or re-appointment as a Director, and no person shall be ineligible for appointment as a Director by reason only of his having attained any particular age. |
| 119. | (a) | No Director or intended Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise nor shall any such contract or any contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company with any person, company or partnership of or in which any Director shall be a member or otherwise interested be capable on that account of being avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being any member or so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit so realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason only of such Director holding that office or the fiduciary relationship thereby established, provided that such Director shall, if his interest in such contract or arrangement is material, declare the nature of his interest at the earliest meeting of the Board at which it is practicable for him to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice stating that, by reason of the facts specified in the notice, he is to be regarded as interested in any contracts of a specified description which may subsequently be made by the Company. |
| (b) | Any Director may continue to be or become a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of any other company in which the Company may be interested and (unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Director) no such Director shall be liable to account to the Company or the Shareholders for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of any such other company. The Directors may exercise the voting powers conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company, or exercisable by them as directors of such other company in such manner in all respects as they think fit (including the exercise thereof in favour of any resolution appointing themselves or any of them as directors, managing directors, joint managing directors, deputy managing director, executive directors, managers or other officers of such company) and any Director may vote in favour of the exercise of such voting rights in the manner aforesaid notwithstanding that he may be, or is about to be, appointed a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer of such a company, and that as such he is or may become interested in the exercise of such voting rights in the manner aforesaid. |
| (c) | A Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of Auditors) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine, and may be paid such extra remuneration therefor (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profit or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and such extra remuneration shall be in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Articles. |
| (d) | A Director shall not vote (nor shall he be counted in the quorum) on any resolution of the Board in respect of any contract or arrangement or proposal in which he or any of his Close Associate(s) has/have a material interest, and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted (nor shall he be counted in the quorum for that resolution), but this prohibition shall not apply to any of the following matters namely: |
| (i) | the giving of any security or indemnity either: |
| (A) | to the Director or his Close Associate(s) in respect of money lent or obligations incurred or undertaken by him or any of them at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or |
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| (B) | to a third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the Director or his Close Associate(s) has himself/ themselves assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security; |
| (ii) | any proposal concerning an offer of shares or debentures or other securities of or by the Company or any other company which the Company may promote or be interested in for subscription or purchase where the Director or his Close Associate(s) is/are or is/are to be interested as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of the offer; |
| (iii) | any proposal or arrangement concerning the benefit of employees of the Company or its subsidiaries including: |
| (A) | the adoption, modification or operation of any employees’ share scheme or any share incentive or share option scheme under which the Director or his Close Associate(s) may benefit; or |
| (B) | the adoption, modification or operation of a pension fund or retirement, death or disability benefits scheme which relates both to Directors, his Close Associates and employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and does not provide in respect of any Director or his Close Associate(s), as such any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the class of persons to which such scheme or fund relates; and |
| (iv) | any contract or arrangement in which the Director or his Close Associate(s) is/ are interested in the same manner as other holders of shares or debentures or other securities of the Company by virtue only of his/their interest in shares or debentures or other securities of the Company. |
| (e) | Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including fixing or varying the terms of or terminating the appointment) of two or more Directors to offices or employments with the Company or any company in which the Company is interested, such proposals shall be divided and considered in relation to each Director separately and in such case each of the Directors concerned (if not prohibited from voting under paragraph (d)) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution except that concerning his own appointment. |
| (f) | If any question shall arise at any meeting of the Board as to the materiality of the interest of a Director (other than the chairman of the meeting) or his Close Associates or as to the entitlement of any Director (other than the chairman of the meeting) to vote or be counted in the quorum and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or not to be counted in the quorum, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to such other Director shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the Director or his Close Associates concerned as known to such Director has not been fairly disclosed to the Board. If any question as aforesaid shall arise in respect of the chairman of the meeting or his Close Associates such question shall be decided by a resolution of the Board (for which purpose such chairman shall not be counted in the quorum and shall not vote thereon) and such resolution shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of such chairman or his Close Associates as known to him has not been fairly disclosed to the Board. |
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APPOINTMENT AND ROTATION OF DIRECTORS
| 120. | (a) | Notwithstanding any other provisions in these Articles, at each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the time being, or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to but not less than one-third, shall retire from office by rotation provided that every Director (including those appointed for a specific term) shall be subject to retirement by rotation at least once every three years. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election. The Company at the general meeting at which a Director retires may fill the vacated office. |
| (b) | The Directors to retire by rotation shall include (so far as necessary to obtain the number required) any Director who wishes to retire and not to offer himself for re-election. Any Director who has not been subject to retirement by rotation in the three years preceding the annual general meeting shall retire by rotation at such annual general meeting. Any further Directors so to retire shall be those who have been longest in office since their last re-election or appointment and so that as between persons who became or were last re-elected Directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot. |
| (c) | A Director is not required to retire upon reaching any particular age. |
| 121. | If at any general meeting at which an election of Directors ought to take place, the places of the retiring Directors are not filled, the retiring Directors or such of them as have not had their places filled shall be deemed to have been re-elected and shall, if willing, continue in office until the next annual general meeting and so on from year to year until their places are filled, unless: |
| (a) | it shall be determined at such meeting to reduce the number of Directors; or |
| (b) | it is expressly resolved at such meeting not to fill such vacated offices; or |
| (c) | in any such case the resolution for re-election of a Director is put to the meeting and lost; or |
| (d) | such Director has given notice in writing to the Company that he is not willing to be re-elected. |
| 122. | The Company in general meeting may from time to time fix and may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the maximum and minimum number of Directors but so that the number of Directors shall not be less than two (2). |
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| 123. | The Company may from time to time in general meeting by Ordinary Resolution elect any person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director. Any Director so appointed shall be subject to retirement by rotation pursuant to Article 120. |
| 124. | The Board shall have power from time to time and at any time to appoint any person as a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director but so that the number of Directors so appointed shall not exceed the maximum number determined from time to time by the Shareholders in general meeting. Any Director appointed by the Board to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only until the first annual general meeting of the Company after his appointment and be subject to re-election at such meeting. Any Director appointed by the Board as an addition to the existing Board shall hold office only until the next annual general meeting of the Company after his appointment and shall then be eligible for re-election. Any Director appointed under this Article shall not be taken into account in determining the Directors or the number of Directors who are to retire by rotation at an annual general meeting. |
| 125. | No person, other than a retiring Director, shall, unless recommended by the Board for election, be eligible for election to the office of Director at any general meeting, unless notice in writing of the intention to propose that person for election as a Director and notice in writing by that person of his willingness to be elected shall have been lodged at the Head Office or at the Registration Office. The period for lodgement of the notices required under this Article will commence no earlier than the day after the despatch of the notice of the general meeting appointed for such election and end no later than seven days prior to the date of such general meeting and the minimum length of the period during which such notices to the Company may be given will be at least seven days. |
| 126. | The Shareholders may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director (including a managing director or other executive director) before the expiration of his term of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim which such Director may have for damages for any breach of any contract between him and the Company) and may by Ordinary Resolution elect another person in his stead. Any Director so appointed shall be subject to retirement by rotation pursuant to Article 120. |
BORROWING POWERS
| 127. | The Board may from time to time at its discretion exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow or to secure the payment of any sum or sums of money for the purposes of the Company and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof. |
| 128. | The Board may raise or secure the payment or repayment of such sum or sums in such manner and upon such terms and conditions in all respects as it thinks fit and in particular but subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, by the issue of debentures, debenture stock, bonds or other securities of the Company, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
| 129. | Debentures, debenture stock, bonds and other securities (other than Shares which are not fully paid) may be made assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person to whom the same may be issued. |
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| 130. | Any debentures, debenture stock, bonds or other securities (other than Shares) may be issued at a discount, premium or otherwise and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment or subscription of or conversion into Shares, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of Directors and otherwise. |
| 131. | The Directors shall cause a proper register to be kept, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, of all mortgages and charges specifically affecting the property of the Company and shall duly comply with such provisions of the Companies Act with regard to the registration of mortgages and charges as may be specified or required. |
| 132. | If the Company issues a series of debentures or debenture stock not transferable by delivery, the Board shall cause a proper register to be kept of the holders of such debentures. |
| 133. | Where any uncalled capital of the Company is charged, all persons taking any subsequent charge thereon shall take the same subject to such prior charge, and shall not be entitled, by notice to the Shareholders or otherwise, to obtain priority over such prior charge. |
MANAGING DIRECTORS, ETC.
