| REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| Title of Each Class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||
Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share |
* |
|
Large accelerated filer |
☐ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ |
☒ | ||||||
Emerging growth company |
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U.S. GAAP ☐ |
Other ☐ | |||
International Accounting Standards Board ☒ |
Page |
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1 |
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2 |
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4 |
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ITEM 1. |
7 |
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ITEM 2. |
7 |
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ITEM 3. |
7 |
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ITEM 4. |
48 |
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ITEM 4A. |
85 |
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ITEM 5. |
85 |
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ITEM 6. |
102 |
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ITEM 7. |
109 |
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ITEM 8. |
112 |
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ITEM 9. |
113 |
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ITEM 10. |
113 |
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ITEM 11. |
126 |
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ITEM 12. |
127 |
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128 |
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ITEM 13. |
128 |
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ITEM 14. |
128 |
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ITEM 15. |
129 |
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ITEM 16A. |
130 |
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ITEM 16B. |
130 |
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ITEM 16C. |
131 |
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ITEM 16D. |
131 |
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ITEM 16E. |
131 |
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ITEM 16F. |
131 |
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ITEM 16G. |
131 |
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ITEM 16H. |
132 |
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ITEM 16I. |
132 |
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132 |
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ITEM 17. |
132 |
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ITEM 18. |
132 |
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ITEM 19. |
132 |
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135 |
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| • | “ADRs” refers to the American depositary receipts that evidence the ADSs; |
| • | “ADSs” refers to our American depositary shares, every five of which represents two Class A ordinary shares; |
| • | “AMTD Group” refers to the Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiaries; |
| • | “China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China; |
| • | “Class A ordinary shares” refers to our Class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.0001 each; |
| • | “Class B ordinary shares” refers to our Class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.0001 each; |
| • | “Controlling Shareholder” refers to AMTD Group Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands company; |
| • | “HK$” or “Hong Kong dollars” refers to the legal currency of Hong Kong; |
| • | “Hong Kong” refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; |
| • | “NYSE” refers to the New York Stock Exchange; |
| • | “SEC” refers to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| • | “S$” or “Singapore dollars” refers to the legal currency of Singapore; |
| • | “SEHK” refers to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited; |
| • | “SGX-ST” refers to the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited; |
| • | “shares” or “ordinary shares” refers to our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares; |
| • | “US$” or “U.S. dollars” refers to the legal currency of the United States; and |
| • | “we,” “us,” “our company,” or “our” refers to AMTD Digital Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, and its subsidiaries. |
| • | our goals and strategies; |
| • | our future business development, financial condition and results of operations; |
| • | the trends in, expected growth and market size of the financial services industry in Hong Kong; |
| • | expected changes in our revenues, costs or expenditures; |
| • | our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our products and services; |
| • | competition in our industry; |
| • | our proposed use of proceeds; |
| • | government policies and regulations relating to our industry; |
| • | fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China, Singapore, and globally; and |
| • | assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. |
ITEM 1. |
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS |
ITEM 2. |
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE |
ITEM 3. |
KEY INFORMATION |
A. |
[Reserved] |
B. |
Capitalization and Indebtedness |
C. |
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds |
D. |
Risk Factors |
| • | The PRC government’s significant authority to intervene in or influence the mainland China operations of an offshore holding company at any time could limit our ability to transfer or use our cash outside of China, and otherwise result in material adverse change in our operations and the value of the ADSs. |
| • | Uncertainties arising from the legal system in mainland China, including uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of laws in mainland China and the possibility that regulations and rules can change quickly with little advance notice, could hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer the ADSs, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause the ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. |
| • | The PCAOB is currently unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work performed for our financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections. |
| • | The ADSs will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in 2024 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in mainland China and Hong Kong, or in 2023 if proposed changes to the law are enacted. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. |
| • | Although we do not have any material operation in mainland China and plan to emphasize Southeast Asia as our core future area of growth, we face risks and uncertainties associated with the complex and evolving laws and regulations in mainland China and as to whether and how the recent PRC government statements and regulatory developments, such as those relating to data and cyberspace |
| security and anti-monopoly concerns, would apply to us. Should these statements or regulatory actions apply to us in the future, or if we expand our business operations into mainland China leveraging our fusion-in program, through AMTD SpiderNet ecosystem or in some other ways such that we become subject to them to a greater extent, our ability to conduct our business, invest into mainland China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted. For example, if the recent PRC regulatory actions on data security or other data-related laws and regulations were to apply to us, we could become subject to certain cybersecurity and data privacy obligations, including the potential requirement to conduct a cybersecurity review for our public offerings at a foreign stock exchange, and the failure to meet such obligations could result in penalties and other regulatory actions against us and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. |
| • | As we do not currently have any material operation or maintain any office or personnel in mainland China and have not collected, stored, or managed any personal information in mainland China, we believe that we are not required to obtain any permission from PRC authorities to operate and issue our securities to foreign investors as of the date of this annual report, including permissions requirements from the CSRC or CAC. However if (i) we inadvertently concluded that certain permissions or approvals are not required, or (ii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations thereof change and we become subject to the requirement of additional permissions or approvals in the future, we may have to expend significant time and costs to procure them. If we are unable to do so, on commercially reasonable terms, in a timely manner or otherwise, we may become subject to sanctions imposed by the PRC authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against us, and other forms of sanctions, and our ability to conduct our business, invest into mainland China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted, and our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. |
| • | We operate in the emerging, dynamic, and competitive digital financial services industry, which makes it difficult for investors to evaluate our future prospects, and we cannot assure you that our current or future strategies will be successfully implemented or will generate sustainable profit. |
| • | We have a limited operating history and experience in our SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business, which makes it difficult to evaluate our business. We cannot assure you that the market for our services will develop as we expect or that we will be able to maintain the growth rate that we have experienced to date. |
| • | We and our Controlling Shareholder have a limited operating history and experience in the newly developed digital banking business in Asia, which makes it difficult to evaluate our business. We cannot assure you that the digital banking initiatives of our Controlling Shareholder and our company will develop or succeed as we expect. |
| • | We face additional risks as we offer new products and services, transact with a broader array of clients and counterparties, and expose ourselves to new geographical markets. |
| • | If we fail to develop market leading products or provide satisfactory services to address the rapidly evolving market in a timely manner, and if we are not able to implement successful enhancements and new features for our products and services, we may not be able to attract or retain clients. |
| • | Failure to maintain and enlarge our AMTD SpiderNet ecosystem including our client base or strengthen client engagement may adversely affect our business and results of operations. |
| • | Failure to obtain, renew, or retain licenses, permits, or approvals may affect our ability to conduct or expand our business. |
| • | We are subject to extensive and developing regulatory requirements, and noncompliance with or changes to these regulatory requirements may affect our business operations and financial results. |
| • | AMTD Digital Inc. is not an operating company but a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and this structure involves unique risks to investors. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us may be restricted by the debt they incur on their own behalf or laws and regulations applicable to them. Our digital investments business is subject to liquidity risks, and we may need additional financing but may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms or at all. All of these may impose liquidity risks on us and adversely affect our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders. See “Item 5. Operating And Financial Review And Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Holding Company Structure,” “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Our digital investment business is subject to liquidity risks,” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We may need additional financing but may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms or at all.” |
| • | We have limited experience operating as a stand-alone public company. |
| • | Our financial information included in this annual report may not be representative of our financial condition and results of operations if we had been operating as a stand-alone company. |
| • | We may not continue to receive the same level of support from our Controlling Shareholder. |
| • | The trading price of the ADSs has been volatile and could continue to fluctuate significantly, which could result in substantial losses to you. |
| • | An active public market may not develop for the ADSs on the NYSE, and you may not be able to resell the ADSs at or above the price you paid, or at all. |
| • | You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions against us or our directors and officers named in this annual report based on foreign laws |
| • | maintain the value proposition of AMTD SpiderNet ecosystem; |
| • | build a well-recognized and respected brand; |
| • | acquire and/or operate existing or future digital financial licenses; |
| • | establish and expand our client base; |
| • | maintain and enhance our relationships with our business partners; |
| • | attract, retain, and motivate talented employees; |
| • | anticipate and adapt to changing market conditions and competitive landscape; |
| • | manage our future growth; |
| • | ensure that the performance of our products and services meets client expectations; |
| • | maintain or improve our operational efficiency; |
| • | navigate a complex and evolving regulatory environment; |
| • | defend ourselves in any legal or regulatory actions against us; |
| • | enhance our technology infrastructure and maintain the security of our system and the confidentiality of the information provided and utilized across our system; |
| • | avoid and remedy operating errors as a result of human or system errors; and |
| • | identify and address conflicts of interest. |
| • | enrich the AMTD SpiderNet ecosystem; |
| • | identify business synergies and enhance connectivity for our clients; |
| • | enrich our content offerings; |
| • | retain existing clients and attract new clients; |
| • | offer customized and comprehensive services tailored to corporates’ needs throughout their lifecycles; |
| • | upgrade existing technology and infrastructure and develop new technologies; |
| • | successfully compete with other companies that are currently in, or may in the future enter, our industry or similar industries; and |
| • | observe and strategize on the latest market trends. |
| • | we may have insufficient experience or expertise in offering new products and services and dealing with inexperienced counterparties and clients may harm our reputation; |
| • | we may be subject to stricter regulatory scrutiny, or increasing exposure to credit risks, market risks, compliance risks, and operational risks; |
| • | we may be unable to provide clients with adequate levels of service for our new products and services; |
| • | our new products and services may not be accepted by our clients or meet our profitability expectations; and |
| • | our new products and services may be quickly copied by our competitors so that its attractiveness to our clients may be diluted. |
| • | our ability to continually innovate our technologies to keep pace with rapid technological changes; |
| • | our ability to continually innovate our solutions in response to evolving client demands and expectations and intense market competition; |
| • | our ability to customize solutions for our clients; |
| • | client satisfaction with our solutions, including any new solutions that we may develop, and the competitiveness of our pricing and payment terms; and |
| • | the effectiveness of our solutions in helping our clients improve efficiency, enhance service quality, and reduce costs. |
| • | ever changing global environment, including changes in U.S. and international trade policies; |
| • | challenges associated with relying on local partners in markets that are not as familiar to us, including joint venture partners to help us establish our business; |
| • | difficulties managing operations in new regions, including complying with the various regulatory and legal requirements; |
| • | different approval or licensing requirements; |
| • | recruiting sufficient suitable personnel in new markets; |
| • | challenges in providing services and solutions as well as support in these new markets; |
| • | challenges in attracting business partners and clients; |
| • | potential adverse tax consequences; |
| • | foreign exchange losses; |
| • | limited protection for intellectual property rights; |
| • | inability to effectively enforce contractual or legal rights; and |
| • | local political, regulatory and economic instability or wars, civil unrest, and terrorist incidents. |
| • | Indemnification arrangements with our Controlling Shareholder. |
| for liabilities incurred (including legal defense costs) in connection with any third party claim if it is ultimately determined that we are obligated to indemnify our Controlling Shareholder with respect to such third party claim. |
| • | Non-competition arrangements with our Controlling Shareholder.non-competition agreement under which our Controlling Shareholder agrees not to compete with us in our digital financial services, SpiderNet ecosystem solutions, digital media, content, and marketing, and digital investments businesses, except for owning non-controlling equity interest in any company competing with us. We agree not to compete with our Controlling Shareholder in the respective businesses then conducted by our Controlling Shareholder, except that we may own non-controlling equity interests in any company competing with our Controlling Shareholder. |
| • | Employee recruiting and retention. non-competition agreement and have a non-solicitation arrangement with our Controlling Shareholder that restricts us and our Controlling Shareholder from hiring any of each other’s employees. |
| • | Our board members or executive officers may have conflicts of interest. |
| • | Sale of shares or assets in our company. lock-up period and subject to certain restrictions under relevant securities laws and stock exchange rules, as well as other relevant restrictions, our Controlling Shareholder may decide to sell all or a portion of our shares that it holds to a third party, including to one of our competitors, thereby giving that third party substantial influence over our business and our affairs. In addition, our Controlling Shareholder may decide, or be obligated under any of its applicable debt covenant, to sell all or a portion of our shares or our assets in the event of default of our Controlling Shareholder or any of its controlling shareholders under any applicable debt or other obligations or otherwise becomes insolvent. Such a sale of our shares or our assets could be contrary to the interests of our employees or our other shareholders. In addition, our Controlling Shareholder may also discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and might reduce the price of the ADSs. |
| • | Allocation of business opportunities. |
| • | Developing business relationships with our Controlling Shareholder’s competitors. |
| • | regulatory developments affecting us or our industry; |
| • | variations in our revenue, profit, and cash flow; |
| • | changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other financial services firms; |
| • | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results; |
| • | changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts; |
| • | detrimental negative publicity about us, our services, our officers, directors, Controlling Shareholder, other beneficial owners, our business partners, or our industry; |
| • | announcements by us or our competitors of new service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures, capital raisings or capital commitments; |
| • | additions to or departures of our senior management; |
| • | litigation or regulatory proceedings involving us, our officers, directors, or Controlling Shareholders; |
| • | release or expiry of any transfer restrictions on our outstanding shares or the ADSs; and |
| • | sales or perceived potential sales of additional ordinary shares or ADSs. |
| • | we have instructed the depositary that we wish a discretionary proxy to be given; |
| • | we reasonably do not know of any substantial opposition to the matter to be voted on at the meeting; and |
| • | the matter to be voted on at the meeting is not materially adverse to the interests of shareholders. |
| • | the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K; |
| • | the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
| • | the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and |
| • | the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD. |
ITEM 4. |
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY |
A. |
History and Development of the Company |
B. |
Business Overview |
| • | Digital Financial Services. one-stop, cross-market and intelligent digital financial services for retail and corporate clients in Asia. We possess and are in the process of applying for some of the most scarce digital financial licenses in Asia and provide a variety of digital financial services. |
| • | SpiderNet Ecosystem Solutions. |
| • | Digital Media, Content, and Marketing |
| • | Digital Investments. |
| • | Deposit . |
| • | Personal Loan . |
| • | Virtual Credit Card . |
| • | Fund Transfer . Airstar Bank offers inter-bank fund transfer services through Faster Payment System and Real Time Gross Settlement with no service fee charged. |
