Cheche Group Inc F-3, filed May 6, 2025
Cheche Group Inc. (CCG)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2025
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
Cheche Group Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| The Cayman Islands | Not Applicable | |
| (State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number) |
8/F, Desheng Hopson Fortune Plaza
13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing 100088, China
(86) 10 5083-0911
(Address and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
COGENCY GLOBAL INC.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor,
New York, NY 10168
Tel: (212) 947-7200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Lei
Zhang 13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue Xicheng District, Beijing 100088 The People’s Republic of China (86) 10 5083-0911 |
Dan Ouyang, Esq. K.
Ronnie Li, Esq. China
World Trade Centre |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If 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 upon 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, 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. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant will file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement will thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement will become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 6, 2025
PROSPECTUS
US$200,000,000
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES
PREFERRED SHARES
DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS
UNITS
OF
CHECHE GROUP INC.
Cheche Group Inc. (“we,” “us,” or the “Company”) may from time to time in one or more offerings offer and sell Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, either individually or as units composed of one or more of the other securities, of an aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000.
Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3, in no event will we sell the securities covered hereby in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our Class A Ordinary Shares in any 12-month period so long as the aggregate market value of our issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates remains below US$75,000,000. The aggregate market value of our issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates, or public float, as of March 27, 2025, was approximately US$50.3 million, which was calculated based on 42,609,951 Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates and the closing price of US$1.18 per share of our Class A Ordinary Shares on March 27, 2025. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have not offered or sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3.
We may offer and sell the securities from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices or at negotiated prices, to or through underwriters, to other purchasers, through agents, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our Class A Ordinary Shares and our warrants to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), under the trading symbols “CCG” and “CCGWW,” respectively. On April 25, 2025, the closing price for our Class A Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq was $0.9143, and the closing price for our warrants on Nasdaq was $0.03.
We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read this entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.
Throughout this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “we” or “us” refer to Cheche Group Inc., a Cayman Islands holding company, its subsidiaries and, in the context of describing the operations and consolidated financial statements, the affiliated entities, and references to “CCT” refer to Cheche Technology Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of us.
We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with no substantive operations. We carry out our business in China through our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary (“WFOE”) and its contractual arrangements, commonly known as the VIE structure, with a variable interest entity (the “VIE”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Affiliated Entities”) based in China and the shareholders of the VIE, due to the Chinese regulatory restrictions on direct foreign investment in certain aspects of our business. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have, and do not currently plan to have substantive operations in Hong Kong or Macau. Neither we nor WFOE owns any equity interests in the Affiliated Entities. Our contractual arrangements with the VIE and its shareholders are not equivalent to an investment in the equity interest of the VIE. Instead, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE and consolidates the financial results of the Affiliated Entities under U.S. GAAP in light of the VIE structure. Investors will not, and may never directly hold any equity interests in our operating entities. The VIE structure involves unique risks. It may not provide effective control over the Affiliated Entities and also faces risks and uncertainties associated with, among others, the interpretation and the application of the current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules to such contractual arrangements. The agreements under the contractual arrangements among WFOE, the VIE and its shareholders have not been tested in a court of law. If the PRC regulatory authorities find these contractual arrangements not in compliance with the restrictions on direct foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if the relevant PRC laws, regulations and rules or their interpretation change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish its interests in the VIE or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements. The PRC regulatory authorities could disallow the VIE structure at any time in the future, which would cause a material adverse change in our operations as well as a significant decline in the value of our securities, or cause such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government determines that the contractual arrangements in relation to the VIE structure do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in certain industries, or if these regulations or the way they are interpreted change, we, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish their interests in those operations, and the Class A Ordinary Shares may decline in value or become worthless” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on April 18, 2025 (the “2024 20-F”) for details.
We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties related to doing business in China, as we, through WFOE and the Affiliated Entities, conducts operations in China. We are subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations in China. The PRC government has 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 indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, and initiated various regulatory actions and made various public statements, some of which are published with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. For example, we face risks associated with regulatory approvals on overseas offerings and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, which may impact our ability to conduct certain business, accept foreign investments, or list and conduct offerings on a U.S. or other foreign stock exchange. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China” in our 2024 20-F for details.
On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”) and circulated relevant supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures regulate both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of PRC domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. We completed the filing procedures in connection with the business combination with Prime Impact (the “Business Combination”) under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures on September 14, 2023, and the result of such CSRC approval was posted on the official website of the CSRC on the same date. As advised by our PRC legal counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, we are required to complete the CSRC filing procedures within three business days after we complete an offering of the securities to be issued by us in a primary offering pursuant to this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Pursuant to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, we may need to complete filing procedures for future offshore fund-raising activities, including conducting follow-on offering in the United States. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with such filing requirements under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures may result in forced rectification, warnings and fines against us and could materially hinder our ability to raise fund overseas. In addition, we cannot guarantee that new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose any additional requirement or otherwise tightening the regulations on companies with contractual arrangements. If we violate or are deemed to have violated any current or future rules or regulations, regulatory agencies in China may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from offshore fund-raising activities into the PRC or take other actions that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as the trading price of Class A Ordinary Shares. See “Summary of the Prospectus — Regulatory Matters” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China” in our 2024 20-F for details.
We are subject to a number of prohibitions, restrictions and potential delisting risk under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “HFCAA”). Pursuant to the HFCAA and related regulations, if we have filed an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) has determined that it is unable to inspect and investigate completely, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) will identify us as a “Commission-identified Issuer,” and the trading of our securities on any U.S. national securities exchanges, as well as any over-the-counter trading in the United States, will be prohibited if we are identified as a Commission-identified Issuer for two consecutive years.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and our auditor was subject to this determination. In August 2022, the PCAOB, the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”), which establishes a specific and accountable framework for the PCAOB to conduct inspections and investigations of PCAOB-governed accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed the mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 on April 18, 2025.
However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in the mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed. Our auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, is an independent registered public accounting firm headquartered in Shanghai, China. As such, if the PRC government adopts positions at any time in the future that would prevent the PCAOB from continuing to inspect or investigate completely accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, or if our registered public accounting firm otherwise fails to meet the PCAOB’s requirements for two consecutive years, our securities will be delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market and will not be permitted for trading over the counter in the United States under the HFCAA and related regulations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Trading in our securities on any U.S. stock exchange or the U.S. over-the-counter market may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China for two consecutive years. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment” in our 2024 20-F for details.
Cash may be transferred within the group in the following manner: (1) Cheche Group Inc. may transfer funds to its subsidiaries by way of capital contributions, inter-group advances or loans; (2) we and our subsidiaries may provide loans to the VIE and vice versa; (3) funds may be transferred from the VIE to WFOE, as service fees for services contemplated by the VIE agreements; and (4) our subsidiaries, including WFOE, may make dividends or other distributions to us. Cash is transferred within the group to satisfy working capital requirement of the respective operating entities, and is managed by our finance department based on fund control policy and procedure. None of us and our subsidiaries is able to make direct capital contributions to the VIE or its subsidiaries, and the VIE is not able to make dividends or other distributions to us. As an offshore holding company, we may use the proceeds of our offshore fund-raising activities to provide loans or make capital contributions to subsidiaries in mainland China and Hong Kong or provide loans to the VIE, in each case subject to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory requirements. In 2022, cash in the form of loans in the amount of RMB34.8 million was transferred from CCT and its PRC Subsidiaries to the Affiliated Entities. In 2023, the repayment of the loans in the amount of RMB63.5 million was transferred from the Affiliated Entities to CCT and its PRC Subsidiaries. In 2024, the repayment of the loans in the amount of RMB87.8 million was transferred from the Affiliated Entities to CCT and its PRC Subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, no other transfers, dividends or distributions have been made among us, CCT, our subsidiaries and the VIE, or to investors; and no other cash flows and transfers of other assets by type have occurred among us, CCT, our subsidiaries, and the VIE. None of us, WFOE and the VIE intends to distribute earnings or settle amounts owed under the VIE agreements. See “Summary of the Prospectus—Cash and Asset Flows through Organization Dividend—Distribution and Taxation” and “Summary of the Prospectus—Cash and Asset Flows through Organization Dividend—Foreign Exchange Restriction.”
In light of the holding company structure and the VIE structure as well as our operations through WFOE and the Affiliated Entities in China, our ability to pay dividends to the shareholders, and to service any debt we may incur, may highly depend upon dividends and other distributions on equity paid by WFOE to us, and service fees paid by the Affiliated Entities to WFOE, despite that we may obtain financing at the holding company level through other methods. We, WFOE and the Affiliated Entities in China are subject to certain statutory reserve and solvency conditions before they can distribute dividends or make payment to us, which, if failed, may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make payments to Cheche Group Inc., the Cayman Islands holding company, and thus significantly decline the value of our securities or cause it to be worthless. As of the date of this prospectus, none of us, WFOE and the VIE has ever declared any dividends or distributions to us or our respective shareholders outside of China. See “Summary of the Prospectus — Implication of Being a Company with the Holding Company Structure and the VIE Structure — Cash and Asset Flows through Organization.”
Our issued and outstanding share capital consists of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. Mr. Lei Zhang, our founder, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer (the “Founder”), beneficially owns all of such issued Class B Ordinary Shares and is able to exercise 46.2% of the total voting power of such issued and outstanding share capital. Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to three votes. At the option of the holder of Class B Ordinary Shares, each Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. See “Description of Share Capital.”
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements in future reports.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as such we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, such as the rules regulating solicitation of proxies and certain insider reporting and short-swing profit rules. Moreover, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. In addition, as a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and other risk factors contained in the documents incorporated by reference herein for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the disclosures in this prospectus, including any prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
PROSPECTUS DATED , 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. The securities offered by this prospectus are being offered only in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
Except as otherwise set forth in this prospectus, we have not taken any action to permit a public offering of these securities outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of these securities and the distribution of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement outside the United States.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Cheche Group Inc. filed with the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus includes important information about us, the securities being offered and other information you should know before investing. Any prospectus supplement that we file in connection with any specific offering by us may also add, update, or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained in that particular prospectus supplement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information provided in the registration statement that we filed with the SEC. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information about us described in the section below entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” You should rely only on information contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of the prospectus. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any other date.
We may offer and sell the securities from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices or at negotiated prices, to or through underwriters, to other purchasers, through agents, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.” A prospectus supplement, if required, may describe the terms of the plan of distribution and set forth the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of securities.
Discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding. Certain amounts and percentages have been rounded; consequently, certain figures may add up to be more or less than the total amount and certain percentages may add up to be more or less than 100% due to rounding. In particular and without limitation, amounts expressed in millions contained in this prospectus have been rounded to a single decimal place for the convenience of readers.
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Unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires in this prospectus:
“Acquisition Closing” means the closing of the Acquisition Merger.
“Acquisition Merger” means the merger on the Closing Date of Merger Sub with and into CCT, with CCT surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
“Affiliated Entities” means the VIE, Beijing Cheche Technology Co., Ltd., and its subsidiaries, Cheche Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (“Cheche Insurance”), Huicai Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. and Cheche Zhixing (Ningbo) Car Service Co., Ltd.
“Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association” means our currently effective memorandum and articles of association, which became effective on September 14, 2023.
“Business Combination” means the Initial Merger, the Acquisition Merger, and all other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
“Business Combination Agreement” means that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2023, by and among Prime Impact, Merger Sub, the Company and CCT.
“CAC” means the Cyberspace Administration of the PRC.
“Cayman Companies Act” means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
“CCT” means Cheche Technology Inc., its subsidiaries and, in the context of describing the operations and consolidated financial statements, the Affiliated Entities.
“Class A Ordinary Shares” means class A ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company, each of which will be entitled to one vote.
“Class B Ordinary Shares” means class B ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company, each of which will be entitled to three votes.
“Closing Date” means September 14, 2023, the date on which the Initial Closing and the Acquisition Closing occurred.
“CSRC” means the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“HFCAA” means the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
“Hong Kong Subsidiaries” means Cheche Technology (HK) Limited and any other Hong Kong-incorporated subsidiary that CCT may have in the future.
“Initial Merger” means the merger of Prime Impact with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a publicly traded entity.
“Initial Merger Effective Time” means the date and time at which the Initial Merger becomes effective.
“Innoven Warrants” means the warrant to purchase 63,552 Class A Ordinary Shares.
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“insurance carriers” means companies that offer one or more types of insurance policies to individual consumers or corporate customers, either directly or through insurance agencies or brokers. Many insurance carriers in China maintain provincial and municipal branches, as under PRC Law, an insurance carrier can only issue auto insurance policies in the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities where it is incorporated or has established branches.
“insurance carrier customers” means provincial or municipal branches, as the case maybe, of insurance carriers that have entered into contracts with us.
“Merger Sub” means Cheche Merger Sub Inc.
“NEV” means new energy vehicle.
“Ordinary Shares” means the Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares of the Company.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“PRC” or “China” means the People’s Republic of China (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region), and only in the context of describing the PRC laws, rules, regulations, regulatory authorities, and any PRC entities or citizens under such rules, laws and regulations and other legal or tax matters in this prospectus, excludes Taiwan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.
“PRC Subsidiaries” means Baodafang Technology Co., Ltd., Cheche Technology (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. and any other PRC-incorporated subsidiary that we may have in the future.
“Prime Impact” means Prime Impact Acquisition I.
“Public Warrants” means our redeemable warrants, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
“RMB” means Renminbi, the lawful currency of the PRC.
“SaaS” means software as a service, a software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Sponsor” means Prime Impact Cayman, LLC.
“Sponsor Warrants” means the warrants held by the Sponsor, each entitling the Sponsor to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
“U.S. GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
“VATS” means the value-added telecommunication services.
“VIE” means Beijing Cheche Technology Co., Ltd., the variable interest entity that CCT consolidates through contractual arrangements.