| 134. | The Board may from time to time appoint any one or more of them to the office of managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director or other executive director and/ or such other office in the management of the business of the Company as it may decide for such period and upon such terms as it thinks fit and upon such terms as to remuneration as it may decide in accordance with Article 115. |
| 135. | Every Director appointed to an office under Article 134 hereof shall, but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between himself and the Company, be liable to be dismissed or removed therefrom by the Board. |
| 136. | A Director appointed to an office under Article 134 shall be subject to the same provisions as to resignation and removal as the other Directors of the Company, and he shall ipso facto and immediately cease to hold such office if he shall cease to hold the office of Director for any cause. |
| 137. | The Board may from time to time entrust to and confer upon a chairman, vice chairman, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director or executive director all or any of the powers of the Board that it may think fit provided that the exercise of all powers by such Director shall be subject to such regulations and restrictions as the Board may from time to time make and impose, and, subject to the terms thereof, the said powers may at any time be withdrawn, revoked or varied, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such withdrawal, revocation or variation shall be affected thereby. |
| 138. | The Board may from time to time appoint any person to an office or employment having a designation or title including the word “director” or attach to any existing office or employment with the Company such a designation or title. The inclusion of the word “director” in the designation or title of any office or employment with the Company (other than the office of managing director or joint managing director or deputy managing director or executive director) shall not imply that the holder thereof is a Director nor shall such holder be empowered in any respect to act as a Director or be deemed to be a Director for any of the purposes of these Articles. |
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MANAGEMENT
| 139. | The business of the Company shall be managed by the Board who, in addition to the powers and authorities by these Articles expressly conferred upon it, may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done or approved by the Company and are not hereby or by the Companies Act expressly directed or required to be exercised or done by the Company in general meeting, but subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Companies Act and of these Articles and to any regulations from time to time made by the Company in general meeting not being inconsistent with such provisions or these Articles, provided that no regulation so made shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such regulation had not been made. |
| 140. | Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by these Articles, it is hereby expressly declared that the Board shall have the following powers: |
| (a) | to give to any person the right or option of requiring at a future date that an allotment shall be made to him of any Share at par or at such premium and on such other terms as may be agreed; and |
| (b) | to give to any Directors, officers or employees of the Company an interest in any particular business or transaction or participation in the profits thereof or in the general profits of the Company either in addition to or in substitution for a salary or other remuneration. |
MANAGERS
| 141. | The Board may from time to time appoint a general manager, manager or managers of the business of the Company and may fix his or their remuneration either by way of salary or commission or by conferring the right to participation in the profits of the Company or by a combination of two or more of these modes and pay the working expenses of any of the staff of the general manager, manager or managers who may be employed by him or them upon the business of the Company. |
| 142. | The appointment of such general manager, manager or managers may be for such period as the Board may decide and the Board may confer upon him or them all or any of the powers of the Board and such title or titles as it may think fit. |
| 143. | The Board may enter into such agreement or agreements with any such general manager, manager or managers upon such terms and conditions in all respects as it may in its absolute discretion think fit, including a power for such general manager, manager or managers to appoint an assistant manager or managers or other employees whatsoever under them for the purpose of carrying on the business of the Company. |
CHAIRMAN AND OTHER OFFICERS
| 144. | The Board may from time to time elect or otherwise appoint one of them to the office of chairman of the Company and another to be the vice chairman of the Company (or two or more vice Chairmen) and determine the period for which each of them is to hold office. The chairman of the company or, in his absence, the vice chairman of the Company shall preside as chairman at meetings of the Board, but if no such chairman or vice chairman be elected or appointed, or if at any meeting the chairman or vice chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same and willing to act, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of such meeting. All the provisions of Articles 115, 120, 149, 150 and 151 shall mutatis mutandis apply to any Directors elected or otherwise appointed to any office in accordance with the provisions of this Article. |
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE DIRECTORS
| 145. | The Board may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings and proceedings as it thinks fit and may determine the quorum necessary for the transaction of business. Unless otherwise determined two Directors shall be a quorum. For the purpose of this Article an alternate Director shall be counted in a quorum separately in respect of himself (if a Director) and in respect of each Director for whom he is an alternate and his voting rights shall be cumulative and he need not use all his votes or cast all his votes in the same way. A meeting of the Board or any committee of the Board may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. |
| 146. | A Director may, and on the request of a Director the Secretary shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board which may be held in any part of the world, but no such meeting shall be summoned to be held outside the territory in which the Head Office is for the time being situate without the prior approval of the Board. Notice thereof shall be given to each Director and alternate Director in person orally or in writing or by telephone or by telex or telegram or facsimile transmission at the telephone or facsimile number or address from time to time notified to the Company by such Director or in such other manner as the Board may from time to time determine. A Director absent or intending to be absent from the territory in which the Head Office is for the time being situate may request the Board or the Secretary that notices of Board meetings shall during his absence be sent in writing to him at his last known address, facsimile or telex number or any other address, facsimile or telex number given by him to the Company for this purpose, but such notices need not be given any earlier than notices given to the other Directors not so absent and in the absence of any such request it shall not be necessary to give notice of a Board meeting to any Director who is for the time being absent from such territory. |
| 147. | Subject to Article 119, questions arising at any meeting of the Board shall be decided by a majority of votes, and in case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. |
| 148. | A meeting of the Board for the time being at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all or any of the authorities, powers and discretions by or under these Articles for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board generally. |
| 149. | The Board may delegate any of its powers to committees consisting of such member(s) of them and such other person(s) as it thinks fit, and it may from time to time revoke such delegation or revoke the appointment of and discharge any such committees either wholly or in part, and either as to persons or purposes, but every committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may from time to time be imposed upon it by the Board. |
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| 150. | All acts done by any such committee in conformity with such regulations and in fulfilment of the purposes for which it is appointed, but not otherwise, shall have the like force and effect as if done by the Board, and the Board shall have power, with the consent of the Company in general meeting, to remunerate the members of any special committee, and charge such remuneration to the current expenses of the Company. |
| 151. | The meetings and proceedings of any such committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions herein contained for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board so far as the same are applicable thereto and are not replaced by any regulations imposed by the Board pursuant to Article 149. |
| 152. | All acts bona fide done by any meeting of the Board or by any such committee or by any person acting as a Director shall, notwithstanding that it shall be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of such Director or persons acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director or member of such committee. |
| 153. | The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but, if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of the Board meeting, the continuing Director or Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number of the necessary quorum or of summoning a general meeting of the Company but for no other purpose. |
| 154. | (a) | A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors (or their respective alternate Directors) shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened and held. Any such resolutions in writing may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more of the Directors or alternate Directors. |
| (b) | Where a Director is, on the date on which a resolution in writing is last signed by a Director, absent from the territory in which the Head Office is for the time being situated, or cannot be contacted at his last known address or contact telephone or facsimile number, or is temporarily unable to act through ill-health or disability and, in each case, his alternate (if any) is affected by any of these events, the signature of such Director (or his alternate) to the resolution shall not be required, and the resolution in writing, so long as such a resolution shall have been signed by at least two Directors or their respective alternates who are entitled to vote thereon or such number of Directors as shall form a quorum, shall be deemed to have been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened and held, provided that a copy of such resolution has been given or the contents thereof communicated to all the Directors (or their respective alternates) for the time being entitled to receive notices of meetings of the Board at their respective last known address, telephone or facsimile number or, if none, at the Head Office and provided further that no Director is aware of or has received from any Director any objection to the resolution. |
| (c) | A certificate signed by a Director (who may be one of the signatories to the relevant resolution in writing) or the Secretary as to any of the matters referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Article shall in the absence of express notice to the contrary of the person relying thereon, be conclusive of the matters stated on such certificate. |
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MINUTES AND CORPORATE RECORDS
| 155. | (a) | The Board shall cause minutes to be made of: |
| (i) | all appointments of officers made by it; |
| (ii) | the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Board and of committees appointed pursuant to Article 149; and |
| (iii) | all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company and of the Board and of such committees. |
| (b) | Any such minutes shall be conclusive evidence of any such proceedings if they purport to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting. |
SECRETARY
| 156. | The Secretary shall be appointed by the Board for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as it may think fit, and any Secretary so appointed may, without prejudice to his right under any contract with the Company, be removed by the Board. Anything by the Companies Act or these Articles required or authorised to be done by or to the Secretary, if the office is vacant or there is for any other reason no Secretary capable of acting, may be done by or to any assistant or deputy Secretary, or if there is no assistant or deputy Secretary capable of acting, by or to any officer of the Company authorised generally or specifically on behalf of the Board. |
| 157. | The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Shareholders and shall keep correct minutes of such meetings and enter the same in the proper books provided for the purpose. He shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Companies Act and these Articles, together with such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. |
| 158. | A provision of the Companies Act or of these Articles requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as, or in place of the Secretary. |
GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND USE OF THE SEAL
| 159. | (a) | Subject to the Companies Act, the Company shall have one or more Seals as the Board may determine, and may have a Seal for use outside the Cayman Islands. The Board shall provide for the safe custody of each Seal, and no Seal shall be used without the authority of the Board or a committee authorised by the Board in that behalf. |
| (b) | Every instrument to which a Seal shall be affixed shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary, or by two Directors, or by any person or persons (including a Director and/or the Secretary) appointed by the Board for the purpose, provided that as regards any certificates for Shares or Debentures or other securities of the Company, the Board may by resolution determine that such signatures or either of them shall be dispensed with or affixed by some method or system of mechanical signature other than autographic or may be printed thereon as specified in such resolution or that such certificates need not be signed by any person. |
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| (c) | The Company may have a Securities Seal for use for sealing certificates for shares or other securities issued by the Company and no signature of any Director, officer or other person and no mechanical reproduction thereof shall be required on any such certificates or other document and any such certificates or other document to which such Securities Seal is affixed shall be valid and deemed to have been sealed and executed with the authority of the Board notwithstanding the absence of any such signature or mechanical reproduction as aforesaid. The Board may by resolution determine that the affixation of Securities Seal on certificates for shares or other securities issued by the Company be dispensed with or be affixed by printing the image of the Securities Seal on such certificates. |
| 160. | All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments, and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine. The Company’s banking accounts shall be kept with such banker or bankers as the Board shall from time to time determine. |