| • | Corporate Services . Airstar Bank will provide integrated services to corporates covering a full range of corporate operations, including transaction settlement services, payroll services, transfers, and remittance. To facilitate tailor-made credit and financing services for corporates, Airstar Bank will adopt blockchain technology to gain real-time access to the corporate’s information, such as cash flows, sales and purchase transactions, and inventory information. |
| • | Cross Border Remittance . |
| • | Near Field Communication (NFC) Payment . |
| • | Comprehensive Corporate Solutions . |
| • | Personal Lifestyle Banking . |
| • | Property Risk . all-risk and construction all-risk solutions that may include relevant insurance products underwritten by our insurance partners. |
| • | Liability Risk . |
| • | Financial Loss Risk . |
| • | Personal Risk . |
| • | Comprehensive Risk Identification . In consultation with clients, we leverage our expertise in the insurance industry to conduct a comprehensive analysis and determination of total risk exposure and risk tolerance. For insurable risks, we also conduct a mapping of existing risk coverage across industries, types, and geographical regions. |
| • | Optimal Solution and Coverage Structure Design . Based on our extensive knowledge in the insurance industry, we conduct tailored consultation and optimal insurance program structure and solution design to meet the demands of clients. |
| • | Insurance Placement for Insurable Risks . |
| • | a stable financial system; |
| • | safe and sound financial intermediaries; |
| • | safe and efficient financial infrastructure; |
| • | fair, efficient and transparent organized markets; |
| • | transparent and fair-dealing intermediaries and offerors; and |
| • | well-informed and empowered consumers. |
| • | grant licenses, authorization, approvals or registrations to those who meet the relevant criteria to be licensed, authorized, approved or registered, as the case may be, under the IA, and can demonstrate fitness and propriety; |
| • | monitor the ongoing compliance of regulated entities, and their officers and shareholders (where applicable), with business conduct and other requirements; |
| • | maintain online a public register of insurance entities (the MAS Financial Institutions Directory); and |
| • | develop regulatory policies. |
| • | the applicant’s track record (which should be at least 3 years in respect of the type of insurance broking business it intends to carry on in Singapore), financial soundness and reputation; |
| • | whether the applicant has well-developed business plans that reflect the risk profile of the business; and |
| • | the fitness and propriety of the applicant, its directors and chief executive officer, and all its substantial shareholders and broking staff, or the relevant persons. |
| • | the IA, and its subsidiary legislation, including the Insurance (Intermediaries) Regulations, or the IIR; |
| • | Notice 501 Quarterly Statement on Ageing of Premiums Owing to Insurers; |
| • | Notice 502 Minimum Standards and Continuing Professional Development for Insurance Brokers and Their Broking Staff; |
| • | Notice 504 Reporting of Misconduct of Broking Staff by Insurance Brokers; |
| • | Notice 505 Reporting of Suspicious Activities and Incidents of Fraud; |
| • | Notice 506 Notice on Technology Risk Management; |
| • | Notice 507 Cyber Hygiene; |
| • | Notice 117 Training and Competency Requirement: Health Insurance; |
| • | Notice 120 Disclosure and Advisory Process Requirements For Accident and Health Insurance Products; |
| • | Guidelines on Criteria for the Registration of an Insurance Broker [Guideline No. IA/II-G04]; |
| • | Guidelines on Standards of Conduct for Insurance Brokers [Guideline No. IA/II-G01]; |
| • | Guidelines on Market Conduct and Service Standards for Insurance Brokers [Guideline No. IA/II-G02]; |
| • | Guidelines on Fit and Proper Criteria [Guideline No. FSG-G01], or the Fit and Proper Guidelines; |
| • | Guidelines on Risk Management Practices; |
| • | Guidelines on Outsourcing; |
| • | Notice FAA-N06 on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Financial Advisers; and |
| • | Guidelines to Notice FAA-N06 on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. |
| • | maintain minimum paid-up share capital of S$300,000 (see regulation 3(3) of the IIR); |
| • | maintain a standalone non-hybrid professional indemnity insurance policy of at least $1 million, under which the deductible allowed shall not be more than 20% of its paid-up capital (if the registered insurance broker is in its first financial year of operation) or 20% of its net asset value as at the end of its preceding financial year (in any other case) (see regulation 4(3) of the IIR); |
| • | payment of annual fee of $7,000 to the MAS by January 1 every year (see section 35ZA(1) of the IA and regulation 16(1)(a) of the IIR); |
| • | maintain net asset value of not less than 50% of the minimum paid-up share capital (see section 35ZC of the IA and regulation 5 of the IIR); |
| • | maintain an insurance broking premium account with a licensed bank for monies received from or on behalf of an insured or intending insured for or on account of an insurer in connection with a contract of insurance or proposed contract of insurance or from or on behalf of an insurer for or on account of an insured or intending insured (see section 35ZD(1) of the IA and regulation 7(1) of the IIR); |
| • | maintain a register of its broking staff containing the prescribed particulars (see regulation 9 of the IIR); |
| • | submit the prescribed returns to the MAS within 5 months of the end of each financial year (see section 36(1) of the IA and regulation 10 of the IIR); |
| • | maintain proper records (see section 36(2) of the IA); |
| • | appoint an auditor and audit financial statements (see sections 36(4) and (5) of the IA); |
| • | certain business conduct requirements set out in the FAA, including the requirement to disclose material product information, the prohibition against making false or misleading statements, establishing and maintaining a remuneration framework (see section 23(4) of the FAA); and |
| • | implement appropriate policies and procedures for compliance with the requirements under Notice FAA-N06 on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Financial Advisers. |
| • | domestic and international rankings of the applicant by factors such as premiums and assets; |
| • | past and present credit ratings by international rating agencies, including Standard and Poor’s, A.M Best, Moody’s, and Fitch; |
| • | track record, financial soundness, and reputation of the applicant, including the applicant’s compliance with its home regulations. In assessing this criteria, MAS will consult the applicant’s home supervisory authority; |
| • | experience in product innovation, use of alternative business distribution channels, and expertise in specialist and niche fields; |
| • | well-developed business strategy and detailed plans that reflect the risk profile of the business; |
| • | robust risk management systems and processes that are commensurate with the size and complexity of the business; and |
| • | fitness and propriety of the applicant, any director or key executive person, all of its substantial shareholders, and all persons having effective control of the applicant. |
| • | the IA, and its subsidiary legislation, including the Insurance (Valuation and Capital) Regulations, or the I(VC)R; |
| • | Notice 106 Appointment of Director, Chairman and Key Executive Person; |
| • | Notice 211 Minimum and Best Practice Training and Competency Standards for Direct General Insurers; |
| • | Notice 117 Training and Competency Requirement: Health Insurance; |
| • | Notice 120 Disclosure and Advisory Process Requirements For Accident and Health Insurance Products; |
| • | Notice 318 Market Conduct Standards for Direct Life Insurer as a Product Provider; |
| • | Notice 306 Market Conduct Standards for Life Insurers Providing Financial Advisory Services as defined under the Financial Advisers Act; |
| • | Notice 307 Investment-Linked Policies; |
| • | Notice 321 Direct Purchase Insurance Products; |
| • | Notice 122 Asset & Liability Exposures for Insurers; |
| • | Notice 125 Investments of Insurers; |
| • | Notice 101 Maintenance of Insurance Funds; |
| • | Notice 133 Valuation and Capital Framework for Insurers; |
| • | Notice 129 on Insurance Returns (Accounts and Statements); |
| • | Notice 132 Cyber Hygiene; |
| • | Notice 314 Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Life Insurers; |
| • | Notice 123 Reporting of Suspicious Activities and Incidents of Fraud; |
| • | Guidelines on Standards of Conduct for Marketing and Distribution Activities by Financial Institutions [Guideline No. FSG-G02]; |
| • | Guidelines on Market Conduct and Service Standards for Direct General Insurers [Guideline No. ID 1/03]; |
| • | Guidelines to MAS Notice 314 Notice on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Life Insurers; |
| • | Guidelines on Implementation of Insurance Fund Concept [Guideline No. ID 1/09]; |
| • | Guidelines on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Direct General Insurance Business, Reinsurance Business, and Direct Life Insurance Business (Accident & Health Policies); |
| • | Guidelines on Risk Management Practices for Insurance Business—Core Activities; |
| • | Guidelines on Risk Management Practices for Insurance Business—Insurance Fraud Risk; |
| • | Guidelines on Risk Management Practices; |
| • | Guidelines on Outsourcing; and |
| • | Fit and Proper Guidelines. |
| • | maintain minimum paid-up ordinary share capital of S$5 million or S$10 million, depending on the type of insurance business being carried on (see regulations 3 and 5(1) of the I(VC)R); |
| • | establish and maintain the relevant insurance funds, and pay into an insurance fund all receipts of the insurer properly attributable to the business to which the fund relates (including the income of the fund) (see Section 17 of the IA, regulation 17 of the I(VC)R and Notice 101); |
| • | comply with fund solvency requirements and capital adequacy requirements (see regulation 4 of the I(VC)R and Notice 133); |
| • | obtain prior MAS approval before acquiring or holding a major stake in any corporation (see section 30B of the IA); |
| • | comply with corporate governance rules in the Insurance (Corporate Governance) Regulations 2013; |
| • | maintain proper records (see section 36(2) of the IA); |
| • | prepare and submit prescribed returns to the MAS within the relevant time frames (see section 36(3) of the IA and Notice 129); |
| • | appoint an auditor and audit financial statements (see sections 36(3A) of the IA); |
| • | comply with Notice 125 in relation to its investment activities and investments of insurance funds and shareholders’ funds; |
| • | comply with business conduct requirements set out in Notice 318 (in relation to life business), Notice 120 (in relation to accident and health insurance products), Notice 307 (in relation to investment linked policies), Notice 321 (in relation to direct purchase life insurance) and 306 (in relation to providing financial advisory services on life insurance); and |
| • | implement appropriate policies and procedures for compliance with the requirements under Notice 314 Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Life Insurers and Guidelines on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Direct General Insurance Business, Reinsurance Business, and Direct Life Insurance Business (Accident & Health Policies). |
| • | grant a capital markets services license to those who meet the relevant criteria to be licensed under the SFA, and can demonstrate fitness and propriety; |
| • | monitor the ongoing compliance of regulated entities, and their officers, representatives and shareholders (where applicable), with business conduct and other requirements; |
| • | maintain online a public register of capital markets services providers (the MAS Financial Institutions Directory); and |
| • | develop regulatory policies. |
| • | fitness and propriety of the applicant, its shareholders and directors; |
| • | track record and management expertise of the applicant and its parent company or major shareholders; |
| • | ability to meet the minimum financial requirements prescribed under the SFA; |
| • | strength of internal risk management and compliance systems; and |
| • | business model/plans and projections and the associated risks. |
| • | the SFA, and its subsidiary legislation, including the Securities and Futures (Licensing and Conduct of Business) Regulations (“SF(LCB)R”), and Securities and Futures (Financial and Margin Requirements for Holders of Capital Markets Services Licenses) Regulations (“SF(FMR)R”); |
| • | Notice SFA 04-N09 Minimum Entry and Examination Requirements for Representatives of Holders of Capital Markets Services License and Exempt Financial Institutions; |
| • | Notice SFA 04-N13 Risk Based Capital Adequacy Requirements for Holders of Capital Markets Services Licenses; |
| • | Notice SFA 04-N12 Sale of Investment Products; |
| • | Notice SFA 04-N11 Reporting of Misconduct of Representatives by Holders of Capital Markets Services License and Exempt Financial Institutions; |
| • | Notice CMG-N01 on Reporting of Suspicious Activities and Incidents of Fraud; |
| • | Notice SFA 04-N02 to Capital Markets Intermediaries on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism; |
| • | Notice CMG-N02 Technology Risk Management; |
| • | Notice CMG-N03 Cyber Hygiene; |
| • | Guidelines on Criteria for the Grant of a Capital Markets Services License Other Than for Fund Management and Real Estate Investment Trust Management [Guideline No. SFA 04-G01]; |
| • | Guidelines on the Regulation of Short Selling [Guideline No. SFA 07A-G01]; |
| • | Guidelines to Notice SFA 04-N02 on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Capital Markets Intermediaries; |
| • | CMI 01/2011 Due Diligence Checks and Documentation in Respect of the Appointment of Appointed, Provisional, and Temporary Representatives; |
| • | Guidelines on Risk Management Practices; |
| • | Guidelines on Outsourcing; and |
| • | Fit and Proper Guidelines. |
| • | maintain base capital of S$50,000 to S$5 million (depending on the type of capital markets products, and whether the holder is a member of an approved exchange or clearing house, or an introducing broker) (see section 86(3) of the SFA and regulation 3 and the First Schedule, SF(FMR)R); |
| • | payment of annual fee of S$2,000 to S$8,000, depending on the type of capital markets products offered and whether the holder is or is not a member of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (see section 85 of the SFA and regulation 6 and the Third Schedule of the SF(LCB)R); |
| • | not reduce its paid-up ordinary share capital or paid-up irredeemable and non-cumulative preference share capital without the prior written approval of the MAS (see regulation 20, SF(FMR)R); |
| • | comply with the financial resources requirements and not permit it to fall below its total risk requirement (see Part III of SF(FMR)R and risk based capital adequacy requirements under MAS Notice SFA 04-N13); |
| • | maintain a register of interests in listed specified products (see regulation 4 of SF(LCB)R); |
| • | comply with the rules on customer’s moneys and assets, including rules on segregation and disclosure (see Part III of the SF(LCB)R); |
| • | maintain proper books and records (see regulation 39 of the SF(LCB)R); |
| • | provide statements of account and contract notes to customers, and comply with other disclosure requirements under SF(LCB)R; |
| • | comply with trading standards and rules under the SF(LCB)R, such as not divulging information relating to a customer’s orders except in certain circumstances (see regulation 47, SF(LCB)R); and |
| • | implement appropriate policies and procedures for compliance with the requirements under Notice SFA 04-N02 to Capital Markets Intermediaries on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. |
| • | at least one entity in the applicant group (being the proposed digital bank and every of its 20% controllers) has three or more years of track record in operating an existing business in the technology or e-commerce field; |
| • | the following persons are fit and proper: (i) applicant group and their directors; (ii) substantial shareholders and 12% controllers of the proposed digital bank; and (iii) directors and executive officers of the proposed digital bank; |
| • | demonstrate ability to meet the applicable minimum paid-up capital requirement at the onset and the minimum capital funds requirement on an ongoing basis. This can be done by submitting a written confirmation from shareholders of the proposed digital bank on commitment of funds; |
| • | provide clear value proposition, incorporating the innovative use of technology to serve customer needs and reach under-served segments of the Singapore market; |
| • | demonstrate that the proposed digital bank’s business model is sustainable. The applicant must provide a five-year financial projection of the proposed digital bank, which must show a path towards profitability. The assumptions of the financial projection must be reviewed by an external and independent expert; |
| • | submit a feasible plan that can facilitate the orderly exit of the proposed digital bank; and |
| • | shareholders of the proposed digital bank commit to providing a letter of responsibility and a letter of undertaking that MAS may require in respect of the operations of the proposed digital bank. |
| • | the BA, and its subsidiary legislation, including the Banking Regulations (“BR”) and the Banking (Corporate Governance) Regulations 2005 (“B(CG)R”); |
| • | Notice 637 on Risk Based Capital Adequacy Requirements for Banks Incorporated in Singapore; |
| • | Notice 758 Minimum Cash Balance; |
| • | Notice 649 Minimum Liquid Assets and Liquidity Coverage Ratio; |
| • | Notice 656 Exposures to Single Counterparty Groups for Banks Incorporated in Singapore; |
| • | Notice 639A Exposures and Credit Facilities to Related Concerns; |
| • | Notice 643 Transactions with Related Parties; |
| • | Notice 610 Submission of Statistics and Returns; |
| • | Notice 615 Appointment of Auditors; |
| • | Notice 609 Auditors’ Reports and Additional Information to be Submitted with Annual Accounts; |
| • | Notice 644 Technology Risk Management; |
| • | Notice 655 Cyber Hygiene; |
| • | Notice 626 Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism – Banks; |
| • | Guidelines for Operation of Wholesale Banks; |
| • | Guidelines for E-Payments User Protection; |
| • | Guidelines on Corporate Governance; |
| • | Guidelines on Risk Management Practices; |
| • | Guidelines on Outsourcing; |
| • | Guidelines to Notice 626 on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Banks; and |
| • | Fit and Proper Guidelines. |
| • | maintain minimum paid-up capital of S$100 million (see Regulation 6A(1), BR); |
| • | maintain only one physical place of business (see paragraph 5, Guidelines for Operation of Wholesale Banks and Section IV (Requirements and Permissible Activities for DWB), Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Digital Banks); |
| • | not to operate Singapore dollars savings accounts, except with the prior approval of MAS (see paragraph 2(a), Guidelines for Operation of Wholesale Banks); |
| • | only accepting Singapore dollars fixed deposits, provided the initial and outstanding deposits are at least S$250,000 at all times (see paragraph 2(c), Guidelines for Operation of Wholesale Banks); |
| • | not to operate interest-bearing Singapore dollars current accounts where the customer is a natural person and a resident of Singapore, except with the prior approval of MAS (see paragraph 2(d), Guidelines for Operation of Wholesale Banks); |
| • | only offering Singapore dollars current accounts (which can be interest-bearing) for business uses, including to sole proprietors and partnerships (see page 8, Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Digital Banks); |
| • | not to grant unsecured credit facilities to retail individuals (see Section IV (Requirements and Permissible Activities for DWB), Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Digital Banks); |
| • | comply with risk-based capital adequacy, minimum cash balance, minimum liquid assets and liquidity coverage ratio requirements under Notices 637, 758 and 649; |
| • | comply with privacy obligations with respect to customer information (see section 47, BA); |
| • | appoint auditors, audit financial statements and submit annual accounts under Notice 615 and MAS 609; and |
| • | implement appropriate policies and procedures for compliance with the requirements under Notice 626 on Prevention of Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism—Banks. |
| • | honesty, integrity and reputation; |
| • | competence and capability; and |
| • | financial soundness. |
| • | conducting risk assessments and risk mitigation; |
| • | conducting customer due diligence (including enhanced due diligence), ongoing monitoring and screening; |
| • | relying on third parties; |
| • | recordkeeping; |
| • | suspicious transaction reporting; and |
| • | internal policies, compliance, audit and training. |
| • | obtain consent for the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; |
| • | have reasonable purposes for the collection, use or disclosure of personal data and notify the individuals concerned of these purposes; |
| • | allow individuals to access and correct their personal data; |
| • | take care of personal data, which relates to ensuring accuracy, protecting personal data (including protection in the case of transfers of personal data outside of Singapore) and not retaining personal data longer than necessary for legal or business purposes, and to serve the purpose for which it was collected; and |