“Warrants” means, collectively, the Public Warrants and the Sponsor Warrants.
“WFOE” or “Cheche Ningbo” means Cheche Technology (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., our wholly foreign owned subsidiary domiciled in China.
“$” means United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in documents we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you another document filed by us with the SEC. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such documents shall not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus documents listed below and any future filings, including our annual report on Form 20-F, made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and, to the extent specifically designated therein, reports on Form 6-K we furnish to the SEC on or after the date on which this registration statement is first filed with the SEC, and until the termination or completion of that offering under this prospectus:
| ● | our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on April 18, 2025; |
| ● | our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on May 13, 2024, May 30, 2024, June 20, 2024, June 27, 2024, August 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, August 29, 2024, September 3, 2024, September 12, 2024, September 30, 2024, October 1, 2024, November 21, 2024, November 26, 2024, March 11, 2025, and April 22, 2025; and |
| ● | the description of our Class A ordinary shares and warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 13, 2023, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
Any statement contained herein or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
8/F, Desheng Hopson Fortune Plaza
13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing 100088, China
Tel: (86) 10 5083-0911
Attention: Investor Relations Department
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This prospectus and any prospectus supplement contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our expectations concerning the outlook for our business, productivity, plans and goals for future operational improvements and capital investments, operational performance, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets and expected future financial performance, as well as any information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations as set forth in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein.
Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:
| ● | the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against us; | |
| ● | the ability to maintain the listing of the Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq; | |
| ● | our markets are rapidly evolving and may decline or experience limited growth; | |
| ● | our ability to retain and expand our customer base; | |
| ● | our ability to compete effectively in the markets in which we operate; | |
| ● | our relationships with insurance carriers, referral partners and consumers; | |
| ● | failure to maintain and enhance our brand; | |
| ● | failure to prevent security breaches or unauthorized access to our or our third-party service providers’ data; | |
| ● | the rapidly changing and increasingly stringent laws, contractual obligations and industry standards relating to privacy, data protection and data security; | |
| ● | risks related to our corporate structure, in particular the VIE structure; and | |
| ● | the other matters described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 20-F, and any updates to those risk factors in our reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. |
We caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available to us as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We do not undertake any obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear, in our public filings with the SEC, which are accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to consult.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read this entire prospectus (as supplemented or amended), including the sections titled “Risk Factors,” our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, and other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our other filings with the SEC, before making an investment decision.
Business Overview
We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with no substantive operation. We carry out our business in China primarily through WFOE and our contractual arrangements, commonly known as the VIE Structure, with the Affiliated Entities. We are an insurance technology company operating an independent technology-empowered platform primarily for auto insurance transaction services. Capitalizing on our leading position in auto insurance transaction services, we have evolved into a nationally leading platform with a nationwide network that offers a full suite of services and products for digital insurance transactions and insurance SaaS solutions in China. We offer a unified, cloud-based platform that delivers considerable value propositions to each of the participants in its ecosystem, including insurance carriers, insurance intermediaries, third-party platforms, referral partners and consumers. These participants access and utilize our flagship digital insurance transaction products Easy-Insur (车保易) and NEV Insurance Solution, as well as the insurance SaaS solution products Digital Surge (澎湃保) and Sky Frontier (天境) on our platform. These products are designed and programmed in different forms, including mobile, web, WeChat and third-party applications. The open architecture of our platform also enables interoperability of these products with numerous applications, systems and other offerings adopted by our ecosystem participants.
We started our business in 2014 with the radical idea to transform China’s auto insurance market and digitalize the end-to-end insurance purchase process in a way that is transparent, accessible and efficient. Since our inception, we have consistently invested in data technology to improve the way insurance carriers attract and connect with consumers online as digitalization in China’s insurance market accelerates. We own an extensive nationwide service network, with over 108 branches licensed to sell insurance policies in 25 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China as of December 31, 2024. As of the same date, our local branches had entered into over 1,800 contracts with insurance carrier customers. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, gross written premiums of auto insurance policies sold on our digital insurance transaction products were RMB12,907.9 million, RMB17,742.7 million and RMB18,997.0 million, respectively. In 2024, we formed partnerships with 15 NEV manufacturers leading to approximately 1.1 million policies embedded in new NEV deliveries and corresponding premium of RMB3.3 billion.
Leveraging our strong foothold in the auto insurance market and trustworthy branding, we also diversify our offerings with a broad and growing suite of non-auto insurance products. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, gross written premiums of non-auto insurance policies sold on our insurance transaction products amounted to RMB3,648.2 million, RMB4,794.3 million and RMB5,226.2 million, respectively.
We facilitated the issuance of insurance policies with gross premiums of RMB16.6 billion, RMB22.6 billion and RMB24.3 billion in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The number of policies written through our platform in 2022, 2023 and 2024 was approximately 12.3 million, 15.8 million and 17.3 million, respectively. Our growth is propelled by rapid expansion in the number of our referral partners, which reached about 1.3 million as of December 31, 2024. Our track record of strong growth required minimal marketing efforts and was largely organic, with a substantial amount of business generated through word-of-mouth referrals. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, substantially all of the insurance transaction volumes on our platform came from our referral partner base.
We offer a unified, cloud-based platform that delivers considerable value propositions to each of the participants in our ecosystem, including insurance carriers, third-party platforms, referral partners, insurance intermediaries and consumers.
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| ● | To insurance carriers: We provide insurance carriers with (1) easy access to diversified distribution channels, allowing them to lower consumer acquisition costs, (2) a digital channel to target desired consumers and distribute products cost-effectively, and (3) an AI-based and analytics-driven SaaS solution to optimize product pricing and control risks without incurring additional technology and infrastructure investments. As a result, by collaborating with us, insurance carriers will experience increased revenue and improved economic efficiency. | |
| ● | To third-party platforms: We provide direct access to insurance products underwritten by leading insurance carriers to customers of third-party platform partners, enabling such third-party platform partners to better serve their customers and expand the scope of services to customers. We pay third-party platform partners fees for referring insurance consumers who purchase insurance products through our platform, allowing our third-party platform partners to generate additional income, diversify revenue sources and achieve better financial performance. | |
| ● | To insurance referral partners: For our insurance referral partners, we (1) offer competitive and diverse insurance products, (2) provide an easy-to-use digital experience to enhance customer conversions, (3) enable the selling of different types of insurance products to enhance consumer stickiness, (4) provide a more efficient and transparent process for selling insurance, and (5) enable diversified income sources and better economics. | |
| ● | To insurance intermediaries: We (1) enable automation of core processes and improve operating efficiency, (2) fulfill regulatory digitalization requirements at zero to low costs, and (3) enhance competitiveness and diversity of insurance product offerings at minimum costs. | |
| ● | To insurance consumers: We (1) offer competitive pricing, (2) grant accesses to a comprehensive and diversified suite of insurance products, and (3) provide a digital, transparent and informed transaction experience. |
As of December 31, 2024, we collaborated with approximately 100 insurance carriers, 4,500 insurance intermediaries and 700 third-party platforms, and worked with about 1.3 million referral partners on our platform.
Our principal executive office is 8/F, Desheng Hopson Fortune Plaza, 13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing 100088, People’s Republic of China and its telephone number is +86 10 5083-0911. Our website address is IR@chechegroup.com. The information contained on the website does not form a part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. The following diagram depicts a simplified organizational structure of the Company as of the date of this prospectus.
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| (1) | VIE equity interests holders include Lei Zhang, Zhendong Wang, Hangzhou Shunying Equity Investment Partnership (L.P.), Zhuhai Hengqin Huarong Zhifu Investment Management Co., Ltd., Beijing Cheche Technology Investment Center, LLP, Beijing Zhongjin Huicai Investment Management Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Ruiyuan Investment Enterprise, LLP, Huzhou Zhongze Jiameng Equity Investment Enterprise, LLP, Beijing Zhongyun Ronghui Investment Center, LLP and Guangzhou Lianzhan Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., which hold approximately 35.6%, 1.1%, 8.8%, 8.2%, 9.8%, 14.2%, 8.0%, 4.9%, 8.8% and 0.6% of the equity interests in the VIE, respectively. |
Implication of Being a Company with the Holding Company Structure and the VIE Structure
The VIE Structure and its Associated Risks
We are a Cayman Islands holding company with no substantive operations. We carry out our business through the VIE and its subsidiaries in China, due to PRC regulatory restrictions on direct foreign ownership of companies that engage in VATS and other internet related business.
The VIE structure was established through a series of agreements entered into between WFOE, the VIE and its shareholders, comprising an exclusive business cooperation agreement, an equity interest pledge agreement, an exclusive option agreement, the shareholders’ power of attorney and spousal consent letters. The contractual arrangements allow us to (1) consolidate the financial results of the Affiliated Entities, (2) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of the Affiliated Entities, (3) have the pledge right over the equity interests in the VIE as the pledgee to secure its fulfillment of obligations, and (4) have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests and assets in the VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. As a result of our direct ownership in WFOE and the contractual arrangements with the VIE, we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE for accounting purposes, and, therefore, has consolidated the financial results of the Affiliated Entities into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2024, the VIE and its subsidiaries accounted for an aggregate of 78.1% and 73.9%, respectively, of consolidated total assets and 83.3% and 75.1%, respectively, of our consolidated total liabilities. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the VIE and its subsidiaries accounted for an aggregate of 94.6%, 93.9% and 84.2%, respectively, of our consolidated total net revenues.
For a condensed consolidating schedule depicting the results of operation, financial position and cash flow for CCT, WFOE and the Affiliated Entities, see the section entitled “Item 3. Key Information — Financial Information Related to the Affiliated Entities” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference herein.
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The VIE structure involves unique risks to investors. It may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over the VIE or its subsidiaries, and we may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of the arrangements. The agreements under the contractual arrangements among WFOE, the VIE and its shareholders have not been tested in a court of law. There are also substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules regarding our rights with respect to our contractual arrangements with the VIE and its shareholders. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to the VIE structure will be adopted or, if adopted, what they would provide. The PRC regulatory authorities could disallow the VIE structure at any time in the future. If the PRC government deems that the contractual arrangements with the VIE do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in these operations. We, our subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities, and investors of Class A Ordinary Shares face uncertainty with respect to potential future actions by the PRC government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the VIE and, consequently, significantly affect the financial performance of the Affiliated Entities and us as a whole.
Cash and Asset Flows through Organization
Dividend Distribution and Taxation: In light of our holding company structure and the VIE structure, our ability to pay dividends to the shareholders, and to service any debt we may incur, may depend upon dividends paid by WFOE to us and service fees paid by the Affiliated Entities to WFOE, despite that we may obtain financing at the holding company level through other methods. However, the WFOE and the Affiliated Entities in China are subject to certain statutory reserve and solvency conditions before they can distribute dividends or make payment to us, which, if failed, may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make payment to us. Under PRC laws and regulations, WFOE is permitted to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Furthermore, WFOE and the Affiliated Entities are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation of the companies. The statutory reserve fund requires that annual appropriations of 10% of net after-tax income should be set aside prior to payment of any dividends, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of their registered capital. As a result of such restrictions under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us either in the form of dividends, loans or advances, which restricted portion amounted to RMB328.5 million and RMB370.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. As of the date of this prospectus, none of us and our subsidiaries has made any dividends or distributions to our respective shareholder(s), including any U.S. investors, nor do we have any present plan to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of the respective our board of directors. As of the date of this prospectus, none of us, WFOE and the VIE intends to distribute earnings or settle amounts owed under the VIE agreements. Under Cayman Islands law, we may only pay dividends out of our profits, or out of monies otherwise available for dividend in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act, provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in us being unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Subject to the “passive foreign investment company” rules, the gross amount of any distribution that we make to a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”) with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares (including any amounts withheld to reflect PRC withholding taxes) will be taxable as a dividend for United States federal income tax purposes, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles.
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Foreign Exchange Restriction: We, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities are subject to restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors. Under PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of funds out of China, which may restrict the transfer of cash between us, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Affiliated Entities or the investors. Under PRC laws and regulations, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities are subject to certain restrictions with respect to payment of dividends or otherwise transfers of any of their net assets to us. Remittance of dividends by the PRC Subsidiaries out of China is also subject to certain procedures with the banks designated by the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange. These restrictions are benchmarked against the paid-up capital and the statutory reserve funds of the PRC Subsidiaries and the net assets of the VIE in which we do not have legal ownership. While there are currently no such restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash or assets between us and our Hong Kong subsidiary, if certain PRC laws and regulations, including existing laws and regulations and those enacted or promulgated in the future were to become applicable to the Hong Kong subsidiary in the future, and to the extent our cash or assets are in Hong Kong or a Hong Kong entity, such funds or assets may not be available due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on our ability to transfer funds or assets by the PRC government. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not impose restrictions on us, our subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities to transfer or distribute cash within the organization, which could result in an inability of or prohibition on making transfers or distributions to entities outside of mainland China and Hong Kong.
Transfer of Cash and Asset: Cash may be transferred within the group in the following manner: (1) we may transfer funds to our subsidiaries, including the PRC Subsidiaries, by way of capital contributions, inter-group advances or loans; (2) we and our subsidiaries may provide loans to the VIE and vice versa; (3) funds may be transferred from the VIE to WFOE, as service fees for services contemplated by the VIE agreements; and (4) our subsidiaries, including WFOE, may make dividends or other distributions to us. Cash is transferred within the group to satisfy working capital requirement of the respective operating entities, and is managed by our finance department based on fund control policy and procedure. Neither we nor our subsidiaries are able to make direct capital contributions to the VIE or its subsidiaries, and the VIE is not able to make dividends or other distributions to us. In 2022, cash in the form of loans in the amount of RMB34.8 million was transferred from CCT and its PRC Subsidiaries to the Affiliated Entities. In 2023, the repayment of the loans in the amount of RMB63.5 million was transferred from the Affiliated Entities to CCT and its PRC Subsidiaries. In 2024, the repayment of the loans in the amount of RMB87.8 million was transferred from the Affiliated Entities to CCT and its PRC Subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, no other transfers, dividends or distributions have been made among us, our subsidiaries and the VIE, or to investors; and no other cash flows and transfers of other assets by type have occurred between us, the PRC Subsidiaries, and the VIE.