| 161. | (a) | The Board may from time to time and at any time, by power of attorney under the Seal, appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. |
| (b) | The Company may, by writing under its Seal, empower any person, either generally or in respect of any specified matter, as its attorney to execute deeds and instruments on its behalf and to enter into contracts and sign the same on its behalf and every deed signed by such attorney on behalf of the Company and under his seal shall bind the Company and have the same effect as if it were under the Seal duly affixed by the Company. |
| 162. | The Board may establish any committees, regional or local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company, either in the Relevant Territory or elsewhere, and may appoint any persons to be members of such committees, regional or local boards or agencies and may fix their remuneration, and may delegate to any committee, regional or local board or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in the Board (other than its powers to make calls and forfeit Shares), with power to sub-delegate, and may authorise the members of any regional or local board or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies, and any such appointment or delegation may be upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board may think fit, and the Board may remove any person so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby. |
| 163. | The Board may establish and maintain or procure the establishment and maintenance of any contributory or non-contributory pension or superannuation funds or personal pension plans for the benefit of, or give or procure the giving of donations, gratuities, pensions, allowances or emoluments to, any persons who are or were at any time in the employment or service of the Company, or of any company which is a subsidiary of the Company, or is allied or associated with the Company or with any such subsidiary company, or who are or were at any time directors or officers of the Company or of any such other company as aforesaid, and holding or who have held any salaried employment or office in the Company or such other company, and the spouses, widows, widowers, families and dependants of any such persons. The Board may also establish and subsidise or subscribe to any institutions, associations, clubs or funds calculated to be for the benefit of or to advance the interests and well-being of the Company or of any such other company as aforesaid or of any such persons as aforesaid, and may make payments for or towards the insurance of any such persons as aforesaid, and subscribe or guarantee money for charitable or benevolent objects or for any exhibition or for any public, general or useful object. The Board may do any of the matters aforesaid, either alone or in conjunction with any such other company as aforesaid. Any Director holding any such employment or office shall be entitled to participate in and retain for his own benefit any such donation, gratuity, pension, allowance or employment. |
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AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS
| 164. | (a) | Any Director or the Secretary or other authorised officer of the Company shall have power to authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolutions passed by the Company or the Board or any committee, and any books, records, documents and accounts relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true copies of extracts; and where any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at the Registered Office or the Head Office, the local manager or such other officer of the Company having the custody thereof shall be deemed to be the authorised officer of the Company as aforesaid. |
| (b) | A document purporting to be a document so authenticated or a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting, of the Company or of the Board or any local board or committee, or of any books, records, documents or accounts or extracts therefrom as aforesaid, and which is certified as aforesaid, shall be conclusive evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon the faith thereof that the document authenticated (or, if this be authenticated as aforesaid, the matter so authenticated) is authentic or, as the case may be, that such resolution has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that any minute so extracted is a true and accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting or, as the case may be, that the copies of such books, records, documents or accounts were true copies of their originals or as the case may be, the extracts of such books, records, documents or accounts are true and accurate records of the books, records, documents or accounts from which they were extracted. |
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
| 165. | (a) | The Company in general meeting may, upon the recommendation of the Board, resolve to capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts which are available for distribution (including its share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund, subject to the Companies Act) and to appropriate such sums to the holders of Shares on the Register at the close of business on the date of the relevant resolution (or such other date as may be specified therein or determined as provided therein) in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. |
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| (b) | Subject to the Companies Act, whenever such a resolution as aforesaid shall have been passed, the Board shall make all appropriations and applications of the reserves or profits and undivided profits resolved to be capitalised thereby, and attend to all allotments and issues of fully paid Shares, debentures, or other securities and generally shall do all acts and things required to give effect thereto. For the purpose of giving effect to any resolution under this Article, the Board may settle any difficulty which may arise in regard to a capitalisation issue as it thinks fit, and in particular may disregard fractional entitlements or round the same up or down and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Shareholders in lieu of fractional entitlements or that fractions of such value as the Board may determine may be disregarded in order to adjust the rights of all parties or that fractional entitlements shall be aggregated and sold and the benefit shall accrue to the Company rather than to the Shareholders concerned, and no Shareholders who are affected thereby shall be deemed to be, and they shall be deemed not to be, a separate class of Shareholders by reason only of the exercise of this power. The Board may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all Shareholders interested in a capitalisation issue any agreement with the Company or other(s) providing for such capitalisation and matters in connection therewith and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding upon all concerned. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such agreement may provide for the acceptance by such persons of the Shares, debentures or other securities to be allotted and distributed to them respectively in satisfaction of their claims in respect of the sum so capitalised. |
| (c) | The provisions of paragraph (e) of Article 172 shall apply to the power of the Company to capitalise under this Article as it applies to the grant of election thereunder mutatis mutandis and no Shareholder who may be affected thereby shall be, and they shall be deemed not to be, a separate class of Shareholders by reason only of the exercise of this power. |
DIVIDENDS AND RESERVES
| 166. | Subject to the Companies Act and these Articles, the Company in general meeting may declare Dividends in any currency but no Dividends shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board. |
| 167. | (a) | The Board may subject to Article 168 from time to time pay to the Shareholders such interim Dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the financial conditions and the profits of the Company and, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes, the Board may pay such interim Dividends in respect of those Shares in the capital of the Company which confer to the holders thereof deferred or non-preferential rights as well as in respect of those Shares which confer on the holders thereof preferential rights with regard to Dividend and provided that the Board acts bona fide it shall not incur any responsibility to the holders of Shares conferring any preference for any damage that they may suffer by reason of the payment of an interim Dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferential rights. |
| (b) | The Board may also pay half-yearly or at other suitable intervals to be settled by it any Dividend which may be payable at a fixed rate if the Board is of the opinion that the financial conditions and the profits of the Company justify the payment. |
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| (c) | The Board may in addition from time to time declare and pay special Dividends of such amounts and on such dates and out of such distributable funds of the Company as it thinks fit, and the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article as regards the power and exemption from liability of the Board as relate to the declaration and payment of interim Dividends shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the declaration and payment of any such special Dividends. |
| 168. | (a) | No Dividend shall be declared or paid or shall be made otherwise than in accordance with the Companies Act. |
| (b) | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act but without prejudice to paragraph (a) of this Article, where any asset, business or property is bought by the Company as from a past date (whether such date be before or after the incorporation of the Company) the profits and losses thereof as from such date may at the discretion of the Board in whole or in part be carried to revenue account and treated for all purposes as profits or losses of the Company, and be available for Dividend accordingly. Subject as aforesaid, if any Shares or securities are purchased cum Dividend or interest, such Dividend or interest may at the discretion of the Board be treated as revenue, and it shall not be obligatory to capitalise the same or any part thereof or to apply the same towards reduction of or writing down the book cost of the asset, business or property acquired. |
| (c) | Subject to paragraph (d) of this Article all Dividends and other distributions in respect of Shares shall be stated and discharged, in the case of Shares denominated in Hong Kong dollars, in Hong Kong dollars, and in the case of Shares denominated in any other currency, in such other currency, provided that, in the case of Shares denominated in Hong Kong dollars, the Board may determine in the case of any distribution that Shareholders may elect to receive the same in any other currency selected by the Board, converted at such rate of exchange as the Board may determine. |
| (d) | If, in the opinion of the Board, any Dividend or other distribution in respect of Shares or any other payment to be made by the Company to any Shareholder is of such a small amount as to make payment to that Shareholder in the relevant currency impracticable or unduly expensive either for the Company or the Shareholder then such Dividend or other distribution or other payment may, at the absolute discretion of the Board, be, if this be practicable, converted at such rate of exchange as the Board may determine and paid or made in the currency of the country of the relevant Shareholder (as indicated by the address of such Shareholder on the Register). |
| 169. | Notice of the declaration of an interim Dividend shall be given in such manner as the Board shall determine. |
| 170. | No Dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a Share shall bear interest as against the Company. |
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| 171. | Whenever the Board or the Company in general meeting has resolved that a Dividend be paid or declared, the Board may further resolve that such Dividend be satisfied wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets of any kind and in particular of paid up shares, debentures or warrants to subscribe securities of any other company, or in any one or more of such ways, with or without offering any rights to Shareholders to elect to receive such Dividend in cash, and where any difficulty arises in regard to the distribution the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient, and in particular may disregard fractional entitlements or round the same up or down, and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets, or any part thereof, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Shareholders upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties and may determine that fractional entitlements shall be aggregated and sold and the benefit shall accrue to the Company rather than to the Shareholders concerned, and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board and may authorise any person to sign any requisite instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of all Shareholders interested in the Dividend and such instrument and document shall be effective. The Board may further authorise any person to enter into on behalf of all Shareholders having an interest in any agreement with the Company or other(s) providing for such Dividend and matters in connection therewith and any such agreement made under such authority shall be effective. The Board may resolve that no such assets shall be made available or made to Shareholders with registered addresses in any particular territory or territories being a territory or territories where, in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities, this would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable or the legality or practicality of which may be time consuming or expensive to ascertain whether in absolute terms or in relation to the value of the holding of Shares of the Shareholder concerned and in any such event the only entitlement of the Shareholders aforesaid shall be to receive cash payments as aforesaid. Shareholders affected as a result of exercise by the Board of its discretion under this Article shall not be, and shall be deemed not to be, a separate class of Shareholders for any purposes whatsoever. |
| 172. | (a) | Whenever the Board or the Company in general meeting has resolved that a Dividend be paid or declared on the share capital of the Company, the Board may further resolve, either: |
| (i) | that such Dividend be satisfied wholly or in part in the form of an allotment of Shares credited as fully paid on the basis that the Shares so allotted shall be of the same class or classes as the class or classes already held by the allottee, provided that the Shareholders entitled thereto will be entitled to elect to receive such Dividend (or part thereof) in cash in lieu of such allotment. In such case, the following provisions shall apply: |
| (A) | the basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board; |
| (B) | the Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than 14 clear days’ notice in writing to the Shareholders of the right of election accorded to them and shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election must be lodged in order to be effective; |
| (C) | the right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the Dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and |