| • | make appropriate notifications of certain data breaches. |
| • | negotiating or arranging a contract of insurance; |
| • | inviting or inducing a person to enter into a contract of insurance (or attempting to do so); |
| • | inviting or inducing a person to make a material decision in relation to a contract of insurance (or attempting to do so); and |
| • | giving regulated advice. |
| 1. | have the minimum education standard of a bachelor degree from a recognized university or tertiary education institution, an insurance qualification specified by the HKIA from time to time and published on the HKIA’s website, or other equivalent qualifications; and |
| 2. | possess experience commensurate with the nature and scale of business of the insurance broker company concerned and the level of responsibilities to be carried out. The general expectation will be a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the insurance industry, including at least 2 years of management experience. |
(A) |
Capital and Net Assets |
(B) |
Professional Indemnity Insurance |
| 1. | two times the aggregate insurance brokerage income in the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the date of commencement of the professional indemnity insurance cover, up to a maximum of HK$75,000,000; or |
| 2. | HK$3,000,000. |
| (C) | Keeping of Separate Client Accounts |
| (D) | Keeping Proper Books and Accounts |
| • | it must establish and maintain proper controls and procedures for securing compliance with the conduct requirements set out in section 90 by the broker company and the licensed technical representatives (broker) appointed by the broker company; |
| • | it must use its best endeavors to secure observance with the controls and procedures established under section 92(1)(a) by the licensed technical representatives (broker) appointed by the broker company; |
| • | it must ensure that its responsible officer has sufficient authority within the broker company for carrying out the responsibilities set out in section 92(2); and |
| • | it must provide its responsible officer with sufficient resources and support for carrying out the responsibilities set out in section 92(2). |
| • | Principle 1—purpose and manner of collection of personal data; |
| • | Principle 2—accuracy and duration of retention of personal data; |
| • | Principle 3—use of personal data; |
| • | Principle 4—security of personal data; |
| • | Principle 5—information to be generally available; and |
| • | Principle 6—access to personal data. |
| • | the right to be informed by a data user whether the data user holds personal data of which the individual is the data subject; |
| • | if the data user holds such data, to be supplied with a copy of such data; and |
| • | the right to request correction of any data they consider to be inaccurate. |
C. |
History and Development of the Company |

| (1) | AMTD Group Company Limited beneficially owns 50.6% of the issued and outstanding shares of AMTD IDEA Group by directly holding 39.5% and, through its subsidiaries including AMTD Assets Alpha Group and AMTD Education Group, indirectly holding 11.1%, of the issued and outstanding shares of AMTD IDEA Group. |
| • | administrative support; |
| • | marketing and branding support; |
| • | technology support; and |
| • | provision of office space and facilities. |
D. |
Property, Plants and Equipment |
ITEM 4A. |
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
ITEM 5. |
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS |
A. |
Operating Results |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HK$ |
% |
HK$ |
% |
HK$ |
US$ |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Digital financial services business income |
9,869 | 5.9 | 11,721 | 6.0 | 11,798 | 1,503 | 6.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business income |
157,678 | 94.1 | 184,095 | 94.0 | 184,627 | 23,530 | 93.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate |
— | — | — | — | 533 | 68 | 0.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total |
167,547 |
100.0 |
195,816 |
100.0 |
196,958 |
25,101 |
100.0 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
For the Year Ended April 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HK$ |
% |
HK$ |
% |
HK$ |
US$ |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
167,547 |
100.0 |
195,816 |
100.0 |
196,958 |
25,101 |
100.0 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee benefits expense |
(15,168 | ) | (9.1 | ) | (48,026 | ) | (24.5 | ) | (72,426 | ) | (9,230 | ) | (36.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expense |
— | * | — | (2,547 | ) | (1.3 | ) | (4,066 | ) | (518 | ) | (2.1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Premises and office expenses |
(4,737 | ) | (2.8 | ) | (5,230 | ) | (2.7 | ) | (5,772 | ) | (736 | ) | (2.9 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Legal and professional fee |
(1,952 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (6,850 | ) | (3.5 | ) | (23,456 | ) | (2,989 | ) | (11.9 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
— | — | (4,896 | ) | (2.5 | ) | (6,596 | ) | (841 | ) | (3.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses |
(1,649 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (3,323 | ) | (1.7 | ) | (3,165 | ) | (403 | ) | (1.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in fair value on financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”) |
43,592 | 26.0 | 70,291 | 35.9 | 132,032 | 16,827 | 67.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income |
— | — | 1,323 | 0.7 | 6,755 | 860 | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other gains and losses, net |
(5,586 | ) | (3.3 | ) | (306 | ) | (0.2 | ) | 4,746 | 605 | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Profit before tax |
182,047 |
108.6 |
196,252 |
100.2 |
225,010 |
28,676 |
114.2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense |
(23,715 | ) | (14.1 | ) | (24,611 | ) | (12.6 | ) | (23,614 | ) | (3,009 | ) | (12.0 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Profit for the year |
158,332 |
94.5 |
171,641 |
87.6 |
201,396 |
25,667 |
102.2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Item that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operation |
— | — | 828 | 0.4 | (823 | ) | (105 | ) | (0.4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (expense) for the year/period |
— | — | 828 | 0.4 | (823 | ) | (105 | ) | (0.4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year |
158,332 |
94.5 |
172,469 |
88.0 |
200,573 |
25,562 |
101.8 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| * | The advertising and promotion expense for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2020 was insignificant and included in other expenses. |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
||||||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
US$ |
|||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
| Digital Financial Services |
||||||||||||||||
| Segment revenue |
9,869 | 11,721 | 11,798 | 1,503 | ||||||||||||
| Segment results (1) |
4,765 | 1,084 | 951 | 121 | ||||||||||||
| SpiderNet Ecosystem Solutions |
||||||||||||||||
| Segment revenue |
157,678 | 184,095 | 184,627 | 23,530 | ||||||||||||
| Segment results (1) |
140,134 | 144,276 | 136,607 | 17,410 | ||||||||||||
| Corporate (including digital investments business and digital media, content, and marketing business) |
||||||||||||||||
| Segment revenue |
— | — | 533 | 68 | ||||||||||||
| Changes in fair value on financial assets measured at FVTPL |
43,592 | 70,291 | 132,032 | 16,827 | ||||||||||||
| Segment results (1) |
43,291 | 70,800 | 136,323 | 17,374 | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total segment results |
188,190 |
216,160 |
273,881 |
34,905 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (1) | Segment result represents segment revenue and changes in fair value on financial assets measured at FVTPLs less direct cost attributable to the applicable segment. |
| • | Digital financial services. Our commission income from the digital financial services segment increased from HK$11.7 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 to HK$11.8 million (US$1.5 million) for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022. The segment income remains stable during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022. |
| • | SpiderNet ecosystem solutions. Our fee income from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions segment increased from HK$184.1 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 to HK$184.6 million (US$23.5 million) for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, primarily due to our expansion of the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022. |
| • | Corporate. Our digital media, content, and marketing services income from corporate segment increased from nil for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 to HK$0.5 million (US$68 thousand) for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, primarily due to commencement of the digital media, content, and marketing services during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022. |
| Summary of investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of investments |
Purchase price |
Carrying value |
Corresponding investment gains (losses) |
Key factors of fluctuation in gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||||||
As of April 30, |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||
(HK$ in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment A (technology-enabled health-care solutions platform) |
78.5 | 78.5 | 76.3 | (30.0 | ) | (2.2 | ) | In the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, the fair value of the investment decreased by reference to the recent transaction price of shares issuance of the investee. In the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, the fair value of the investment decreased mainly due to the financial and business performance of the investee. | ||||||||||||||
| Investment B (digital media platform) |
1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | — | — | The investment was acquired in April 2021. The fair value of the investment approximated its acquisition cost as of April 30, 2022. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment C (card payment solutions) |
6.2 | 6.2 | 6.9 | — | 0.7 | The investment was acquired in November 2020. The fair value of the investment approximated its acquisition cost as of April 30, 2021 with reference to recent transaction price. In the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, the fair value of the investment increased due to the financial and business performance of the investee. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment D (cross-border payment platform) |
2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | — | — | The investment was acquired in December 2020. The fair value of the investment approximated acquisition cost as of April 30, 2021 and 2022. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment E (digital format movie production) |
59.8 | 60.9 | 60.9 | 1.1 | — | The fair value of the investment remains stable at HK$60.9 million in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022 by reference to the estimated box office performance. | ||||||||||||||||
| Summary of investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of investments |
Purchase price |
Carrying value |
Corresponding investment gains (losses) |
Key factors of fluctuation in gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||||||
As of April 30, |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||
(HK$ in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment F (digital format movie production) |
16.5 | 18.8 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | The fair value of the investment increased by HK$2.3 million in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 by reference to the estimated box office performance. The fair value of the investment increased by HK$2.9 million in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022 by reference to the actual box office performance. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, part of the investment was realized through cash settlement of HK$21.0 million. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment G (digital format movie production) |
4.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | (2.7 | ) | — | The fair value of the investment decreased by HK$2.7 million in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 by reference to the estimated box office performance. In the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, the fair value of investment remained stable at HK$1.5 million by reference to the estimated box office performance. | |||||||||||||||
| Investment H (artificial intelligence technology services) |
19.6 | — | — | 55.1 | — | In the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, the fair value increased mainly due to the financial and business performance of the investee. The investment was disposed in April 2021. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment I (content-driven lifestyle platform) |
80.6 | 124.3 | — | 44.5 | 130.6 | The fair value of the investment increased by HK$44.5 million in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 due to the financial and business performance of the investee. In the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, the investment was disposed resulting in a realized gain of HK$130.6 million. | ||||||||||||||||
| 269.2 | 294.0 | 150.1 | 70.3 | 132.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| • | Digital financial services. Our commission income from the digital financial services segment increased from HK$9.9 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020 to HK$11.7 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, primarily due to the acquisition of PolicyPal during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021. |
| • | SpiderNet ecosystem solutions. Our fee income from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions segment increased from HK$157.7 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020 to HK$184.1 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, primarily due to our expansion of the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business and a 72.7% increase in the number of customers in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021. |
| Summary of investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of investments |
Purchase price |
Carrying value |
Corresponding investment gains (losses) |
Key factors of fluctuation in gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||||||
As of April 30, |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
|||||||||||||||||||
(HK$ in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment A (technology-enabled health-care solutions platform) |
78.5 | 108.5 | 78.5 | 28.0 | (30.0 | ) | During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020, the fair value of the investment increased mainly due to the financial performance and business development of the investee. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, the fair value decreased by reference to the recent transaction price of shares issuance of the investee. | |||||||||||||||
| Investment B (digital media platform) |
1.6 | — | 1.6 | — | — | The investment was acquired in April 2021. The fair value of the investment approximated its acquisition cost as of April 30, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment C (card payment solutions) |
6.2 | — | 6.2 | — | — | The investment was acquired in November 2020. The fair value of the investment approximated its acquisition cost as of April 30, 2021 with reference to recent transaction price. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment D (cross-border payment platform) |
2.2 | — | 2.2 | — | — | The investment was acquired in December 2020. The fair value of the investment approximated acquisition cost as of April 30, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment E (digital format movie production) |
59.8 | — | 60.9 | — | 1.1 | The fair value of the investment increased by HK$1.1 million during the year ended April 30, 2021 by reference to the estimated box office performance. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment F (digital format movie production) |
16.5 | — | 18.8 | — | 2.3 | The fair value of the investment increased by HK$2.3 million during the year ended April 30, 2021 by reference to the estimated box office performance. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment G (digital format movie production) |
4.2 | — | 1.5 | — | (2.7 | ) | The fair value of the investment decreased by HK$2.7 million during the year ended April 30, 2021 by reference to the estimated box office performance. | |||||||||||||||
| Summary of investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of investments |
Purchase price |
Carrying value |
Corresponding investment gains (losses) |
Key factors of fluctuation in gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||||||
As of April 30, |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
|||||||||||||||||||
(HK$ in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment H (artificial intelligence technology services) |
19.6 | 22.7 | — | (1.8 | ) | 55.1 | During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020, the fair value decreased mainly due to the impact of market downturn caused by the COVID-19 on the investee’s performance. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, the investment was disposed with realized gain of HK$55.1 million. | |||||||||||||||
| Investment I (content-driven lifestyle platform) |
80.6 | 77.5 | 124.3 | (1.0 | ) | 44.5 | The fair value of the investment decreased by HK$1.0 million during the year ended April 30, 2020 due to exchange rate fluctuation. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021, the fair value of the investment increased mainly due to the financial performance and business development of the investee. | |||||||||||||||
| Investment J (communication software) |
7.8 | — | — | 8.3 | — | The investment was fully disposed during the year ended April 30, 2020 with realized gain of HK$8.3 million. | ||||||||||||||||
| Investment K (digital financing solutions platform) |
7.8 | — | — | 10.1 | — | The investment was fully disposed during the year ended April 30, 2020 with realized gain of HK$10.1 million. | ||||||||||||||||
| 284.8 | 208.7 | 294.0 | 43.6 | 70.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
B. |
Liquidity and Capital Resources |
For the Year Ended April 30, |
||||||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
US$ |
|||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
| Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data |
||||||||||||||||
| Net cash generated from operating activities |
213,755 | 82,901 | 79,891 | 10,182 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/from investing activities |
(674,500 | ) | 128,167 | (382,986 | ) | (48,810 | ) | |||||||||
| Net cash from financing activities |
651,191 | 7,894 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
190,446 | 218,962 | (303,095 | ) | (38,628 | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year |
5,764 | 196,210 | 416,420 | 53,071 | ||||||||||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rate changes |
— | 1,248 | (809 | ) | (103 | ) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year |
196,210 | 416,420 | 112,516 | 14,340 | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
C. |
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc. |
D. |
Trend Information |
E. |
Critical Accounting Estimates |
ITEM 6. |
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES |
| A. | Directors and Senior Management |
| Directors and Executive Officers |
Age |
Position/Title | ||
| Timothy Wai Cheung Tong |
69 | Chairman of the Board of Directors and Independent Director | ||
| Feridun Hamdullahpur |
67 | Independent Director | ||
| Nimil Rajnikant Parekh |
59 | Independent Director | ||
| Joanne Shoveller |
61 | Independent Director | ||
| Frederic Lau |
70 | Director and President | ||
| Mark Chi Hang Lo |
44 | Director and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Xavier Ho Sum Zee |
48 | Chief Financial Officer |
| B. | Compensation |
| C. | Board Practices |
| • | selecting the independent registered public accounting firm and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm; |
| • | reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response; |
| • | reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act; |
| • | discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm; |
| • | reviewing major issues as to the adequacy of our internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; |
| • | annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter; |
| • | meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent registered public accounting firm; and |
| • | reporting regularly to the board. |
| • | reviewing the total compensation package for our executive officers and making recommendations to the board with respect to it; |
| • | reviewing the compensation of our non-employee directors and making recommendations to the board with respect to it; and |
| • | periodically reviewing and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, and employee pension and welfare benefit plans. |
| • | recommending nominees to the board for election or re-election to the board, or for appointment to fill any vacancy on the board; |
| • | reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, age, skills, experience and availability of service to us; |
| • | selecting and recommending to the board the names of directors to serve as members of the audit committee and the compensation committee, as well as of the nominating and corporate governance committee itself; and |
| • | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
| • | convening shareholders’ annual general meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at such meetings; |
| • | declaring dividends and distributions; |
| • | appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; |
| • | exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and |
| • | approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registration of such shares in our share register. |
| D. | Employees |
| Function |
Number of Employees |
Percentage |
||||||
| Senior management |
4 | 8 | % | |||||
| Frontline staff |
35 | 70 | % | |||||
| Supporting staff |
11 | 22 | % | |||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
50 | 100 | % | |||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| E. | Share Ownership |
ITEM 7. |
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
| A. | Major Shareholders |
| • | each of our directors and executive officers; and |
| • | each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our ordinary shares. |
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
% of Beneficial Ownership† |
% of Aggregate Voting Power†† |
|||||||||||||
| Directors and Executive Officers:** |
||||||||||||||||
| Timothy Wai Cheung Tong |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Feridun Hamdullahpur (1) |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Nimil Rajnikant Parekh (1) |
— | * | * | * | ||||||||||||
| Joanne Shoveller (1) |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Frederic Lau |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Mark Chi Hang Lo |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Xavier Ho Sum Zee |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| All directors and executive officers as a group |
— | 28,565 | 0.0 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||
| Principal Shareholder: |
||||||||||||||||
| AMTD IDEA Group (2) |
65,650,000 | 87.6 | 99.3 | |||||||||||||
| * | Less than 1% of our total ordinary shares on an as-converted basis outstanding as of the date of this prospectus |
| ** | Except as indicated otherwise below, the business address of our directors and executive officers is 25/F, Nexxus Building, 41 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong. |
| † | For each person and group included in this column, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by such person or group by the sum of the total number of shares outstanding and the number of shares such person or group has the right to acquire upon exercise of option, warrant or other right within 60 days after the date of this annual report. |
| †† | For each person and group included in this column, percentage of voting power is calculated by dividing the voting power beneficially owned by such person or group by the voting power of all of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. Each holder of Class B ordinary shares is entitled to twenty votes per share, and each holder of our Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. Our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law. Our Class B ordinary shares are convertible at any time by the holder thereof into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one |
| (1) | The business address of Nimil Rajnikant Parekh is 138 Cecil Street, #13-02 Cecil Court, Singapore 069538. The business address of Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur is University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, West Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L3G1. The business address of Joanne Shoveller is 9/F, 8O Bloor W, Toronto, ON M5S 2V1. |
| (2) | Represents 65,650,000 Class B ordinary shares held by AMTD IDEA Group, a Cayman Islands company whose registered address is Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive, P.O. Box 2681, Grand Cayman, KY1-1111, Cayman Islands. On February 23, 2022, 41,448,000 Class A ordinary shares held by AMTD IDEA Group were returned and canceled, and we issued the same number of Class B ordinary shares to AMTD IDEA Group. The board of directors of AMTD IDEA Group consists of Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur, Dr. Timothy Tong, Dr. Annie Koh, Marcellus Wong, and Raymond Yung. AMTD IDEA Group is dual-listed on the NYSE and SGX, and is 50.6% owned by AMTD Group Company Limited, whose registered address is at the offices of Vistra (BVI) Limited, Vistra Corporate Services Centre, Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. Infinity Power Investments Limited, which is wholly-owned by Dr. Calvin Choi, holds 32.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of AMTD Group Company Limited and is its largest shareholder. The registered address of Infinity Power Investments Limited is at the offices of |
| Vistra Corporate Services Center, Wickham Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. The board of directors of AMTD Group Company Limited consists of Dr. Calvin Choi, Marcellus Wong, Yu Gao, and Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur. |
| B. | Related Party Transactions |
| C. | Interests of Experts and Counsel |
ITEM 8. |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
| A. | Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information |
| B. | Significant Changes |
ITEM 9. |
THE OFFER AND LISTING |
| A. | Offer and Listing Details |
| B. | Plan of Distribution |
| C. | Markets |
| D. | Selling Shareholders |
| E. | Dilution |
| F. | Expenses of the Issue |
ITEM 10. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
| A. | Share Capital |
| B. | Memorandum and Articles of Association |
| • | 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 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 NYSE 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. |
| • | the designation of the class or series; |
| • | the number of shares of the class or series; |
| • | the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and |
| • | the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences. |
| • | authorize our board of directors to create and issue new classes or series of share (including preferred shares) and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of such classes or series of shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; |
| • | authorize our board of directors to re-designate and re-classify shares of any classes or series into any number of existing or new classes or series of shares (including classes or series of preferred shares); |
| • | authorize our board of directors to create and issue any new class or series of shares with such preferred or other rights, all or any of which may be greater than the rights of ordinary shares, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate; and |
| • | limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders by requiring requisitioning shareholders to hold as of the date of deposit of the requisition shares that carry in aggregate not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that as of the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of our 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. |
| C. | Material Contracts |
| D. | Exchange Controls |
| (a) | The ability to transfer funds by or to the Company in the form of repatriation of capital and remittance of profits; |
| (b) | The availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by the Company; and |
| E. | Taxation |
| • | No profit tax is imposed in Hong Kong in respect of capital gains from the sale of the ADSs. |
| • | Revenue gains from the sale of ADSs by persons carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong where the gains are derived from or arise in Hong Kong from the trade, profession or business will be chargeable to Hong Kong profits tax, which is currently imposed at the rate of 16.5% on corporations and at a maximum rate of 15% on individuals and unincorporated businesses. |
| • | Gains arising from the sale of ADSs, where the purchases and sales of ADSs are effected outside of Hong Kong such as, for example, on the NYSE, should not be subject to Hong Kong profits tax. |
| • | income accrued in or derived from Singapore; and |
| • | foreign sourced income received or deemed received in Singapore, unless otherwise exempted. |
| • | 75.0% of up to the first S$10,000 of a company’s chargeable income (excluding Singapore franked dividends); and |
| • | 50.0% of up to the next S$290,000 of a company’s chargeable income (excluding Singapore franked dividends). |
| • | banks and other financial institutions; |
| • | insurance companies; |
| • | pension plans; |
| • | cooperatives; |
| • | regulated investment companies; |
| • | real estate investment trusts; |
| • | broker-dealers; |
| • | traders that elect to use a mark-to-market |
| • | certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents; |
| • | tax-exempt entities (including private foundations); |
| • | individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts; |
| • | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; |
| • | persons who acquire their ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; |
| • | investors that will hold their ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| • | investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; |
| • | persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the ADSs or ordinary shares (by vote or value); or |
| • | partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding the ADSs or ordinary shares through such entities, |
| • | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| • | a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| • | an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| • | a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code. |
| • | the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares; |
| • | the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC (each, a “pre-PFIC year”), will be taxable as ordinary income; and |
| • | the amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that year, increased by an additional tax equal to the interest on the resulting tax deemed deferred with respect to each such taxable year. |
| K. | Dividends and Paying Agents |
| L. | Statement by Experts |
| M. | Documents on Display |
| N. | Subsidiary Information |
ITEM 11. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
ITEM 12. |
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES |
| A. | Debt Securities |
| B. | Warrants and Rights |
| C. | Other Securities |
| D. | American Depositary Shares |
| Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or ADS holders must pay: |
For: | |
| US$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) | Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates | |
| US$0.05 (or less) per ADS | Any cash distribution to ADS holders | |
| Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or ADS holders must pay: |
For: | |
| A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs | Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) that are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders | |
| US$0.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year | Depositary services | |
| Registration or transfer fees | Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares | |
| Expenses of the depositary | Cable (including SWIFT) and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement) Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars | |
| Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADSs or shares underlying ADSs, such as stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes | As necessary | |
| Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities | As necessary | |
ITEM 13. |
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES |
ITEM 14. |
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
ITEM 15. |
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
ITEM 16A. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
ITEM 16B. |
CODE OF ETHICS |
ITEM 16C. |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
For the Year ended April 30, |
||||||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
US$ |
||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||
| Audit Fees (1) |
5,285 | 6,748 | 860 | |||||||||
| Tax Fees (2) |
28 | 28 | 4 | |||||||||
| (1) | “Audit fees” represent the aggregate fees billed for each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our principal accountant for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and the review of interim condensed consolidated financial statements, including the audit fees relating to our initial public offering in 2022. |
| (2) | “Tax fees” represent the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our principal external auditors for tax compliance. |
ITEM 16D. |
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES |
ITEM 16E. |
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
ITEM 16F. |
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT |
ITEM 16G. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
ITEM 16H. |
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE |
ITEM 16I. |
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS |
ITEM 17. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
ITEM 18. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
ITEM 19. |
EXHIBITS |
| * | Filed with this annual report on Form 20-F. |
| ** | Furnished with this annual report on Form 20-F. |
| AMTD Digital Inc. | ||
| By: |
/s/ Mark Chi Hang Lo | |
| Name: Mark Chi Hang Lo | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Date: August 30, 2022 | ||
PAGE(S) | ||
F-2 | ||
F-3 | ||
F-4 | ||
F-5 | ||
F-6 | ||
F-7 | ||
Year ended April 30, |
||||||||||||||||
Notes |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||||||
| Revenue from contracts with customers |
6 | |||||||||||||||
| Employee benefits expense |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expense |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Premises and office expenses |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Legal and professional fee |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Other expenses |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Changes in fair value on financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”) |
8 | |||||||||||||||
| Other income |
9 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other gains and losses, net |
10 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Profit before tax |
||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense |
11 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Profit for the year |
12 | |||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Item that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: |
||||||||||||||||
| Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operations |
— | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (expense) for the year |
— | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Profit (loss) for the year attributable to: |
||||||||||||||||
| - Owners of the Company |
||||||||||||||||
| - Non-controlling interests |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income (expense) for the year attributable to: |
||||||||||||||||
| - Owners of the Company |
||||||||||||||||
| - Non-controlling interest |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Earnings per share |
13 | |||||||||||||||
| - Basic (HK$) |
||||||||||||||||
| - Diluted (HK$) |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
As of April 30, |
||||||||||
Notes |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||||
| ASSETS |
||||||||||
| Non-current assets: |
||||||||||
| Goodwill |
15 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment |
17 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets |
16 | |||||||||
| Prepayments and other receivables |
19 | |||||||||
| Financial assets at FVTPL |
18 | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total non-current assets |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Current assets: |
||||||||||
| Accounts receivable |
19 | |||||||||
| Prepayments and other receivables |
19 | |||||||||
| Amount due from AMTD Group (as defined in note 1) |
27 | |||||||||
| Fiduciary bank balances |
||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total current assets |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total assets |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
||||||||||
| Current liabilities: |
||||||||||
| Clients’ monies held on trust |
||||||||||
| Accounts payable |
20 | |||||||||
| Other payables and accruals |
20 | |||||||||
| Contract liabilities |
21 | |||||||||
| Income tax payable |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total current liabilities |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Non-current liabilities: |
||||||||||
| Contract liabilities |
21 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liability |
22 | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total non-current liabilities |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total liabilities |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Capital and reserves: |
||||||||||
| Share capital |
23 | |||||||||
| Reserves |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Equity attributable to owners of the Company |
||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests |
24 | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total equity |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total equity and liabilities |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
Attributable to owners of the Company |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent’s net investments |
Share capital |
Share premium |
Share-based payment reserve |
Exchange reserve |
Other reserve |
Retained earnings |
Equity |
Non- controlling interests |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(note) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At May 1, 2019 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of non-controlling interests of subsidiaries (note 24) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reorganization effect |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of warrants (note 23(iii)) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares (note 23(ii)) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit and total comprehensive income for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit (loss) for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchanges differences arising on translation of foreign operations |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income (expense) for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of subsidiaries (note 14) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares (note 23(iv) and (viii)) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation (note 28) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit (loss) for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchanges differences arising on translation of foreign operations |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive (expense) income for the year |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares by a non-wholly owned subsidiary (note 16) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation (note 28) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: | Parent’s net investment represented the contribution from the immediate holding company to the subsidiaries now comprising the Group prior to a series of group reorganizations (“Reorganization”). The parent’s net investment amounted to HK$ |
Year ended April 30, |
||||||||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||||||
Profit before tax |
||||||||||||
Adjustments for: |
||||||||||||
Bank and other interest income |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment |
||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
||||||||||||
Recovery of accounts receivable written off |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Share-based payment |
||||||||||||
Changes in fair value on financial assets at FVTPL |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Change in fair value on derivative financial liabilities |
||||||||||||
Unrealized exchange gain |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Operating cash flows before movements in working capital |
||||||||||||
(Increase) decrease in fiduciary bank balances |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Decrease in prepayments and other receivables |
||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in client’s monies held on trust |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Increase (decrease) in other payables and accruals |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in contract liabilities |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Cash generated from operations |
||||||||||||
Profits tax (paid) refunded |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Net cash generated from operating activities |
||||||||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||||||
Additions of financial assets at FVTPL |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at FVTPL |
||||||||||||
Consideration paid for acquisition of movie income right investments |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Receipt of return from movie income right investments |
||||||||||||