As an offshore holding company, we may use the proceeds of our offshore fund-raising activities to provide loans or make capital contributions to the PRC Subsidiaries or provide loans to the VIE, in each case subject to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory requirements. See “— Dividend Distribution and Taxation” and “— Foreign Exchange Restriction.”
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
We are subject to a number of prohibitions, restrictions and potential delisting risk under the HFCAA. Pursuant to the HFCAA and related regulations, if we have filed an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) has determined that it is unable to inspect and investigate completely, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) will identify us as a “Commission-identified Issuer,” and the trading of our securities on any U.S. national securities exchanges, as well as any over-the-counter trading in the United States, will be prohibited if we are identified as a Commission-identified Issuer for two consecutive years.
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On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and our auditor was subject to this determination. In August 2022, the PCAOB, the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC signed the Statement of Protocol, which establishes a specific and accountable framework for the PCAOB to conduct inspections and investigations of PCAOB-governed accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed the mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 on April 18, 2025.
However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in the mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed. Our auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, is an independent registered public accounting firm headquartered in Shanghai, China. As such, if the PRC government adopts positions at any time in the future that would prevent the PCAOB from continuing to inspect or investigate completely accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, or if our registered public accounting firm otherwise fails to meet the PCAOB’s requirements for two consecutive years, our securities will be delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market and will not be permitted for trading over the counter in the United States under the HFCAA and related regulations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Trading in our securities on any U.S. stock exchange or the U.S. over-the-counter market may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China for two consecutive years. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment” in our 2024 20-F for details.
Regulatory Matters
CAC Approval
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law (the “Opinions”). The Opinions stressed the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-related overseas listed companies.
On November 14, 2021, the CAC promulgated the draft Regulations on the Administration of Cyber Data Security (Draft for Comments) (the “Draft CAC Regulation”), which has not yet become effective. The Draft CAC Regulation provides that data processors that conduct the following activities must apply for cybersecurity review: (1) merger, reorganization or spin-off of Internet platform operators holding a large amount of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests, which may have an adverse effect on national security; (2) data processors intending to list their securities on a foreign stock exchange that handle personal information of more than one million people; (3) data processors intending to list their securities on a stock exchange in Hong Kong which may have an adverse effect on national security; and (4) other data processing activities that may have an adverse effect on national security.
On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 other governmental authorities, promulgated the revised Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), critical information infrastructure operators that intend to purchase internet products and services which may have an adverse effect on national security must apply for cybersecurity review. Meanwhile, online platform operators holding personal information of over one million users that intend to list their securities on a foreign stock exchange must apply for cybersecurity review. In the meantime, the governmental authorities have the discretion to initiate a cybersecurity review on any data processing activity if they deem such a data processing activity affects or may affect national security. The specific implementation rules on cybersecurity review are subject to further clarification by subsequent regulations.
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On July 7, 2022, the CAC promulgated the Measures for the Security Assessment of Cross-Border Transfer of Data, which took effect on September 1, 2022. These measures aim to regulate cross-border transfers of data, requiring among other things, that data processors that provide data to overseas apply to CAC for security assessments if: (1) data processors provide important data to overseas parties; (2) critical information infrastructure operators and data processors process personal information of more than one million individuals provide personal information to overseas parties; (3) data processors that have cumulatively provided personal information of 100,000 people or sensitive personal information of 10,000 people to overseas parties since January 1 of the previous year, provide personal information to overseas parties; and (4) other scenarios required by the CAC to apply for security assessments are met. In addition, these measures require data processors to carry out self-assessments of risks of providing data to overseas parties before applying to the CAC for security assessments.
On August 3, 2023, the CAC published the Administrative Measures for Personal Information Protection Compliance Audits (Draft for Comment) , which has not yet become effective. According to such draft, the term “compliance audit of personal information protection” refers to the supervisory activities that review and evaluate whether the personal information processing activities performed by personal information processors comply with laws and administrative regulations. Personal information processors that process personal information of more than one million individuals shall carry out a compliance audit of personal information protection at least once a year. Other personal information processors are required to conduct a compliance audit of personal information protection at least once every two years.
Given that the above-mentioned newly promulgated laws, regulations and policies were recently promulgated or issued, and some of them have not yet taken effect (as applicable), their interpretation, application and enforcement are subject to substantial uncertainties. We believe that such requirement for cybersecurity review under the Draft CAC Regulation, if effective in the current form, and revised Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), are applicable to the PRC Subsidiaries and the VIE. As a network platform operator who possesses personal information of more than one million users for purposes of the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), we have applied for and completed a cybersecurity review with respect to our overseas listing pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021).
See also “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Recent greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability in capital raising activities and materially and adversely affect our business and the value of your investment” in our 2024 20-F.
CSRC Filing
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”) and circulated relevant supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures will comprehensively improve and reform the existing regulatory regime for overseas offering and listing of PRC domestic companies’ securities and will regulate both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of PRC domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime.
According to the Overseas Listing 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 Overseas Listing Trial Measures provides that an overseas listing or offering is explicitly prohibited, if any of the following: (1) such securities offering and listing is explicitly prohibited by provisions in laws, administrative regulations and relevant state rules; (2) the intended securities offering and listing may endanger national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with law; (3) the domestic company intending to make the securities offering and listing, or its controlling shareholder(s) and the actual controller, have committed relevant crimes such as corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property or undermining the order of the socialist market economy during the latest three years; (4) the domestic company intending to make the securities offering and listing is currently under investigations for suspicion of criminal offenses or major violations of laws and regulations, and no conclusion has yet been made thereof; or (5) there are material ownership disputes over equity held by the domestic company’s controlling shareholder(s) or by other shareholder(s) that are controlled by the controlling shareholder(s) and/or actual controller.
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The Overseas Listing Trial Measures also provides that if the issuer meets both the following criteria, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be deemed as indirect overseas offering by PRC domestic companies: (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 domestic companies; and (2) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or 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. Where an issuer submits an application for initial public offering to competent overseas regulators, such issuer must file with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. In addition, the Overseas Listing Trial Measures provides that the direct or indirect overseas listings of the assets of domestic companies through one or more acquisitions, share swaps, transfers or other transaction arrangements shall be subject to filing procedures in accordance with the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, which filing shall be submitted within three business days after the issuer submits its application documents relating to the initial public offering and/or listing or after the first public announcement of the relevant transaction (if the submission of relevant application documents is not required). The Overseas Listing Trial Measures also requires subsequent reports to be filed with the CSRC on material events, such as change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuer(s) who have completed overseas offerings and listings.
Guidance for Application of Regulatory Rules – Overseas Offering and Listing No. 1, promulgated by CSRC together with the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, provides that if a domestic enterprise completes an overseas offering through an overseas special purposes acquisition company, it shall submit the filing materials within three business days after such overseas special purposes acquisition company publicly announces such acquisition transaction. In addition, according to the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises published by CSRC on its official website on February 17, 2023, companies that have already been listed on overseas stock exchanges prior to March 31, 2023 or the companies that have obtained the approval from overseas supervision administrations or stock exchanges for its offering and listing prior to March 31, 2023 and will complete their overseas offering and listing prior to September 30, 2023 are not required to make immediate filings for its listing, but are required to make filings for subsequent offerings in accordance with the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. Companies that have already submitted an application for an initial public offering to overseas supervision administrations but have not yet obtained the approval from overseas supervision administrations or stock exchanges for the offering and listing prior to March 31, 2023 may arrange for the filing within a reasonable time period and should complete the required CSRC filing procedure, the completion of which will be published on the CSRC website, before such companies’ overseas issuance and listing.
We completed the filing procedures in connection with the Business Combination under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures on September 14, 2023, and the result of such CSRC approval was posted on the official website of the CSRC on the same date. As advised by our PRC legal counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, we are required to complete the CSRC filing procedures within three business days after we complete an offering of the securities to be issued by us in a primary offering pursuant to this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Pursuant to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, we may need to complete filing procedures for future offshore fund-raising activities, including conducting follow-on offering in the United States. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with such filing requirements under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures may result in forced rectification, warnings and fines against us and could materially hinder our ability to raise fund overseas.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance, the National Administration of State Secrets Protection and the National Archives Administration released the revised Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Archives Rules”), which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Archives Rules regulate both overseas direct offerings and overseas indirect offerings, providing that, among other things:
| ● | in relation to the overseas listing activities of PRC enterprises, the PRC enterprises are required to strictly comply with the relevant requirements on confidentiality and archives management, establish a sound confidentiality and archives system, and take necessary measures to implement their confidentiality and archives management responsibilities; |
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| ● | during the course of an overseas offering and listing, if a PRC enterprise needs to publicly disclose or provide to securities companies or securities service providers and overseas regulators, any materials that contain relevant state secrets, government work secrets or information that has a sensitive impact (i.e. be detrimental to national security or the public interest if divulged), the PRC enterprise should complete the relevant approval/filing and other regulatory procedures; and | |
| ● | working papers produced in the PRC by securities companies and securities service providers, which provide PRC enterprises with securities services during their overseas issuance and listing, should be stored in the PRC, and competent PRC authorities must approve the transmission of all such working papers to recipients outside the PRC. |
Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with the Archives Rules and the confidentiality requirements and other PRC laws and regulations may result in us being held legally liable by competent authorities.
See also “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The filing with the CSRC may be required in connection with future overseas fund-raising activities, and we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing” in our 2024 20-F.
Regulatory Licenses for Our Operations in China
Many aspects of our business depend on obtaining and maintaining licenses, approvals, permits or qualifications from PRC regulators. Obtaining such approvals, licenses, permits or qualifications depends on our compliance with regulatory requirements. PRC regulatory authorities also have relatively broad discretion to grant, renew and revoke licenses and approvals and to implement laws and regulations. Based on PRC laws and regulations currently in effect and the legal advice of our PRC legal counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, and subject to different interpretations of these laws and regulations that may be adopted by PRC authorities, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities have obtained the following licenses and approvals necessary to operate in China as of the date of this prospectus: (1) each of the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities has obtained a business license; (2) the VIE, through which the PRC Subsidiaries conduct their VATS business, has obtained a value-added telecommunications license for internet information services; and (3) Cheche Insurance Sales & Service Co., Ltd. has obtained the insurance intermediary license. Apart from these licenses and approvals, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities may not be able to maintain existing licenses, permits and approvals and the government authorities may subsequently require the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities to obtain any additional licenses, permits and approvals. If the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities fail to obtain the necessary licenses, permits and approvals or inadvertently conclude that any permissions or approvals are not required, or if applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and the PRC Subsidiaries or the Affiliated Entities are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities may be subject to fines, confiscation of revenues generated from incompliant operations or the suspension of relevant operations. The PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities may also experience adverse publicity arising from such non-compliance with government regulations that negatively impact us.
Recent Developments
On November 15, 2024, we received a written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq, notifying us that we were no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, as our closing bid price per Class A Ordinary Share had been below US$1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days. On March 10, 2025, the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq issued a notification letter, confirming that we have regained compliance and the matter has been closed. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities and this Offering— If we do not satisfy the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq Stock Market, the Class A Ordinary Share could be suspended for trading or delisted from Nasdaq.”