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| (D) | Dividend (or that part of the Dividend to be satisfied by the allotment of Shares as aforesaid) shall not be payable in cash in respect whereof the cash election has not been duly exercised (“the non-elected Shares”) and in lieu and in satisfaction thereof Shares shall be allotted credited as fully paid to the holders of the non-elected Shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company or any part of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including any special account, or share premium account (if there be any such reserve)) as the Board may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the Shares to be allotted on such basis and apply the same in paying up in full the appropriate number of Shares for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the non-elected Shares on such basis; |
or
| (ii) | that Shareholders entitled to such Dividend will be entitled to elect to receive an allotment of Shares credited as fully paid in lieu of the whole or such part of the Dividend as the Board may think fit on the basis that the Shares so allotted shall be of the same class or classes as the class or classes of Shares already held by the allottee. In such case, the following provisions shall apply: |
| (A) | the basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board; |
| (B) | the Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than 14 clear days’ notice in writing to the Shareholders of the right of election accorded to them and shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election must be lodged in order to be effective; |
| (C) | the right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the Dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and |
| (D) | the Dividend (or that part of the Dividend in respect of which a right of election has been accorded) shall not be payable on Shares in respect whereof the Share election has been duly exercised (“the elected Shares”) and in lieu thereof Shares shall be allotted credited as fully paid to the holders of the elected Shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company or any part of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including any special account, contributed surplus account, share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund (if there be any such reserve)) as the Board may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the Shares to be allotted on such basis and apply the same in paying up in full the appropriate number of Shares for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the elected Shares on such basis. |
| (b) | The Shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article shall rank pari passu in all respects with the Shares then in issue and held by the allottee in respect of which they were allotted, save only as regards participation: |
| (i) | in the relevant Dividend (or the right to receive or to elect to receive an allotment of Shares in lieu thereof as aforesaid); or |
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| (ii) | in any other distributions, bonuses or rights paid, made, declared or announced prior to or contemporaneously with the payment or declaration of the relevant Dividend unless, contemporaneously with the announcement by the Board of its proposal to apply the provisions of sub-paragraph (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of paragraph (a) of this Article in relation to the relevant Dividend or contemporaneously with its announcement of the distribution, bonus or rights in question, the Board shall have specified that the Shares to be allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article shall rank for participation in such distribution, bonus or rights. |
| (c) | The Board may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any capitalisation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article with full power to the Board to make such provisions as it thinks fit in the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby, in whole or in part, fractional entitlements are aggregated and sold and the net proceeds distributed to those entitled, or are disregarded or rounded up or down or whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrues to the Company rather than to the Shareholders concerned), and no Shareholders who will be affected thereby shall be, and they shall be deemed not to be, a separate class of Shareholders by reason only of the exercise of this power. The Board may authorise any person to enter into on behalf of all Shareholders interested, an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made pursuant to such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned. |
| (d) | The Company may upon the recommendation of the Board by Ordinary Resolution resolve in respect of any one particular Dividend that notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article a Dividend may be satisfied wholly in the form of an allotment of Shares credited as fully paid without offering any right to Shareholders to elect to receive such Dividend in cash in lieu of such allotment. |
| (e) | The Board may on any occasion determine that rights of election and the allotment of Shares under paragraph (a) of this Article shall not be made available or made to any Shareholders with registered addresses in any territory where in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities the circulation of an offer of such rights of election or the allotment of Shares would or might be unlawful or impracticable or the legality or practicability of which may be time consuming or expensive to ascertain whether in absolute terms or in relation to the value of the holding of Shares of the Shareholder concerned, and in such event the provisions aforesaid shall be read and construed subject to such determination and no Shareholder who may be affected by any such determination shall be, and they shall be deemed not to be, a separate class of Shareholders for any purposes whatsoever. |
| 173. | The Board may, before recommending any Dividend, set aside out of the profits of the Company such sums as it thinks fit as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for meeting claims on or liabilities of the Company or contingencies or for paying off any loan capital or for equalising Dividends or for any other purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly applied, and pending such application may, at the like discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments (including in the repurchase by the Company of its own securities or the giving of any financial assistance for the acquisition of its own securities) as the Board may from time to time think fit, and so that it shall not be necessary to keep any investments constituting the reserve or reserves separate or distinct from any other investments of the Company. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve, carry forward any profits which it may think prudent not to distribute by way of Dividend. |
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| 174. | Unless and to the extent that the rights attached to any Shares or the terms of issue thereof otherwise provide, all Dividends shall (as regards any Shares not fully paid throughout the period in respect of which the Dividend is paid) be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the Shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the Dividend is paid. For the purposes of this Article no amount paid on a Share in advance of calls pursuant to Article 38 shall be treated as paid on the Share. |
| 175. | (a) | The Board may retain any Dividends or other moneys payable on or in respect of a Share upon which the Company has a lien, and may apply the same in or towards satisfaction of the debts, liabilities or engagements in respect of which the lien exists. |
| (b) | The Board may deduct from any Dividend or other money payable to any Shareholder all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls, instalments or otherwise. |
| 176. | Any general meeting sanctioning a Dividend may make a call on the Shareholders of such amount as the meeting fixes, but so that the call on each Shareholder shall not exceed the Dividend payable to him, and so that the call shall be made payable at the same time as the Dividend, and the Dividend may, if so arranged between the Company and the Shareholder, be set off against the call. |
| 177. | A transfer of Shares shall not, as against the Company but without prejudice to the rights of the transferor and transferee inter se, pass the right to any Dividend or bonus declared thereon before the registration of the transfer. |
| 178. | If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any one of such persons may give effectual receipts for any Dividends and other moneys payable and bonuses, rights and other distributions in respect of such Shares. |
| 179. | Unless otherwise directed by the Board, any Dividend or other moneys payable or bonuses, rights or other distributions in respect of any Share may be paid or satisfied by cheque or warrant or certificate or other documents or evidence of title sent through the post to the registered address of the Shareholder entitled, or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of that one whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the joint holding or to such person and to such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every cheque, warrant, certificate or other document or evidence of title so sent shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent or, in the case of certificates or other documents or evidence of title as aforesaid, in favour of the Shareholder(s) entitled thereto, and the payment on any such cheque or warrant by the banker upon whom it is drawn shall operate as a good discharge to the Company in respect of the Dividend and/or other moneys represented thereby, notwithstanding that it may subsequently appear that the same has been stolen or that any endorsement thereon has been forged. Every such cheque, warrant, certificate or other document or evidence of title as aforesaid shall be sent at the risk of the person entitled to the Dividend, money, bonus, rights and other distributions represented thereby. |
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| 180. | All Dividends, bonuses or other distributions or the proceeds of the realisation of any of the foregoing unclaimed for one year after having been declared by the Company until claimed and, notwithstanding any entry in any books of the Company may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company or otherwise howsoever, and the Company shall not be constituted a trustee in respect thereof. All Dividends, bonuses or other distributions or the proceeds of the realisation of any of the foregoing unclaimed for six years after having been declared may be forfeited by the Board and, upon such forfeiture, shall revert to the Company and, in the case where any of the same are securities of the Company, may be re-allotted or re-issued for such consideration as the Board thinks fit and the proceeds thereof shall accrue to the benefit of the Company absolutely. |
RECORD DATE
| 181. | Subject to the Listing Rules, any resolution declaring a Dividend or other distribution on Shares of any class, whether a resolution of the Company in general meeting or a resolution of the Board, may specify that the same shall be payable or made to the persons registered as the holder of such Shares at the close of business on a particular date or at a particular time on a particular date, and thereupon the Dividend or other distribution shall be payable or made to them in accordance with their respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of such Dividend or other distribution between the transferors and transferees of any such Shares. The provisions of this Article shall mutatis mutandis apply to determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice and vote at any general meeting of the Company, bonuses, capitalisation issues, distributions of realised and unrealised capital profits or other distributable reserves or accounts of the Company and offers or grants made by the Company to the Shareholders. |
| 182. | The Company in general meeting may at any time and from time to time resolve that any surplus moneys in the hands of the Company representing capital profits arising from moneys received or recovered in respect of or arising from the realisation of any capital assets of the Company or any investments representing the same and not required for the payment or provision of any fixed preferential Dividend instead of being applied in the purchase of any other capital assets or for other capital purposes be distributed amongst its Shareholders on the footing that they receive the same as capital and in the Shares and proportions in which they would have been entitled to receive the same if it had been distributed by way of Dividend, provided that no such surplus moneys as aforesaid shall be so distributed unless the Company will remain solvent after the distribution, or the net realisable value of the assets of the Company will after the distribution be greater than the aggregate of its liabilities, share capital and share premium account. |
ANNUAL RETURNS
| 183. | The Board shall make or cause to be made such annual or other returns or filings as may be required to be made in accordance with the Companies Act. |
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ACCOUNTS
| 184. | The Board shall cause proper books of account to be kept of the sums of money received and expended by the Company, and the matters in respect of which such receipts and expenditure take place; and of the assets and liabilities of the Company and of all other matters required by the Companies Act necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to show and explain its transactions. The financial year of the Company shall end on 31 December of each year or such other date as the Directors may determine, subject to these Articles. |
| 185. | The books of account shall be kept at the Head Office or at such other place or places as the Board thinks fit and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors. |
| 186. | No Shareholder (not being a Director) or other person shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by the Companies Act or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or authorised by the Board or the Company in general meeting. |
| 187. | (a) | The Board shall from time to time cause to be prepared and laid before the Company at its annual general meeting profit and loss accounts and balance sheets of the Company and such other reports and documents as may be required by law and the Listing Rules. The accounts of the Company shall be prepared and audited based on the generally accepted accounting principles of Hong Kong, the International Accounting Standards, or such other standards as may be permitted by the HK Stock Exchange. |
| (b) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, every balance sheet of the Company shall be signed on behalf of the Board by two of the Directors and a copy of every balance sheet (including every document required by law to be comprised therein or annexed thereto) and profit and loss account which is to be laid before the Company at its annual general meeting, together with a copy of the Directors’ report and a copy of the Auditors’ report thereon, shall, not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting be delivered or sent in accordance with Article 192(b) together with the notice of annual general meeting to every Shareholder and every Debenture Holder of the Company and every other person entitled to receive notices of general meetings of the Company under the provisions of these Articles, provided that this Article shall not require a copy of those documents to be sent to any person of whose address the Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders of any Shares or Debentures, but any Shareholder or Debenture Holder to whom a copy of those documents has not been sent shall be entitled to receive a copy free of charge on application at the Head Office or the Registration Office. If all or any of the Shares or Debentures or other securities of the Company shall for the time being be (with the consent of the Company) listed or dealt in on any stock exchange or market, there shall be forwarded to such stock exchange or market such number of copies of such documents as may for the time being be required under its regulations or practice. |