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Acquisition of intangible assets |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Net cash inflows from acquisition of subsidiaries |
||||||||||||
Interest received |
||||||||||||
Repayment from a third party |
||||||||||||
Advance to AMTD Group |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Repayment from AMTD Group |
||||||||||||
Advance to fellow subsidiaries |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Repayment from fellow subsidiaries |
||||||||||||
Net cash (used in) from investing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||||||
Advance from AMTD Group |
||||||||||||
Repayment to AMTD Group |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Advance from fellow subsidiaries |
||||||||||||
Repayment to fellow subsidiaries |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Repayment to a former fellow subsidiary |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Proceeds from issue of shares |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from issue of warrants |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of warrants |
||||||||||||
Net cash from financing activities |
||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year |
||||||||||||
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year |
||||||||||||
Represented by: |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
||||||||||||
| 1. | GENERAL |
| Name of principal subsidiaries |
Date of incorporation/ acquisition |
Place of incorporation/ establishment |
Issued and fully paid/ registered share capital |
Percentage of shareholdings at April 30, |
Principal activities | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| |
HK$ |
% | % | | ||||||||||||
| |
HK$ |
% | % | | ||||||||||||
| |
US$ |
% | % | | ||||||||||||
| |
US$ |
% | % | | ||||||||||||
| |
US$ |
% | % | | ||||||||||||
| |
US$ |
% | % | | ||||||||||||
| 1. | GENERAL - (CONTINUED) |
| 2. | GROUP REORGANIZATION |
| 1. | The Company was incorporated on September 12, 2019 by issuing |
| 2. | In December 2019, AMTD Group transferred its equity interest in (i) AMTD RS to AMTD DFH; (ii) AMTD DM to AMTD DMH; and (iii) AMTD DI I, AMTD Direct Investment III Limited (“AMTD DI III”), AMTD BI and AMTD IS to AMTD DIH. |
| 2. | GROUP REORGANIZATION - (CONTINUED) |
| 3. | ADOPTION OF NEW FINANCIAL REPORTING FRAMEWORK AND NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS IN ISSUE BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE |
| Amendment to IFRS 16 |
COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions | |
| Amendment to IFRS 16 |
COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 | |
| Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 |
Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 |
3. |
ADOPTION OF NEW FINANCIAL REPORTING FRAMEWORK AND NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS IN ISSUE BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE - (CONTINUED) |
| IFRS 17 |
Insurance Contracts and the related Amendments 2 | |
| Amendments to IFRS 3 |
Reference to the Conceptual Framework 1 | |
| Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 |
Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture 3 | |
| Amendments to IAS 1 |
Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current 2 | |
| Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 |
Disclosure of Accounting Policies 2 | |
| Amendments to IAS 8 |
Definition of Accounting Estimates 2 | |
| Amendments to IAS 12 |
Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction 2 | |
| Amendments to IAS 16 |
Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use 1 | |
| Amendments to IAS 37 |
Onerous Contracts - Cost of Fulfilling a Contract 1 | |
| Amendments to IFRS Standards |
Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 1 |
1 |
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022. |
2 |
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. |
3 |
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after a date to be determined. |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
4.1 |
Basis of preparation of consolidated financial statements |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.1 |
Basis of preparation of consolidated financial statements - (Continued) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies |
(a) |
Basis of consolidation |
• |
has power over the investee; |
• |
is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and |
• |
has the ability to use its power to affect its returns. |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(a) |
Basis of consolidation - (Continued) |
(b) |
Business combinations or asset acquisitions |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(b) |
Business combinations or asset acquisitions - (Continued) |
• |
deferred tax assets or liabilities, and assets or liabilities related to employee benefit arrangements are recognized and measured in accordance with IAS 12 Income Taxes Employee Benefits |
• |
liabilities or equity instruments related to share-based payment arrangements of the acquiree or share-based payment arrangements of the Group entered into to replace share-based payment arrangements of the acquiree are measured in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment |
• |
assets (or disposal groups) that are classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations |
• |
lease liabilities are recognized and measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments (as defined in IFRS 16 Leases Right-of-use |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(c) |
Goodwill |
| (d) | Fair value measurement |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(d) |
Fair value measurement - (Continued) |
| • | Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date; |
| • | Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and |
| • | Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. |
| (e) | Revenue from contracts with customers |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(e) |
Revenue from contracts with customers - (Continued) |
| (f) | Foreign currencies |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(f) |
Foreign currencies - (Continued) |
| (g) | Employee benefits |
| (h) | Government grants |
(i) |
Share-based payments |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(i) |
Share-based payments - (Continued) |
| (j) | Property, plant and equipment |
| (k) | Intangible assets |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(k) |
Intangible assets - (Continued) |
| (l) | Impairment on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets other than goodwill |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(l) |
Impairment on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets other than goodwill - (Continued) |
| (m) | Taxation |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(m) |
Taxation - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments - (Continued) |
| • | the financial asset is held within a business model whose objective is to collect contractual cash flows; and |
| • | the contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. |
| • | the financial asset is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both selling and collecting contractual cash flows; and |
| • | the contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. |
| • | it has been acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the near term; or |
| • | on initial recognition it is a part of a portfolio of identified financial instruments that the Group manages together and has a recent actual pattern of short-term profit-taking; or |
| • | it is a derivative that is not designated and effective as a hedging instrument. |
| (i) | Amortized cost and interest income |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments - (Continued) |
| (i) | Amortized cost and interest income - (Continued) |
| (ii) | Financial assets at FVTPL |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments - (Continued) |
| (i) | Significant increase in credit risk |
| • | an actual or expected significant deterioration in the financial instrument’s external (if available) or internal credit rating; |
| • | significant deterioration in external market indicators of credit risk, e.g. a significant increase in the credit spread, the credit default swap prices for the debtor; |
| • | existing or forecast adverse changes in business, financial or economic conditions that are expected to cause a significant decrease in the debtor’s ability to meet its debt obligations; |
| • | an actual or expected significant deterioration in the operating results of the debtor; |
| • | an actual or expected significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or technological environment of the debtor that results in a significant decrease in the debtor’s ability to meet its debt obligations. |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments - (Continued) |
| (i) | Significant increase in credit risk - (Continued) |
| (ii) | Definition of default |
| (iii) | Credit-impaired financial assets |
| (a) | significant financial difficulty of the issuer or the borrower; |
| (b) | a breach of contract, such as a default or past due event; |
| (c) | the lender(s) of the borrower, for economic or contractual reasons relating to the borrower’s financial difficulty, having granted to the borrower a concession(s) that the lender(s) would not otherwise consider; or |
| (d) | it is becoming probable that the borrower will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganization. |
| (iv) | Write-off policy |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments - (Continued) |
| (iv) | Write-off policy - (Continued) |
| (v) | Measurement and recognition of ECL |
| • | Past-due status; |
| • | Nature, size and industry of debtors; and |
| • | External credit ratings where available. |
| 4. | BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
| (n) | Financial instruments - (Continued) |
(v) |
Measurement and recognition of ECL - (Continued) |
4. |
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (CONTINUED) |
4.2 |
Significant accounting policies - (Continued) |
(n) |
Financial instruments - (Continued) |
| (o) | Cash and cash equivalents |
| (p) | Fiduciary bank balances |
5. |
KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY |
5. |
KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY - (CONTINUED) |
| 6. | REVENUE |
(i) |
Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers |
Segments |
SpiderNet Ecosystem solutions |
Digital financial services |
Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
Types of services |
||||||||||||||||
SpiderNet ecosystem solutions services |
||||||||||||||||
Insurance brokerage services |
||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Timing of revenue recognition |
||||||||||||||||
A point in time |
||||||||||||||||
Over time |
||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Segments |
SpiderNet Ecosystem solutions |
Digital financial services |
Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
Types of services |
||||||||||||||||
SpiderNet ecosystem solutions services |
||||||||||||||||
Insurance brokerage services |
||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Timing of revenue recognition |
||||||||||||||||
A point in time |
||||||||||||||||
Over time |
||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||
| 6. | REVENUE - (CONTINUED) |
(i) |
Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers - (Continued) |
Segments |
SpiderNet Ecosystem solutions |
Digital financial services |
Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
Types of services |
||||||||||||||||
SpiderNet ecosystem solutions services |
||||||||||||||||
Insurance brokerage services |
||||||||||||||||
Digital media, content, and marketing services |
||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Timing of revenue recognition |
||||||||||||||||
A point in time |
||||||||||||||||
Over time |
||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||
(ii) |
Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation for contracts with customers |
SpiderNet ecosystem solutions income |
||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||
Within one year |
||||||||
More than one year but not more than two years |
||||||||
More than two years |
||||||||
| 7. | OPERATING SEGMENTS |
7. |
OPERATING SEGMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
(a) |
The SpiderNet ecosystem solutions segment: The Group provides its institutional and corporate clients with exclusive, paid access to the AMTD SpiderNet ecosystem to enhance their investor communication, investor relations and corporate communication to potentially maximize their valuation; |
| (b) | The digital financial services segment: The Group provides primarily corporate clients with insurance brokerage services; and |
| (c) | Corporate: The Group includes in the Corporate category (i) the digital media, content, and marketing business in which the Group creates and promotes digital solutions content by investing in and developing multimedia channels to provide users and audiences access to content medium through a comprehensive library of traditional and digital movies, podcasts, webinars and live videos offered by content providers and online media platforms since May 2020; and (ii) the investments in innovative technology companies which operate digital non-financial license businesses through strategic investments. |
| SpiderNet ecosystem solutions |
Digital financial services |
Corporate | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
| Segment revenues |
||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers |
— | |||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| — | ||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Changes in fair value on financial assets measured at FVTPL |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Segment profits |
||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated: |
||||||||||||||||
| Other gains and losses |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Profit before tax |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
| 7. | OPERATING SEGMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| SpiderNet ecosystem solutions |
Digital financial services |
Corporate | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
| Segment revenues |
||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers |
— | |||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties |
— | |||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| — | ||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Changes in fair value on financial assets measured at FVTPL |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Segment profits |
||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated: |
||||||||||||||||
| Other gains and losses |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Profit before tax |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
SpiderNet ecosystem solutions |
Digital financial services |
Corporate |
Consolidated |
|||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||||||||
| Segment revenues |
||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers |
||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties |
— | |||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Changes in fair value on financial assets measured at FVTPL |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Segment profits |
||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated: |
||||||||||||||||
| Other income |
||||||||||||||||
| Other gains and losses |
||||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Profit before tax |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
| 7. | OPERATING SEGMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| Note: | Non-current assets excluded financial instruments. |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
Customer A 1 |
N/A | 2 |
— |
|||||||||
Customer B 1 |
— |
N/A | 2 | |||||||||
Customer C 1 |
N/A | 2 |
N/A | 2 | ||||||||
Customer D 1 |
N/A | 2 | ||||||||||
Customer E 1 |
N/A | 2 |
N/A | 2 | ||||||||
Customer F 1 |
N/A | 2 |
N/A | 2 |
||||||||
1 |
Revenue from SpiderNet ecosystem solutions segment |
2 |
Revenue by this customer is less than |
| 8. | CHANGES IN FAIR VALUE ON FINANCIAL ASSETS MEASURED AT FVTPL |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
Changes in fair value on financial assets at FVTPL |
||||||||||||
| 9. | OTHER INCOME |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
Bank and other interest income |
— | |||||||||||
Government grant (note) |
— | |||||||||||
Others |
— | |||||||||||
| Note: | During the years ended April 30, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized government grants of HK$ COVID-19-related |
10. |
OTHER GAINS AND LOSSES, NET |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
Net exchange gain (loss) |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Recovery of accounts and other receivables written off |
— | |||||||||||
Change in fair value on derivative financial liabilities (note 23(iii)) |
( |
) | — | — | ||||||||
| ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| 11. | INCOME TAX EXPENSE |
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||
Hong Kong Profits Tax |
||||||||||||
- Current tax |
||||||||||||
- Overprovision in prior years |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Deferred tax (note 22) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| 11. | INCOME TAX EXPENSE - (CONTINUED) |
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||
| Profit before tax |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Tax at the domestic income tax rate of |
||||||||||||
| Tax effect of income not taxable for tax purpose |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Tax effect of expenses not deductible for tax purpose |
||||||||||||
| Tax effect of tax losses not recognized |
||||||||||||
| Utilization of tax losses previously not recognized |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Overprovision in prior years |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Others |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Income tax expense for the year |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12. | PROFIT FOR THE YEAR |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
| Directors’ emoluments |
||||||||||||
| Salaries, allowances and other benefits |
||||||||||||
| Retirement benefit scheme contributions (note) |
||||||||||||
| Staff costs |
||||||||||||
| Salaries, allowances and other benefits |
||||||||||||
| Retirement benefit scheme contributions (note) |
||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
— | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Note: | The Group operates a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme and Central Provident Fund Scheme for all qualifying employees in Hong Kong and Singapore, respectively. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the Group, in funds under the control of trustees. |
| 13. | EARNINGS PER SHARE |
| Earnings figures are calculated as follows: |
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||
| Earnings for the purpose of basic and diluted earnings per share |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Number of shares |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic earnings per share |
||||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares -restricted ordinary shares and restricted shares unit (note 28) |
— | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted earnings per share |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14. | ACQUISITION OF A SUBSIDIARY |
HK$ |
||||
| Cash |
||||
| Equity instruments issued |
||||
| |
|
|||
| Total |
||||
| |
|
|||
| 14. | ACQUISITION OF A SUBSIDIARY - (CONTINUED) |
HK$ |
||||
| Property, plant and equipment |
||||
| Intangible asset |
||||
| Accounts and other receivables |
||||
| Bank balances and cash |
||||
| Accounts and other payables |
( |
) | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities |
( |
) | ||
| |
|
|||
| |
|
|||
HK$ |
||||
| Consideration transferred |
||||
| Plus: non-controlling interests (49% in PolicyPal) |
||||
| Less: net assets acquired |
( |
) | ||
| |
|
|||
| Goodwill arising on acquisition |
||||
| |
|
|||
HK$ |
||||
| Cash consideration paid |
( |
) | ||
| Less: cash and cash equivalents balances acquired |
||||
| |
|
|||
| |
|
|||
| 14. | ACQUISITION OF A SUBSIDIARY - (CONTINUED) |
| 15. | GOODWILL |
| HK$ | ||||
| COST |
||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||
| Arising in acquisition of PolicyPal (note 14) |
||||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2021 and 2022 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| 16. | INTANGIBLE ASSETS |
Developed technology |
Brand name |
Total |
||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
HK$ |
||||||||||
| COST |
||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||||||||||
| Acquired on acquisition of PolicyPal (note 14) |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||
| Additions |
||||||||||||
| Exchange adjustments |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| AMORTIZATION |
||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||||||||||
| Charge for the year |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||
| Charge for the year |
||||||||||||
| Exchange adjustments |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| CARRYING VALUE |
||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Developed technology | ||
| Brand name |
| 17. | PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
| Computer equipment |
||||
| HK$ | ||||
| COST |
||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||
| Acquisition of a subsidiary (note 14) |
||||
| Additions |