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Summary of Risk Factors
Our business and our industry are subject to significant risks. Before you decide to buy our securities, you should carefully consider all risk factors set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including the following risk factors, in evaluating our business. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects would likely be materially and adversely affected. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Risks and uncertainties relating to our business and industry include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | Risks related to competition and a rapidly evolving market. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We operate in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market, which makes it difficult to evaluate our prospects” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Risks related to China’s digital insurance and the automotive industries. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our business is subject to risks related to China’s digital insurance and the automotive industries” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Risks related to the evolving regulatory environment. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our business is subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations, many of which are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, which could result in changes to our business practices, reduced revenue and increased compliance costs or otherwise harm our business. Any failure to comply with laws or regulations may subject us to fines, injunctions and other penalties that could harm our business” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Failure to obtain or maintain necessary permits. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Failure to obtain or maintain permits necessary for our operations may subject us to regulatory penalties or require us to adjust our business model” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Our historical net loss and net cash outflow. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have historically incurred net losses and negative operating cash flows, and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Uncertainties in our strategic business expansion. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our effort to expand into the non-auto insurance market and diversify our revenues may not be successful” in our 2024 20-F. |
Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
We carry out our business in China primarily through WFOE and our contractual arrangements with the Affiliated Entities. We are therefore subject to various legal and operational risks and uncertainties related to our corporate structure, which could materially and adversely affect our operations, cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | The validity of our corporate structure. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government determines that the contractual arrangements in relation to the VIE structure do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in certain industries, or if these regulations or the way they are interpreted change, we, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish their interests in those operations, and the Class A Ordinary Shares may decline in value or become worthless” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Adverse tax consequences in relation to our corporate structure. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Contractual arrangements with the VIE may result in adverse tax consequences to us, the PRC Subsidiaries or the Affiliated Entities” in our 2024 20-F. |
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| ● | Contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—We and the PRC Subsidiaries rely on contractual arrangements with the VIE and the VIE’s shareholders to operate their business, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Failure by the VIE or its shareholders to perform their obligations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Any failure by the VIE or its shareholders to perform their obligations under their contractual arrangements with WFOE would materially adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of us and the PRC Subsidiaries” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Potential conflicts of interest in relation to our corporate structure. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—VIE’s shareholders may have potential conflicts of interest with us, the PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities, which may materially adversely affect the business and financial condition of us and the PRC Subsidiaries” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | Limitations imposed on the ability of the PRC Subsidiaries to pay dividends. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—We may rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by the PRC Subsidiaries to fund our cash and financing requirements, and any limitation on the ability of the PRC Subsidiaries to pay dividends to us could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business” in our 2024 20-F. |
| ● | Regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and currency conversion. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure— PRC regulations of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using proceeds from offshore fund-raising activities, to make loans or additional capital contributions to the PRC Subsidiaries, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business” in our 2024 20-F. |
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties related to being based in and having significant operations in China, and therefore are subject to risks associated with doing business in China generally. Risks and uncertainties related to doing business in China could result in a material adverse change in our operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer our securities to investors, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Such risks and uncertainties include, but not limited to, the following:
| ● | Chinese government has significant authority to intervene or influence our operations at any time, and to exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the China operations of an offshore holding company, and offerings conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, such as us. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the value of our securities” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| Recent regulatory developments in China may subject us to additional regulatory review. For example, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Recent greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability in capital raising activities and materially and adversely affect our business and the value of your investment” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The filing with the CSRC may be required in connection with future overseas fund-raising activities, and we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing” in our 2024 20-F. |
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| ● | Our securities may be delisted under the HFCAA if the PCAOB is unable to inspect auditors who are located in mainland China and Hong Kong. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Trading in our securities on any U.S. stock exchange or the U.S. over-the-counter market may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China for two consecutive years. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | We are subject to impact from PRC economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government could negatively impact China’s overall economic growth, which could materially adversely affect our business” in our 2024 20-F. | |
| ● | We are subject to uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including such relating to the enforcement of rules and regulations in China and the risk that rules and regulations can change quickly with little advance notice. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations could materially adversely affect our business” in our 2024 20-F. |
Risks Related to Our Securities and this Offering
| ● | The price of our securities may be volatile, and the value of our securities may decline. | |
| ● | If we do not satisfy the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq Stock Market, the Class A Ordinary Share could be suspended for trading or delisted from Nasdaq. | |
| ● | The Warrants to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares will increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our shareholders. | |
| ● | Sales of the securities, or the perception of such sales, by us pursuant to this prospectus in the public market or otherwise could cause the market price for our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline. | |
| ● | We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are exempt from certain provisions applicable to U.S. domestic public companies. | |
| ● | As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq Stock Market corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq Stock Market corporate governance listing standards. | |
| ● | You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under the law of the Cayman Islands, and will conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and a majority of our directors and executive officers will reside outside of the United States. |
See also “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Securities” in our 2024 20-F for details.
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Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of Class A Ordinary Shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Foreign Private Issuer
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act and, as such, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country, the Cayman Islands, in lieu of the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq applicable to U.S. domestic companies. For example, we are not required to have a majority of the board consisting of independent directors nor have a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors. We intend to follow its home country’s corporate governance practices as long as it remains a foreign private issuer. As a result, our shareholders may not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of U.S. domestic companies that are subject to Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. As a foreign private issuer, we are also subject to reduced disclosure requirements and are exempt from certain provisions of the U.S. securities rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers such as the rules regulating solicitation of proxies and certain insider reporting and short-swing profit rules.
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Investing in our securities involves risk. Before you decide to buy our securities, you should carefully consider all risk factors set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer. As a result, the market price of our securities would decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference or included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may become material and adversely affect our business.
Any global systemic economic and financial crisis could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be negatively impacted by any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy. The global financial markets have experienced significant disruptions since 2008 and the United States, Europe and other economies have experienced periods of recession. The recovery from the lows of 2008 and 2009 has been uneven and there are new challenges, including the escalation of the European sovereign debt crisis from 2011 and the slowdown of Chinese economic growth since 2012, which may continue. The market panics over the global outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 and the drop in oil price have materially and negatively affected the global financial markets in March 2020, which may cause a potential slowdown of the world’s economy. There have also been concerns over unrest in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa, which have resulted in volatility in financial and other markets, concerns over the significant potential changes to United States trade policies, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs regarding China, concerns about the economic effect of the relationship between China and surrounding Asian countries, and concerns over the rising level of inflation and worries that efforts to curb inflation may result in recession. For instance, if the inflation intensifies in China, we may have to increase the price level of our solutions while our costs and operating expenses may also increase in the meantime. In that case, our profit margin will depend on our ability to pass on the additional costs and operating expenses to our customers. In addition, a rising inflation level will also have a negative impact on enterprises’ purchasing power on our customized insurance plans, which will in turn reduce the demand of our solutions and negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The United States government has made statements and taken certain actions that may lead to changes in United States and international trade policies towards China. It remains unclear what additional actions, if any, will be taken by the United States or other governments with respect to international trade agreements, the imposition of tariffs on goods imported into the United States, tax policy related to international commerce, or other trade matters. In February and March 2025, the United States administration imposed an additional 20% duty on Chinese imports. Subsequently, authorities in China announced tariffs over selected United States products and regulatory investigation against United States companies in response to the tariff imposed by the United States. Furthermore, on April 2, 2025, President Trump announced that the United States would impose a 10% tariff on all countries, effective on April 5, 2025, and an individualized reciprocal higher tariff on countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits, including a 34% additional reciprocal tariff on goods imported from China that brings the total tariff rate to 54%. On April 4, 2025, the Foreign Ministry of China announced that China would impose a retaliatory 34% tariff on goods imported from the United States. On April 8, 2025, President Trump announced to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports. The Trump administration proceeded to implement a 104% tariff on goods imported from China on April 9, 2025. Subsequently, on April 10, 2025, President Trump announced a temporary suspension of reciprocal tariff measures targeting most U.S. trading partners for a 90-day period, while concurrently escalating tariffs on Chinese goods, which is currently 245% with limited exceptions and may become higher in the future. On April 12, 2025, the State Council further announced that China would escalate the retaliatory tariff to 125% on goods imported from the United States. This sequence of actions underscored a strategic recalibration of the United States trade policy, emphasizing heightened pressure on international trades. We are closely monitoring potential changes in international trade policy and assessing the potential impact of these and other trade policy changes on our business operations and financial performance.
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The price of our securities may be volatile, and the value of our securities may decline.
We cannot predict the prices at which our securities will trade. The price of our securities may not bear any relationship to the market price at which our securities traded or to any other established criteria of the value of our business and prospects, and the market price of our securities may fluctuate substantially. In addition, the trading price of our securities have been, and is likely to continue to be volatile, and could fluctuate widely in in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. For example, the high and low closing prices of our Class A Ordinary Shares since the completion of the Business Combination were $200.00 and $0.56, respectively. The volatility of and fluctuations in the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares could cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our securities include the following:
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition or results of operations; | |
| ● | variance in our financial performance from expectations of securities analysts; | |
| ● | changes in our projected operating and financial results; | |
| ● | changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business; | |
| ● | announcements by our or our competitors of significant business developments, acquisitions or new offerings; | |
| ● | sales of our securities by our shareholders or warrant holders, including the sales of the securities as described in this prospectus; | |
| ● | significant breaches of, disruptions to or other incidents involving our information technology systems or those of our business partners; | |
| ● | our involvement in material litigation; | |
| ● | conditions or developments affecting the digital insurance industry in China; | |
| ● | changes in senior management or key personnel; | |
| ● | the trading volume of our securities; | |
| ● | general economic and market conditions; and | |
| ● | other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, global pandemics or responses to these events. |
If we do not satisfy the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq Stock Market, the Class A Ordinary Shares could be suspended for trading or delisted from Nasdaq.
The Class A Ordinary Shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Nasdaq Listing Rules has minimum requirements that a company must meet for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market.
On November 15, 2024, we received a written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq, notifying us that we were no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, as our closing bid price per Class A Ordinary Share had been below US$1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days. On March 10, 2025, the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq issued a notification letter, confirming that we have regained compliance and the matter has been closed.
Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that we will always be able to continue to meet the financial and corporate governance requirements to qualify for continued listing, including the minimum bid price requirement of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The issuance and sale of any securities in the future may be dilutive to our existing shareholders and may cause the price of the Class A Ordinary Shares to decline, which may prevent us from being able to maintain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rules, and result in the Class A Ordinary Shares being suspended or delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market. If a suspension or delisting of the Class A Ordinary Shares were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted Class A Ordinary Shares. In addition, our ability to raise additional capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired.
Sales of the securities, or the perception of such sales, by us pursuant to this prospectus in the public market or otherwise could cause the market price for our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline.
This prospectus relates to our proposed primary offering sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, either individually or as units composed of one or more of the other securities, of an aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000, on a continuous and delayed basis, on the terms and conditions determined by the Company from time to time. The sale of our securities in the public market or otherwise, including sales pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or the perception that such sales could occur, could increase the volatility of the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares or result in a significant decline in the public trading price of the Class A Ordinary Shares. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate
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We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities we offer as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement(s).
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We have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our Class A Ordinary Shares. We currently intend to retain any future earnings and do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future Any further determination to pay dividends on our ordinary shares would be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws, and would depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business conditions, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
In light of our holding company structure and the VIE structure, our ability to pay dividends to the shareholders, and to service any debt we may incur, may depend upon dividends paid by WFOE to us and service fees paid by the Affiliated Entities to WFOE, despite that we may obtain financing at the holding company level through other methods. However, the WFOE and the Affiliated Entities in China are subject to certain statutory reserve and solvency conditions before they can distribute dividends or make payment to us, which, if failed, may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make payment to us. Under PRC laws and regulations, WFOE is permitted to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Furthermore, WFOE and the Affiliated Entities are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation of the companies. The statutory reserve fund requires that annual appropriations of 10% of net after-tax income should be set aside prior to payment of any dividends, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of their registered capital. As a result of such restrictions under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC Subsidiaries and the Affiliated Entities are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us either in the form of dividends, loans or advances, which restricted portion amounted to RMB328.5 million and RMB370.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company:
| ● | 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 following:
| ● | the Cayman Islands has a less exhaustive body of securities laws than the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors; and | |
| ● | Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our constitutional 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.
We conduct substantially all of our operations outside the United States, and substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. Substantially all of our officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States 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 Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East, 42th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168, as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.
Cayman Islands
We have been advised by Harney Westwood & Riegels, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, that the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters and that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (1) recognize and enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the civil liability provision of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States, or (2) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States.
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We have also been advised by Harney Westwood & Riegels that, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands will at common law enforce final and conclusive in personam judgments of state and/or federal courts of the United States of America (the “Foreign Court”) of a debt or definite sum of money against the Company (other than a sum of money payable in respect of taxes or other charges of a like nature, a fine or other penalty (which may include a multiple damages judgment in an anti-trust action) or where enforcement would be contrary to public policy). The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands will also at common law enforce final and conclusive in personam judgments of the Foreign Court that are non-monetary against the Company, for example, declaratory judgments ruling upon the true legal owner of shares in a Cayman Islands company. The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands will exercise its discretion in the enforcement of non-money judgments by having regard to the circumstances, such as considering whether the principles of comity apply. To be treated as final and conclusive, any relevant judgment must be regarded as res judicata by the Foreign Court. A debt claim on a foreign judgment must be brought within six years of the date of the judgment, and arrears of interest on a judgment debt cannot be recovered after six years from the date on which the interest was due. The courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the Foreign Court under civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities law if such a judgment is found by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. Such a determination has not yet been made by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. A court of the Cayman Islands may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. A judgment entered in default of appearance by a defendant who has had notice of the Foreign Court’s intention to proceed may be final and conclusive notwithstanding that the Foreign Court has power to set aside its own judgment and despite the fact that it may be subject to an appeal the time-limit for which has not yet expired. The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands may safeguard the defendant’s rights by granting a stay of execution pending any such appeal and may also grant interim injunctive relief as appropriate for the purpose of enforcement.
PRC
Han Kun Law Offices, our counsel as to PRC law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would:
| ● | recognize or enforce judgments of United States 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 each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
Han Kun Law Offices has further advised that 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 between China and the jurisdiction where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China 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 it or its 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, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law against us in the PRC for disputes relating to contracts or other property interests if they can establish sufficient connection to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction and meet other procedural requirements. The PRC court will determine whether to accept the complaint in accordance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law. 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 the Ordinary Shares, to establish a connection to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.
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We may issue, offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:
| ● | Class A Ordinary Shares; | |
| ● | preferred shares; | |
| ● | debt securities; | |
| ● | warrants; and | |
| ● | units. |
The following is a description of the terms and provisions of our Class A Ordinary Shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants and units, which we may offer and sell using this prospectus. These summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, and units, in certain cases, the Class A Ordinary Shares that may be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the offering price and the net proceeds to us, as applicable, will be contained in the prospectus supplement and other offering material relating to such offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each security. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
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Our authorized share capital is $50,000 divided into 5,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, comprising of (1) 4,000,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, and (2) 1,000,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. As of the date of this prospectus, there are 83,641,615 issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (excluding 709,432 Class A Ordinary Shares held in treasury), consisting of (1) 65,045,111 Class A Ordinary Shares, and (2) 18,596,504 Class B Ordinary Shares, and does not include 10,608,609 Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants and the Innoven Warrants. All of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding have been fully paid and are non-assessable.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have 10,608,609 warrants outstanding, consisting of 10,545,057 Warrants and 63,552 Innoven Warrants. The Warrants will not become exercisable until 30 days after the Closing, and will expire five years after the completion of the Business Combination. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment. The Warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of Class A Ordinary Shares. For details of the Warrants, please refer to Exhibit 4.4 to this registration statement.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, and our affairs are governed by the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Cayman Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
The following includes a summary of the material provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in so far as they relate to the material terms of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. The following summary is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, which has been filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this registration statement.
Ordinary Shares
General
Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and holders of Class B Ordinary Shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. All of our issued Ordinary Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares.
Dividends
The holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our directors or by ordinary resolutions of shareholders, provided that no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Dividends may be declared and paid out of our profits, or out of monies otherwise available for dividend in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act, provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in us being unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights
In respect of all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote, each Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote and each Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle the holder thereof to three votes. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any shareholder present.
An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy, at a general meeting, or be 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; while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy, at a general meeting, or approval 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. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
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Conversions
Each Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder to any person who is not the founder or an affiliate of the founder, or upon a change of ultimate beneficial ownership of any Class B Ordinary Share to any person who is not the founder or an affiliate of the founder, such Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares.
Directors’ Power to Issue Shares
Subject to applicable law, our board of directors may, in their absolute discretion and without the approval of the shareholders, cause us to (1) allot, issue and dispose of shares (including, without limitation, preferred shares) (whether in certificated form or non-certificated form) to such persons, in such manner, on such terms and having such rights and being subject to such restrictions as they may from time to time determine; (2) grant rights over shares or other securities to be issued in one or more classes or series as they deem necessary or appropriate and determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights attaching to such shares or securities, including dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the powers, preferences, privileges and rights associated with the then issued and outstanding shares, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper; and (3) grant options with respect to shares and issue warrants or similar instruments with respect thereto.
Transfer of Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the restrictions contained in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her Class A Ordinary Shares by an instrument of transfer in writing in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
Our board of directors may decline to register any transfer of any Ordinary Shares unless:
| ● | the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, 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 Ordinary 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; and | |
| ● | a fee of such maximum sum as the 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 three calendar months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with us, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice required of the exchange and the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, be suspended and the register of members 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 of members closed for more than 30 calendar days in any calendar year.
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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), assets available for distribution among the holders of Ordinary Shares shall be distributed among the holders of the Ordinary Shares in proportion to the par value of the Ordinary Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Ordinary Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately to the par value of the shares held by them.
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. The Ordinary Shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and other applicable law, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner, including making payment in respect of the redemption out of capital, as may be determined by the board of directors.
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares or any class of shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of such shares, be deemed to be varied by the creation, redesignation, allotment or issue of shares ranking pari passu with such shares.
General Meetings of Shareholders
Extraordinary general meetings may be convened by the chairman or by a majority of our board of directors, and they shall on a shareholders’ requisition (being a requisition of shareholders holding at the date of deposit of the requisition shares which carry in aggregate not less than a simple majority of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of the Company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of the company) forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting. Advance notice of at least ten (10) calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and any other extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of one or more holders of not less than one-third of the aggregate voting power of all of the Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our Ordinary Shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (other than copies of our memorandum and articles of association and register of mortgages and charges, and any special resolutions passed by our shareholders). Our directors have discretion under the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but we are not obliged to make them available to the shareholders. Under Cayman Islands law, the names of our current directors can be obtained from a search conducted at the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands.
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Changes in Capital
We may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
| ● | increase our share capital by such sum as the resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as we in general meeting may determine; |
| ● | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares; |
| ● | subdivide our existing shares or any of them into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association; or |
| ● | cancel any shares that 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 our share capital by the amount of the shares so canceled. |
We may by special resolution reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund in any manner permitted by the Cayman Companies Act.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Some provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of us 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; and |
| ● | limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders. |
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of us.
Our Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our ordinary shares is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent, its agents and each of its shareholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any claims and losses due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Differences in Corporate Law
The Cayman Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England but does not follow recent English statutory enactments and, accordingly, there are significant differences between the Cayman Companies Act and the current Companies Act of England. In addition, the Cayman Companies Act differs from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain significant differences between the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
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| Cayman Islands | Delaware | |||
| Mergers and Similar Arrangements | The Cayman 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 consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated 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 (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the surviving or consolidated company, a declaration as to 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. |
Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, a consolidation, 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 Cayman parent company and its Cayman subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders of that Cayman subsidiary if a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of that Cayman subsidiary to be merged unless that member agrees otherwise. For this purpose, a company is a “parent” of a subsidiary if it holds issued shares that together represent at least 90% of the votes at a general meeting of the subsidiary.
The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest over a constituent company is required unless this requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands. |
Mergers in which one corporation owns 90% or more of a second corporation may be completed without the vote of the second corporation’s board of directors or stockholders. |
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Save in certain limited circumstances, a shareholder of a Cayman constituent company who dissents from the merger or consolidation is entitled to payment of the fair value of his shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) upon dissenting to the merger or consolidation; provided that the dissenting shareholder complies strictly with the procedures set out in the Cayman Companies Act. The exercise of dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of holding shares, save for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.
Separate from the statutory provisions relating to mergers and consolidations, the Cayman Companies Act also contains statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies by way of schemes of arrangement; provided that the arrangement is approved by (a) 75% in value of shareholders or class of shareholders, as the case may be, or (b) a majority in number representing 75% in value of the creditors or class of creditors, as the case may be, with whom the arrangement is to be made, that are, in each case, present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that: |
Generally, a stockholder of a publicly traded corporation does not have appraisal rights in connection with a merger. |
| ● | 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; | ||||
| ● | the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and | ||||
| ● | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Cayman Companies Act. |
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| The Cayman Companies Act also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissentient minority shareholders upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of not less than 90.0% of the shares affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares to the offeror on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion. | ||||
| If an arrangement and reconstruction by way of scheme of arrangement is thus approved and sanctioned, or if a tender offer is made and accepted in accordance with the foregoing statutory procedures, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares. | ||||
| Shareholders’ 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 (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) 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: | Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to stockholders 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. |
| ● | 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.” |
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| Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability | Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers, against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such directors or officer, other than by reason of such person’s dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
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 post-offering memorandum and articles of association.
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 believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and if with respect to a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct would be unlawful, against amounts actually and reasonably incurred. 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. |
| Directors’ Fiduciary Duties | 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 toward 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 corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction.
The duty of loyalty requires that a director acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally.
In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation. |
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| Shareholder Action by Written Consent | Cayman Islands law and our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that our shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution 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. | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. |
| Shareholder Proposals | The Cayman Companies Act provides 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association allow our shareholders holding shares which carry in aggregate not less than a simple majority of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company as of the date of the deposit that are entitled to vote at general meetings 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide our shareholders with any other right to put proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders; provided that it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
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| Cumulative Voting | Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands, but our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation. | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it.
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| Removal of Directors | Under our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors may be removed by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. An appointment of a director may be on terms that the director shall automatically retire from office (unless he has sooner vacated office) at the next or a subsequent annual general meeting or upon any specified event or after any specified period in a written agreement between the company and the director, if any; but no such term shall be implied in the absence of express provision. In addition, a director will also cease to be a director if he (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from meetings of our board for three consecutive meetings and our board resolves that his office be vacated; or (v) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.
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| Transactions with Interested Shareholders | Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, the directors of our company are required to comply with fiduciary duties which they owe to our company under Cayman Islands laws, including the duty to ensure that, in their opinion, any such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders. | The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting shares within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors. |
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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. The court 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 the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated 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 either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by the board of directors. |
| Variation of Rights of Shares | Under our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, the rights attached to any such class may only be materially adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the shares of that class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation, allotment or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by our company. The rights of the holders of shares shall not be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation or issue of shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights. | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.
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| Amendment of Governing Documents | Under the Cayman Companies Act and our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, our memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution of our shareholders. | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. | ||
| Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders | There are no limitations imposed by our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that require our company to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular ownership threshold. | Under Delaware General Corporation Law, there are no restrictions on foreign shareholders, and all the stock or membership interests in a Delaware company can be owned by non-U.S. nationals. |
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Special Considerations for Exempted Companies
We are an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the Cayman Companies Act. The Cayman 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 (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance); |
| ● | 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. |
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the 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).
Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no limitations imposed by the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Enforceability of Civil Liability under Cayman Islands Law
The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.
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The courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (1) to recognize, or enforce against us, judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State; and (2) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands will at common law enforce final and conclusive in personam judgments of the Foreign Court of a debt or definite sum of money against the Company (other than a sum of money payable in respect of taxes or other charges of a like nature, a fine or other penalty (which may include a multiple damages judgment in an anti-trust action) or where enforcement would be contrary to public policy). The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands will also at common law enforce final and conclusive in personam judgments of the Foreign Court that are non-monetary against the Company, for example, declaratory judgments ruling upon the true legal owner of shares in a Cayman Islands company. The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands will exercise its discretion in the enforcement of non-money judgments by having regard to the circumstances, such as considering whether the principles of comity apply. To be treated as final and conclusive, any relevant judgment must be regarded as res judicata by the Foreign Court. A debt claim on a foreign judgment must be brought within six years of the date of the judgment, and arrears of interest on a judgment debt cannot be recovered after six years from the date on which the interest was due. The courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the Foreign Court under civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities law if such a judgment is found by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. Such a determination has not yet been made by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. A court of the Cayman Islands may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. A judgment entered in default of appearance by a defendant who has had notice of the Foreign Court’s intention to proceed may be final and conclusive notwithstanding that the Foreign Court has power to set aside its own judgment and despite the fact that it may be subject to an appeal the time-limit for which has not yet expired. The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands may safeguard the defendant’s rights by granting a stay of execution pending any such appeal and may also grant interim injunctive relief as appropriate for the purpose of enforcement.
There was Privy Council authority (which is binding on the Cayman Islands court) in the context of a reorganization plan approved by the New York Bankruptcy Court which suggested that due to the universal nature of bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings, foreign judgments obtained in foreign bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings may be enforced without applying the principles outlined above. However, a more recent English Supreme Court authority (which is highly persuasive but not binding on the Cayman Islands court), expressly rejected that approach in the context of a default judgment obtained in an adversary proceeding brought in the New York Bankruptcy Court by the receivers of the bankruptcy debtor against a third party, and which would not have been enforceable upon the application of the traditional common law principles summarized above and held that foreign money judgments obtained in bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings should be enforced by applying the principles set out above, and not by the simple exercise of the Courts’ discretion. Those cases have now been considered by the Privy Council. The Privy Council too rejected the approach although it was not required to rule on the specific question of whether a judgment of a bankruptcy court in an adversary proceeding would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands: whilst it endorsed the need for active assistance of overseas bankruptcy proceedings under the principle of modified universalism as part of the common law, it did so firstly subject to local law and local public policy and, secondly, that the court can only ever act within the limits of its own statutory and common law powers. The limits of those powers and the impact of that on enforcement is, however, unclear and consequently we understand that it remains the case that the law regarding the enforcement of bankruptcy/insolvency related judgments is still in a state of uncertainty.
Anti-Money Laundering — Cayman Islands
If any person in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects, or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property, and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (1) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands (the “FRA”), pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (2) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the FRA, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
Data Protection — Cayman Islands
We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “DPA”) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.
Privacy Notice
Introduction
This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that through your investment in our securities, you will provide us with certain personal information which constitutes personal data within the meaning of the DPA (“personal data”). In the following discussion, the “company” refers to us and our affiliates and/or delegates, except where the context requires otherwise.
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Investor Data
We will collect, use, disclose, retain and secure personal data to the extent reasonably required only and within the parameters that could be reasonably expected during the normal course of business. We will only process, disclose, transfer or retain personal data to the extent legitimately required to conduct our activities of on an ongoing basis or to comply with legal and regulatory obligations to which we are subject. We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.
In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a “data controller” for the purposes of the DPA, while our affiliates and service providers who may receive this personal data from us in the conduct of our activities may either act as our “data processors” for the purposes of the DPA or may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us.
We may also obtain personal data from other public sources. Personal data includes, without limitation, the following information relating to a shareholder and/or any individuals connected with a shareholder as an investor: name, residential address, email address, contact details, corporate contact information, signature, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, tax identification, credit history, correspondence records, passport number, bank account details, source of funds details and details relating to the shareholder’s investment activity.
Who this Affects
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation your investment in us, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should transmit the content of this Privacy Notice to such individuals or otherwise advise them of its content.
How We May Use a Shareholder’s Personal Data
We, as the data controller, may collect, store and use personal data for lawful purposes, including, in particular:
| ● | where this is necessary for the performance of our rights and obligations under any purchase agreements; |
| ● | where this is necessary for compliance with a legal and regulatory obligation to which we are subject (such as compliance with anti-money laundering and FATCA/CRS requirements); and/or |
| ● | where this is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests and such interests are not overridden by your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms. |
Should we wish to use personal data for other specific purposes (including, if applicable, any purpose that requires your consent), we will contact you.
Why We May Transfer Your Personal Data
In certain circumstances we may be legally obliged to share personal data and other information with respect to your shareholding with the relevant regulatory authorities such as the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority or the Tax Information Authority. They, in turn, may exchange this information with foreign regulatory authorities, including tax authorities.
We anticipate disclosing personal data to persons who provide services to us and their respective affiliates (which may include certain entities located outside the United States, the Cayman Islands or the European Economic Area), who will process your personal data on our behalf.
The Data Protection Measures We Take
Any transfer of personal data by us or our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. We and our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates shall apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of personal data, and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data. We shall notify you of any personal data breach that is reasonably likely to result in a risk to your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms or those data subjects to whom the relevant personal data relates.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Although we do not currently intend to issue any preferred shares, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
As of the date of this prospectus, there are no issued and outstanding preferred shares of any series. The material terms of any series of preferred shares that we offer, together with any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to such preferred shares, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders of our preferred shares are entitled to certain rights and subject to certain conditions as set forth in our currently effective memorandum and articles of association and the Cayman Companies Act. See “Description of Share Capital.”