| (c) | Subject to the Listing Rules, the Company may send summarised financial statements to Shareholders who has, in accordance with the Listing Rules, consented and elected to receive summarised financial statements instead of the full financial statements. The summarised financial statements must be accompanied by any other documents as may be required under the Listing Rules and must be sent to the Shareholders not less than twenty-one days before the general meeting to those Shareholders that have consented and elected to receive the summarised financial statements. |
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AUDITORS
| 188. | (a) | The Company shall at each annual general meeting appoint one or more firms of auditors to hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting on such terms and with such duties as may be agreed with the Board, but if an appointment is not made, the Auditors in office shall continue in office until a successor is appointed. A Director, officer or employee of any such Director, officer or employee shall not be appointed Auditors of the Company. The Company in general meeting or a body that is independent of the Board may fill any casual vacancy in the office of Auditors, but while any such vacancy continues the surviving or continuing Auditors (if any) may act. The appointment, removal and remuneration of the Auditors must be approved by a majority of the Company’s Shareholders in a general meeting or by another body that is independent of the Board, and the remuneration of any Auditors appointed to fill any casual vacancy may be fixed by the Company in general meeting or by a body that is independent of the Board. |
| (b) | The Shareholders may, at any general meeting convened and held in accordance with these Articles, remove the Auditors by Ordinary Resolution at any time before the expiration of the term of office and shall, by Ordinary Resolution, at that meeting appoint new auditors in its place for the remainder of the term. A body that is independent of the Board may also remove the Auditor by a simple majority vote before the expiration of the term of office and shall by a simple majority vote appoint new Auditor in its place for the remainder of the term. |
| 189. | The Auditors of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information as may be necessary for the performance of his or their duties, and the Auditors shall audit every balance sheet and profit and loss account of the Company in each year and prepare an Auditors’ report thereon to be annexed thereto. Such report shall be laid before the Company in the annual general meeting. |
| 190. | No person other than the retiring Auditors shall be appointed as Auditors at an annual general meeting unless notice of an intention to nominate that person to the office of Auditors has been given to the Company not less than 14 clear days before the annual general meeting, and the Company shall send a copy of any such notice to the retiring Auditors and shall give notice thereof to the Shareholders not less than seven days before the annual general meeting provided that the above requirement for sending a copy of such notice to the retiring Auditors may be waived by notice in writing by the retiring Auditors to the Secretary. |
| 191. | All acts done by any person acting as Auditors shall, as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, be valid, notwithstanding that there was some defect in their appointment or that they were at the time of their appointment not qualified for appointment or subsequently became disqualified. |
NOTICES
| 192. | (a) | Except where otherwise expressly stated, any notice or document to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be in writing or, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act and the Listing Rules from time to time and subject to this Article, contained in an electronic communication. A notice calling a meeting of the Board need not be in writing. |
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| (b) | Except where otherwise expressly stated, any notice or document to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles (including any corporate communications within the meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules) may be served on or delivered to any Shareholder either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid envelope or wrapper addressed to such Shareholder at his registered address as appearing in the Register or by leaving it at that address addressed to the Shareholder or by any other means authorised in writing by the Shareholder concerned or (other than share certificate) by publishing it by way of advertisement in the Newspapers. In case of joint holders of a share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing but subject to applicable laws (including the Companies Act and the Listing Rules), a notice or document may be served or delivered by the Company to any Shareholder by electronic means to such address as may from time to time be authorised by the Shareholder concerned or by publishing it on both the Company’s and the Stock Exchange’s websites and notifying the Shareholder concerned that it has been so published. |
| (c) | Any such notice or document may be served or delivered by the Company by reference to the Register as it stands at any time not more than fifteen days before the date of service or delivery. No change in the Register after that time shall invalidate that service or delivery. Where any notice or document is served or delivered to any person in respect of a share in accordance with these Articles, no person deriving any title or interest in that share shall be entitled to any further service or delivery of that notice or document. |
| (d) | Any notice or document required to be sent to or served upon the Company, or upon any officer of the Company, may be sent or served by leaving the same or sending it through the post in a prepaid envelope or wrapper addressed to the Company or to such officer at the Head Office or Registered Office. |
| (e) | The Board may from time to time specify the form and manner in which a notice may be given to the Company by electronic means, including one or more addresses for the receipt of an electronic communication, and may prescribe such procedures as they think fit for verifying the authenticity or integrity of any such electronic communication. Any notice may be given to the Company by electronic means only if it is given in accordance with the requirements specified by the Board. |
| 193. | (a) | Any Shareholder whose registered address is outside the Relevant Territory may notify the Company in writing of (i) an address in the Relevant Territory which for the purpose of service of notice shall be deemed to be their registered address or (ii) an electronic address for the purpose of service of notice. Where the registered address of the Shareholder is outside the Relevant Territory, notice, (i) if given through the post to the registered address which is outside the Relevant Territory, shall be sent by prepaid airmail letter where available, or (ii) if served by electronic means, shall be sent in accordance with Article 198(b). |
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| (b) | Any Shareholder who fails (and, where a Share is held by joint holders, where the first joint holder named on the Register fails) to supply their registered address or a correct registered address or, in the case of electronic communications, fails to supply their electronic address or a correct and functional electronic address, to the Company for service of notices and documents on such Shareholder shall not (and where a Share is held by joint holders, none of the other joint holders whether or not they have supplied a registered address shall) be entitled to service of any notice or documents by the Company and any notice or document which is otherwise required to be served on such Shareholder may, if the Board in its absolute discretion so elects (and subject to them re-electing otherwise from time to time), be served, in the case of notices, by displaying a copy of such notice conspicuously at the Registered Office and the Head Office or, if the Board sees fit, by advertisement in the Newspapers, and, in the case of documents, by posting up a notice conspicuously at the Registered Office and the Head Office addressed to such Shareholder which notice shall state the address within the Relevant Territory at which such Shareholder may obtain a copy of the relevant document, or by displaying or otherwise making available the relevant notice or document on the Company’s website and stating the address within the Relevant Territory at which such Shareholder may obtain a copy of the notice or the document. Any notice or document served in the manner so described shall be sufficient service as regards Shareholders with no registered or incorrect addresses, or in the case of electronic communications, no or an incorrect or a non-functional electronic address, provided that nothing in this paragraph (b) shall be construed as requiring the Company to serve any notice or document on any Shareholder with no or an incorrect registered address for the service of notice or document on such Shareholder or on any Shareholder other than the first named on the Register. |
| (c) | If on three consecutive occasions notices or other documents have been sent through the post to any Shareholder (or, in the case of joint holders of a share, the first holder named on the Register) at the registered address of such Shareholder or by electronic means to the electronic address of such Shareholder but have been returned undelivered, such Shareholder (and, in the case of joint holders of a Share, all other joint holders of the share) shall not thereafter be entitled to receive or be served (save as the Board may elect otherwise pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Article) and shall be deemed to have waived the service of notices and other documents from the Company until such Shareholder shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing a new registered address or a new electronic address for the service of notices on such Shareholder. |
| (d) | Notwithstanding any election by a Shareholder from time to time to receive any notice or document through electronic means, such Shareholder may, at any time, require the Company to send to such Shareholder, in addition to an electronic copy thereof, a printed copy of any notice or document which such Shareholder is entitled to receive in such person’s capacity as a Shareholder. |
| 194. | Any notice or other document, if sent by mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day following that on which the letter, envelope, or wrapper containing the same is put into the post. In proving such service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter, envelope or wrapper containing the notice or document was properly addressed and put into the post as prepaid mail. Any notice or document not sent by post but left by the Company at a registered address shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day it was so left. Any notice or document, if sent by electronic means (including through any relevant system), shall be deemed to have been given on the day following that on which the electronic communication was sent by or on behalf of the Company. Any notice or document served or delivered by the Company by any other means authorised in writing by the Shareholder concerned shall be deemed to have been served when the Company has carried out the action it has been authorised to take for that purpose. Any notice or other document published by way of advertisement (to the extent permitted by applicable laws) shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day it was so published. Any notice or other document published on a website or websites (other than pursuant to Article 193(b)) shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the date that the Shareholder concerned is notified that it has been so published. |
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| 195. | A notice or document may be given by the Company to the person entitled to a Share in consequence of the death, mental disorder, bankruptcy or liquidation of a Shareholder by sending it via electronic means or through the post in a prepaid envelope or wrapper addressed to him by name, or by the title of representative of the deceased, the trustee of the bankrupt or the liquidator of the Shareholder, or by any like description, at the electronic or postal address, if any, supplied for the purpose by the person claiming to be so entitled, or (until such electronic or postal address has been so supplied) by giving the notice or document in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death, mental disorder, bankruptcy or winding up had not occurred. |
| 196. | Any person who by operation of law, transfer or other means whatsoever shall become entitled to any Share shall be bound by every notice in respect of such share which prior to his name and address being entered on the Register shall have been duly served to the person from whom he derives his title to such share. |
| 197. | Any notice or document delivered or sent by post or by electronic communications to any Shareholder, or published on both the Company’s website and the website of the HK Stock Exchange where a notice of such publication has been sent by post or by electronic communications to any Shareholder, or left at the registered address of any Shareholder in pursuance of these Articles, shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then deceased, bankrupt or wound up and whether or not the Company has notice of his death, bankruptcy or winding up, be deemed to have duly served in respect of any registered Shares whether held solely or jointly with other persons by such Shareholder until some other person be registered in his stead as the holder or joint holder thereof, and such service shall for all purposes of these Articles be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on his personal representatives and all persons (if any) jointly interested with him in any such Shares. |
| 198. | The signature to any notice or document to be given by the Company may be written or printed. |
INFORMATION
| 199. | No Shareholder (not being a Director) shall be entitled to require discovery of or any information respecting any detail of the Company’s trading or any matter which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret, mystery of trade or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company which in the opinion of the Board will be inexpedient in the interests of the Shareholders of the Company to communicate to the public. |
WINDING UP
| 200. | Subject to the Companies Act, a resolution that the Company be wound up by the Court or be wound up voluntarily which shall be passed by way of a Special Resolution. |
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| 201. | If the Company shall be wound up, the surplus assets remaining after payment to all creditors shall be divided among the Shareholders in proportion to the capital paid up on the Shares held by them respectively, and if such surplus assets shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the paid up capital, they shall be distributed, subject to the rights of any Shares which may be issued on special terms and conditions, so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Shareholders in proportion to the capital paid on the Shares held by them respectively. |
| 202. | If the Company shall be wound up (in whatever manner) the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide among the Shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company whether the assets shall consist of property of one kind or shall consist of properties of different kinds and the liquidator may, for such purpose, set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders and the Shareholders within each class. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of Shareholders as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any Shares or other assets upon which there is a liability. |
INDEMNITY
| 203. | The Directors, managing directors, alternate Directors, Auditors, Secretary and other officers for the time being of the Company and the trustees (if any) for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company, and their respective executors or administrators, shall be indemnified and secured harmless out of the assets of the Company from and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them, their or any of their executors or administrators, shall or may incur or sustain by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty or supposed duty in their respective offices or trusts, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain through their own fraud or dishonesty, and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other of them, or for joining in any receipt for the sake of conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects of the Company shall be lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of the Company shall be placed out or invested, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may arise in the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or in relation thereto, except as the same shall happen by or through their own fraud, dishonest, or recklessness. The Company may take out and pay the premium and other moneys for the maintenance of insurance, bonds and other instruments for the benefit either of the Company or the Directors (and/or other officers) or any of them to indemnify the Company and/or Directors (and/or other officers) named therein for this purpose against any loss, damage, liability and claim which they may suffer or sustain in connection with any breach by the Directors (and/or other officers) or any of them of their duties to the Company. |
UNTRACEABLE SHAREHOLDERS
| 204. | The Company may exercise the power to cease sending cheques for Dividend entitlements or Dividend warrants by post if such cheques or warrants remain uncashed on two consecutive occasions or after the first occasion on which such a cheque or warrant is returned undelivered. |
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| 205. | (a) | The Company shall have the power to sell, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, any Shares of a Shareholder who is untraceable, but no such sale shall be made unless: |
| (i) | during the period of 12 years prior to the date of the advertisements referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) below (or, if published more than once, the first thereof) at least three Dividends or other distributions in respect of the Shares in question have become payable or been made and no Dividend or other distribution in respect of the Shares during that period has been claimed; |
| (ii) | the Company has caused an advertisement to be inserted in the Newspapers of its intention to sell such Shares and a period of three months has elapsed since the date of such advertisement (or, if published more than once, the first thereof); |
| (iii) | the Company has not at any time during the said periods of 12 years and three months received any indication of the existence of the holder of such Shares or of a person entitled to such Shares by death, bankruptcy or operation of law; and |
| (iv) | the Company has notified the HK Stock Exchange of its intention of such sale. |
| (b) | To give effect to any such sale the Board may authorise any person to transfer the said Shares and the instrument of transfer signed or otherwise executed by or on behalf of such person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the registered holder or the person entitled by transmission to such Shares, and the purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds of the sale will belong to the Company and upon receipt by the Company of such proceeds it shall become indebted to the former Shareholder for an amount equal to such net proceeds. Notwithstanding any entries made by the Company in any of its books or otherwise howsoever, no trusts shall be created in respect of such debt and no interest shall be payable in respect of it and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the business of the Company or as it thinks fit. Any sale under this Article shall be valid and effective notwithstanding that the Shareholder holding the Shares sold is dead, bankrupt, wound up or otherwise under any legal disability or incapacity. |
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
| 206. | The Company may destroy: |
| (a) | any share certificate which has been cancelled at any time after the expiry of one year from the date of such cancellation; |
| (b) | any dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation thereof or any notification of change of name or address at any time after the expiry of two years from the date on which such mandate, variation, cancellation or notification was recorded by the Company; |
| (c) | any instrument of transfer of Shares which has been registered at any time after the expiry of six years from the date of registration; |
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| (d) | any other document, on the basis of which any entry in the Register is made, at any time after the expiry of six years from the date on which an entry in the Register was first made in respect of it; |
and it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every Share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly cancelled and that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered and that every other document destroyed hereunder was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company provided always that:
| (i) | the foregoing provisions of this Article shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company that the preservation of such document was relevant to a claim; |
| (ii) | nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any case where the conditions of proviso (i) above are not fulfilled; and |
| (iii) | references in this Article to the destruction of any document include reference to its disposal in any manner. |
SUBSCRIPTION RIGHT RESERVE
| 207. | The following provisions shall have effect to the extent that they are not prohibited by and are in compliance with the Companies Act: |
| (a) | If, so long as any of the rights attaching to any warrants issued by the Company to subscribe for Shares shall remain exercisable, the Company does any act or engages in any transaction which, as a result of any adjustments to the subscription price in accordance with the provisions applicable under the terms and conditions of the warrants, would reduce the subscription price to below the par value of a Share, then the following provisions shall apply: |
| (i) | as from the date of such act or transaction the Company shall establish and thereafter (subject as provided in this Article) maintain in accordance with the provisions of this Article a reserve (the “Subscription Right Reserve”) the amount of which shall at no time be less than the sum which for the time being would be required to be capitalised and applied in paying up in full the nominal amount of the additional Shares required to be issued and allotted credited as fully paid pursuant to sub-paragraph (iii) below on the exercise in full of all the subscription rights outstanding and shall apply the Subscription Right Reserve in paying up in full the amount of the shortfall referred to in sub-paragraph (iii) in respect of such additional Shares as and when the same are allotted; |
| (ii) | the Subscription Right Reserve shall not be used for any purpose other than that specified above unless all other reserves of the Company (other than the share premium account) have been extinguished and will then only be used to make good losses of the Company if and so far as is required by law; |
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| (iii) | upon the exercise of all or any of the subscription rights represented by any warrant, the relevant subscription rights shall be exercisable in respect of a nominal amount of Shares equal to the amount in cash which the holder of such warrant is required to pay on exercise of the subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the case may be, the relevant portion thereof in the event of a partial exercise of the subscription rights) and, in addition, there shall be allotted in respect of such subscription rights to the exercising warrant holder, credited as fully paid, such additional nominal amount of Shares as is equal to the shortfall between: |
| (A) | the said amount in cash which the holder of such warrant is required to pay on exercise of the subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the case may be, the relevant portion thereof in the event of a partial exercise of the subscription rights); and |
| (B) | the nominal amount of Shares in respect of which such subscription rights would have been exercisable having regard to the provisions of the conditions of the warrants, had it been possible for such subscription rights to represent the right to subscribe for Shares at less than par and immediately upon such exercise so much of the sum standing to the credit of the Subscription Right Reserve as is required to pay up in full such additional nominal amount of Shares shall be capitalised and applied in paying up in full such additional nominal amount of Shares which shall forthwith be allotted credited as fully paid to the exercising warrant holder; and |
| (iv) | if upon the exercise of the subscription rights represented by any warrant the amount standing to the credit of the Subscription Right Reserve is not sufficient to pay up in full such additional nominal amount of Shares equal to such shortfall as aforesaid to which the exercising warrant holder is entitled, the Board shall apply any profits or reserves then or thereafter becoming available (including, to the extent permitted or not prohibited by law, the share premium account) for such purpose until such additional nominal amount of Shares is paid up and allotted as aforesaid and until then no Dividend or other distribution shall be paid or made on the fully paid Shares then in issue. Pending such payment up and allotment, the exercising warrant holder shall be issued by the Company with a certificate evidencing his right to the allotment of such additional nominal amount of Shares. The rights represented by any such certificate shall be in registered form and shall be transferable in whole or in part in units of one Share in the like manner as the Shares for the time being are transferable, and the Company shall make such arrangements in relation to the maintenance of a register therefor and other matters in relation thereto as the Board may think fit and adequate particulars thereof shall be made known to each relevant exercising warrant holder upon the issue of such certificate. |
| (b) | Shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall rank pari passu in all respects with the other Shares allotted or which ought to be allotted on the relevant exercise of the subscription rights represented by the warrant concerned. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (a) of this Article, no fraction of any Share shall be allotted on exercise of the subscription rights. |
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| (c) | The provisions of this Article as to the establishment and maintenance of the Subscription Right Reserve shall not be altered or added to in any way which would vary or abrogate, or which would have the effect of varying or abrogating, the provisions for the benefit of any warrant holder or class of warrant holders under this Article without the sanction of a Special Resolution of such warrant holder(s) or class of warrant holders. |
| (d) | A certificate or report by the Auditors as to whether or not the Subscription Right Reserve is required to be established and maintained and if so the amount thereof so required to be established and maintained, as to the purpose for which the Subscription Right Reserve has been used, as to the extent to which it has been used to make good losses of the Company, as to the additional nominal amount of Shares required to be allotted to exercising warrant holders credited as fully paid, and as to any other matter concerning the Subscription Right Reserve shall (in the absence of manifest error) be conclusive and binding upon the Company and all warrant holders and Shareholders. |
STOCK
| 208. | The following provisions shall have effect at any time and from time to time provided that they are not prohibited by or inconsistent with the Companies Act: |
| (a) | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution convert any fully paid Shares into stock, and may from time to time by like resolution reconvert any stock into fully paid Shares of any denomination. |
| (b) | The holders of stock may transfer the same or any part thereof in the same manner, and subject to the same regulations as and subject to which the Shares from which the stock arose might prior to conversion have been transferred or as near thereto as circumstances admit, but the Board may from time to time, if it thinks fit, fix the minimum amount of stock transferable and restrict or prohibit the transfer of fractions of that minimum, but so that such minimum shall not exceed the nominal amount of the Shares from which the stock arose. No warrants to bearer shall be issued in respect of any stock. |
| (c) | The holders of stock shall, according to the amount of the stock held by them, have the same rights, privileges and advantages as regards Dividends, participation in assets on a winding up, voting at meetings, and other matters, as if they held the Shares from which the stock arose, but no such rights, privileges or advantages (except participation in the Dividends and profits and in the assets on winding up of the Company) shall be conferred by an amount of stock which would not, if existing in Shares, have conferred such rights, privileges or advantages. |
| (d) | Such of the provisions of these Articles as are applicable to fully paid Shares shall apply to stock, and the words “Share” and “Shareholder” herein shall include “stock” and “stockholder” and “member”. |
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Exhibit 5.1
| 17 July 2026 | Our Ref: MRC/KH/A6519-H29328 |
Ascentage Pharma Group International
亞盛醫藥集團
c/o Walkers Corporate Limited
190 Elgin Avenue, George Town
Grand Cayman KY1-9008
Cayman Islands
Dear Addressee
ASCENTAGE PHARMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL 亞盛醫藥集團
We have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to Ascentage Pharma Group International 亞盛醫藥集團 (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement, including the Base Prospectus and the Sales Agreement Prospectus (as such terms are defined below, and collectively, the “Prospectus”), to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to (a) the registration for the offering and sale, from time to time, by the Company under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of an indeterminate number of shares of American depositary shares (the “ADSs”), each representing four ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 per ordinary share of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) and (b) the offering and sale, from time to time, by the Company of ADSs, each representing four Ordinary Shares, up to an aggregate offering price of US$200,000,000, pursuant to the Sales Agreement (the “Placement ADSs”). We consent to the inclusion of our opinion as Exhibit 5.1, Exhibit 8.1 and in connection with Exhibit 23.2 to the Registration Statement.
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the originals, copies or translations of the documents listed in Schedule 1.
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set out in Schedule 2, which we have not independently verified.
We are Cayman Islands Attorneys at Law and express no opinion as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands in force and as interpreted at the date of this opinion. We have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction. Except as explicitly stated herein, we express no opinion in relation to any representation or warranty contained in any of the documents cited in this opinion nor upon matters of fact or the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion.
| WALKERS | Page 2 |
Based upon the examinations and assumptions stated herein and upon such searches as we have conducted and having regard to legal considerations which we consider relevant, and subject to the qualifications set out in Schedule 3, and under the laws of the Cayman Islands, we give the following opinions in relation to the matters set out below.
| 1. | The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated with limited liability, validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and is in good standing with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands (the “Registrar”). |
| 2. | The authorised share capital of the Company is currently US$50,000 consisting of 500,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each. |
| 3. | With respect to the Ordinary Shares represented by the Placement ADSs when (a) the provisions of the Sales Agreement approved by the Company’s board of directors have been satisfied and payment of the consideration specified therein (being not less than their par value) has been made; and (b) valid book-entry notations are made in the register of members of the Company, then the Ordinary Shares represented by the Placement ADSs, will have been duly authorised and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that no additional sums may be levied on the holder thereof by the Company). |
| 4. | The statements under the captions “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities”, “Taxation – Cayman Islands Taxation” in the Registration Statement, to the extent that they constitute statements of Cayman Islands law, are accurate in all material respects. |
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in, and the filing hereof, as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to our name in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
This opinion is limited to the matters referred to herein and shall not be construed as extending to any other matter or document not referred to herein. This opinion is given solely for your benefit and the benefit of your legal advisers acting in that capacity in relation to this transaction and may not be relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent.
This opinion shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Walkers (Hong Kong)
| WALKERS | Page 3 |
Schedule 1
LIST OF DOCUMENTS EXAMINED
| 1. | The Certificate of Incorporation dated 17 November 2017, the Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name dated 1 August 2019, the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association as adopted by special resolutions passed on 19 May 2022 (the “Memorandum and Articles”), the Register of Members printed on 25 June 2026 (the “Register of Members”) and the Register of Directors printed on 17 July 2026, in each case, copies of which have been provided to us by the Company or its registered office in the Cayman Islands (together the “Company Records”). |
| 2. | The Cayman Online Registry Information System (CORIS), the Cayman Islands’ General Registry’s online database, searched on 16 July 2026. |
| 3. | The Register of Writs and other Originating Process of the Grand Court maintained by the Clerk of Court’s Office, George Town, Grand Cayman (the “Court Register”), as at 9.00 a.m. Cayman Islands time on 16 July 2026 (the “Search Time”). |
| 4. | A Certificate of Good Standing dated 15 July 2026 in respect of the Company issued by the Registrar (the “Certificate of Good Standing”). |
| 5. | A copy of executed written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 17 July 2026 (the “Resolutions”). |
| 6. | The Company’s registration statement on Form F-3ASR filed by the Company with the SEC on 17 July 2026 (the “Registration Statement”). |
| 7. | The base prospectus dated on 17 July 2026 contained in the Registration Statement, relating to the offer and sale, from time to time, of the Company’s securities as described therein (the “Base Prospectus”). |
| 8. | The sales agreement prospectus dated on 17 July 2026 contained in the Registration Statement, relating to the offer and sale, from time to time, of the Placement ADSs pursuant to the Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement Prospectus”). |
| 9. | A copy of the sales agreement dated on 17 July 2026 by and among the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, and BTIG, LLC, acting as sales agents (the “Sales Agreement”). |
| WALKERS | Page 4 |
Schedule 2
ASSUMPTIONS
| 1. | All authorisations, approvals, consents, licences and exemptions required by, and all filings and other steps required of each of the parties to the Registration Statement outside the Cayman Islands to ensure the legality, validity and enforceability of the Registration Statement have been or will be duly obtained, made or fulfilled and are and will remain in full force and effect and any conditions to which they are subject have been satisfied. |
| 2. | The Resolutions are and shall remain in full force and effect and have not been and will not be rescinded or amended. |
| 3. | The originals of all documents examined in connection with this opinion are authentic. The documents conform in every material respect to the latest draft of the same produced to us and, where provided in successive drafts, have been marked up to indicate all changes to such documents. |
| 4. | The Memorandum and Articles reviewed by us are the memorandum and articles of association of the Company that are in effect on the date hereof. |
| 5. | The Company Records are complete and accurate and all matters required by law and the Memorandum and Articles to be recorded therein are completely and accurately so recorded. |
| 6. | The Registration Statement and the documents or agreements referred to therein have been or will be duly authorised, executed and delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties prior to the issue and sale of the Placement Shares and will be legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with their terms. |
| 7. | On the date of issue of the Ordinary Shares, the Company shall have sufficient authorised but unissued share capital available. |
| 8. | The Resolutions have been duly executed (and where by a corporate entity such execution has been duly authorised if so required) by or on behalf of each Director and the signatures and initials thereon are those of a person or persons in whose name the Resolutions have been expressed to be signed. |
| 9. | The Company will on issue of the relevant Ordinary Shares receive, consideration in money or money’s worth for each share when issued, such consideration in any event not being less than the stated par or nominal value of each share. |
| 10. | The Company will on issue of the relevant Ordinary Shares have, issued and sold the shares in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and the documents or agreements referred to therein and otherwise in compliance with all applicable laws. |
| 11. | There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect any of the opinions set forth herein. |
| 12. | Any power of attorney given to execute any document or the Resolutions was duly executed, the named attorneys were duly appointed with full power granted to each of them and the power of attorney remains in full force and effect and have not been revoked or varied. |
| WALKERS | Page 5 |
Schedule 3
QUALIFICATIONS
| 1. | The term “enforceable” and its cognates as used in this opinion means that the obligations assumed by any party under the documents are of a type which the Courts enforce. This does not mean that those obligations will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular: |
| (a) | enforcement of obligations and the priority of obligations may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, restructuring, reorganisation, readjustment of debts or moratorium and other laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors or by prescription or lapse of time; |
| (b) | enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity and, in particular, the availability of certain equitable remedies such as injunction or specific performance of an obligation may be limited where a Court considers damages to be an adequate remedy; |
| (c) | claims may become barred under statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defences of set-off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences; |
| (d) | where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, they may not be enforceable in the Cayman Islands to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of, or contrary to the public policy of, that jurisdiction; |
| (e) | a judgment of a Court may be required to be made in Cayman Islands dollars; |
| (f) | to the extent that any provision of the documents is adjudicated to be penal in nature, it will not be enforceable in the Courts; in particular, the enforceability of any provision of the documents that is adjudicated to constitute a secondary obligation which imposes a detriment on the contract-breaker out of all proportion to any legitimate interest of the innocent party in the enforcement of the primary obligation may be limited; |
| (g) | to the extent that the performance of any obligation arising under the documents would be fraudulent or contrary to public policy, it will not be enforceable in the Courts; |
| (h) | in the case of an insolvent liquidation of any of the companies, its liabilities are required to be translated into the functional currency of such Company (being the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operated as at the commencement of the liquidation) at the exchange rates prevailing on the date of commencement of the voluntary liquidation or the day on which the winding up order is made (as the case may be); |
| WALKERS | Page 6 |
| (i) | a Court will not necessarily award costs in litigation in accordance with contractual provisions in this regard; and |
| (j) | the effectiveness of terms in the documents excusing any party from a liability or duty otherwise owed or indemnifying that party from the consequences of incurring such liability or breaching such duty shall be construed in accordance with, and shall be limited by, applicable law, including generally applicable rules and principles of common law and equity. |
| 2. | Our opinion as to good standing is based solely upon receipt of the Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Registrar. The Company shall be deemed to be in good standing under section 200A of the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands on the date of issue of the certificate if all fees and penalties under the Companies Act have been paid and the Registrar has no knowledge that the Company is in default under the Companies Act. |
| 3. | We express no opinion upon any provisions in the Memorandum and Articles or any document which contains a reference to any law or statute that is not a Cayman Islands law or statute. |
Exhibit 8.2
26/F HKRI Centre One, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shimen Road (No. 1),
Shanghai 200041, P.R. China
T: (86-21) 5298-5488
F: (86-21) 5298-5492
junhesh@junhe.com
PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL
July 17, 2026
To:
Ascentage Pharma Group International
68 Xinqing Road
Suzhou Industrial Park,
Suzhou, Jiangsu
People’s Republic of China
Dear Sir/Madam,
We have acted as People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) legal counsel to Ascentage Pharma Group International, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3ASR, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including the base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”) filed with the Registration Statement. The Base Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Registration Statement, including the Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements), will provide for the registration by the Company of American depositary shares (the “ADSs”), each representing four ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares” and, together with the ADSs, the “Securities”), as further described in the Registration Statement. The Securities are being registered for offering and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
We are qualified lawyers in the PRC and are qualified to issue opinions on the PRC Laws (as defined below). Only for the purpose of this legal opinion (this “Opinion”), the PRC does not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Region.
| A. | Documents and Assumptions |
In rendering this opinion, we have carried out due diligence and examined copies of the Registration Statement and other documents (collectively, the “Documents”) as we have considered necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion. Where certain facts were not independently established and verified by us, we have relied upon certificates or statements issued or made by the relevant Governmental Agencies (as defined below) and appropriate representatives of the Company and the PRC Entities (as defined below). In giving this opinion, we have made the following assumptions (the “Assumptions”):
(1) all signatures, seals and chops on the Documents are genuine, each signature on behalf of a party thereto is that of a person duly authorized by such party to execute the same, all Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and all Documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals;
(2) each of the parties to the Documents, other than the PRC Entities, (i) if a legal person or other entity, is duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and/or incorporation, (ii) if an individual, has full capacity for civil conduct; each of them, other than the PRC Entities, has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its, her or his obligations under the Documents to which it, she or he is a party in accordance with the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and/or the laws that it, she or he is subject to;
(3) the Documents presented to us remain in full force and effect on the date of this opinion and have not been revoked, amended or supplemented, and no amendments, revisions, supplements, modifications or other changes have been made, and no revocation or termination has occurred, with respect to any of the Documents after they were submitted to us for the purposes of this opinion;
(4) the laws of jurisdictions other than the PRC which may be applicable to the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Documents are complied with;
(5) all requested Documents have been provided to us and all factual statements made to us by the Company and the PRC Entities in connection with this opinion, including but not limited to the factual statements set forth in the Documents, are true, correct and complete;
(6) all explanations and interpretations provided by government officials duly reflect the official position of the relevant Governmental Agencies and are complete, true and correct;
(7) each of the Documents is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its respective governing laws other than PRC Laws in any and all respects;
(8) all consents, licenses, permits, approvals, exemptions or authorizations required by, and all required registrations or filings with, any governmental authority or regulatory body of any jurisdiction other than the PRC in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Registration Statement and other Documents have been obtained or made, and are in full force and effect as of the date thereof; and
(9) all Governmental Authorizations (as defined below) and other official statements and documentation obtained by the Company or any PRC Entity from any Governmental Agency have been obtained by lawful means in due course, and the Documents provided to us conform with those documents submitted to Governmental Agencies for such purposes.
In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness as to factual matters of each Document we have reviewed.
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| B. | Definitions |
In addition to the terms defined in the context of this opinion, the following capitalized terms used in this opinion shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows.
“Governmental Agency” means any national, provincial or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission in the PRC, or any court, tribunal or any other judicial or arbitral body in the PRC, or anybody exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, judicial, legislative, law enforcement, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of a similar nature in the PRC.
“Governmental Authorization” means any license, approval, consent, waiver, order, sanction, certificate, authorization, filing, declaration, disclosure, registration, exemption, permission, endorsement, annual inspection, clearance, qualification, permit or license by, from or with any Governmental Agency pursuant to any PRC Laws.
“Guidance Rules and Notice” means several Supporting Guidance Rules on the Trial Administrative Measures, Notice on Administration Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Listings by Domestic Enterprises and relevant CSRC Answers to Reporter Questions circulated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) from time to time.
“M&A Rules” means the Provisions on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (关于外国投资者并购境内企业的规定), which was promulgated by six Governmental Agencies, namely, the Ministry of Commerce, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, on August 8, 2006 and effective on September 8, 2006, as amended by the Ministry of Commerce on June 22, 2009.
“PRC Entities” means, collectively, all entities listed in Annex A hereof, and each, a “PRC Entity”.
“PRC Laws” means all applicable national, provincial and local laws, regulations, rules, notices, orders, decrees and judicial interpretations of the PRC currently in effect and publicly available on the date of this opinion.
“Trial Administrative Measures” means the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (境内企业境外发行证券和上市管理试行办法) issued by the CSRC on February 17, 2023, which became effective on March 31, 2023.
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OPINIONS
(1) Corporate Structure. Based on our understanding of the published and currently effective PRC Laws, the ownership structure of the PRC Entities, both currently and immediately after giving effect to the offering of securities described in the Registration Statement, will not result in any violation of applicable PRC Laws currently in effect in any material aspects.
(2) M&A Rules. The M&A Rules, among other things, purport to require an “offshore special purpose vehicle”, which is controlled directly or indirectly by PRC Entities or individuals and formed for the purpose of overseas listing of the PRC domestic interests held by such PRC Entities or individuals via acquisition, to obtain approval from the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of the securities on overseas stock exchanges. Based on our understanding of the explicit provisions under PRC Laws, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement (including the statements made in connection with the Trial Administrative Measures and Guidance Rules and Notice), and assuming no offer, issuance or sale of Ordinary Shares or the ADSs has been or will be made directly or indirectly within the PRC, a prior approval from the CSRC as described under the M&A Rules is not required for the offering of securities described in the Registration Statement. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of the M&A Rules, other PRC Laws and future PRC laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that any Governmental Agency will not take a view that is contrary to or otherwise different from our opinions stated herein.
(3) Taxation. The statements made in the Registration Statement under the section entitled “Taxation” with respect to the PRC tax laws and regulations or interpretations, are correct and accurate in all material respects.
(4) Enforceability of Civil Procedures. There is uncertainty as to whether the PRC courts would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against the Company or the directors or officers of the Company predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against the Company or the directors or officers of the Company predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law and other applicable laws and regulations based either on treaties between the PRC and the jurisdiction where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. The PRC does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against the Company or the directors or officers of the Company if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC Laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or the Cayman Islands.
(5) PRC Laws. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement under the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Taxation” and “Legal Matters,” to the extent that they describe or summarize matters of PRC Laws, are correct and accurate in all material respects, and nothing has come to our attention, insofar as the PRC Laws are concerned, that causes us to believe that there is any omission from such statements which would make the same misleading in any material respect.
4
QUALIFICATIONS
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications (the “Qualifications”):
(1) Our opinions are limited to PRC Laws of general application on the date hereof. We have made no investigation of, and do not express or imply any views on, the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the PRC, and we have assumed that no such other laws or regulations would affect our opinions expressed above.
(2) PRC Laws referred to herein are the laws and regulations publicly available and currently in force on the date hereof and there is no guarantee that any of such PRC Laws, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, will not be changed, amended or revoked in the future with or without retrospective effect.
(3) Our opinions are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws in the PRC affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) possible judicial or administrative actions or any PRC Laws affecting creditors’ rights.
(4) Our opinions are subject to the effects of (i) certain legal or statutory principles affecting the validity and enforceability of contractual rights generally under the concepts of public interests, social ethics, national security, good faith, fair dealing, and applicable statutes of limitation; (ii) any circumstance in connection with the formulation, execution or performance of any legal documents that would be deemed materially mistaken, clearly unconscionable, fraudulent, coercionary or concealing illegal intentions with a lawful form; (iii) judicial discretion with respect to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, remedies or defenses, or the calculation of damages; and (iv) the discretion of any competent PRC legislative, administrative or judicial bodies in exercising their authority in the PRC.
(5) This opinion is issued based on our understanding of PRC Laws. For matters not explicitly provided under PRC Laws, the interpretation, implementation and application of the specific requirements under PRC Laws, as well as their application to and effect on the legality, binding effect and enforceability of certain contracts, are subject to the final discretion of competent PRC legislative, administrative and judicial authorities. Under PRC Laws, foreign investment is restricted in certain industries. The interpretation and implementation of such PRC Laws, and their application to and effect on the legality, binding effect and enforceability of contracts are subject to the discretion of the competent Governmental Agency.
5
(6) The term “enforceable” or “enforceability” as used in this opinion means that the obligations assumed by the relevant obligors under the relevant Documents are of a type which the courts of the PRC may enforce. It does not mean that those obligations will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their respective terms and/or additional terms that may be imposed by the courts. As used in this opinion, the expression “to the best of our knowledge after due inquiry” or similar language with reference to matters of fact refers to the current, actual knowledge of the attorneys of this firm who have worked on matters for the Company and the PRC Entities in connection with the offering of securities described in the Registration Statement and the transactions contemplated thereby after reasonable investigation and inquiry. We may rely, as to matters of fact (but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent we deem proper, on certificates, statements and confirmations made by the responsible officers of the Company, the PRC Entities and/or the relevant Governmental Agencies.
(7) We have not undertaken any independent investigation, search or other verification action to determine the existence or absence of any fact or to prepare this opinion, and no inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of any fact should be drawn from our representation of the Company or the PRC Entities or the rendering of this opinion.
(8) This opinion is intended to be used in the context which is specifically referred to herein; each paragraph shall be construed as a whole and no part shall be extracted and referred to independently.
This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. The opinions expressed herein are rendered only as of the date hereof, and we assume no responsibility to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the opinions expressed herein.
This opinion is given solely for the benefit of the addressee hereof in connection with the offering of securities described in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in, and the filing hereof as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our name in such Registration Statement.
[Signature Page to the PRC Legal Opinion on the Offering of Ascentage Pharma Group International]
Yours faithfully,
| /s/ JunHe LLP |
JunHe LLP
7
Annex A List of the PRC Entities
| No. | PRC Entities | |
| 1． | 苏州亚盛药业有限公司 | |
| 2． | 广州顺健生物医药科技有限公司 | |
| 3． | 上海盛达健医药有限公司 | |
| 4． | 苏州盛合创新工场生物技术有限公司 | |
| 5． | 江苏亚盛医药开发有限公司 | |
| 6． | 上海亚盛医药科技有限公司 | |
| 7． | 苏州亚盛磐谷创业投资有限责任公司 | |
| 8． | 苏州盛禾众创空间发展有限公司 | |
| 9． | 苏州亚盛药业有限公司北京分公司 |
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Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of Ascentage Pharma Group International for the registration of its ordinary shares and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April 29, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Ascentage Pharma Group International included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP
Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China
July 17, 2026
Exhibit 23.4
July 17, 2026
Ascentage Pharma Group International
亞盛醫藥集團
c/o Walkers Corporate Limited
190 Elgin Avenue, George Town
Grand Cayman KY1-9008
Cayman Islands
Re: Ascentage Pharma Group International
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We consent to the references to our firm in the headings “Prospectus Summary — Company Overview” in each of the base prospectus and sales agreement prospectus (as referenced therein) included in Ascentage Pharma Group International’s Registration Statement on Form F-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”), which will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) on July 17, 2026.
In addition, we also consent to our opinion as set forth in Ascentage Pharma Group International’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Commission on April 29, 2026, being incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under the Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Yours faithfully,
For and on behalf of
Frost & Sullivan (Beijing) Inc., Shanghai Branch Co.
| Signature: | /s/ Tracy Wang | |
| Name: | Tracy Wang | |
| Title: | Consulting Manager |