||||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||
| Additions |
||||
| Exchange adjustments |
|
|
( |
) |
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| DEPRECIATION |
||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||
| Provided for the year |
||||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||
| Provided for the year |
||||
| Exchange adjustments |
|
|
( |
) |
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| CARRYING VALUES |
||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| Computer equipment |
| 18. | FINANCIAL ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS |
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | |||||||
| Unlisted equity securities (note (i)) |
||||||||
| Movie income right investments (note (ii)) |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| (i) | The Company classified certain equity securities as non-current when Company considered that these equity securities are held for long-term purposes and would realize their performance potential in the long run. During the year ended April 30, 2021, additions of financial assets at FVTPL of HK$ |
| During the year ended April 30, 2022, the Group disposed a financial asset measured at FVTPL to an independent third party with a gain of HK$ |
18. |
FINANCIAL ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS - (CONTINUED) |
loan note from an independent third party, is unsecured, carries a fixed interest rate of % per month and repayable within one year. The related interest receivable of HK$ |
(ii) |
As of April 30, 2021 and 2022, the financial assets at FVTPL of the Group includes movie income right agreements with a production house, which is an independent third party, of HK$ |
| 19. | ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES |
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | |||||||
| Commission receivable from insurance brokerage |
||||||||
| Accounts receivable arising from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Total accounts receivable |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Consideration receivable on disposal of financial assets at FVTPL (note 18) |
— | |||||||
| Prepayments (note (i)) |
||||||||
| Note receivables (note (ii)) |
||||||||
| Other receivables |
||||||||
| Deferred issue costs |
||||||||
| Prepayment for subscription of bond instrument (note (iii)) |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Prepayments and other receivables |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Presented as: |
||||||||
| Current |
||||||||
| Non-current |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| (i) | As of April 30, 2021 and 2022, prepayments mainly included employment incentive paid to the employees amounting to HK$ |
| (ii) | As of April 30, 2021 and 2022, the amount represented note receivables from independent third parties. The balances are unsecured, carried at fixed interest rates ranged from and have original maturity of 2 years |
| (iii) | As of April 30, 2021, AMTD Group, the ultimate holding company, made a prepayment of HK$ |
19. |
ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES - (CONTINUED) |
| 20. | ACCOUNTS AND OTHER PAYABLES |
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | |||||||
| Accounts payable arising from insurance brokerage |
||||||||
| Consideration payable for acquisition of movie income right investments |
||||||||
| Other payables and accruals |
||||||||
| Accrued issue cost |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| 21. | CONTRACT LIABILITIES |
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||
| SpiderNet ecosystem solutions income |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Presented as: |
||||||||
| Current |
||||||||
| Non-current |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | |||||||
| SpiderNet ecosystem solutions income |
||||||||
| Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| 22. | DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY |
| Intangible assets |
||||
| HK$ | ||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||
| Acquisition of a subsidiary (note 14) |
||||
| Credit to profit or loss (note 11) |
( |
) | ||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||
| Credit to profit or loss (note 11) |
( |
) | ||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| 23. | SHARE CAPITAL |
| Class A Ordinary shares | Class B Ordinary shares | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares |
Share capital |
Number of shares |
Share capital |
Number of shares |
Share capital |
|||||||||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares of US$0.0001 each |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorized |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2021 and 2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Issued and fully paid |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At May 1, 2019 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance upon incorporation (note (i)) |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Share split (note (i)) |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares (note (ii)) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of warrants (note (iii)) |
— | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares (notes (iv) and (viii)) |
— | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation (note (v)) |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions of subsidiaries (note (vi)) |
— | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer of shares (note (vii)) |
( |
) | ( |
) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer of shares (note (ix)) |
( |
) | ( |
) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2022 (note (x)) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| (i) | Upon the incorporation of the Company in September 2019, the Company issued one ordinary share to the controlling shareholder. In December 2019, the Company effected a 1-to- |
| 23. | SHARE CAPITAL - (CONTINUED) |
| following which re-designated as Class B ordinary share. |
| (ii) | On December 18, 2019, the Company issued |
| (iii) | On December 19, 2019, the Company issued warrants to an independent third party for an aggregate consideration of US$ |
| (iv) | Between May 13, 2020 and August 3, 2020, the Company issued |
| (v) | On August 3, 2020, the Company granted Company. Please see note 28 for details. |
| (vi) | The Company issued |
| (vii) | On June 26, 2020, the then immediate holding company of the Company, AMTD Group, converted its |
| (viii) | On March 8, 2021, the Company issued |
| (ix) | On February 23, 2022, |
| 23. | SHARE CAPITAL - (CONTINUED) |
| (x) | The number of Class A ordinary shares of the Company at April 30, 2022 included |
| 24. | NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS |
| Share of net assets of subsidiaries |
||||
| HK$ | ||||
| At May 1, 2019 |
||||
| Share of profit for the year |
||||
| Acquisition of non-controlling interest of subsidiaries (note) |
( |
) | ||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||
| Share of loss for the year |
( |
) | ||
| Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operations |
||||
| Acquisition of subsidiaries (note 14) |
||||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||
| Share of loss for the year |
( |
) | ||
| Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operations |
( |
) | ||
| Issue of shares (note 16) |
||||
| Share-based compensation (note 28) |
||||
| |
|
|||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||
| |
|
|||
| Note: | As disclosed in note 2, in December 2019, AMTD Group acquired the remaining non-controlling shareholders. AMTD Group then transferred non-controlling interests amounting to HK$non-cash transaction. |
| 25. | CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT |
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
| a | Categories of financial instruments |
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | |||||||
| Financial assets |
||||||||
| Financial assets at FVTPL |
||||||||
| Amortized cost |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Financial liability |
||||||||
| Amortized cost |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| b. | Financial risk management objectives and policies |
| (i) | Currency risk |
| (ii) | Interest rate risk |
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| b. | Financial risk management objectives and policies - (Continued) |
| (iii) | Other price risk |
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| b. | Financial risk management objectives and policies - (Continued) |
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| b. | Financial risk management objectives and policies - (Continued) |
| Internal credit rating |
Description |
Commission receivable from insurance brokerage and accounts receivable arising from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business |
Other financial assets | |||
| Normal risk |
||||||
| Doubtful |
risk since initial recognition through information developed internally or external resources |
|||||
| Loss |
||||||
| Write-off |
in severe financial difficulty and the Group has no realistic prospect of recovery |
|||||
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| b. | Financial risk management objectives and policies - (Continued) |
| Notes | Internal credit rating |
12m ECL or lifetime ECL |
2021 Gross carrying amount |
2022 Gross carrying amount |
||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
| Financial assets at amortized costs |
||||||||||||||
| Commission receivable from insurance brokerage |
19 | (Note) | Lifetime ECL (provision matrix) | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable arising from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business |
19 | (Note) | Lifetime ECL - not credit-impaired |
|||||||||||
| Consideration receivables |
19 | Normal risk | 12-month ECL |
— | ||||||||||
| Note receivables |
19 | Normal risk | 12-month ECL |
|||||||||||
| Other receivables |
19 | Normal risk | 12-month ECL |
|||||||||||
| Amount due from AMTD Group |
27 | Normal risk | 12-month ECL |
|||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
Aa3 | 12-month ECL |
||||||||||||
| Fiduciary bank balances |
Normal risk | 12-month ECL |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Note: | For commission receivable from insurance brokerage and accounts receivable arising from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business, the Group has applied the simplified approach in IFRS 9 to measure the loss allowance at lifetime ECL. The Group determines the ECL on commission receivable from insurance brokerage on a collective basis, grouped by internal credit rating. For accounts receivable arising from the SpiderNet ecosystem solutions business, the ECL is assessed on an individual basis. |
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| b. | Financial risk management objectives and policies - (Continued) |
| Weighted average interest rate |
On demand or less than 1 month |
Total undiscounted cash flows |
Carrying amount |
|||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||
| Non-derivative financial liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
| Non-interest bearing |
||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable |
||||||||||||||||
| Clients’ monies held on trust |
||||||||||||||||
| Consideration payable for acquisition of movie income right investments |
||||||||||||||||
| Other payables and accruals |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Weighted average interest rate |
On demand or less than 1 month |
Total undiscounted cash flows |
Carrying amount |
|||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||||||
| Non-derivative financial liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
| Non-interest bearing |
||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable |
||||||||||||||||
| Clients’ monies held on trust |
||||||||||||||||
| Other payables and accruals |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| c. | Fair value measurements of financial instruments |
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| c. | Fair value measurements of financial instruments - (Continued) |
(i) |
Fair value of the Group’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis |
| Financial assets |
Fair value as at |
Fair value hierarchy |
Valuation technique(s) and key inputs |
Significant unobservable input(s) | ||||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||||||||
| Financial assets at FVTPL - unlisted equity securities |
Level 2 |
N/A | ||||||||||||
Level 3 |
||||||||||||||
| Movie income right investments |
Level 3 |
Discount rate, taking into account weighted average cost of capital determined using a Capital Asset Pricing Model ranged from April 30, 2021 and 2022 | ||||||||||||
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| c. | Fair value measurements of financial instruments - (Continued) |
(i) |
Fair value of the Group’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis - (Continued) |
| Financial assets |
Fair value as at |
Fair value hierarchy |
Valuation technique(s) and key inputs |
Significant unobservable input(s) | ||||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||
HK$ |
HK$ |
|||||||||||||
investment, based on an appropriate discount rate. |
(note (ii)) and expected ticket sales performance and expected movie production costs. | |||||||||||||
| (i) | A change in the expected volatility used in isolation would result in a change in the fair value of the private equity investments. A increase/(decrease) in the expected volatility holding all other variables constant would result in a net (decrease)/increase in the carrying amount of the private equity investments by (HK$ )/HK$ nd (HK$ )/HK$ |
| (ii) | A increase/(decrease) in the discount rate holding all other variables constant would (decrease)/increase the carrying amount of the movie income right investments by (HK$ )/HK$ and 2022, respectively. |
| Unlisted investments classified as equity instruments at FVTPL |
Movie income right investments |
Total | ||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||
| At May 1, 2020 |
— | |||||||||||
| Total gains in profit or loss |
||||||||||||
| Transfer from Level 2 to Level 3 |
— | |||||||||||
| Transfer from Level 3 to Level 1 |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||
| Purchases |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||
| Total gains in profit or loss |
||||||||||||
| Transfer from Level 2 to Level 3 |
— | |||||||||||
| Receipt of investment return |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
| Disposals |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 26. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - (CONTINUED) |
| c. | Fair value measurements of financial instruments - (Continued) |
(i) |
Fair value of the Group’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis - (Continued) |
(ii) |
Fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis |
| 27. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |
| Relationship |
Nature of transactions |
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | ||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 27. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES - (CONTINUED) |
| Notes: |
| (i) | On June 30, 2019, the Group disposed of an investment to a fellow subsidiary for cash consideration of HK$ |
| (ii) | The amounts represent transactions with AMTD Group which was the immediate holding company of the Company before December 30, 2020 and is the ultimate holding company of the Company on and after December 30, 2020. |
| 28. | SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION |
| 28. | SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - (CONTINUED) |
Non-vested RSUs of the Company outstanding |
Non-vested shares outstanding |
|||||||||||
Class A ordinary shares of the Company |
Ordinary shares of PolicyPal |
|||||||||||
| At May 1, 2020 |
||||||||||||
| Grant |
||||||||||||
| Vested |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||
| Grant |
||||||||||||
| Vested |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| At April 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 29. | RECONCILIATION OF LIABILITIES ARISING FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
| Amount due to AMTD Group |
Amounts due to fellow subsidiaries |
Amount due to a former fellow subsidiary |
Total | |||||||||||||
| HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | |||||||||||||
| At May 1, 2019 |
||||||||||||||||
| Financing cash flows |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Non-cash transaction (note) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| At April 30, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
| Financing cash flows |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Non-cash transaction (note) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| At April 30, 2021 and 2022 |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Note: | Pursuant to the offsetting agreements described in note 27, amount due to AMTD Group and amounts due to fellow subsidiaries, which amounted to HK$ netted-off with amounts due from AMTD Group and fellow subsidiaries under these agreements during the year ended April 30, 2020. Amount due to AMTD Group and amounts due to fellow subsidiaries, which amounted to HK$ |
| 30. | OTHER COMMITMENT |
| 31. | REGULATORY REQUIREMENT |
32. |
EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD |
• |
On July 15, 2022, the Company completed the initial public offering and listing by way of issuance of s of the Company) (“ADSs”). |
• |
On August 8, 2022, the over-allotment option was fully exercised and the Company issued additional |
• |
On August 16, 2022, AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group and the Company jointly announced that AMTD IDEA Group had entered into certain agreements with AMTD Group and the Company (the “AMTD Assets Agreements”). Pursuant to the terms of the AMTD Assets Agreements, AMTD IDEA Group will acquir e of the equity interest in AMTD Assets Group (“AMTD Assets”), which holds a f US$global portfolio of premium whole building properties, from AMTD Group at a consideration o million which will be settled by newly issued Class B ordinary shares of AMTD IDEA Group. AMTD IDEA Group will subsequently transfer suc h of the equity interest in AMTD Assets to the Group at consideration of S$U million which will be settled by 515,385 newly issued Class B ordinary shares of the Company at US$ 520 per share (equivalent to a value of US$ |
| 33. | APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Exhibit 2.4
Description of Rights of Each Class of Securities
Registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing 0.4 Class A ordinary shares of AMTD Digital Inc. (“we,” “our,” “our company,” or “us”), are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange and, in connection with this listing (but not for trading), the Class A ordinary shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. This exhibit contains a description of the rights of (i) the holders of Class A ordinary shares and (ii) the holders of ADSs. Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs are held by The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and holders of ADSs will not be treated as holders of the Class A ordinary shares.
Description of Class A Ordinary Shares
The following is a summary of material provisions of the current amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Memorandum and Articles of Association”), as well as the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”) insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For more complete information, you should read the entire Memorandum and Articles of Association, which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-256322).
Type and Class of Securities (Item 9.A.5 of Form 20-F)
Each Class A ordinary share has US$0.0001 par value. The number of Class A ordinary shares that have been issued as of the last day of the financial year ended April 30, 2022 is provided on the cover of the annual report on Form 20-F filed on August 30, 2022 (the “2022 Form 20-F”). Our Class A ordinary shares may be held in either certificated or uncertificated form.
Pre-emptive Rights (Item 9.A.3 of Form 20-F)
Our shareholders do not have pre-emptive rights.
Limitations or Qualifications (Item 9.A.6 of Form 20-F)
We have a dual-class voting structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Each Class A ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our company, and each Class B ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to twenty votes on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our company. Due to the super voting power of Class B ordinary share holder, the voting power of the Class A ordinary shares may be materially limited.
Rights of Other Types of Securities (Item 9.A.7 of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Rights of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.3 of Form 20-F)
Ordinary Shares
Our share capital is divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class B ordinary Share shall entitle the holder thereof to twenty votes on all matters subject to vote at our general meetings, and each Class A ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters subject to vote at our general meetings. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members.
Conversion
Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary shares by a holder thereof to any person other than our founder, Dr. Calvin Choi, or any other person or entity designated by Dr. Choi, each of such Class B ordinary shares will be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A ordinary share.