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into ordinary shares or preferred shares. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a supplement to this prospectus. The following description of debt securities will apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities may specify different or additional terms.
The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be secured or unsecured, and may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee under the indenture. The indenture may be qualified under, subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have summarized selected portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form F-3, of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you.
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of directors’ resolution, an officers’ certificate and by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.
We may issue any amount of debt securities under the indenture, which may be in one or more series with the same or different maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any related pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the offering price, the aggregate principal amount offered and the terms of the debt securities, including, among other things, the following:
| ● | the title of the debt securities; | |
| ● | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; | |
| ● | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; | |
| ● | the date or dates on which we will repay the principal on the debt securities and the right, if any, to extend the maturity of the debt securities; | |
| ● | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will be payable and any regular record date for any interest payment date; | |
| ● | the place or places where the principal of, premium, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and where the debt securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; | |
| ● | any obligation or right we have to redeem the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of holders of the debt securities or at our option, and the terms and conditions upon which we are obligated to or may redeem the debt securities; | |
| ● | any obligation we have to repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities, the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; | |
| ● | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued; |
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| ● | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| ● | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; | |
| ● | the currency of denomination of the debt securities; | |
| ● | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; | |
| ● | if payments of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; | |
| ● | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; | |
| ● | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; | |
| ● | any addition to or change in the events of default described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; | |
| ● | any addition to or change in the covenants described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; | |
| ● | whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated and any applicable subordination provisions; | |
| ● | a discussion of material income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; | |
| ● | any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify any provisions of the indenture as it applies to that series; and | |
| ● | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities. |
We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for and/or convertible into ordinary shares or preferred shares. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchanged and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for exchange or conversion, which can be mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and the manner in which the number of ordinary shares, preferred shares or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the U.S. federal income tax considerations, and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We may issue and offer warrants under the material terms and conditions described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.
Public Warrants
Following the consummation of the Business Combination, each warrant of Prime Impact outstanding immediately prior to the Initial Merger Effective Time ceased to be a warrant with respect to Prime Impact Ordinary Shares and was assumed by us and converted into an Assumed Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share. Each Assumed Public Warrant otherwise continues to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Prime Impact Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the Business Combination (including any repurchase rights and cashless exercise provisions), se set forth below.
Terms of Public Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of one year from the closing of Prime Impact’s IPO and 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination, provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement) and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of Class A Ordinary Shares. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of the Business Combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration is available. No warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue a Class A Ordinary Share upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A Ordinary Share issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the Class A ordinary share underlying such unit.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the Closing of the Business Combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the Closing of the Business Combination, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those Class A Ordinary Shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement; provided that if the Class A Ordinary Shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so appoint, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement. If a registration statement covering the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the Closing of the Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption, but we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
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Redemptions for warrants for cash when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00.
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”). |
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise the warrants.
We have established the last of the redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A Ordinary Shares may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of warrants for Class A ordinary shares when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00.
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption; provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A ordinary shares (as defined below); |
| ● | if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $18.00”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like); and |
| ● | if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), the private placement warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above. |
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The numbers in the table below represent the number of Class A Ordinary Shares that a warrant holder will receive upon exercise in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of our Class A Ordinary Shares on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), determined based on volume-weighted average price of our Class A Ordinary Shares as reported during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below. We will provide our warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends. The numbers in the table below will not be adjusted when determining the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued upon exercise of the warrants following the Business Combination.
The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant or the exercise price of the warrant is adjusted as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant is adjusted, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the exercise price of the warrant after such adjustment and the denominator of which is the price of the warrant immediately prior to such adjustment. In such an event, the number of shares in the table below shall be adjusted by multiplying such share amounts by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant as so adjusted.
| Fair Market Value of Class A Ordinary Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption Date (period to expiration of warrants) | $10.00 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $16.00 | $17.00 | $18.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 60 months | 0.261 | 0.281 | 0.297 | 0.311 | 0.324 | 0.337 | 0.348 | 0.358 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 57 months | 0.257 | 0.277 | 0.294 | 0.310 | 0.324 | 0.337 | 0.348 | 0.358 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 54 months | 0.252 | 0.272 | 0.291 | 0.307 | 0.322 | 0.335 | 0.347 | 0.357 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 months | 0.246 | 0.268 | 0.287 | 0.304 | 0.320 | 0.333 | 0.346 | 0.357 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 months | 0.241 | 0.263 | 0.283 | 0.301 | 0.317 | 0.332 | 0.344 | 0.356 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 months | 0.235 | 0.258 | 0.279 | 0.298 | 0.315 | 0.330 | 0.343 | 0.356 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 months | 0.228 | 0.252 | 0.274 | 0.294 | 0.312 | 0.328 | 0.342 | 0.355 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 39 months | 0.221 | 0.246 | 0.269 | 0.290 | 0.309 | 0.325 | 0.340 | 0.354 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 months | 0.213 | 0.239 | 0.263 | 0.285 | 0.305 | 0.323 | 0.339 | 0.353 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33 months | 0.205 | 0.232 | 0.257 | 0.280 | 0.301 | 0.320 | 0.337 | 0.352 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 months | 0.196 | 0.224 | 0.250 | 0.274 | 0.297 | 0.316 | 0.335 | 0.351 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 months | 0.185 | 0.214 | 0.242 | 0.268 | 0.291 | 0.313 | 0.332 | 0.350 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 months | 0.173 | 0.204 | 0.233 | 0.260 | 0.285 | 0.308 | 0.329 | 0.348 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 months | 0.161 | 0.193 | 0.223 | 0.252 | 0.279 | 0.304 | 0.326 | 0.347 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 months | 0.146 | 0.179 | 0.211 | 0.242 | 0.271 | 0.298 | 0.322 | 0.345 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 months | 0.130 | 0.164 | 0.197 | 0.230 | 0.262 | 0.291 | 0.317 | 0.342 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 months | 0.111 | 0.146 | 0.181 | 0.216 | 0.250 | 0.282 | 0.312 | 0.339 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 months | 0.090 | 0.125 | 0.162 | 0.199 | 0.237 | 0.272 | 0.305 | 0.336 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 months | 0.065 | 0.099 | 0.137 | 0.178 | 0.219 | 0.259 | 0.296 | 0.331 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 months | 0.034 | 0.065 | 0.104 | 0.150 | 0.197 | 0.243 | 0.286 | 0.326 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 months | — | — | 0.042 | 0.115 | 0.179 | 0.233 | 0.281 | 0.323 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued for each warrant exercised will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365 or 366-day year, as applicable. For example, if the volume-weighted average price of our Class A Ordinary Shares as reported during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $11.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.277 Class A Ordinary Shares for each whole warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the volume-weighted average price of our Class A Ordinary Shares as reported during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $13.50 per share, and at such time there are 38 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.298 Class A Ordinary Shares for each whole warrant. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 Class A Ordinary Shares per warrant (subject to adjustment).
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This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding warrants to be redeemed when the Class A Ordinary Shares are trading at or above $10.00 per share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares is below the exercise price of the warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem the warrants without the warrants having to reach the $18.00 per share threshold set forth above under “—Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per Class A Ordinary Share equals or exceeds $18.00.” Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding warrants, and therefore have certainty as to our capital structure as the warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay the applicable redemption price to warrant holders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of the warrants if we determine it is in our best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when we believe it is in our best interest to update our capital structure to remove the warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the warrants when the Class A Ordinary Shares are trading at a price starting at $10.00, which is below the exercise price of $11.50, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when the Class A Ordinary Shares are trading at a price below the exercise price of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer Class A Ordinary Shares than they would have received if they had chosen to wait to exercise their warrants for Class A Ordinary Shares if and when such Class A ordinary shares were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of $11.50.
No fractional Class A Ordinary Shares will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder.
A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) of the Class A Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution Adjustments.
If the number of outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend payable in Class A Ordinary Shares, or by a sub-divisions of ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such capitalization or share dividend, sub-divisions or similar event, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding ordinary shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all holders of Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “historical fair market value” (as defined below) will be deemed a share dividend of a number of Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A Ordinary Shares) and (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per Class A Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering and (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Class A Ordinary Shares, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “historical fair market value” means the volume-weighted average price of Class A Ordinary Shares as reported during the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Class A Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
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In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to all or substantially all the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares on account of such Class A Ordinary Shares (or other securities into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, and (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Class A Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $0.50 (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any other adjustments and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the exercise price or to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each warrant) but only with respect to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $0.50 per share.
If the number of outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division or reclassification of Class A Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares.
Whenever the number of Class A Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of Class A Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of Class A Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such Class A Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the Class A Ordinary Shares immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A Ordinary Shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which was filed as exhibit 4.5 to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants.
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The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive Class A Ordinary Shares. After the issuance of Class A Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.
No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to the warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Warrant Agent for Public Warrants
The warrant agent for our Public Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as warrant agent, its agents and each of its shareholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any claims and losses due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Other Warrants
In addition to our Public Warrants, we may issue warrants to purchase our ordinary shares, preferred shares or debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
Equity Warrants
Each equity warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the equity securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.
The equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.
The particular terms of the equity warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the equity warrants and the equity warrant certificates representing the equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| ● | the title of the equity warrants; |
| ● | the offering price; |
| ● | the aggregate amount of equity warrants and the aggregate amount of equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants; |
| ● | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants are issued, and the amount of equity warrants issued with each equity security; |
| ● | the date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will be separately transferable; |
| ● | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the equity warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
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| ● | if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the equity warrants; |
| ● | anti-dilution provisions of the equity warrants, if any; |
| ● | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and |
| ● | any additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants. |
Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors or any other matters, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants.
Debt Warrants
Each debt warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the debt securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or together with debt securities.
The debt warrants are to be issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into between us, and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.
The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| ● | the title of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the offering price; |
| ● | the title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| ● | the title and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and the amount of the debt warrants issued with each debt security; |
| ● | the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant; |
| ● | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the debt warrants; |
| ● | whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered; |
| ● | anti-dilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any; |
| ● | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; and |
| ● | any additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the debt warrants. |
Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be presented for registration of transfer, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent or any other office indicated in the related prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not be entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, or to enforce any of the covenants in the indentures governing such debt securities.
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We may issue units composed of any combination of our Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares, debt securities or warrants. We will issue each unit so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. As a result, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to units that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When units are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the units as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of units in the supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before we issue a series of units. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” above for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed.
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe:
| ● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities composing the units; |
| ● | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; and |
| ● | any other terms of the units. |
The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Shares Capital,” “Description of Preferred Shares,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” above, will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.
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Material income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the securities offered by this prospectus are set forth in “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference and, if applicable, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or relevant free writing prospectus.
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We may sell or distribute the securities offered by this prospectus, from time to time, in one or more offerings, as follows:
| ● | through agents; |
| ● | to dealers or underwriters for resale; |
| ● | directly to purchasers; |
| ● | in “at-the-market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; or |
| ● | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities may state or supplement the terms of the offering of the securities.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting for us or on our behalf may also repurchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our securities distributed by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or more transactions, either:
| ● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| ● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| ● | at negotiated prices. |
The prospectus supplement relating to any offering will identify or describe:
| ● | any terms of the offering; |
| ● | any underwriter, dealers or agents; |
| ● | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
| ● | the net proceeds to us; |
| ● | the purchase price of the securities; |
| ● | any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| ● | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
| ● | the public offering price; |
| ● | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| ● | any exchange on which the securities will be listed. |
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If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if they purchase any of the securities of that series. We may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. The prospectus supplement will include the names of the principal underwriters the respective amount of securities underwritten, the nature of the obligation of the underwriters to take the securities and the nature of any material relationship between an underwriter and us.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis.
We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent by us. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
If the prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus, each class or series of securities offered will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.
| 48 |
In connection with an offering, an underwriter may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities, if any, from us in the offering. If the underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase additional securities from us, the underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing securities in the open market. In determining the source of securities to close out the covered short position, the underwriters may consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. “Naked” short sales are any sales in excess of such option or where the underwriters do not have an over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Accordingly, to cover these short sales positions or to otherwise stabilize or maintain the price of the securities, the underwriters may bid for or purchase securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids. If penalty bids are imposed, selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased, whether in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. 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. The impositions of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resale of the securities. The magnitude or effect of any stabilization or other transactions is uncertain. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or a post-effective amendment.
We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities offered by this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement, or otherwise.
| 49 |
EXPENSES RELATED TO THE RESALE OFFERING
The following table sets forth the aggregate expenses to be paid by us in connection with this offering. All amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 30,620 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | ** | |||
| Accountants’ fees and expenses | ** | |||
| Printing expenses | ** | |||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses | ** | |||
| Miscellaneous costs | ** | |||
| Total | $ | ** |
| * | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be defined at this time. |
| ** | To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. Estimated solely for this item. Actual expenses may vary. |
| 50 |
We are being represented by Baker Mckenzie LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law, by Han Kun Law Offices with respect to certain legal matters as to PRC law, and by Harney Westwood & Riegels with respect to certain legal matters as to Cayman Islands law. Baker Mckenzie LLP may rely upon Harney Westwood & Riegels with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and Han Kun Law Offices with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
| 51 |
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The registered business address of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP is 6/F DBS Bank Tower, 1318 Lu Jia Zui Ring Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
| 52 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the periodic reporting and other information requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to a “Foreign Private Issuer,” and we will file annual reports and other information from time to time with the SEC in accordance with such requirements. Our SEC filings will be available to the public on the internet at a website maintained by the SEC located at www.sec.gov.
We also maintain an Internet website at ir.chechegroup.com. Through the “Investor Relations” portal available through our website, we will make available, free of charge, the following documents as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC: our Annual Reports on Form 20-F; our reports on Form 6-K; amendments to these documents; and other information as may be required by the SEC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules 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. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act 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.
| 53 |
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 memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that that we shall indemnify our officers and directors against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such directors or officer, other than by reason of such person’s dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.
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 Memorandum and Articles of Association. A form of the indemnification agreements has been filed as Exhibit 10.14 to our registration statement on Form F-4 (Reg. No. 333-273400), initially filed with the SEC on July 24, 2023.
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.
Any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an offering of securities will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors in certain cases.
Item 9. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed herewith unless otherwise indicated:
| II-1 |
| * | To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference. |
| ** | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
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, as amended, or the Securities Act; |
| 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 any 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% 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) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, 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 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 Exchange Act 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 Exchange Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-K if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Form F-3. |
| II-2 |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act 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 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 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. |
(B) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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.
(C) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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.
(D) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Act”), in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
| II-3 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 the city of Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on May 6, 2025.
| Cheche Group Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Lei Zhang | |
| Name: | Lei Zhang | |
| Title: | Director, Chief Executive Officer | |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Mr. Lei Zhang as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and sign any registration statement for the same offerings covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Lei Zhang | Director and Chief Executive Officer | May 6, 2025 | ||
| Lei Zhang | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Wenting Ji | Chief Financial Officer | May 6, 2025 | ||
| Wenting Ji | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ Huichuan Ren | Director | May 6, 2025 | ||
| Huichuan Ren | ||||
| /s/ Shengwen Rong | Independent Director | May 6, 2025 | ||
| Shengwen Rong | ||||
| /s/ Liqun Li | Independent Director | May 6, 2025 | ||
| Liqun Li | ||||
| /s/ Xiufang Li | Independent Director | May 6, 2025 | ||
| Xiufang Li |
| II-4 |
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, solely in his capacity as the duly authorized representative of Cheche Group Inc., has signed this registration statement in the City of New York, New York, on May 6, 2025.
| COGENCY GLOBAL INC. | ||
| Authorized U.S. Representative | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Colleen A. De Vries | |
| Title: | Senior
Vice-President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc. | |
| II-5 |
Exhibit 4.7
Cheche Group Inc.
INDENTURE
Dated as of , 2025
[__________]
Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 2 | ||
| Section 1.1 | Definitions | 2 | |
| Section 1.2 | Other Definitions | 5 | |
| Section 1.3 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 6 | |
| Section 1.4 | Rules of Construction | 6 | |
| ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES | 7 | ||
| Section 2.1 | Issuable in Series | 7 | |
| Section 2.2 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 7 | |
| Section 2.3 | Execution and Authentication | 9 | |
| Section 2.4 | Registrar and Paying Agent | 10 | |
| Section 2.5 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 11 | |
| Section 2.6 | Securityholder Lists | 11 | |
| Section 2.7 | Transfer and Exchange | 11 | |
| Section 2.8 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 12 | |
| Section 2.9 | Outstanding Securities | 12 | |
| Section 2.10 | Treasury Securities | 13 | |
| Section 2.11 | Temporary Securities | 13 | |
| Section 2.12 | Cancellation | 13 | |
| Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest | 13 | |
| Section 2.14 | Global Securities | 14 | |
| Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers | 15 | |
| ARTICLE III REDEMPTION | 15 | ||
| Section 3.1 | Notice to Trustee | 15 | |
| Section 3.2 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 15 | |
| Section 3.3 | Notice of Redemption | 16 | |
| Section 3.4 | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 16 | |
| Section 3.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price | 16 | |
| Section 3.6 | Securities Redeemed in Part | 16 | |
| ARTICLE IV COVENANTS | 16 | ||
| Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal and Interest | 16 | |
| Section 4.2 | SEC Reports | 17 | |
| Section 4.3 | Compliance Certificate | 17 | |
| Section 4.4 | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 17 | |
| Section 4.5 | Corporate Existence | 17 | |
| ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS | 18 | ||
| Section 5.1 | When Company May Merge, etc. | 18 | |
| Section 5.2 | Successor Corporation Substituted | 18 | |
| -i- |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| Page | |||
| ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 18 | ||
| Section 6.1 | Events of Default | 18 | |
| Section 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 19 | |
| Section 6.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 20 | |
| Section 6.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 21 | |
| Section 6.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 21 | |
| Section 6.6 | Application of Money Collected | 22 | |
| Section 6.7 | Limitation on Suits | 22 | |
| Section 6.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | 23 | |
| Section 6.9 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 23 | |
| Section 6.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 23 | |
| Section 6.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 23 | |
| Section 6.12 | Control by Holders | 24 | |
| Section 6.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults | 24 | |
| Section 6.14 | Undertaking for Costs | 24 | |
| ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE | 24 | ||
| Section 7.1 | Duties of Trustee | 24 | |
| Section 7.2 | Rights of Trustee | 26 | |
| Section 7.3 | Force Majeure | 27 | |
| Section 7.4 | Individual Rights of Trustee | 27 | |
| Section 7.5 | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 28 | |
| Section 7.6 | Notice of Defaults | 28 | |
| Section 7.7 | Reports by Trustee to Holders | 28 | |
| Section 7.8 | Compensation and Indemnity | 28 | |
| Section 7.9 | Replacement of Trustee | 29 | |
| Section 7.10 | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 30 | |
| Section 7.11 | Eligibility; Disqualification | 30 | |
| Section 7.12 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 30 | |
| ARTICLE VIII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | 31 | ||
| Section 8.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 31 | |
| Section 8.2 | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification | 32 | |
| Section 8.3 | Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series | 32 | |
| Section 8.4 | Covenant Defeasance | 34 | |
| Section 8.5 | Repayment to Company | 35 | |
| ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 35 | ||
| Section 9.1 | Without Consent of Holders | 35 | |
| Section 9.2 | With Consent of Holders | 36 | |
| Section 9.3 | Limitations | 36 | |
| Section 9.4 | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 36 | |
| Section 9.5 | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 37 | |
| Section 9.6 | Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 37 | |
| Section 9.7 | Trustee Protected | 37 | |
| ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS | 37 | ||
| Section 10.1 | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 37 | |
| Section 10.2 | Notices | 38 | |
| Section 10.3 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 38 | |
| Section 10.4 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 38 | |
| Section 10.5 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 39 | |
| Section 10.6 | Legal Holidays | 39 | |
| Section 10.7 | No Recourse Against Others | 39 | |
| Section 10.8 | Counterparts | 39 | |
| Section 10.9 | Governing Laws | 40 | |
| Section 10.10 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 40 | |
| Section 10.11 | Successors | 40 | |
| Section 10.12 | Severability | 40 | |
| Section 10.13 | Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 40 | |
| Section 10.14 | Securities in a Foreign Currency or ECU | 40 | |
| Section 10.15 | Judgment Currency | 40 | |
| ARTICLE XI SINKING FUNDS | 41 | ||
| Section 11.1 | Applicability of Article | 41 | |
| Section 11.2 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 41 | |
| Section 11.3 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 41 | |
| -ii- |
Cheche Group Inc.
Cheche Group Inc., reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of , 2025. This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
| § 310(a)(1) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(2) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(5) | 7.10 | |
| (b) | 7.10 | |
| § 311(a) | 7.11 | |
| (b) | 7.11 | |
| (c) | Not Applicable | |
| § 312(a) | 2.6 | |
| (b) | 10.3 | |
| (c) | 10.3 | |
| § 313(a) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(2) | 7.6 | |
| (c)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (d) | 7.6 | |
| § 314(a) | 4.2, 10.5 | |
| (b) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(2) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | Not Applicable | |
| (e) | 10.5 | |
| (f) | Not Applicable | |
| § 315(a) | 7.1 | |
| (b) | 7.5 | |
| (c) | 7.1 | |
| (d) | 7.1 | |
| (e) | 6.14 | |
| § 316(a) | 2.10 | |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | |
| (b) | 6.8 | |
| § 317(a)(1) | 6.3 | |
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | |
| (b) | 2.5 | |
| § 318(a) | 10.1 |
Indenture dated as of , 20 between Cheche Group Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), and [ ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1 Definitions
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close or a day the Corporate Trust Office is closed.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.
| -2- |
“Company Order” means written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
“Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman/Chairwoman, its chief executive officer, or its president and by its chief financial officer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.
“ECU” means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.
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“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, general manager, and any vice president of the Company.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel, which opinion, is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject and who shall in each case have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
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“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions
TERM |
DEFINED IN SECTION | |
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Journal” | 10.15 | |
| “Judgment Currency” | 10.16 | |
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.7 | |
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
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TERM |
DEFINED IN SECTION | |
| “Market Exchange Rate” | 10.15 | |
| “New York Banking Day” | 10.16 | |
| “Notice Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | |
| “Required Currency” | 10.16 | |
| “successor person” | 5.1 |
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Security Holder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction
Unless the context otherwise requires:
| (a) | a term has the meaning assigned to it; |
| (b) | an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP; |
| (c) | “or” is not exclusive; |
| (d) | words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and |
| (e) | provisions apply to successive events and transactions. |
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ARTICLE
II
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is [ ]. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.21) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate, and associated supplemental indenture:
2.2.1. the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2. the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3. any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.4. the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5. the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
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2.2.6. the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7. if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
2.2.8. the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.9. the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
2.2.10. if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.11. the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;
2.2.12. if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13. the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
2.2.14. the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;
2.2.15. if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
2.2.16. the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
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2.2.17. the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.18. any addition to, or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.19. any addition to, or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;
2.2.20. any material income tax considerations applicable;
2.2.21. if the Securities of the Series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;
2.2.22. whether the Securities of the Series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;
2.2.23. any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series); and
2.2.24. any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate.
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The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent
Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such Series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for conversion or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Trustee or Notice Agent, as applicable, shall deliver such notices and demands to the Company in accordance with Section 10.2 hereof. The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or delivered at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
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The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
The Company hereby appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Securities.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Security Holders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Security Holders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Security Holders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Security Holders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities upon receipt of a Company Order. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
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Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
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A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. Upon receipt of written instruction from the Company, the Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Security Holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Security Holder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
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Section 2.14 Global Securities
2.14.1. Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.
2.14.2. Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such
Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
2.14.3. Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”
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2.14.4. Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
2.14.5. Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.14.6. Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.5, the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE
III
REDEMPTION
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the Trustee notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with its customary practices or the selection shall be in accordance with DTC procedures, as applicable. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
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Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(e) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(f) the CUSIP number, if any; and
(g) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption prepared by the Company, in the Company’s name and at its expense.
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE
IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
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Section 4.2 SEC Reports
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year (which on the date hereof ends on December 31) of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge).
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.5 Corporate Existence
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
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ARTICLE
V
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
(a) the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes, the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and
(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.
Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE
VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
(b) default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or
(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
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(d) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or
(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or
(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar U.S. Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by pursuing any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
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Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
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Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected
Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits
No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;
it being understood, and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
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Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
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Section 6.12 Control by Holders
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series, waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
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(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.
(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.
(iv) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(d) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
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(g) The Paying Agent, the Registrar, the Notice Agent, any agent and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee
(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. No such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Trustee. Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall not be liable for any special, punitive or consequential damages, even if they were reasonably foreseeable.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder and the Trustee may conclusively rely on any such advice or Opinion of Counsel.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
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(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default (other than a payment default under Section 6.1 or 6.2) or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of any event which is in fact such a default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(j) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(k) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to or monitor the performance of the Issuer with respect to the covenants contained in Article IV.
(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.
(m) Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to submit to the jurisdiction or venue of a non-U.S. court.
Section 7.3 Force Majeure
(a) The Trustee shall have no liability for delays or inability to perform its duties hereunder due to forces majeures, events beyond its control, such as (but not exclusively) civil unrest, earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, floods, utility failures, transmission interruptions, power failures, wars, governmental declarations or Acts of God; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
(b) Delivery of reports or information by the Company shall not be deemed to confer actual or constructive knowledge or notice on the Trustee with respect to a Default or Event of Default, or otherwise.
Section 7.4 Individual Rights of Trustee
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.11 and 7.12.
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Section 7.5 Trustee’s Disclaimer
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
Section 7.6 Notice of Defaults
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail (or deliver notice subject to the applicable procedures of the Depositary or relevant clearing system) to each Security Holder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Security Holders of that Series.
Section 7.7 Reports by Trustee to Holders
Within 60 days after each , commencing , 20 , the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Security Holders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such anniversary date, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Security Holders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.8 Compensation and Indemnity
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
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The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee against any loss, liability or expense (including the cost of defending itself) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of the Trustee duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity; provided, however, that failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve it of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense; provided, however, the Trustee may conduct its own defense if there is a conflict of interest between the interests of the Company and those of the Trustee. The Trustee may have one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel, if applicable) and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and Agents or agents of the Trustee.
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder, Agent or agent of the Trustee to the extent it is attributed to its own negligence or willful conduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable order.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation and removal of the Trustee.
Section 7.9 Replacement of Trustee
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.11;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
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If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee upon payment of its fees and expenses then unpaid shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.8, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Security Holder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.9, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.8 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
Section 7.10 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.11 Eligibility; Disqualification
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
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ARTICLE VIII
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) either
(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.8, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
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Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series
Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.20, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at a Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.5; and
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(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;
(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
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Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.20 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.20 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;
(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;
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(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Security Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Security Holder:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to comply with Article V;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Security Holder;
(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or
(g) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
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Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Security Holders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
Section 9.3 Limitations
Without the consent of each Security Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
(a) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;
(c) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(e) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;
(g) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or
(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option.
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
Every amendment or waiver to this Indenture or the issuance of and establishment of the form and terms and conditions of Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
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Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Security Holder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
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Section 10.2 Notices
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing, in the English language, referencing this Indenture and the applicable securities or series of securities, and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail, or by facsimile transmission:
if to the Company:
8/F, Desheng Hopson Fortune Plaza 13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing 100088
The People’s Republic of China
Attention: [●]
if to the Trustee:
[__________]
[__________]
Attention: [__________]
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Security Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or delivered subject to the applicable procedures of Depositary or relevant clearing system. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Security Holder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Security Holders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Security Holder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Security Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders
Security Holders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Security Holders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
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Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Security Holders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.6 Legal Holidays
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.7 No Recourse Against Others
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Security Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
Section 10.8 Counterparts
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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Section 10.9 Governing Laws
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
Section 10.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.11 Successors
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.12 Severability
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.14 Securities in a Foreign Currency or ECU
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.15, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the “Journal”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
Section 10.15 Judgment Currency
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
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ARTICLE XI
SINKING FUNDS
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
| -41- |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Cheche Group Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Its: | ||
| [__________], | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Its: | ||
Exhibit 5.1
 |
Harney Westwood & Riegels 3501 The Center 99 Queen’s Road Central Hong Kong Tel: +852 5806 7800 Fax: +852 5806 7810 |
6 May 2025
raymond.ng@harneys.com
+852 5806 7883
059200-0003-RLN
Cheche Group Inc.
4th Floor, Harbour Place
103 South Church Street
P.O. Box 10240
Grand Cayman KY1-1002
Cayman Islands
Dear Sir or Madam
Cheche Group Inc. (the Company)
We are lawyers qualified to practise in the Cayman Islands and have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to the Company in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3 (the Registration Statement), including all amendments or supplements thereto, and accompanying prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating to the offering of certain class A ordinary shares of par value of US$0.00001 (the Shares), preferred shares, debt securities, warrant, either individually or as units composed of one or more of the other securities, of an aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000.
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the Documents (as defined in Schedule 1) which we regard as necessary in order to issue this opinion. We have not examined any other documents, official or corporate records or external or internal registers and have not undertaken or been instructed to undertake any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction which is the subject of this opinion.
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 which we have not independently verified.
|
The British Virgin Islands is Harneys Hong Kong office’s main jurisdiction of practice. Jersey legal services are provided through a referral arrangement with Harneys (Jersey) which is an independently owned and controlled Jersey law firm. Resident Partners: M Chu | JP Engwirda | Y Fan | S Gray | P Kay | MW Kwok | IN Mann | R Ng ATC Ridgers | PJ Sephton 613087452.1 |
Anguilla | Bermuda | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands Cyprus | Hong Kong | Jersey | London | Luxembourg Montevideo | São Paulo | Shanghai | Singapore harneys.com |
Based solely upon the foregoing examinations and assumptions and upon such searches as we have conducted and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications set out in Schedule 3, we are of the opinion that under the laws of the Cayman Islands:
| 1 | Existence and Good Standing. The Company is a company duly incorporated with limited liability, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Company is a separate legal entity and is subject to suit in its own name. |
| 2 | Authorised Share Capital. Based on our review of the M&A (as defined in Schedule 1), the share capital of the Company is US$50,000.00 divided into 5,000,000,000 shares comprising (i) 4,000,000,000 class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each, and (ii) 1,000,000,000 class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each. |
| 3 | Valid Issuance of Shares. The allotment and issue of the Shares by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement have been duly authorised and, when allotted, issued and fully paid for in accordance with the Registration Statement, and when the names of the shareholders are entered in the register of members of the Company, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 4 | Cayman Islands Law. The statements under the caption “Taxation”, “Enforceability of Civil Liability under Cayman Islands Law” and “Description of Share Capital” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement, to the extent that they constitute statements of Cayman Islands law, are accurate in all material respects as at the date of this opinion and such statements constitute our opinion. |
This opinion is confined to the matters expressly opined on herein and given on the basis of the laws of the Cayman Islands as they are in force and applied by the Cayman Islands courts at the date of this opinion. We have made no investigation of, and express no opinion on, the laws of any other jurisdiction. Except as specifically stated herein, we express no opinion as to matters of fact.
In connection with the above opinion, we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference made to this firm in the Registration Statement under the headings “Enforceability of Civil Liability under Cayman Islands Law”, “Taxation” and “Legal Matters” and elsewhere in the prospectus included 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 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 shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
| Yours faithfully | |
| /s/ Harney Westwood & Riegels | |
| Harney Westwood & Riegels |
| 2 |
Schedule 1
List of Documents and Records Examined
| 1 | The certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 3 January 2023; |
| 2 | The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company adopted by a special resolution of the Company passed on 12 September 2023 and effective on 14 September 2023 (the M&A); |
| 3 | The register of directors of the Company provided to us on 14 March 2025; |
Copies of 1 to 3 above have been provided to us by the Company (the Corporate Documents, and together with 4 to 8 below, the Documents).
| 4 | A copy of unanimous written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 17 March 2025 (the Resolutions); |
| 5 | A certificate of incumbency issued by Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, the registered office provider of the Company, on 14 March 2025; |
| 6 | A certificate of good standing in respect of the Company issued by the Registrar of Companies dated 14 March 2025; |
| 7 | A certificate from a director of the Company dated 6 May 2025, a copy of which is attached hereto (the Director’s Certificate); and |
| 8 | The Registration Statement filed with the Commission on 6 May 2025. |
| 3 |
Schedule 2
Assumptions
| 1 | Authenticity of Documents. Copy documents or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals. All original Documents are authentic, all signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
| 2 | Corporate Documents. All matters required by law to be recorded in the Corporate Documents are so recorded, and all corporate minutes, resolutions, certificates, documents and records which we have reviewed are accurate and complete, and all facts expressed in or implied thereby are accurate and complete as at the date of the passing of the Resolutions. |
| 3 | Director’s Certificate. The contents of the Director’s Certificate are true and accurate as at the date of this opinion and there is no information not contained in the Director’s Certificate that will in any way affect this opinion. |
| 4 | No Steps to Wind-up. The directors and shareholders of the Company have not taken any steps to appoint a liquidator of the Company and no receiver has been appointed over any of the Company’s property or assets. |
| 5 | Resolutions. The Resolutions remain in full force and effect. |
| 6 | Unseen Documents. Save for the Documents provided to us there are no resolutions, agreements, documents or arrangements which materially affect, amend or vary the transactions envisaged in the Registration Statement. |
| 7 | Shares. No Share will be issued for a price which is lower than its par value, and the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued share capital to issue each Share. |
| 4 |
Schedule 3
Qualifications
| 1 | Foreign Statutes. We express no opinion in relation to provisions making reference to foreign statutes in the Registration Statement. |
| 2 | Commercial Terms. Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion. |
| 3 | Meaning of Non-Assessable. In this opinion the phrase non-assessable means, with respect to the issuance of Shares, that a shareholder shall not, in respect of the relevant Shares, have any obligation to make further contributions to the Company’s assets (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). |
| 4 | Good Standing. The Company shall be deemed to be in good standing at any time if all fees (including annual filing fees) and penalties under the Law have been paid and the Registrar of Companies has no knowledge that the Company is in default under the Law. |
| 5 |
Annex
Director’s Certificate
| 6 |
Exhibit 5.2
 |
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Suite 3401, China World Office 2 China World Trade Centre 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie Beijing 100004 People’s Republic of China
中国北京建国门外大街1号 中国国际贸易中心 国贸写字楼 2座 3401室 邮编: 100004 |
Asia Pacific Bangkok Beijing Brisbane Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Jakarta Kuala Lumpur* Manila* Melbourne Seoul Shanghai Singapore Sydney Taipei Tokyo Yangon |
Cheche Group Inc.
8/F, Desheng Hopson Fortune Plaza 13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue Xicheng District, Beijing 100088 The People’s Republic of China
Re: Registration Statement on Form F-3 |
Tel: +86 10 6535 3800 Fax: +86 10 6505 2309 chinalaw@bakermckenzie.com www.bakermckenzie.com |
Europe,
Middle East Abu Dhabi Almaty Amsterdam Antwerp Bahrain Barcelona Berlin Brussels Budapest Cairo Casablanca Doha Dubai Dusseldorf Frankfurt/Main Geneva Istanbul Jeddah* Johannesburg Kyiv London Luxembourg Madrid Milan Munich Paris Prague Riyadh* Rome Stockholm Vienna Warsaw Zurich
The Americas Bogota Brasilia** Buenos Aires Caracas Chicago Dallas Guadalajara Houston Juarez Lima Los Angeles Mexico City Miami Monterrey New York Palo Alto Porto Alegre** Rio de Janeiro** San Francisco Santiago Sao Paulo** Tijuana Toronto Washington, DC
* Associated Firm ** In cooperation with Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to Cheche Group Inc., an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a registration statement on Form F-3 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the proposed issuance and sale by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and the supplements to the prospectus referred to therein (each a “Prospectus Supplement”), of an aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000, or the equivalent thereof, of (a) Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Shares”); (b) preferred shares in one or more series (the “Preferred Shares”); (c) debt securities, which may be secured or unsecured, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”); (d) warrants to purchase Shares, Preferred Shares or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”); and (e) units consisting of two or more securities described above in any combination (the “Units”) (the Shares, the Preferred Shares, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”).
The Securities are to be sold from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and the Prospectus Supplements. The Securities are to be sold pursuant to a purchase, underwriting or similar agreement in substantially the form to be filed as an exhibit to a Form 6-K, which will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and be a part thereof from the date on which such Form 6-K is furnished. The Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to a debt securities indenture (the “Indenture”), a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and is to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be named in a Prospectus Supplement to the Registration Statement (the “Trustee”). The Indenture may be supplemented in connection with the issuance of each such series of Debt Securities, by a supplemental indenture or other appropriate action of the Company creating such series of Debt Securities. |
Beijing Suite 3401, China World Office 2 China World Trade Centre 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie Beijing 100004 People’s Republic of China Tel: +86 10 6535 3800 Fax: +86 10 6505 2309 |
Hong Kong 14th Floor, One Taikoo Place 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay Hong Kong SAR People’s Republic of China Tel: +852 2846 1888 Fax: +852 2845 0476 |
Shanghai Unit 1601, Jin Mao Tower 88 Century Avenue Pudong, Shanghai 200121 People’s Republic of China Tel: +86 21 6105 8558 Fax: +86 21 5047 0020 |
| Registered foreign lawyers not admitted to practice in the PRC. | |
| Baker & McKenzie LLP is a member of Baker & McKenzie International. |
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (ii) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the authentic originals of such documents; (iv) each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so; (v) the certificates representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered, (vi) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective under the Securities Act; (vii) a Prospectus Supplement will have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) describing the Securities offered thereby; (viii) the Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement; (ix) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and (x) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise. | |
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have also relied on the opinion of Harney Westwood & Riegels, the Company’s Cayman Islands legal counsel, being filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, that the Company has been duly incorporated with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. | |
We have examined the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, and such other documents, corporate records and instruments, and have examined such laws and regulations as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein. | |
| We express no opinion as to any matter relating to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the laws of the State of New York and (ii) the federal securities laws of the United States of America. | |
| Our opinion below is qualified to the extent that they may be subject to or affected by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, usury, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) by general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and considerations are considered in a proceeding at law or at equity. Furthermore, we express no opinion as to the availability of any equitable or specific remedy, or as to the successful assertion of any equitable defense, upon any breach of any agreements or obligations referred to therein, or any other matters, inasmuch as the availability of such remedies or defenses may be subject to the discretion of a court. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any indemnification provision, or as to the enforceability of any provision that may be deemed to constitute liquidated damages. |
| 2 |
| Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that: |
| 1. | With respect to Debt Securities to be issued under the Indenture, when: (a) the Trustee is qualified to act as Trustee under the Indenture and the Company has filed a Form T-1 for the Trustee with the Commission; (b) the Trustee has duly executed and delivered the Indenture; (c) the Indenture has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee; (d) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (e) the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (f) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, then the Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. | |
| 2. | With respect to the Warrants, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Warrants and related matters; and (b) the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered against payment therefor, pursuant to the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, warrant or similar agreement, as applicable, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a warrant agent and the certificates for the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and such warrant agent, then the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. | |
| 3. | With respect to the Units, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Units (including any Securities underlying the Units) and related matters; and (b) the Units (including any Securities underlying the Units) have been duly executed and delivered against payment therefor, pursuant to the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and any applicable unit or other agents, and the certificates for the Units (including any Securities underlying the Units) have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and any applicable unit or other agents, then the Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus contained therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. |
***********
| 3 |
| This opinion letter is given to you solely for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities while the Registration Statement is in effect and may not be relied upon for any other purpose. We assume no obligation to inform you of any facts, circumstances, events or changes in the law that may arise or be brought to our attention after the date of this opinion letter that may alter, affect or modify the opinions or statements expressed herein. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above, and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Securities or the Registration Statement. |
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Baker & McKenzie LLP | |
| Baker & Mckenzie LLP |
| 4 |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Cheche Group Inc. of our report dated April 18, 2025 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Cheche Group Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
May 6, 2025
Exhibit 23.4
Consent of Han Kun Law Offices
May 6, 2025
| To: | CHECHE GROUP INC. (the “Company”) |
| 8/F, Desheng Hopson Fortune Plaza 13-1 Deshengmenwai Avenue | |
| Xicheng District, Beijing 100088, China |
Dear Sirs/Madams,
We are qualified lawyers of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”, for purpose of this letter only, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). We have acted as PRC legal counsel of the Company, in connection with the registration statement on Form F-3 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) on May 6, 2025 (the “Registration Statement”).
We hereby consent to the reference of our name in the Registration Statement and the filing of this consent letter with the SEC as an exhibit to 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 Securities Act of 1933, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
| Yours faithfully, | |
| /s/ HAN KUN LAW OFFICES | |
| HAN KUN LAW OFFICES |