Dividends
The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors or declared by our shareholders by ordinary resolution (provided that no dividend may be declared by our shareholders which exceeds the amount recommended by our directors). The Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that, subject to any rights and restrictions attached to any shares, our directors may from to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on our shares in issue and authorize payment of the same out of our funds lawfully available therefor. Under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if the dividend payment would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights
Our ordinary shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law, or otherwise agreed in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. On a poll, each holder of Class B ordinary shares is entitled to twenty votes per share, and each holder of our Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. On a show of hands, each holder of Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares has one vote. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one or more shareholders who together hold not less than 10% of the total number of votes attaching to all issued and outstanding ordinary shares which are present in person or by proxy entitled to vote at the meeting.
2
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast at a meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the issued and outstanding ordinary shares at a meeting. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our shareholders may, among other things, divide or combine their shares by ordinary resolution.
General Meetings of Shareholders
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. The Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.
Shareholders’ general meetings may be convened by a majority of our board of directors. Advance notice of at least seven days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting (if any) and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for any general meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all of our shares in issue and entitled to vote.
The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands 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. The Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that upon the requisition of any one or more of our shareholders who together holds shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of the total number of votes attaching to the issued and outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general meetings, our board will convene an extraordinary general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. However, the Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
Election, Removal and Remuneration of Directors
Unless otherwise determined by our company in general meeting, the Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that our board will consist of not less than three directors. There are no provisions relating to retirement of directors upon reaching any age limit.
The directors have the power to appoint any person as a director either to fill a vacancy on the board or as an addition to the existing board. Our shareholders may also appoint any person to be a director by ordinary resolution. A director shall not be required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification.
A director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution.
3
The remuneration of the directors may be determined by the directors or by ordinary resolution of shareholders.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the restrictions set out below, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
| • | the instrument of transfer is lodged 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 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 New York Stock Exchange may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors may from time to time require is paid to us in respect thereof. |
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice required of the New York Stock Exchange, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year as our board may determine.
Liquidation
On the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution amongst our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to our 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 in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
4
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares
Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Repurchase and Surrender of Shares
Our company may repurchase any of our shares on such terms and in such manner as have been approved by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if our company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding or (c) if we have commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Issuance of Additional Shares.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association authorize our board of directors to allot and issue additional shares from time to time as our board of directors shall determine, to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association also authorize our board of directors to create from time to time one or more classes or series of shares and to determine, with respect to any class or series of shares, the terms and rights of that class or series, including:
| • | the designation of the class or series; |
| • | the number of shares of the class or series; |
| • | the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and |
| • | the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences. |
Our board of directors may also re-designate and re-classify shares of any classes or series into any number of existing or new classes or series of shares (including classes or series of preferred shares).
Our board of directors may therefore create and issue new class or series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders to the extent authorized but unissued. Issuance of these shares may dilute the voting power of holders of ordinary shares.
5
Requirements to Change the Rights of Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F)
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes or series of shares, the rights attached to any such class or series of shares may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or series, only be materially and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of all of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class or series issued with preferred or other rights will not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the shares of that class or series, be deemed to be materially and 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 or series by us. The rights of the holders of shares will not be deemed to be materially and adversely varied by the creation or issue of class or series of shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of class or series of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
Limitations on the Rights to Own Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.6 of Form 20-F)
There are no limitations under the laws of the Cayman Islands or under the Memorandum and Articles of Association that limit the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote Class A ordinary shares, other than anti-takeover provisions contained in the Memorandum and Articles of Association to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause our company to engage in change-of-control transactions.
Provisions Affecting Any Change of Control (Item 10.B.7 of Form 20-F)
Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Some provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:
| • | authorize our board of directors to create and issue new classes or series of share (including preferred shares) and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of such classes or series of shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; |
| • | authorize our board of directors to re-designate and re-classify shares of any classes or series into any number of existing or new classes or series of shares (including classes or series of preferred shares); |
| • | authorize our board of directors to create and issue any new class or series of shares with such preferred or other rights, all or any of which may be greater than the rights of ordinary shares, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate; and |
6
| • | limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders by requiring requisitioning shareholders to hold as of the date of deposit of the requisition shares that carry in aggregate not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that as of the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of our company. |
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under the Memorandum and Articles of Association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Ownership Threshold (Item 10.B.8 of Form 20-F)
There are no provisions under the laws of the Cayman Islands or under the Memorandum and Articles of Association that govern the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Differences Between the Law of Different Jurisdictions (Item 10.B.9 of Form 20-F)
The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Act of England but does not follow recent English statutory enactments and accordingly there are significant differences between the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands and the current Companies Act of England. In addition, the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands differs from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) “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 (b) 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 plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a statement setting out 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.
7
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 company” of a subsidiary if it holds issued shares that together represent at least ninety percent (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.
Save in certain limited circumstances under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands, 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, provide the dissenting shareholder complies strictly with the procedures set out in the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands. 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 Companies Act of the Cayman Islands 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 majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are 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. Dissentient members/creditors are entitled to appear and be heard. At the hearing, the Grand Court considers (in light of any opposition) whether:
| • | approval of the scheme was reasonable (whether a reasonable member would have approved it); |
| • | each class was fairly represented at the meeting; |
| • | the majority acted bona fide; |
| • | all notice periods were complied with; |
| • | the resolutions carried by the requisite majority. |
The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissentient minority shareholder upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% 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.
8
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 207 shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, save that objectors to a takeover offer may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for various orders that the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands has a broad discretion to make, 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 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:
| • | 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.” |
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. The 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 the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
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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.
Directors’ Fiduciary Duties. 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 act 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.
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 bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his position as director (unless the company permits him to do so) and 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. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent. 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. Cayman Islands law and the Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that 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.
Shareholder Proposals. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided 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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The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands does not provide shareholders with rights to requisition a general meeting nor any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. The Memorandum and Articles of Association allow any one or more of our shareholders who together hold shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of the total number of votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company 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, the 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 an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
Cumulative Voting. 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. 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 the 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.
Removal of Directors. 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 outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders.
Transactions with Interested 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 share 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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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, as mentioned above the directors have certain fiduciary duties including a duty to act bona fide in the best interest of the company.
Dissolution; Winding up. 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 the board.
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 Companies Act of the Cayman Islands and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders.
Variation of Rights of Shares. 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. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class or series of shares, the rights attached to any class or series may only be materially and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of all of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class or series.
Amendment of Governing Documents. 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. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, the Memorandum and Articles of Association may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.
Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by the 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 Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
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Exempted Company. We are incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands. The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is incorporated in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be incorporated 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).
Changes in Capital (Item 10.B.10 of Form 20-F)
Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
| • | increase our share capital by new shares of such amount as we think expedient; |
| • | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares; |
| • | sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them, into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association , provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; 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. |
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by our company for an order confirming such reduction, reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.
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Debt Securities (Item 12.A of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Warrants and Rights (Item 12.B of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Other Securities (Item 12.C of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Description of American Depositary Shares (Items 12.D.1 and 12.D.2 of Form 20-F)
The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver the ADSs. Each ADS will represent 0.4 Class A ordinary shares (or a right to receive 0.4 Class A ordinary shares) deposited with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, as custodian for the depositary in Hong Kong. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash, or other property that may be held by the depositary. The deposited shares together with any other securities, cash, or other property held by the depositary are referred to as the deposited securities. The depositary’s office at which the ADSs will be administered and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.
You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having uncertificated ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company, also called DTC. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Registered holders of uncertificated ADSs will receive statements from the depositary confirming their holdings.
As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a registered holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR. For directions on how to obtain copies of those documents, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
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Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay or distribute to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, upon payment or deduction of its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent.
Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.
Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. See “Taxation”. The depositary will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some of the value of the distribution.
Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fraction of an ADS (or ADSs representing those shares) and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares (or ADSs representing those shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.
Rights to purchase additional shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may (i) exercise those rights on behalf of ADS holders, (ii) distribute those rights to ADS holders, or (iii) sell those rights and distribute the net proceeds to ADS holders, in each case after deduction or upon payment of its fees and expenses. To the extent the depositary does not do any of those things, it will allow the rights to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. The depositary will exercise or distribute rights only if we ask it to and provide satisfactory assurances to the depositary that it is legal to do so. If the depositary will exercise rights, it will purchase the securities to which the rights relate and distribute those securities or, in the case of shares, new ADSs representing the new shares, to subscribing ADS holders, but only if ADS holders have paid the exercise price to the depositary. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute rights or ADSs or other securities issued on exercise of rights to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.
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Other Distributions. The depositary will send to ADS holders anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair, and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute securities to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights, or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights, or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal, and Cancellation
How are ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit.
How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?
You may surrender your ADSs to the depositary for the purpose of withdrawal. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible. However, the depositary is not required to accept surrender of ADSs to the extent it would require delivery of a fraction of a deposited share or other security. The depositary may charge you a fee and its expenses for instructing the custodian regarding delivery of deposited securities.
How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs?
You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS holder a statement confirming that the ADS holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.
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Voting Rights
How do you vote?
ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited shares their ADSs represent. If we request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions (and we are not required to do so), the depositary will notify you of a shareholders’ meeting and send or make voting materials available to you. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of the Cayman Islands and the provisions of our articles of association or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. If we do not request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions, you can still send voting instructions, and, in that case, the depositary may try to vote as you instruct, but it is not required to do so.
Except by instructing the depositary as described above, you won’t be able to exercise voting rights unless you surrender your ADSs and withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. In any event, the depositary will not exercise any discretion in voting deposited securities and it will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed, or as described in the following sentence. If (i) we asked the depositary to solicit your voting instructions to be received by a specified date before the meeting date, (ii) the depositary does not receive voting instructions from you by the specified date, and (iii) we confirm to the depositary that:
| • | we wish to receive a proxy to vote uninstructed shares; |
| • | we reasonably do not know of any substantial shareholder opposition to a particular question; and |
| • | the particular question is not materially adverse to the interests of shareholders, |
the depositary will consider you to have authorized and directed it to give, and it will give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the number of deposited securities represented by your ADSs as to that question.
We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise voting rights and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested.
In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to Deposited Securities, if we request the Depositary to act, we agree to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 40 days in advance of the meeting date.
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Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement, or Cancellation of Deposited Securities
The depositary will not tender deposited securities in any voluntary tender or exchange offer unless instructed to do so by an ADS holder surrendering ADSs and subject to any conditions or procedures the depositary may establish.
If deposited securities are redeemed for cash in a transaction that is mandatory for the depositary as a holder of deposited securities, the depositary will call for surrender of a corresponding number of ADSs and distribute the net redemption money to the holders of called ADSs upon surrender of those ADSs.
If there is any change in the deposited securities such as a sub-division, combination or other reclassification, or any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, or reorganization affecting the issuer of deposited securities in which the depositary receives new securities in exchange for or in lieu of the old deposited securities, the depositary will hold those replacement securities as deposited securities under the deposit agreement. However, if the depositary decides it would not be lawful and practical to hold the replacement securities because those securities could not be distributed to ADS holders or for any other reason, the depositary may instead sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds upon surrender of the ADSs.
If there is a replacement of the deposited securities and the depositary will continue to hold the replacement securities, the depositary may distribute new ADSs representing the new deposited securities or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.
If there are no deposited securities underlying ADSs, including if the deposited securities are cancelled, or if the deposited securities underlying ADSs have become apparently worthless, the depositary may call for surrender of those ADSs or cancel those ADSs upon notice to the ADS holders.
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges, or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.
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How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will initiate termination of the deposit agreement if we instruct it to do so. The depositary may initiate termination of the deposit agreement if
| • | 90 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment; |
| • | we delist the ADSs from an exchange in the United States on which they were listed and do not list the ADSs on another exchange in the United States or make arrangements for trading of ADSs on the U.S. over-the-counter market; |
| • | we appear to be insolvent or enter insolvency proceedings; |
| • | all or substantially all the value of the deposited securities has been distributed either in cash or in the form of securities; |
| • | there are no deposited securities underlying the ADSs or the underlying deposited securities have become apparently worthless; or |
| • | there has been a replacement of deposited securities. |
If the deposit agreement will terminate, the depositary will notify ADS holders at least 90 days before the termination date. At any time after the termination date, the depositary may sell the deposited securities. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. Normally, the depositary will sell as soon as practicable after the termination date.
After the termination date and before the depositary sells, ADS holders can still surrender their ADSs and receive delivery of deposited securities, except that the depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities or reverse previously accepted surrenders of that kind that have not settled if it would interfere with the selling process. The depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing sale proceeds until all the deposited securities have been sold. The depositary will continue to collect distributions on deposited securities, but, after the termination date, the depositary is not required to register any transfer of ADSs or distribute any dividends or other distributions on deposited securities to the ADSs holder (until they surrender their ADSs) or give any notices or perform any other duties under the deposit agreement except as described in this paragraph.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:
| • | are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith, and the depositary will not be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary duty to holders of ADSs; |
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| • | are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or by events or circumstances beyond our or its ability to prevent or counteract with reasonable care or effort from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement; |
| • | are not liable if we or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement; |
| • | are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement; |
| • | have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person; |
| • | may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person; |
| • | are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and |
| • | the depositary has no duty to make any determination or provide any information as to our tax status, or any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by ADS holders as a result of owning or holding ADSs or be liable for the inability or failure of an ADS holder to obtain the benefit of a foreign tax credit, reduced rate of withholding or refund of amounts withheld in respect of tax or any other tax benefit. |
In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of ADSs, make a distribution on ADSs, or permit withdrawal of shares, the depositary may require:
| • | payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities; |
| • | satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and |
| • | compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.
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Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying your ADSs
ADS holders have the right to cancel their ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:
| • | when temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our shares; |
| • | when you owe money to pay fees, taxes, and similar charges; or |
| • | when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of shares or other deposited securities. |
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the Direct Registration System, also referred to as DRS, and Profile Modification System, also referred to as Profile, will apply to the ADSs. DRS is a system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated ADSs and holding of security entitlements in ADSs through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register that transfer.
In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery as described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the DRS/Profile system and in accordance with the deposit agreement will not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.
Shareholder communications; inspection of register of holders of ADSs
The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.
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Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable in the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable case law.
You will not, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, be deemed to have waived our or the depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Jurisdiction and Arbitration
The deposit agreement provides that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, state courts in New York County, New York) shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any dispute arising from or relating in any way to the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including without limitation claims against us under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. In addition, the deposit agreement provides that any controversy, claim, or cause of action brought by any party to the deposit agreement against us arising out of or relating to, among other things, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, if elected by the claimant, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration provisions apply to actions arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. However, the arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement do not preclude you from pursuing any claims, including claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or New York state courts in New York County, New York if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction). Accepting or consenting to the arbitration provisions does not constitute a waiver by investors of our or the depositary’s compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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Exhibit 4.17
DATED 15 AUGUST 2022
AMTD IDEA GROUP
and
AMTD DIGITAL INC.
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 15th day of August 2022 by and between:
| 1. | AMTD IDEA Group, a company with limited liability duly established and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Seller”); and |
| 2. | AMTD Digital Inc., a company with limited liability duly established and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Purchaser”). |
The Seller and the Purchaser are each referred to herein as a “Party,” and collectively as the “Parties.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, The Seller desires to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Seller all issued shares of AMTD Assets (defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. AMTD Assets holds a global portfolio of premium whole building properties, with a fair market value of approximately US$500 million. After deducting the outstanding liabilities associated with the properties, the net asset value of AMTD Assets amounted to approximately US$268 million.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
1.1 In addition to the terms defined in the context hereof, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person.
“AMTD Assets” means AMTD Assets Group, a company with limited liability duly established and validly existing under the laws of Cayman Islands.
“Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any international, domestic or foreign federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise.
“Business Day” means a day, other than Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in the Cayman Islands or Hong Kong are authorized or required by Applicable Laws to close.
“Class B Shares” means Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, in the share capital of the Purchaser.
“Closing Date” means the date of the Closing.
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“Consent” means any consent, approval, authorization, release, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of, registration, certificate, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, any Person, including any Governmental Authority or financial institution.
“Consideration Share” means 515,385 newly issued and allotted Class B Shares.
“Contract” means any agreement, contract, lease, indenture, instrument, note, debenture, bond, mortgage, or deed of trust or other agreement, commitment, arrangement, or understanding, whether written or oral.
“Control” means, when used with respect to any Person, the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have correlative meanings.
“Encumbrance” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien, charge, claim, hypothecation, title defect, right of first option or refusal, right of preemption, or other encumbrance of any kind.
“Governmental Authority” means any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency or official, including any political subdivision thereof.
“Group Company” means each of AMTD Assets and its subsidiaries, and “Group Companies” refers to all of the Group Companies collectively.
“knowledge” of any Person that is not an individual means the knowledge of such Person’s officers after reasonable inquiry and investigation.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Group Companies taken as a whole, provided, however, that none of the following, either alone or in combination, shall be considered a “Material Adverse Effect”: (i) events, circumstances, changes, or effects that generally affect the industries in which the Group Companies operate (including legal and regulatory changes), (ii) general economic or political conditions or events, circumstances, changes, or effects affecting the markets generally, and (iii) changes caused by a material worsening of current conditions caused by acts of terrorism or war (whether or not declared), social unrest, or health epidemics occurring after the date hereof.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority or a financial institution.
“Purchased Shares” means all issued ordinary shares of AMTD Assets.
2. PURCHASE AND SALE.
2.1 Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the Closing (as defined below) the Seller shall sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from
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the Seller, the Purchased Shares for an aggregate purchase price of US$268,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”). Subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence by the Purchaser, the Purchase Price might subject to further adjustments that are mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Seller.
2.2 Closing. The closing of the transaction as set forth in Section 2.1 (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the electronic exchange of documents and signatures subject to and within ten (10) Business Days (defined below) after satisfaction or, to the extent permissible, waiver by the Party or Parties entitled to the benefit of the conditions set forth in Section 6 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permissible, waiver of those conditions at the Closing), or at such other time or place as the Seller and the Purchaser may agree.
(a) The Purchaser shall, at the Closing, settle the Purchase Price by issue and allot the Consideration Shares to the Seller.
(b) The Purchaser shall (i) cause, at the Closing, its register of members to be updated to reflect the Seller as the record holder of the Consideration Shares, and (ii) deliver to the Seller, within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing, a certified copy of an extract of such updated register of members and a share certificate issued in favor of the Seller representing the Consideration Shares, duly signed for and on behalf of the Purchaser.
(c) The Seller shall (i) cause, at the Closing, register of members of AMTD Assets to be updated to reflect the Purchaser as the record holder of the Purchased Shares, and (ii) deliver to the Purchaser, within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing, a certified copy of an extract of such updated register of members and a share certificate issued in favor of the Purchaser representing the Purchased Shares, duly signed for and on behalf of AMTD Assets.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER.
The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:
3.1 Organization, Standing, and Qualification. Each Group Company is duly established, validly existing, and in good standing (or equivalent status in the relevant jurisdiction) under the laws of the place of its establishment and has all requisite power and authorization to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each Group Company is duly qualified or licensed to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.2 Authorization; Enforceability; Validity. All corporate actions on the part of the Seller necessary for the authorization, execution, and delivery of, and the performance of the obligations of the Seller under this Agreement have been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
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3.3 Valid Issuance of Purchased Shares. The Purchased Shares, when issued, sold, delivered, and paid for by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
3.4 Consents; No Conflicts. All Consents from or with any Person required in connection with the valid execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereunder, other than on the part of the Purchaser, will be duly obtained or completed and are in full force and effect at Closing Date. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the Seller do not, and the consummation by the Seller of the transaction contemplated hereunder will not, (i) result in a violation of its memorandum and articles of association, (ii) conflict with or result in a violation of the Applicable Laws, or (iii) conflict with or result in a breach or violation in, or constitute a default under, any Contract to which the Seller is a party, in each case, except to the extent that such violation, conflict, breach, or default would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.5 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Each Group Company is, and has been, in compliance with Applicable Laws, except where such non-compliance would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Group Companies have all material permits, licenses, authorizations, consents, orders and approvals (“Permits”) that are required in order to carry on their business as presently conducted. All such material Permits are in full force and effect.
3.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities. There are no undisclosed liabilities of any Group Company, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than: (i) liabilities incurred since the balance sheet date in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any other undisclosed liabilities that are not material to AMTD Assets on a consolidated basis, and (iii) any liabilities incurred pursuant to this Agreement.
3.7 Insolvency and Winding Up. No order or petition has been presented or resolution passed for the administration, winding-up, dissolution, or liquidation of any Group Company and no administrator, receiver, or manager has been appointed in respect thereof. None of the Group Companies has commenced any other proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, composition, arrangement, adjustment of debt, release of debtors, dissolution, insolvency, liquidation, or similar Law of any jurisdiction and no such proceedings have been commenced against any Group Company.
3.8 Litigation. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened material actions, claims, demands, investigations, examinations, indictments, litigations, suits or other criminal, civil or administrative or investigative proceedings before or by any Governmental Authority or by any other person against any Group Company, except that would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER.
The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Seller as follows.
4.1 Authorization. The Purchaser has all requisite power, authority, and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Purchaser. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute valid and legally
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binding obligations of the Purchaser enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles.
4.2 Organization, Good Standing, and Qualification. The Purchaser is duly established, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.
5. COVENANTS.
5.1 Non-Disclosure. Each of the Purchaser and Seller shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to: (i) treat and hold as strictly confidential (and not disclose or provide access to any person or entity to) all confidential or proprietary information relating to the transaction contemplated hereby (“Confidential Information”), (ii) in the event that the Purchaser or Seller or any of their respective Affiliates becomes legally compelled to disclose any such information, provide the other Party with prompt written notice of such requirement (to the extent compliant with Applicable Laws) so that the other Party may seek a protective order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 5.1, and (iii) in the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or the other Party chooses to waive compliance with this Section 5.1, furnish only that portion of such confidential information that is legally required to be provided and exercise its reasonable endeavors to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.
6. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.
6.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party hereto to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) no provision of any Applicable Law or no judgment entered by or with any Governmental Authority with competent jurisdiction, shall be in effect that enjoins, prohibits or materially alters the terms of the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(b) no proceeding challenging this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or seeking to prohibit, alter, prevent or materially delay the Closing, shall have been instituted or be pending before any Governmental Authority.
6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser. The obligations of the Purchaser to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
(a) (i) the representations and warranties of the Seller that are qualified hereunder by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Seller that are not qualified hereunder by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date;
(b) the Seller shall have performed or complied with all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed or complied with by the Seller on or prior to the Closing Date, including but not limited to obtaining all necessary approvals for this transaction; and
(c) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect.
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6.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Seller. The obligations of the Seller to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
(a) the representations and warranties of the Purchaser herein shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date; and
(b) the Purchaser shall have performed all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed or observed by the Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
7.1 Indemnity.
(a) Each Party shall indemnify the other Party and its directors, officers, employees, and agents (in each case, the indemnifying party as the “Indemnifying Party” and each of the indemnified parties as the “Indemnitee”), as applicable, against any losses, liabilities, damages, liens, penalties, diminution in value, costs, and expenses, including reasonable advisor’s fees and other reasonable expenses of investigation and defense of any of the foregoing, incurred by such Indemnitee (the “Indemnifiable Loss”) as a result of (i) any breach or violation of any representation or warranty made by the Indemnifying Party, or (ii) any breach by the Indemnifying Party of any covenant or agreement contained herein.
(b) If an Indemnitee believes that it has a claim that may give rise to an indemnity obligation hereunder, it shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party stating specifically the basis on which such claim is being made, the material facts related thereto, and (if ascertainable or quantifiable) the amount of the claim asserted. In the event of a third-party claim against an Indemnitee for which such Indemnitee seeks indemnification from the Indemnifying Party, no settlement shall be deemed conclusive with respect whether there was an Indemnifiable Loss or the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss unless such settlement is consented to by the Indemnifying Party. Any dispute related to this Section 7.1(b) shall be resolved pursuant to Section 7.14 hereof.
(c) The amount of Indemnifiable Loss for which the Indemnitee may be indemnified by the Indemnifying Party under this Agreement shall be limited to the Purchase Price actually paid by the Purchaser.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Section 7.1 shall be the sole and exclusive monetary remedy of each Party for any claim arising out of or resulting from this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, except that no limitation or exceptions with respect to the obligations or liabilities on any Party provided in Section 7.1(c) shall apply to an Indemnifiable Loss arising due to the fraud or willful misconduct of such Party.
7.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Cayman Islands as to matters within the scope thereof, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
7.3 Survival. The representations and warranties made herein shall survive for two (2) years after the Closing.
7.4 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns,
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heirs, executors, and administrators of the Parties. This Agreement and the rights and obligations therein may not be assigned by a Party without the written consent of the other Parties.
7.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the schedules and exhibits hereto constitute the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to terminate or supersede the provisions of any applicable confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements executed by the Parties prior to the date hereof, which agreements shall continue in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with their respective terms.
7.6 Notices. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, waivers, and other communications made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be conclusively deemed to have been duly given (i) when hand delivered to a Party, upon delivery; (ii) when sent by facsimile at the number set forth in Exhibit A hereto, upon receipt of confirmation of error-free transmission; (iii) seven (7) Business Days after deposit in the mail as air mail or certified mail, receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the relevant Party or Parties as set forth in Exhibit A; or (iv) three (3) Business Days after deposit with an overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, addressed to the relevant Parties as set forth in Exhibit A with next business day delivery guaranteed, provided that the sending Party receives a confirmation of delivery from the delivery service provider.
Each person making a communication hereunder by facsimile shall promptly confirm by telephone to the person to whom such communication was addressed each communication made by it by facsimile pursuant hereto, but the absence of such confirmation shall not affect the validity of any such communication. A Party may change or supplement the addresses given above, or designate additional addresses, for purposes of this Section 7.6, by giving the other parties written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
7.7 Amendments. Any term of this Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of the Seller and the Purchaser.
7.8 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any Party, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such Party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach of default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent, or approval of any kind or character of any breach or default under this Agreement or any waiver thereof, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or otherwise afforded to the Parties shall be cumulative and not alternative.
7.9 Finder’s Fees. Each Party represents and warrants to the other Parties that it has retained no finder or broker in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.10 Interpretation; Titles and Subtitles. This Agreement shall be construed according to its fair language. The rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in interpreting this Agreement. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
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and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all references to Sections and Exhibits herein are to Sections and Exhibits of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
7.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed (including facsimile signature) in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
7.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, then such provision shall be construed, to the extent feasible, so as to render the provision enforceable and to provide for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby on substantially the same terms as originally set forth herein, and if no feasible interpretation would save such provision, it shall be severed from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect unless the severed provision is essential to the rights or benefits intended by the parties. In such event, the parties shall use best efforts to negotiate, in good faith, a substitute, valid and enforceable provision or agreement which most nearly effects the parties’ intent in entering into this Agreement.
7.13 Further Assurances. Each Party shall from time to time and at all times hereafter make, do, execute, or cause or procure to be made, done, and executed such further acts, deeds, conveyances, consents, and assurances without further consideration, which may reasonably be required to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.14 Dispute Resolution.
(a) Consultation Between Parties. Any dispute, controversy or, claim or difference of any kind whatsoever arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach, termination, or invalidity hereof (including the validity, scope, and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (the “Dispute”) shall first be attempted to be resolved through consultation between the Parties in good faith for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice has been sent by registered mail by any Party to the other Party (the “Consultation Period”).
(b) Arbitration. If the Dispute remains unresolved upon expiration of the Consultation Period, any Party may in its sole discretion elect to submit the matter to arbitration with notice to any other Party or Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Cayman Islands
7.15 Expenses. The Purchaser and the Seller shall bear their own cost and expense for consummation of the transaction contemplated hereunder.
7.16 Rights of Third Parties. Unless otherwise stated, a person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right to enforce any term of this Agreement. The Parties do not require the consent of any Person that is not party to this Agreement to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
| THE SELLER: | ||
| AMTD IDEA GROUP | ||
| By: | /s/ Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur | |
| Name: Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur | ||
| Title: Director | ||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
| THE PURCHASER: | ||
| AMTD DIGITAL INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Lo Chi Hang | |
| Name: Lo Chi Hang | ||
| Title: Director | ||
EXHIBIT A
Notices
Exhibit 8.1
List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant
| Subsidiaries | Place of Incorporation | |
| AMTD Digital Financial Holdings Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Digital Media Holdings Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Digital Investments Holdings Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Digital Connectors Holdisngs Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD (Singapore) Group Holdings Ltd |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Risk Solutions Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| PolicyPal Group Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Direct Investment III Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Direct Investment I Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Biomedical Investment Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Investment Solutions Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Principal Investment Solutions Group Limited |
British Virgin Islands | |
| AMTD Risk Solutions Group Limited |
Hong Kong | |
| AMTD Digital Media Limited |
Hong Kong | |
| Digital Finance Media Limited |
Hong Kong | |
| AMTD Digital Solutions Power Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Digital Holdings Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| Singa Digital Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Digital Solutions Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| Applaud Digital Solutions Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| PolicyPal Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| PolicyPal Tech Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| BaoXianBaoBao Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Digital Media Solutions Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Singapore Solidarity Fund Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Solidarity Fund 1 Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Solidarity Fund 2 Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Solidarity Fund 3 Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Solidarity Fund 4 Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore | |
| AMTD Solidarity Fund 5 Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore |
EXHIBIT 12.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Mark Chi Hang Lo, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of AMTD Digital Inc. (the “Company”); |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the company and have: |
| (a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| (b) | [reserved] |
| (c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| (d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| (a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| (b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: |
August 30, 2022 | |
| By: |
/s/ Mark Chi Hang Lo | |
| Name: |
Mark Chi Hang Lo | |
| Title: |
Chief Executive Officer | |
EXHIBIT 12.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Xavier Ho Sum Zee, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of AMTD Digital Inc. (the “Company”); |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the company and have: |
| (a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| (b) | [reserved] |
| (c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| (d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| (a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| (b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: | August 30, 2022 | |
| By: | /s/ Xavier Ho Sum Zee | |
| Name: | Xavier Ho Sum Zee | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
EXHIBIT 13.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of AMTD Digital Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended April 30, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mark Chi Hang Lo, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| Date: | August 30, 2022 | |
| By: | /s/ Mark Chi Hang Lo | |
| Name: | Mark Chi Hang Lo | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
EXHIBIT 13.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of AMTD Digital Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended April 30, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Xavier Ho Sum Zee, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| Date: | August 30, 2022 | |
| By: | /s/ Xavier Ho Sum Zee | |
| Name: | Xavier Ho Sum Zee | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |