As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 9, 2024
Registration No. 333-270958
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
Amendment No. 6 to
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
________________
HUHUTECH International Group Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)
________________
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Cayman Islands |
3366 |
Not Applicable |
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
(Primary Standard Industrial |
(I.R.S. Employer |
3-1208 Tiananzhihui Compound
228 Linghu Road
Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province
People’s Republic of China 214135
0510-88681689 — telephone
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)
________________
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
________________
Copies to:
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William S. Rosenstadt, Esq. |
Ying Li, Esq. Guillaume de Sampigny, Esq. New York, NY 10022 |
________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
____________
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We will not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS |
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 |
HUHUTECH International Group Inc.

1,250,000 Ordinary Shares
This is an initial public offering of Ordinary Shares of HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company. We are offering on a firm commitment basis 1,250,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0000025 per share. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Ordinary Shares. We expect the initial public offering price will be between $4.00 and $6.00 per ordinary share. This offering is contingent upon us listing our Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq or another national exchange. There is no guarantee or assurance that our Ordinary Shares will be approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange. We have applied to list our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HUHU”. We cannot assure you that our application will be approved; however, if it is not approved, we will not complete this offering.
HUHUTECH International Group Inc. was incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct our operations in China through Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd., or HUHU China, our wholly owned subsidiary. Investors will not and may never directly hold equity interests in HUHU China. HUHUTECH controls and receives the economic benefits of HUHU China’s business operations, if any, through equity ownership. Any references to “HUHUTECH” are to HUHUTECH International Group Inc., the ultimate holding company and any references to “we”, “us”, “our Company,” “the Company,” or “our” are to HUHUTECH and its subsidiaries. Any references to the “holding company” is to HUHUTECH, in which investors are purchasing an interest. HUHU China conducts business operations, and is the operating subsidiary. Any references to HUHU HK are to HUHUTECH (HK) Limited. Any references to WFOE are to Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., LTD. Any references to HUHU Japan are to HUHU Technology Co., Ltd. For more details regarding the risks regarding the Company’s holding company structure, please refer to “Prospectus Summary — Holding Company Structure” and “Risk Factor — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — HUHUTECH is a holding company and will rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for its cash needs. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us, or any tax implications of making dividend payments to us, could limit our ability to pay our parent company expenses or pay dividends to holders of our Ordinary Shares” on page 24 of the prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts and per share amounts in this prospectus have been presented giving effect to a forward split of our Ordinary Shares at a ratio of 1-for-4, approved by our shareholders on July 15, 2024.
Investors are cautioned that you are not buying shares of a China-based operating company but instead are buying shares of a Cayman Islands holding company with operations mainly conducted by our subsidiaries based in China and Japan. For more details, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — HUHUTECH is a holding company, and will rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us, or any tax implications of making dividend payments to us, could limit our ability to pay our parent company expenses or pay dividends to holders of our Ordinary Shares” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in Japan.”
The holding company may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements. As of the date of this prospectus, neither HUHUTECH nor any of its subsidiaries have paid dividends or made distributions to their shareholders. We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. However, none of our subsidiaries has made any dividends or other distributions to our holding company or any U.S. investors as of the date of this prospectus. In the future, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities, including this offering, may be transferred by us to our PRC subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, as applicable.
To make loans to HUHU HK, WFOE or HUHU China, according to Matters relating to the Macro-prudential Management of Comprehensive Cross-border Financing, or PBOC Circular 9 promulgated by the People’s Bank of China, the total cross-border financing of a company shall be calculated using a risk-weighted approach and shall not exceed the statutory foreign debt upper limit. The statutory foreign debt upper limit shall be calculated as capital or assets (for enterprises, net assets shall apply) multiplied by a cross-border financing leverage ratio and multiplied by a macro-prudential regulation parameter. The macro-prudential regulation parameter is currently 1.5, which may be adjusted by the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in the future, and the cross-border financing leverage ratio is 2 for companies. Therefore, the statutory foreign debt upper limit of the loans that a PRC company can borrow from foreign companies shall be calculated at 2 times the borrower’s net assets. When WFOE and HUHU China jointly apply for borrowing foreign debt, the upper limit of borrowing shall be 2 times of the net assets in the consolidated financial statements. As of the date of this prospectus, no cash transfer or transfer of other assets has occurred between HUHUTECH and any of its subsidiaries.
Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC
subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities. Cayman Islands law prescribes that a company may only pay dividends out of its profits or share premium, and that a company may only pay dividends if, immediately following the date on which the dividend is paid, the company remains able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Other than that, there is no restrictions on HUHU China’s ability to transfer cash to investors.
The PRC has currency and capital transfer regulations that require us to comply with certain requirements for the movement of capital. The Company is able to transfer cash (U.S. Dollars) to its PRC subsidiaries through an investment (by increasing the Company’s registered capital in a PRC subsidiary). The Company’s subsidiaries within China can transfer funds to each other when necessary through the way of current lending. The transfer of funds among companies are subject to the Provisions on Private Lending Cases, which was implemented on January 1, 2021 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. As advised by our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between PRC subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC have not transferred any earnings or cash to the Company to date. As of the date of this prospectus, there has not been any assets or cash transfer between the holding company and its subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, there has not been any dividends or distributions made to US investors. The Company’s business is primarily conducted through its subsidiaries. The Company is a holding company and its material assets consist solely of the ownership interests held in its PRC subsidiaries. The Company relies on dividends paid by its subsidiaries for its working capital and cash needs, including the funds necessary: (i) to pay dividends or cash distributions to its shareholders, (ii) to service any debt obligations and (iii) to pay operating expenses. As a result of PRC laws and regulations that require annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside in a general reserve fund prior to payment of dividends, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in that respect, as well as in other respects noted below, in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company as a dividend.
To date, we have not raised any capital, and thus, have not transferred funds to any of our subsidiaries. In the future, however, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities, including this offering, may be transferred by us to our subsidiary via capital contribution or shareholder loans. As of the date of this prospectus, there have not been any such dividends or other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries to our Hong Kong subsidiary. In addition, none of our subsidiaries have ever issued any dividends or distributions to us or their respective shareholders outside of China. We intend to keep any future earnings to re-invest in and finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future. For more details, see “Prospectus Summary — Transfers of Cash to and from our Subsidiaries” on page 4 of this prospectus.
The holding company has limited operation and operation expenses. Our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, under PRC law, our PRC subsidiary is required to set aside at least 10% of their respective after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. If any of our Chinese subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends to its shareholders and, ultimately, to HUHUTECH. To date, there have not been any such dividends or other distributions from our Chinese subsidiaries to our subsidiaries located outside of China. In addition, as of the date of this prospectus, none of our subsidiaries have issued any dividends or distributions to HUHUTECH or its shareholders. Furthermore, as of the date of this prospectus, neither HUHUTECH nor any of its subsidiaries have paid dividends or made distributions to their shareholders. HUHUTECH is permitted under PRC laws and regulations as an offshore holding company to provide funding to its PRC subsidiaries in China through shareholder loans or capital contributions, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration, approval and filing requirements. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, there are no quantity limits on HUHUTECH’s ability to make capital contributions to its PRC subsidiaries. However, our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the statutory foreign debt upper limit and must register with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) or its local counterparts, and must submit a foreign exchange loan registration with the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) if required. In the future, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities, including this offering, may continue to be transferred by HUHUTECH to the PRC subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, as the case may be. We intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings after this offering to the development and growth of our business in China. We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. Our management monitors the cash position of each entity within our organization regularly and prepare monthly budgets to ensure each entity has the necessary funds to fulfill its obligation for the foreseeable future and to ensure adequate liquidity. In the event that there is any current or potential liquidity issue, it will be reported to our Chief Financial Officer and subject to approval by our board of directors, we will enter into an intercompany loan for the applicable subsidiary. See “Prospectus Summary — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries” beginning on page 4 and “Corporate History and Structure — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries” beginning on page 60.
We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with having substantially all business operations in China. Such risks may include changes in the legal, political, and economic policies of the Chinese government, the relations between China and the United States, and Chinese or United States regulations that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of the Ordinary Shares. Any such changes could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investor and could cause the value of offered securities to significantly decline or become worthless. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and made statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is highly uncertain how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on the daily business operation of HUHU China and its subsidiaries and HUHUTECH’s ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. or other foreign exchange. These risks may cause significant depreciation of the value of our Ordinary Shares, or a complete hinderance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC” beginning on page 21.
On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures heighten the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
According to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are “existing enterprises”: before the effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately, and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.
According to the Circular, we can reasonably arrange the timing for submitting the filing application with the CSRC, and shall complete the filing with the CSRC in accordance with the Trial Measures before this offering. In sum, we are subject to the filing requirements of the CSRC for this offering under the Trial Measures. On April 22, 2024, we received approval from the CSRC regarding our completion of the required filing procedures for this offering. We have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or objection from the CSRC with respect to this offering. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China.”
Our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from trading on a national exchange under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”) if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which AHFCAA, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, and that as a result an exchange may determine to delist its securities.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law. The SOP Agreement remains unpublished and is subject to further explanation and implementation. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the SOP Agreement disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall have sole discretion to select any audit firms for inspection or investigation and the PCAOB inspectors and investigators shall have a right to see all audit documentation without redaction. Under the PCAOB’s rules, a reassessment of a determination under the HFCAA may result in the PCAOB reaffirming, modifying or vacating the determination.
On December 2, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted final amendments to its rules implementing the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate (Commission-Identified Issuers) and require Commission-Identified Issuers identified by the SEC to submit documentation and make disclosures required under the HFCAA. In addition, the final amendments also establish procedures the SEC will follow in (i) determining whether a registrant is a “Commission-Identified Issuer” and (ii) prohibiting the trading on U.S. securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter market of securities of a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCAA. The final amendments are effective on January 10, 2022. The SEC has begun to identify and list Commission-Identified Issuers on its website shortly after registrants begin filing their annual reports for 2021. Pursuant to the HFCAA, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021, which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong. In addition, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in China and Hong Kong.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong and has made plans to resume regular inspections since early 2023, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.
Our auditor, Wei, Wei & Co., LLP has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection completed in December 2023, and it is not subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. If trading in our Ordinary Shares is prohibited under the HFCAA in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our Ordinary Shares. If our Ordinary Shares are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our Ordinary Shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our Ordinary Shares. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — Our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from being traded on a national exchange under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”), if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. The delisting of our Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment” on page 34 of this prospectus.
Our holding company is an “emerging growth company” under the federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” for additional information.
Upon completion of this offering, our CEO, Yujun Xiao, will beneficially own approximately 86.23% of the aggregate voting power of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option, or 85.34%, assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option. As a result, we will be deemed a “controlled company” for the purpose of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. As a controlled company, we are permitted to elect to rely on certain exemptions from the obligations to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
• a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors;
• our director nominees be selected or recommended solely by independent directors; and
• we have a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee that are composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the purposes and responsibilities of the committees.
Although we do not intend to rely on the “controlled company” exemption under the Nasdaq listing rules, we could elect to rely on this exemption after we complete this offering. If we elected to rely on the “controlled company” exemption, a majority of the members of our board of directors might not be independent directors and our nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees might not consist entirely of independent directors after we complete this offering.
Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq’s phase-in rules for newly listed companies, we have one year from the date on which we are first listed on Nasdaq to comply fully with the Nasdaq listing standards. We do not plan to rely on the phase-in rules for newly listed companies and will comply fully with the Nasdaq listing standards at the time of listing.
As a foreign private issuer, however, Nasdaq corporate governance rules allow us to follow corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, with respect to appointments to our board of directors and committees in lieu of Nasdaq corporate governance rules. We intend to follow home country practice as permitted by Nasdaq rather than rely on the “controlled company” exception to the corporate governance rules. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to this Offering — We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.” Accordingly, you would not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Investing in the Ordinary Shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 21.
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Per Share |
Total(4) |
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|
Initial public offering price(1) |
$ |
5.00 |
$ |
6,250,000 |
||
|
Underwriting discount (7.5%)(2) |
$ |
0.375 |
$ |
468,750 |
||
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us(3) |
$ |
4.625 |
$ |
5,781,250 |
||
____________
(1) The initial public offering price per share is assumed to be US$5.00, the midpoint of the range on the cover page of this prospectus.
(2) We have agreed to pay Craft Capital Management LLC (the “Underwriter”) a discount equal to seven and a half percent (7.5%) of the gross proceeds of this offering. We have also agreed to issue the Underwriter Warrants to purchase a number of Ordinary Shares equal to an aggregate of five percent (5%) of the Ordinary Shares sold in the offering, including any shares issued upon exercise of the Underwriter’s over-allotment option. The Underwriter Warrants will be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four and half year period commencing six months from the commencement date of sales in the offering. The exercise price of the Underwriter Warrants will equal 125% of the public offering price per share of the Ordinary Shares sold in this offering. For a description of other terms of the compensation to be received by the Underwriter, see “Underwriting” beginning on page 130.
(3) The total estimated expenses related to this offering are set forth in the section entitled “Expenses Relating to This Offering.”
(4) Assumes that the Underwriter does not exercise any portion of its over-allotment option.
This offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis. The Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for all the Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus if it purchases any Ordinary Shares. We have agreed to grant the Underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to fifteen percent (15%) of the Ordinary Shares sold in this offering at the offering price, less underwriting discounts, to cover over-allotments, if any. If the Underwriter exercises the option in full, the total underwriting discounts payable will be $539,063, and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $6,648,438.
The Underwriter expects to deliver the Ordinary Shares against payment in U.S. dollars to purchasers on or about , 2024.

CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
The date of this prospectus is ____________, 2024.
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F-1 |
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any related free-writing prospectus. Neither we nor any of the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or in any related free-writing prospectus. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the Ordinary Shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted and lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the Ordinary Shares.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters have taken any action that would permit a public offering of the Ordinary Shares outside the United States or permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus or any related free-writing prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus or any related free-writing prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the Ordinary Shares and the distribution of the prospectus outside the United States.
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company limited by shares and a majority of our outstanding securities are owned by non-U.S. residents. Under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, we currently qualify for treatment as a “foreign private issuer.” As a foreign private issuer, we will not be required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as frequently or as promptly as domestic registrants whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
Until and including , 2024 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our Ordinary Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
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This summary highlights information contained in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information you should consider in making your investment decision. You should read the entire prospectus carefully before making an investment in our Ordinary Shares. You should carefully consider, among other things, our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts and per share amounts in this prospectus have been presented giving effect to a forward split of our Ordinary Shares at a ratio of 1-for-4, approved by our shareholders on July 15, 2024.
Prospectus Conventions
Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to:
• “Articles”, “articles of association” or “memorandum and articles of association” are to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of the Company adopted pursuant to a special resolution of the shareholders dated July 15, 2024, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time;
• “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau for the purposes of this prospectus only;
• “HUHUTECH” are to HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares;
• “HUHU China” are to Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd.., a PRC incorporated limited liability company. HUHU China is a wholly owned subsidiary of WFOE;
• “HUHU HK” are to HUHUTECH (HK) Limited, a Hong Kong company, limited by shares, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH;
• “HUHU Japan” are to “HUHU Technology Co., Ltd., a Japanese limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH;
• “Ordinary Shares” are to the ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.0000025 per share;
• “WFOE” are to Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., Limited, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in the PRC and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHU HK;
• “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” or “the Company” are to HUHUTECH and its subsidiaries, and to HUHU China in the context of describing our operations and consolidated financial information.
This prospectus contains translations of certain RMB and JPY amounts into U.S. dollar amounts at specified rates solely for the convenience of the US reporting. The relevant exchange rates are listed below:
|
For the Year |
For the Year |
|||
|
Period Ended RMB: USD exchange rate |
7.0999 |
6.8972 |
||
|
Period Average RMB: USD exchange rate |
7.0809 |
6.7290 |
||
|
Period Ended JPY: USD exchange rate |
140.80 |
131.81 |
||
|
Period Average JPY: USD exchange rate |
140.82 |
131.46 |
For the sake of clarity, this prospectus follows the English naming convention of first name followed by last name, regardless of whether an individual’s name is Chinese or English. For example, the name of our Chief Executive Officer will be presented as “Yujun Xiao,” even though, in Chinese, Mr. Xiao’s name is presented as “Xiao Yujun.”
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We have relied on statistics provided by a variety of publicly available sources regarding China’s expectations of growth. We did not, directly or indirectly, sponsor or participate in the publication of such materials, and these materials are not incorporated in this prospectus other than to the extent specifically cited in this prospectus. We have sought to provide current information in this prospectus and believe that the statistics provided in this prospectus remain up-to-date and reliable, and these materials are not incorporated in this prospectus other than to the extent specifically cited in this prospectus. Except where otherwise stated, all ordinary share accounts provided herein are on a pre-share-increase basis.
Overview
Our holding company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct our operations through our subsidiaries established in the People’s Republic of China, or “PRC” or “China” and Japan. HUHU China, our indirectly-owned PRC subsidiary, was incorporated in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, PRC on August 20, 2015 under the laws of the PRC.
We, through our subsidiaries, specialize in providing factory facility management and monitoring systems, including high-purity process system (“HPS”) and factory management and control systems (“FMCS”) for our industrial clients, who are mainly semi-conductor manufacturers and electronics manufacturers in China. We believe our products and services are widely used by semi-conductor manufacturers, LED and micro-electronics factories, as well as some pharmaceutical, food and beverage manufacturers.
Within the HPS, we provide two types of solutions: (1) High-purity gas conveyor system. The high-purity gas conveyor consists of a specialized gas cabinet, the valve manifold box (“VMB”), the gas monitoring software and gas valve parts. This system is connected to our clients’ own factory equipment, which will receive gas through the system we install. The gas conveyor ensures that the high-purity gas will not be contaminated by being exposed to air, liquid or small particles during the delivery. (2) High-purity chemicals conveyor system. The high-purity chemicals conveyor system conveys multiple chemicals used in the cleaning, corrosion and grinding process. This system consolidates multiple sub-systems including high-purity chemical pipes, valve, chemical sensor, and the chemical monitoring software. With the high-purity chemical conveyor system, we deliver chemicals from the storage container to the client’s manufacture equipment through the distribution valve. Both high-purity gas conveyor system and high-purity chemicals conveyor system are capable of delivering special high purity gas and chemicals in a highly controlled environment that ensures the gas and chemicals meet the purity requirement of our clients’ production process, as well as monitors potential safety issues in the production.
Our FMCS solution provides instant and effective monitoring over our clients’ manufacturing process through the control center located in the clients’ factory. The FMCS service monitors the facility production atmosphere, and consolidates sub-systems, including gas monitoring system (GMS), chemical monitoring system (CMS), high and low voltage power distribution, air pressure system, air conditioning system, water system, access control system, elevator system, sewage treatment system, waste gas emission system, pure water system and other systems. Our software is capable of consolidating all the sub-systems by creating a facility-wide software monitoring platform, where one can monitor and control every aspect of the factory condition. Additionally, we also develop individual sub-systems for our clients, such as gas monitoring system and chemical monitoring system.
Some of our clients are seasoned manufacturers in their industries in China. Our clients include Li Yi System Engineering (Shanghai) Limited, Hefei Lanke Investment Co., Ltd., Shiyuan Technology Engineering Co., Ltd., and AUO Corporation.
We are a nationally recognized brand: we have received ISO9001 standard quality management system certification in June 2021, from Beijing Zhong Jian Xie Certification Centre Co., Ltd., and received both ISO14001 Standard Environmental Management System Certification and ISO45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification in April 2021, both from TQCS International (Group) Pty, Ltd. We have been recognized as a Technology Driven Medium-Small Enterprise by the Science and Technology Bureau in Jiangsu Province in April 2020. We have been rewarded as First-class Qualification for Professional Contracting of Construction Mechanical and Electrical Installation Engineering by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Construction in September 2021.
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We obtain raw materials mainly from suppliers in mainland China. Our most common raw materials include programmable logic controllers (“PLC”) modules, network switches, power modules, signal lines, control lines, cables, bridges, and heating materials. For the year ended December 31, 2023, three suppliers accounted for approximately 14.5% 14.0% and 11.5% of total purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one supplier accounted for approximately 13.8% of total purchases. As of December 31, 2023, two suppliers accounted for approximately 33.0% and 10.8% of total accounts payable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, four suppliers accounted for approximately 14.0%, 12.8%, 11.4% and 10.9% of total accounts payable, respectively.
Corporate history and structure
HUHUTECH is a holding company with no operations of its own. We conduct our operations in China and Japan through our subsidiaries in the PRC and Japan. The Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are those of HUHUTECH.
The following diagram shows our corporate structure as of the date of this prospectus, including our main subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities:

HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares, was incorporated on July 8, 2021. It is a holding company and is not actively engaged in any business as of the date of this prospectus. HUHUTECH was authorized to issue 5,000,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per ordinary share. On July 15, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-4 forward split of our ordinary shares. As a result, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.0000025 per ordinary share. As of the date of this prospectus, there are currently 20,000,000 issued and outstanding ordinary shares of HUHUTECH. HUHUTECH’s registered office is located at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman, KY1-1002, Cayman Islands.
HUHU HK was incorporated on July 28, 2021 under the laws of Hong Kong. HUHU HK is a Hong Kong limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH. HUHU HK is a holding company and does not have any operations.
HUHU Japan was incorporated on April 25, 2022 under the laws of Japan as a limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH.
Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., LTD (“WFOE”) was incorporated on December 10, 2021 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. WFOE is a limited liability company, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUHU HK. WFOE is a holding company and does not have any operations.
Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd. (“HUHU China”) was incorporated on August 20, 2015 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. HUHU China is a limited liability company.
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Holding Company Structure
HUHUTECH is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We currently conduct our operations primarily through HUHU China and HUHU Japan. Investors will not and may never directly hold equity interests in HUHU China and HUHU Japan. We control and receive the economic benefits of HUHU China’s and HUHU Japan’s business operations, if any, through equity ownership.
Transfers of cash to and from our subsidiaries
Our management monitors the cash position of each entity within our organization regularly and prepares budgets on a monthly basis to ensure each entity has the necessary funds to fulfill its obligation for the foreseeable future and to provide adequate liquidity. In the event that there is a need for cash or a potential liquidity issue, it will be reported to our Chief Financial Officer and subject to approval by our board of directors, we will enter into an intercompany loan for the applicable subsidiary.
HUHUTECH is permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands to provide funding to HUHU HK through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. HUHU HK is permitted under the respective laws of Hong Kong to provide funding to WFOE through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. There are no restrictions on dividend transfers from Hong Kong to the Cayman Islands.
To transfer cash from HUHU HK to WFOE, HUHU HK can increase its registered capital in WFOE, which requires a report with the local commerce department, the registration with the local administration for market regulation and registration with a local bank authorized by the SAFE, or through a shareholder loan, which requires a registration with the SAFE or its local bureau. Aside from the aforesaid declaration to the relevant authorities, there is no restriction or limitations on such cash transfer.
To make loans to HUHU HK, WFOE or HUHU China, according to Matters relating to the Macro-prudential Management of Comprehensive Cross-border Financing, or PBOC Circular 9 promulgated by the People’s Bank of China, the total cross-border financing of a company shall be calculated using a risk-weighted approach and shall not exceed the statutory foreign debt upper limit. The statutory foreign debt upper limit shall be calculated as capital or assets (for enterprises, net assets shall apply) multiplied by a cross-border financing leverage ratio and multiplied by a macro-prudential regulation parameter. The macro-prudential regulation parameter is currently 1.5, which may be adjusted by the People’s Bank of China and the SAFE in the future, and the cross-border financing leverage ratio is 2 for enterprises. Therefore, the statutory foreign debt upper limit of the loans that a PRC company can borrow from foreign companies shall be calculated at 2 times the borrower’s net assets. When WFOE and HUHU China jointly apply for borrowing foreign debt, the upper limit of borrowing shall be 2 times of the net assets in the consolidated financial statement. As of the date of this prospectus, no cash transfer or transfer of other assets has occurred between HUHUTECH and any of its subsidiaries.
Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities. Cayman Islands law prescribes that a company may only pay dividends out of its profits or share premium, and that a company may only pay dividends if, immediately following the date on which the dividend is paid, the company remains able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Other than that, there is no restrictions on HUHU China’s ability to transfer cash to investors. As of the date of this prospectus, neither HUHUTECH nor any of its subsidiaries have paid dividends or made distributions to their shareholders. We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
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The PRC has currency and capital transfer regulations that require us to comply with certain requirements for the movement of capital. The Company is able to transfer cash (U.S. Dollars) to its PRC subsidiaries through an investment (by increasing the Company’s registered capital in a PRC subsidiary). The Company’s subsidiaries within China can transfer funds to each other when necessary through the way of current lending. The transfer of funds among companies are subject to the Provisions on Private Lending Cases, which was implemented on January 1, 2021 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. As advised by our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between PRC subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC have not transferred any earnings or cash to the Company to date. As of the date of this prospectus, there has not been any assets or cash transfer between the holding company and its subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, there has not been any dividends or distributions made to US investors. The Company’s business is primarily conducted through its subsidiaries. The Company is a holding company and its material assets consist of the ownership interests held in its PRC and Japan subsidiaries. The Company relies on dividends paid by its subsidiaries for its working capital and cash needs, including the funds necessary: (i) to pay dividends or cash distributions to its shareholders, (ii) to service any debt obligations and (iii) to pay operating expenses. As a result of PRC laws and regulations (noted below) that require annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside in a general reserve fund prior to payment of dividends, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in that respect, as well as in other respects noted below, in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company as a dividend.
HUHUTECH may rely on dividends paid by its subsidiaries for its working capital and cash needs, including the funds necessary to pay dividends to its shareholders. If HUHUTECH’s subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to HUHUTECH. As of the date of this prospectus, HUHUTECH’s subsidiaries have loans from several banks, but the loans do not restrict their ability to pay dividends to HUHUTECH. As of the date of this prospectus, none of our subsidiaries have made any dividends or distributions and we have not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders. We currently intend to retain all available funds and future earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.
As a result of PRC laws and regulations (noted below) that require annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside in a general reserve fund prior to payment of dividends, WFOE is restricted in that respect, as well as in other respects noted below, in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to HUHU HK as a dividend. We note the following:
1. PRC regulations currently permit the payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits, as determined in accordance with accounting standards and PRC regulations;
2. WFOE is required to set aside, at a minimum, 10% of its net income after taxes, based on PRC accounting standards, each year as statutory general reserves until the cumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital;
3. Such reserves may not be distributed as cash dividends;
4. WFOE may, upon a decision made by the shareholder, draw a discretionary common reserve from the after-tax profits;
5. The incurrence of debt, specifically the instruments governing such debt, may restrict a subsidiary’s ability to pay stockholder dividends or make other cash distributions; and
6. A withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated.
To transfer cash from HUHU Japan to WFOE, it is subject to restrictions under the Japanese Corporate Law.
(1) A company may pay dividends of surplus to its shareholders (Article 453 of the Companies Act).
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(2) In order for a company to pay dividends from surplus, it must meet the following requirements:
(1) The company’s net assets must be at least 3 million yen (Article 458 of the Companies Act).
(2) To distribute surplus within the limit of the amount available for distribution (Article 461 of the Companies Act).
The distributable amount is calculated in accordance with Article 461, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act and Articles 156 and 158 of the Corporate Calculation Regulations. The amount is the “amount of other capital surplus plus other retained earnings” as of the end of the fiscal year.
(3) To record reserves as required by the Law and the Ministry of Justice Ordinance (Article 445, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act and Article 22 of the Corporate Calculation Regulations).
When a company pays dividends from its surplus, it must record an amount equal to “the amount of surplus to be reduced × 1/10” as additional paid-in capital or legal reserve. Such reserves may be recorded until the amount of reserves reaches “amount of capital × 1/4” (Article 445, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act, Article 22 of the Corporate Accounting Regulations).
(3) Whenever a company intends to distribute surplus, it shall, by an ordinary resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, determine the type of dividend property and the total book value, matters concerning the allocation of dividend property to shareholders, and the effective date of the distribution of surplus (Article 454(1) of the Companies Act).
The articles of incorporation may stipulate that the board of directors determine the distribution of surplus if:
A, the company is a company with accounting auditors
B, the term of office of directors does not exceed one year
C, the company has a board of corporate auditors, audit committee, or nominating committee (Article 459, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Companies Act).
(4) If a distribution of surplus is made in violation of the regulations on the amount available for distribution, the person who received the money, etc. must pay to the company money equivalent to the book value of the money that he or she received. (Article 462, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act).
As of the date of this prospectus, HUHUTECH and its subsidiaries do not have any plans to distribute earnings or settle amounts in the foreseeable future. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no cash transfer between the holding company and its subsidiaries.
See “Corporate History and Structure — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries.”
Dividend Policy
We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business after the Company’s initial public offering. Therefore, we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions and future prospects and other factors the board of directors may deem relevant. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not paid any dividends or distributions to our shareholders.
Our Solutions
We, through HUHU China, design and provide customized high-purity gas and chemical production system and equipment. Our products mainly include HPS and FMCS. Our products are customized according to the needs of our clients.
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High-purity Process System
The high-purity process system revolves around applying effective control of impurities in the production process. It is mainly used in the core processes of integrated circuit manufacturing in the pan-semiconductor industry, including the processes of doping, photolithography, etching and chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) film formation processes. The system consists of high-purity process system equipment, high-purity process system piping, valve boxes, valve components and monitoring systems. We offer the overall solution design, installation and value-added services such as ancillary engineering, testing, plant hosting, calibration and maintenance. The technology used in this industry involves a variety of basic sciences such as physics, semiconductor physics, physical chemistry and electrochemistry and various engineering disciplines such as chemical, mechanical, materials and surface treatment. The new production lines of domestic fabrication plants (“fabs”) will bring development opportunities for us for the following reason: our high-purity process system covers 16-65nm equipment, and our high-purity process system possesses the essential technology to support equipment that is used to produce 5nm sized wafers; we believe such capacity gives us a comparative advantage in the industry, due to the technical difficulty in supporting equipment producing wafers of that size; such comparative advantage will help us gain more market shares in the industry, which will bring us development opportunities.
We provide high-purity process systems which we design and install for the clients, utilizing the equipment we procure from our suppliers, which is special equipment used in high-purity process systems and transport distribution pipelines. Within high purity process systems, there are two main types: high-purity gas conveyor systems and high-purity chemical conveyor systems.
High-purity Gas Conveyor System
The high purity gas conveyor system consists of components including special gas cabinets, valve manifold box, gas monitoring software systems (safety and security systems), gas pipes and valve fittings etc. The front end of the system is connected to the high-purity gas plant and the rear end of the system is connected to the client’s own production equipment. This system currently generates most of the Company’s revenue.
High-purity Chemical Conveyor System
The high- purity chemical delivery system is used during the manufacturing process in the pan-semiconductor industry. It supplies a wide range of chemicals for cleaning, etching, grinding and other industrial processes at production facilities in the pan-semiconductor industry. The chemical conveyor system delivers chemicals from tanks and tankers to the various machine demand points via VMB distribution valves. In addition to the associated piping, equipment and valves, a reliable chemical software monitoring system is also required for the system to work properly.
We also offer our customers value-added services related to the conveyor systems, such as ancillary engineering, testing, plant hosting, calibration and maintenance, if applicable.
Factory Management and Control System (FMCS)
Our FMCS provides instant and effective monitoring of our clients’ manufacturing process through the control center of the clients’ factories. We offer a consolidated factory monitoring system that combines multiple factory monitoring systems on one platform and individual factory monitoring systems that specialize in certain aspects of factory environment, including gas monitoring system and chemical monitoring system. All our systems are equipped with a control room where multiple monitoring screens show live status of the facility condition.
Consolidated FMCS
Consolidated FMCS integrates the monitoring information of the various systems of the plant facilities into the central monitoring server, using Ethernet, controllers and communication equipment to form a factory-wide monitoring web, so as to interoperate the information of the whole factory, improve the overall management performance of the factory, simplify the operation and maintenance process, and reduce the management costs. This system integrates the entire factory sub-systems. Through integration, it manages the operational status of each sub-system, serving as the monitoring and management center and coordinating and managing the operation of the entire facility.
We prioritize the software development of the FMCS, among other aspects of the FMCS solution. The system monitors our clients’ entire plant, including the plant’s gas monitoring, process cooling water monitoring, water supply and drainage monitoring, pure water station monitoring, waste water treatment monitoring, plant environment
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monitoring, air conditioning monitoring, hot and cold source monitoring, ventilation and exhaust system monitoring, compressed air/vacuum and bulk gas system monitoring, variable power distribution system monitoring, and comprehensive automation monitoring.
Gas Monitoring System (GMS)
We also design and install individual gas monitoring systems. As hazardous gas is routinely used in the manufacturing process in the semi-conductor facilities, the monitoring system of poisonous gas plays a crucial role in the facility. The design of our gas monitoring system takes into account the types of particular gas and the pipeline used to distribute the particular gas, as well as the arrangement of the processing machines. The monitoring system collects data, transmits signals through the gas monitoring equipment and turns off the gas valve timely when warning signs appear. The GMS system has great stability, and is supported by a network of multiple internet devices that work independently without being interfered by any breakdown that could occur to one of the devices. The system is also equipped with backup monitors in the monitoring room in case any individual monitor stops working. The above designs ensures that our monitoring system provides around-the-clock control of the gas transportation process and sends a signal that can turn off the gas valve timely. The picture below illustrates our GMS design:

The GMS is connected to the alarm system and is capable of detecting any leakage of hazardous gas and sending timely signals to people in the facilities. The design is fairly flexible and easy to adapt and improve through our software control. It works with any number of equipment without the need of being adapted or rewritten.
Chemical Monitoring System (CMS)
In the factories in the pan-semiconductor industry, various chemical ingredients are used for cleaning, etching, grinding and other processes, and are distributed through chemical containers and distribution valves. The CMS monitors the safety of the distribution process. The display unit in the control room shows the facility status, including the valve status, pressure number, error signs, electricity input and output, and then sends warnings to the technicians onsite who can timely check the equipment status.
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Production Procedure
For a typical production project, we obtain clients’ needs and formulate an initial proposal of our design, which we will submit for bidding to the client. The client will assess our qualifications before admitting us into the bidding process. If we win the bid, we enter into an agreement with the clients. Our team will then start production. We have adopted an integrated business model to meet our clients’ needs in the production stage: our engineering team sets up the schedule and production steps; the quality control team confirms the qualification of equipment, material sample quality and staff qualification. We charge our clients based on the quantity of equipment that is connected to our system. 10% – 20% of payment will be made upon entry of the agreement, with the remainder of the payment made throughout the production stage. Typically, 95% to 97% of the total purchase price will have been paid upon project delivery. The remaining payment will be made one to two years after the delivery, when the customer is satisfied with our production.
The following chart illustrates our production process:

Our Suppliers
For the year ended December 31, 2023, three suppliers accounted for approximately 14.5% 14.0% and 11.5% of total purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one supplier accounted for approximately 13.8% of total purchases. As of December 31, 2023, two suppliers accounted for approximately 33.0% and 10.8% of total accounts payable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, four suppliers accounted for approximately 14.0%, 12.8%, 11.4% and 10.9% of total accounts payable, respectively.
Our Customers
We service major players in the pan-semiconductor industry by supplying reliable high-purity gas and chemical systems and equipment and FMCS. We are a business partner and supplier of many renowned companies in Asia, including Shiyuan Technology Engineering Co., Ltd., Suzhou Ruize System Engineering Co., Ltd., Hesheng Enterprise Co., Ltd., China Electronic System Engineering Fourth Construction Co., Ltd., Li Yi System Engineering (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, one customer accounted for 22.6% of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2022, four customers accounted for 24.4%, 12.7%, 11.5% and 10.0% of total revenues, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, three customers accounted for 16.0%, 13.6% and 11.2% of total accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, five customers accounted for 18.4%, 16.7%, 12.2%, 11.2% and 10.6% of total accounts receivable, respectively.
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Our Growth Strategy
Our growth strategies include the following:
• Client Development and Management — Our team consists of members with years of experience in the industry. We have built an excellent relationship with our suppliers and customers.
• Research & Development — We will keep investing substantially in research and development, including research and development of semiconductor process line cleaning control systems, semiconductor ultrapure water system control software, semiconductor process gas detection systems, semiconductor process pipeline temperature automatic control system, FMCS related technology and new equipment. We will keep improving our existing technology and explore the development of FMCS and related new equipment.
• Expand Product and Service Range — We aim to expand our product range to areas including water supply systems, electricity supply systems, air conditioning and ventilation systems. In the services section, we plan to offer annual maintenance and servicing program, software maintenance and valve and PLC module replacement for the FMCS product. We believe such plans will improve our profitability.
Competitive Advantages
We are committed to providing our customers with high quality service. We believe we have several competitive advantages that will enable us to maintain and further improve our market position in the industry. Our competitive advantages include:
• Technological Capacity. We own software copyright over various programs in fields including facility gas supply, chemical and water processing. Our products, such as the FMCS software, effectively increase operation efficiency by using standardized module software.
• Experienced and Diverse Management Team. Our management team members have more than ten years of experience in their respective fields. Our founder Yujun Xiao is an experienced entrepreneur with extensive experience in business management and operations. Since the founding of the Company, we have established a reliable, professional team with many management and strategy talents. Mr. Xiao and members of this team entered the semiconductor industry relatively early, and have experienced the early development stage of the monitoring service industry for semiconductor businesses in China. He built this team from years of experience as an industry veteran.
• Software Solution Modularity. The PLC module in the system adopts mature algorithm. After the one-time arrangement is completed, the subsequent increase of detector gas cabinet, valve manifold box equipment does not require redownloading of the PLC program. This reduces the errors caused by frequent updates of the program (such as mistakenly shutting down the gas delivery equipment) that could cause customer downtime and lead to significant economic losses. Utilizing software simulation, we test and improve our software without interfering with the operation of the equipment. Our software solution is user-friendly and our clients can add monitoring applications from their end.
Sales and Marketing
We believe that our solutions have a strong competitive edge in China’s domestic market. Our CEO and CTO play essential roles in bringing in new clients, due to their multiple years of experience in the industry. Additionally, we have established a good reputation among our clients through our consistent high-quality products, which ensures we have plenty of long-term clients that we maintain carefully on a periodical basis. Our sales and marketing department work diligently in maintaining existing client relationships by visiting clients regularly. Our sales personnel also attend industry events and exhibitions to expand our connections and promote our products. Due to our renowned reputation in China, we also receive consultation requests and offers from prospective clients, who discover our product and service by word of mouth and industry exhibitions such as SEMII CHINA and China (Shanghai) International Semiconductor Exhibition.
10
Risk Factors Summary
An investment in our Ordinary Shares is subject to a number of risks, including risks related to our business, risks related to doing business in China and risks related to our Ordinary Shares and this offering. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus before making an investment in our Ordinary Shares. The following list summarizes some, but not all, of these risks. Please read the information in the section entitled “Risk Factors” for a more thorough description of these and other risks.
Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC
• PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC-resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits. See page 21.
• The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. We are required to obtain approval from Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) to list on U.S exchanges. See page 23.
• Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us. See page 25.
• We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information. See page 26.
• You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us, the majority of our directors or our management named in the prospectus based on foreign laws. See page 28.
• The procedure of the China Securities Regulatory Commission will be required in connection with this offering. See page 30.
• Our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from being traded on a national exchange under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”), if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. The delisting of our Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. See page 34.
Risks Related to Doing Business in Japan
• We are subject to various laws and regulations related to the construction industry in Japan, which may adversely affect our business. See page 37.
• We may be unsuccessful in expanding and operating our business in Japan, which could adversely affect our results of operations. See page 38.
• Fluctuation of the value of the Japanese yen against certain foreign currencies may have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations. See page 38.
Risks Related to Our Business
• We may fail to anticipate or adapt to technology innovations in a timely manner, so our software design may fail to gain recognition from the customers and the software design industry. See page 39.
• The average selling prices of our products may decrease from time to time due to technological advancement, and we may not be able to pass onto our suppliers such decreases, which may in turn adversely affect our profitability. See page 39.
11
• If we fail to maintain an effective quality control system, our business could be materially and adversely affected. See page 39.
• Our limited operating history and our volatile historical results of operations could make it difficult for us to forecast our business and assess the seasonality and volatility in our business. See page 40.
• The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic had caused significant disruptions in our business, which might materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition in the future. See page 40.
• Our management team lacks experience in managing a U.S.-listed public company and complying with laws applicable to such company, the failure of which may adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations. See page 41.
• We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company. See page 41.
• Increases in labor costs in the PRC and Japan may adversely affect our business and our profitability. See page 41.
• We may be unable to make the substantial research and development investments required to remain competitive in our business. See page 42.
• We may encounter difficulties in recruiting and retaining key personnel. See page 42.
• We may face difficulties in protecting our intellectual property rights. See page 42.
• Because our business is primarily conducted in RMB and Japanese Yen (“JPY”) and the price of our Ordinary Shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, changes in currency conversion rates may affect the value of your investments. Any significant revaluation of the RMB and JPY may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenue and financial condition. Changes in the conversion rate between the United States dollar and the RMB and JPY will affect the amount of proceeds we will have available for our business. See page 44.
Risks Related to this Offering
• There has been no public market for our shares or Ordinary Shares prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our Ordinary Shares at or above the price you paid, or at all. See page 45.
• The trading price of the Ordinary Shares is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors. See page 45.
• We may experience extreme stock price volatility unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance, financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Ordinary Shares. See page 46.
• If securities or industry analysts cease to publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding the Ordinary Shares, the market price for the Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline. See page 47.
• We currently do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering and you must rely on the price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares for return on your investment. See page 47.
• If we fail to establish and maintain proper internal financial reporting controls, our ability to produce accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired. See page 51.
• Because our initial public offering price is substantially higher than our net tangible book value per share, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution. See page 48.
• You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law. See page 49.
12
• We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements. See page 49.
• There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the Ordinary Shares. See page 50.
• We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an “emerging growth company. See page 50.
• Nasdaq may apply additional and more stringent criteria for our initial and continued listing because we plan to have a small public offering and insiders will hold a large portion of the company’s listed securities. See page 52.
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”)
Our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from trading on a national exchange under the HFCAA if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which AHFCAA, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, and that as a result an exchange may determine to delist its securities. On December 2, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted final amendments to its rules implementing the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate (Commission-Identified Issuers) and require Commission-Identified Issuers identified by the SEC to submit documentation and make disclosures required under the HFCAA. In addition, the final amendments also establish procedures the SEC will follow in (i) determining whether a registrant is a “Commission-Identified Issuer” and (ii) prohibiting the trading on U.S. securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter market of securities of a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCAA. The final amendments were effective on January 10, 2022. The SEC began to identify and list Commission-Identified Issuers on its website shortly after registrants began filing their annual reports for 2021. Pursuant to the HFCAA, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021, which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong. In addition, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. Our auditor, Wei, Wei & Co., LLP, has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection completed in December 2023, and it is not subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in China and Hong Kong. Under the PCAOB’s rules, a reassessment of a determination under the HFCA Act may result in the PCAOB reaffirming, modifying or vacating the determination.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong and has made plans to resume regular inspections since early 2023, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.
13
If trading in our Ordinary Shares is prohibited under the HFCAA in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our Ordinary Shares. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — Our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from being traded on a national exchange under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”), if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. The delisting of our Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.” on page 34 of this prospectus.
PRC Regulations on Overseas Listing
On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, along with the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures heighten the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
According to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are “existing enterprises”: before the effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately, and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.
According to the Circular, we can reasonably arrange the timing for submitting the filing application with the CSRC, and shall complete the filing with the CSRC in accordance with the Trial Measures before this offering. In sum, we are subject to the filing requirements of the CSRC for this offering under the Trial Measures. On April 22, 2024, we received approval from the CSRC regarding our completion of the required filing procedures for this offering. We have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or objection from the CSRC with respect to this offering. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. For more details, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China”.
If the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering and any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals and we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek such approvals which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors and the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and be worthless.
14
For more detailed information, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering.” on page 23 of this prospectus.
Recent Cybersecurity Regulatory Development in PRC
The PRC regulatory requirements regarding cybersecurity are evolving. For instance, various regulatory bodies in the PRC, including the CAC, the Ministry of Public Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations. The Cybersecurity Law, which was adopted by the SCNPC on November 7, 2016, and the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which were promulgated on April 13, 2020, provide that personal information and important data collected and generated by an operator of critical information infrastructure in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if an operator of critical information infrastructure purchases internet products and services that affect or may affect national security, it will be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC. On June 10, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the Data Security Law stipulates that data shall not be collected by theft or other illegal means, and also provides for a data classification and hierarchical protection system, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The data classification and hierarchical protection system puts data into different groups according to its importance in economic and social development, and the damages it may cause to national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations in case the data is falsified, damaged, disclosed, illegally obtained or illegally used. If any of our data processing activities conducted after the Data Security Law became effective were found to be not in compliance with this law, we could be ordered to make corrections, and under certain serious circumstances, such as severe data divulgence, we could be subject to penalties, including the revocation of our business licenses or other permits. Furthermore, the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law published on July 6, 2021 require (i) speeding up the revision of the provisions on strengthening the confidentiality and archives management relating to overseas issuance and listing of securities and (ii) improving the laws and regulations relating to data security, cross-border data flow, and management of confidential information.
In January 2022, the CAC amended Measures of Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised CAC Measures, which came into effect on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the Revised CAC Measures, critical information infrastructure operators procuring network products and services, and online platform operators (as opposed to “data processors” in the Draft Management Regulation) carrying out data processing activities which affect or may affect national security, shall conduct a cybersecurity review pursuant to the provisions therein. In addition, online platform operators possessing personal information of more than one million users seeking to be listed in foreign country must apply for a cybersecurity review.
Our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, has advised us based on their understanding of the current PRC law, rules, and regulations that we are not expected to be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC for this offering, given that: (i) using our products and services does not require users to provide any personal information; (ii) we do not possess any personal information of users in our business operations; and (iii) data processed in our business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities. However, if the draft Regulations on Network Data Security is adopted into law and we become listed on Nasdaq, our PRC subsidiaries likely will be required to perform annual data security assessment either by itself or retaining a third-party data security service provider and submit such data security assessment report to the local agency every year. Neither the CAC nor any other PRC regulatory agency or administration has contacted the Company in connection with our PRC subsidiaries’ operations.
As there remain uncertainties regarding the further interpretation and implementation of those laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will be compliant such new regulations in all respects, and we may be ordered to rectify and terminate any actions that are deemed illegal by the regulatory authorities and become subject to fines and other sanctions. PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we expect to take all reasonable measures and actions to comply therewith. In the event of a failure to comply, we may be required to suspend our relevant businesses and become subject to fines and other penalties. If the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations
15
requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering and any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors.
As confirmed by our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, we will not be subject to cybersecurity review with the CAC pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures.
If we do not receive or maintain the approval, or permission, or inadvertently conclude that such approval or permission is not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval or permission in the future, we may be subject to an investigation by competent regulators, fines or penalties, or an order prohibiting us from conducting an offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our Shares, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information” on page 26 of this prospectus.
Permission Required from the PRC Authorities
As of the date of this prospectus, HUHU China, the WFOE and HUHU HK have obtained all material permissions and approvals to operate their respective business, including business license.
The business license is a permit issued by Market Supervision and Administration that allows the company to conduct specific business within the government’s geographical jurisdiction. Each of our PRC Subsidiaries received its business license. HUHU China obtained the Construction enterprise qualification certificate for the First-Class Professional Contracting of Mechanical and Electrical Installation Engineering Projects issued by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Special Equipment Production License issued by Jiangsu Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Safety Production License issued by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have received all material requisite permissions or approvals to operate our business. However, applicable laws and regulations may be tightened, and new laws or regulations may be introduced to impose additional government approval, license, and permit requirements. If we or our subsidiaries fail to obtain and maintain such approvals, licenses, or permits required for our business, inadvertently conclude that such approval is not required, or respond to changes in the regulatory environment, we or our subsidiaries could be subject to liabilities, penalties, and operational disruption, which may materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and the value of our ordinary shares, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
We are required to obtain approval from Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) to list on U.S exchanges. On April 22, 2024, we received approval from the CSRC regarding our completion of the required filing procedures for this offering. As of the date of this prospectus, we and our PRC subsidiaries have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions regarding our planned overseas listing from the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities. Since these statements and regulatory actions are newly published, however, official guidance and related implementation rules have not been issued. It is highly uncertain what the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on the daily business operations of our subsidiaries, our ability to accept foreign investments, and our listing on an U.S. exchange. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, or other PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations, or implementing rules that require us, our subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before listing in the U.S.
16
Selected Condensed Consolidating Financial Data
The tables below are condensed consolidating financial data summarizing separately the financial position and cash flows of HUHUTECH (“Parent” in the tables below), HUHU HK, WFOE, and HUHU China (“Subsidiaries” in the tables below).
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 |
|||||||||||||
|
Parent |
Subsidiaries |
Eliminations |
Consolidated |
||||||||||
|
Revenues |
$ |
— |
$ |
16,732,688 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
16,732,688 |
||||
|
Equity of subsidiaries |
$ |
2,333,687 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(2,333,687 |
) |
$ |
— |
||||
|
Net income |
$ |
2,333,587 |
$ |
2,333,687 |
$ |
(2,333,687 |
) |
$ |
2,333,587 |
||||
|
Comprehensive income |
$ |
2,228,558 |
$ |
2,228,658 |
$ |
(2,228,658 |
) |
$ |
2,228,558 |
||||
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
|||||||||||||
|
Parent |
Subsidiaries |
Eliminations |
Consolidated |
||||||||||
|
Revenues |
$ |
— |
$ |
11,374,257 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
11,374,257 |
||||
|
Equity of subsidiaries |
$ |
980,320 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(980,320 |
) |
$ |
— |
||||
|
Net income |
$ |
930,009 |
$ |
980,320 |
$ |
(980,320 |
) |
$ |
930,009 |
||||
|
Comprehensive income |
$ |
691,382 |
$ |
741,693 |
$ |
(741,693 |
) |
$ |
691,382 |
||||
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
|
As of December 31, 2023 |
|||||||||||||
|
Parent |
Subsidiaries |
Eliminations |
Consolidated |
||||||||||
|
Cash and restricted cash |
$ |
— |
$ |
2,846,659 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
2,846,659 |
||||
|
Total current assets |
$ |
— |
$ |
12,330,903 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
12,330,903 |
||||
|
Investments in subsidiaries |
$ |
3,697,532 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(3,697,532 |
) |
$ |
— |
||||
|
Total non-current assets |
$ |
3,697,532 |
$ |
2,772,054 |
$ |
(3,697,532 |
) |
$ |
2,772,054 |
||||
|
Total assets |
$ |
3,697,532 |
$ |
15,102,957 |
$ |
(3,697,532 |
) |
$ |
15,102,957 |
||||
|
Total liabilities |
$ |
50,412 |
$ |
9,271,748 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
9,322,160 |
||||
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
$ |
3,647,120 |
$ |
5,831,209 |
$ |
(3,697,532 |
) |
$ |
5,780,797 |
||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
$ |
3,697,532 |
$ |
15,102,957 |
$ |
(3,697,532 |
) |
$ |
15,102,957 |
||||
|
As of December 31, 2022 |
|||||||||||||
|
Parent |
Subsidiaries |
Eliminations |
Consolidated |
||||||||||
|
Cash and restricted cash |
$ |
189 |
$ |
1,688,427 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
1,688,616 |
||||
|
Total current assets |
$ |
189 |
$ |
9,506,156 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
9,506,345 |
||||
|
Investments in subsidiaries |
$ |
1,468,874 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(1,468,874 |
) |
$ |
— |
||||
|
Total non-current assets |
$ |
1,468,874 |
$ |
1,365,805 |
$ |
(1,468,874 |
) |
$ |
1,365,805 |
||||
|
Total assets |
$ |
1,469,063 |
$ |
10,871,961 |
$ |
(1,468,874 |
) |
$ |
10,872,150 |
||||
|
Total liabilities |
$ |
50,500 |
$ |
7,269,411 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
7,319,911 |
||||
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
$ |
1,418,563 |
$ |
3,602,550 |
$ |
(1,468,874 |
) |
$ |
3,552,239 |
||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
$ |
1,469,063 |
$ |
10,871,961 |
$ |
(1,468,874 |
) |
$ |
10,872,150 |
||||
17
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Parent |
Subsidiaries |
Eliminations |
Consolidated |
||||||||||||
|
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
$ |
(100 |
) |
$ |
3,049,029 |
|
$ |
— |
$ |
3,048,929 |
|
||||
|
Net cash (used in) investing activities |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(1,208,253 |
) |
$ |
— |
$ |
(1,208,253 |
) |
||||
|
Net cash (used in) financing activities |
$ |
(89 |
) |
$ |
(594,487 |
) |
$ |
— |
$ |
(594,576 |
) |
||||
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Parent |
Subsidiaries |
Eliminations |
Consolidated |
||||||||||||
|
Net cash (used in) operating activities |
$ |
(50,311 |
) |
$ |
(89,228 |
) |
$ |
— |
$ |
(139,539 |
) |
||||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
$ |
50,500 |
|
$ |
(145,948 |
) |
$ |
— |
$ |
(95,448 |
) |
||||
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Net cash provided by financing activities |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
1,317,284 |
|
$ |
— |
$ |
1,317,284 |
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Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at 3-1208 Tiananzhihui Compound 228 Linghu Road Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province People’s Republic of China 214135. The telephone number of our principal executive offices is +0510 88681689. Our registered office is located at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman KY1-1002, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service for process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 E 42nd St 18th Fl, New York, NY 10168.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
• the ability to include only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure; and
• an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
We may take advantage of these provisions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (a) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenue of at least US$1.235 billion; (b) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; (c) the date on which we have, during the preceding three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of the Ordinary Shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Once we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above.
Implication of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As such, we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies. For example:
• we are not required to provide as many Exchange Act reports or provide periodic and current reports as frequently, as a domestic public company;
• for interim reporting, we are permitted to comply solely with our home country requirements, which are less rigorous than the rules that apply to domestic public companies;
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• we are not required to provide the same level of disclosure on certain issues, such as executive compensation;
• we are exempt from provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information;
• we are not required to comply with the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; and
• we are not required to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction.
Implications of Being a Controlled Company
Upon completion of this offering, our Director, Yujun Xiao, will beneficially own approximately 86.23% of the aggregate voting power of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option, or 85.34%, assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option. As a result, we will be deemed a “controlled company” for the purpose of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. As a controlled company, we are permitted to elect to rely on certain exemptions from the obligations to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
• a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors;
• our director nominees be selected or recommended solely by independent directors; and
• we have a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee that are composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the purposes and responsibilities of the committees.
Although we do not intend to rely on the “controlled company” exemption under the Nasdaq listing rules, we could elect to rely on this exemption after we complete this offering. If we elected to rely on the “controlled company” exemption, a majority of the members of our board of directors might not be independent directors and our nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees might not consist entirely of independent directors after we complete this offering.
Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq’s phase-in rules for newly listed companies, we have one year from the date on which we are first listed on Nasdaq to comply fully with the Nasdaq listing standards. We do not plan to rely on the phase-in rules for newly listed companies and will comply fully with the Nasdaq listing standards at the time of listing.
As a foreign private issuer, however, Nasdaq corporate governance rules allow us to follow corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, with respect to appointments to our board of directors and committees in lieu of Nasdaq corporate governance rules. We intend to follow home country practice as permitted by Nasdaq rather than rely on the “controlled company” exception to the corporate governance rules. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to this Offering — We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.” Accordingly, you would not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
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The Offering
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Shares Offered by Us: |
1,250,000 Ordinary Shares |
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Shares Outstanding Prior to Completion of this Offering: |
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Ordinary Shares Outstanding Immediately after this Offering: |
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Assumed Initial Public Offering Price per Share: |
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Gross Proceeds to Us Before Expenses: |
$6,250,000, assuming the offering price is $5.00 per ordinary share, the midpoint of the range in offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. |
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Underwriter Warrants: |
We will issue to the Underwriter warrants entitling the Underwriter to purchase 5% of the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares issued in this offering, at an exercise price per share equal to 125% of the initial public offering price per share (the “Underwriter Warrants”). The Underwriter Warrants will be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four and half year period commencing six months from the commencement date of sales in the offering. |
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Lock-up: |
Our directors, officers, and 5% or greater shareholders of the Company have agreed with the Underwriter, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell, transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of our Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Ordinary Shares for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. See “Underwriting” for more information. |
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Listing: |
We have applied to list our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. |
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Nasdaq Capital Market Symbol: |
“HUHU” |
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Transfer Agent: |
Transhare Corporation |
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Risk Factors: |
Investing in these securities involves a high degree of risk. As an investor, you should be able to bear a complete loss of your investment. You should carefully consider the information set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus before deciding to invest in our Ordinary Shares. |
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Use of Proceeds: |
We intend to use the proceeds from this offering for research and development, advertising and marketing, and general working capital. See “Use of Proceeds” for more information. |
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An investment in our Ordinary Shares involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our Ordinary Shares, you should consider carefully the risks described below, together with all of the other information set forth in this prospectus, including the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be materially and adversely affected, which could cause the trading price of our Ordinary Shares to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. You should only consider investing in our Ordinary Shares if you can bear the risk of loss of your entire investment.
Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC
PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC-resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits.
As an offshore holding company of our PRC subsidiaries, HUHUTECH may make loans or make additional capital contributions to our subsidiaries, subject to satisfaction of applicable governmental registration and approval requirements.
Any loans we extend to our PRC subsidiaries, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law, cannot exceed the statutory foreign debt upper limit and must be registered with the local counterpart of the SAFE, and a foreign exchange loan registration with the NDRC if required.
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, which replaces the previous SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents, including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities, to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we may make in the future.
Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, are required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE to reflect any material change. If any PRC resident shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiaries in China. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, must be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. Qualified banks should examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE. We have used our best efforts to notify PRC residents or entities directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands holding company and who are known to us as PRC residents to complete the foreign exchange registrations. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. Currently, all of our shareholders have completed Circular 37 Registration and are in compliance. All our shareholders who are PRC residents have completed Circular 37 Registration, but we cannot assure that all such shareholders will in the future make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
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Furthermore, as these foreign exchange and outbound investment-related regulations are relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border investments and transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we have complied or will be able to comply with all applicable foreign exchange and outbound investment-related regulations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to the PRC subsidiaries or future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiary. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we expect to receive from this offering and to fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced three existing laws on foreign investments in China, namely, the PRC Equity Joint Venture Law, the PRC Cooperative Joint Venture Law and the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The PRC Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic invested enterprises in China. The PRC Foreign Investment Law establishes the basic framework for the access to, and the promotion, protection and administration of foreign investments in view of investment protection and fair competition.
According to the PRC Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by one or more natural persons, business entities, or otherwise organizations of a foreign country (collectively referred to as “foreign investor”) within China, and the investment activities include the following situations: (i) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, establishes a foreign-invested enterprise within China; (ii) a foreign investor acquires stock shares, equity shares, shares in assets, or other like rights and interests of an enterprise within China; (iii) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, invests in a new project within China; and (iv) investments in other means as provided by laws, administrative regulations, or the State Council.
According to the PRC Foreign Investment Law, the State Council will publish or approve to publish the “negative list” for special administrative measures concerning foreign investment. The PRC Foreign Investment Law grants national treatment to foreign-invested entities, or FIEs, except for those FIEs that operate in industries deemed to be either “restricted” or “prohibited” in the “negative list. The PRC Foreign Investment Law provides that FIEs operating in foreign restricted or prohibited industries will require market entry clearance and other approvals from relevant PRC governmental authorities. If a foreign investor is found to invest in any prohibited industry in the “negative list”, such foreign investor may be required to, among other aspects, cease its investment activities, dispose of its equity interests or assets within a prescribed time limit and have its income confiscated. If the investment activity of a foreign investor is in breach of any special administrative measure for restrictive access provided for in the “negative list”, the relevant competent department shall order the foreign investor to make corrections and take necessary measures to meet the requirements of the special administrative measure for restrictive access.
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Pursuant to the PRC Foreign Investment Law, the Implementing Rules of the PRC Foreign Investment Law, and the Information Reporting Measures for Foreign Investment jointly promulgated by the MOFCOM and the SAMR, which took effect on January 1, 2020, the PRC government shall establish a foreign investment information reporting system, according to which foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises shall submit investment information to the competent department for commerce concerned through the enterprise registration system and the enterprise credit information publicity system, and a security review system under which the security review shall be conducted for foreign investment affecting or likely affecting the state security.
Furthermore, the PRC Foreign Investment Law provides that foreign invested enterprises established according to the existing laws regulating foreign investment may maintain their structure and corporate governance within five years after the implementing of the PRC Foreign Investment Law.
In addition, the PRC Foreign Investment Law also provides several protective rules and principles for foreign investors and their investments in the PRC, including, among others, that a foreign investor may freely transfer into or out of China, in Renminbi or a foreign currency, its contributions, profits, capital gains, income from disposition of assets, royalties of intellectual property rights, indemnity or compensation lawfully acquired, and income from liquidation, among others, within China; local governments shall abide by their commitments to the foreign investors; governments at all levels and their departments shall enact local normative documents concerning foreign investment in compliance with laws and regulations and shall not impair legitimate rights and interests, impose additional obligations onto FIEs, set market access restrictions and exit conditions, or intervene with the normal production and operation activities of FIEs; except for special circumstances, in which case statutory procedures shall be followed and fair and reasonable compensation shall be made in a timely manner, expropriation or requisition of the investment of foreign investors is prohibited; and mandatory technology transfer is prohibited.
Failure to obtain prior approval from the MOFCOM for or in connection with the Company’s reorganization may have an adverse effect on our operations.
Article 11 of the Provisions on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (“M&A Provisions”) provides that mergers and acquisitions of domestic companies with which they are affiliated by domestic companies, enterprises or natural persons in the name of companies legally established or controlled by them outside of China shall be reported to the Ministry of Commerce for approval. Article 11 of the M&A Provisions further provides that the parties thereto shall not evade the above provision by the domestic investment of a foreign investment enterprise or by any other means.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not applied for approval from the Ministry of Commerce related to the reorganization. As advised by our PRC legal counsel, the Company’s reorganization, pursuant to the M&A Provisions, may be subject to prior approval from the MOFCOM. Not obtaining such prior approval may adversely affect our business operations. Pursuant to Article 38 of the PRC Foreign Investment Law, the violations of laws and regulations committed by foreign investors and foreign-funded enterprises shall be investigated by the relevant departments according to the law and included in the credit information system according to the relevant provisions issued by the state. As such, we may face regulatory actions or penalties imposed by MOFCOM, foreign exchange control authorities or other competent PRC regulators for failing to obtain MOFCOM’s approval prior to our reorganization. Although there remain uncertainties as to the actions that may be taken, any such action may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. We are required to obtain approval from Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) to list on U.S exchanges.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations.
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For example, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2, 2021 that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the Company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores.
As such, the Company’s business may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. The Company could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. The Company may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time with little advance notice, which could result in a material change in our operations and in the value of our Ordinary Shares. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Furthermore, we are required to obtain approval from Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) to list on U.S exchanges. On April 22, 2024, we received approval from the CSRC regarding our completion of the required filing procedures for this offering. We have not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to its business or industry. As a result, our Ordinary Shares may decline in value dramatically or even become worthless should we become subject to new requirement to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchange in the future.
The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severe and Lawful Crackdown on Illegal Securities Activities, which was available to the public on July 6, 2021. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies. These opinions proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing China-based overseas-listed companies and the demand for cybersecurity and data privacy protection. Moreover, On December 28, 2021, thirteen PRC regulatory agencies, namely, the CAC, the NDRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Finance, MOFCOM, SAMR, CSRC, the People’s Bank of China, the National Radio and Television Administration, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and the National Cryptography Administration, jointly adopted and published the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021), which became effective on February 15, 2022. The Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) required that, among others, in addition to “operator of critical information infrastructure” any “operator of network platform” holding personal information of more than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should also be subject to cybersecurity review. The aforementioned policies and any related implementation rules to be enacted may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future. As these opinions were recently issued, official guidance and interpretation of the opinions remain unclear in several respects at this time. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will remain fully compliant with all new regulatory requirements of these opinions or any future implementation rules on a timely basis, or at all. See “— We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information” and “The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.”
HUHUTECH is a holding company and will rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us, or any tax implications of making dividend payments to us, could limit our ability to pay our parent company expenses or pay dividends to holders of our Ordinary Shares.
HUHUTECH is a holding company and conduct substantially all of our business through our PRC and Japanese subsidiaries. We may rely on dividends to be paid by our subsidiaries to fund our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our operating expenses. If our PRC subsidiary incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.
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Under PRC laws and regulations, the WFOE and HUHU China may pay dividends only out of its accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the WFOE is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital.
Our PRC subsidiaries generate primarily all of their revenue in Renminbi, which is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to use its Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business. As of the date of this prospectus, neither HUHUTECH nor any of its subsidiaries have paid dividends or made distributions to their shareholders. We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law, or EIT, and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us.
The PRC subsidiary was formed under and are governed by the laws of the PRC. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference, but have limited precedential value. In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general, such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. As a significant part of our business is conducted in China, our operations are principally governed by PRC laws and regulations. However, since the PRC legal system continues to evolve rapidly, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to us. Uncertainties due to evolving laws and regulations could also impede the ability of a China-based company, such as our company, to obtain or maintain permits or licenses required to conduct business in China. In the absence of required permits or licenses, governmental authorities could impose material sanctions or penalties on us. In addition, some regulatory requirements issued by certain PRC government authorities may not be consistently applied by other PRC government authorities (including local government authorities), thus making strict compliance with all regulatory requirements impractical, or in some circumstances impossible. For example, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we enjoy either by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to predict the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
Furthermore, if China adopts more stringent standards with respect to environmental protection or corporate social responsibilities, we may incur increased compliance costs or become subject to additional restrictions in our operations. Intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may also not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. In addition, we cannot predict the effects of future developments in the PRC
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legal system on our business operations, including the promulgation of new laws, or changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and our investors, including you. Moreover, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and management attention.
The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene or influence our operations as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. The PRC government has recently published new policies that significantly affected certain industries such as the education and internet industries, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over securities offerings and other capital markets activities that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based companies like us. Any such action, once taken by the PRC government, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or in extreme cases, become worthless.
We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information.
We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. These laws and regulations are continuously evolving and developing. The scope and interpretation of the laws that are or may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be conflicting, particularly with respect to foreign laws. In particular, there are numerous laws and regulations regarding privacy and the collection, sharing, use, processing, disclosure, and protection of personal information and other user data. Such laws and regulations often vary in scope, may be subject to differing interpretations, and may be inconsistent among different jurisdictions.
We expect to obtain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees and third parties. We also maintain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and company data is critical to our business. We do not collect personal information from our customers. Our employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information. We are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we collect, and to take adequate security measures to safeguard such information.
The PRC Criminal Law, with its latest amendment (Amendment 12) effective on March 1, 2024, prohibits institutions, companies and their employees from selling or otherwise illegally disclosing a citizen’s personal information obtained during the course of performing duties or providing services or obtaining such information through theft or other illegal ways. On November 7, 2016, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress issued the Cybersecurity Law of the PRC, or Cybersecurity Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017.
Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Law, network operators must not, without users’ consent, collect their personal information, and may only collect users’ personal information necessary to provide their services. Providers are also obliged to provide security maintenance for their products and services and shall comply with provisions regarding the protection of personal information as stipulated under the relevant laws and regulations.
The Civil Code of the PRC (issued by the PRC National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020 and effective on January 1, 2021) provides main legal basis for privacy and personal information infringement claims under the Chinese civil laws. PRC regulators, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Public Security have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection.
The PRC regulatory requirements regarding cybersecurity are constantly evolving. For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Public Security and the SAMR, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations.
In November 2016, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress passed China’s first Cybersecurity Law (“CSL”), which became effective in June 2017. The CSL is the first PRC law that systematically lays out the regulatory requirements on cybersecurity and data protection, subjecting many previously
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under-regulated or unregulated activities in cyberspace to government scrutiny. The legal consequences of violation of the CSL include penalties of warning, confiscation of illegal income, suspension of related business, winding up for rectification, shutting down the websites, and revocation of business license or relevant permits.
On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law sets forth the data security protection obligations for entities and individuals handling personal data, including that no entity or individual may acquire such data by stealing or other illegal means, and the collection and use of such data should not exceed the necessary limits The costs of compliance with, and other burdens imposed by, CSL and any other cybersecurity and related laws may limit the use and adoption of our products and services and could have an adverse impact on our business.
On July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) issued a revised draft of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review for public comments. Further, on December 28, 2021, thirteen PRC regulatory agencies, namely, the CAC, the NDRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Finance, MOFCOM, SAMR, CSRC, the People’s Bank of China, the National Radio and Television Administration, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and the National Cryptography Administration, jointly adopted and published the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021), which became effective on February 15, 2022. The Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) authorized the relevant government authorities to conduct cybersecurity review on a range of activities that affect or may affect national security, and required that, among others, in addition to “operator of critical information infrastructure” any “operator of network platform” holding personal information of more than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should also be subject to cybersecurity review. The Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) further elaborated the factors to be considered when assessing the national security risks of the relevant activities, including, among others, (i) the risk of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or exited the country; (ii) the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled, or maliciously used by foreign governments if going public; and (iii) the risks of network information security. The cybersecurity review will also look into the potential national security risks from overseas IPOs.
On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Regulations on Network Data Security (draft for public comments), or the draft Regulations on Network Data Security, which reiterates that data processors that process the personal information of more than one million users intends to list overseas should apply for a cybersecurity review. In addition, data processors that process important data or are listed overseas shall carry out an annual data security assessment on their own or by engaging a data security services institution, and the data security assessment report for the prior year should be submitted to the local cyberspace affairs administration department before January 31 of each year. Currently, the draft Regulations on Network Data Security has been released for public comment only, and its implementation provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date remains substantially uncertain and may be subject to change. We do not know what regulations will be adopted or how such regulations will affect us and our listing on Nasdaq. In the event that the CAC determines that we are subject to these regulations, we may be required to delist from Nasdaq and we may be subject to fines and penalties.
We do not expect to be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC for this offering, given that: (i) using our products and services does not require users to provide any personal information; (ii) we do not possess any personal information from users in our business operations; and (iii) data processed in our business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities. However, if the draft Regulations on Network Data Security is adopted into law and we become listed on Nasdaq, our PRC subsidiaries likely will be required to perform annual data security assessment either by itself or retaining a third-party data security service provider and submit such data security assessment report to the local agency every year. Neither the CAC nor any other PRC regulatory agency or administration has contacted the Company in connection with the PRC subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor the PRC subsidiaries are currently required to obtain regulatory approval from the CAC nor any other PRC authorities. However, there remains uncertainty as to how the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021). We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we can fully or timely comply with such laws. Our PRC subsidiaries currently have obtained all material permissions and approvals required for our operations in compliance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations in the PRC, including the
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business license. In the event that the applicable laws, regulations or interpretations change such that we are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity review and other specific actions required by the CAC, we cannot guarantee whether we can complete the registration process in a timely manner, or at all. If we inadvertently conclude that such approval is not required, fail to obtain and maintain such approvals, licenses or permits required for our business or respond to changes in the regulatory environment, we could be subject to liabilities, penalties and operational disruption, which may materially and adversely affect our business, operating, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us, the majority of our directors or our management named in the prospectus based on foreign laws.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, however, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, all our senior executive officers and the majority of our directors reside within China for a significant portion of the time and all of them are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or our management residing in China. In addition, China does not have treaties providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and some other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.
It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigation or collect evidence within China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or Article 177, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests. See also “— Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares and this Offering — You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law” for risks associated with investing in us as a Cayman Islands company.
If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and ordinary shareholders.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, the State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, issued the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to Identification of PRC-Controlled Overseas Registered Enterprises as Resident Enterprises in Accordance with the De Facto Standards of Organizational Management, or SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular
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may reflect SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in China; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in China.
We believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. The tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” If the PRC tax authorities determine that HUHUTECH is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we could be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide income, which could materially reduce our net income, and we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises, including the holders of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ordinary shareholders) may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10% on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of Ordinary Shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within China. Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ordinary shareholders) and any gain realized on the transfer of Ordinary Shares by such shareholders may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 20% (and such PRC tax may be withheld at source in the case of dividends). Any PRC income tax liability may be reduced under applicable tax treaties. However, it is unclear whether in practice non-PRC shareholders of HUHUTECH would be able to obtain the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the Ordinary Shares.
We face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
We face uncertainties regarding the reporting on and consequences of previous private equity financing transactions involving the transfer and exchange of shares in our company by non-resident investors. In February 2015, the SAT issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, an “indirect transfer” of PRC assets, including a transfer of equity interests in an unlisted non-PRC holding company of a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of the underlying PRC assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Bulletin 7 also introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity securities through a public securities market. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or Bulletin 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. The Bulletin 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of nonresident enterprise income tax.
We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences of future private equity financing transactions, share exchanges or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed under Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with them or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these regulations, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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If our preferential tax treatments and government subsidies are revoked or become unavailable or if the calculation of our tax liability is successfully challenged by the PRC tax authorities, we may be required to pay tax, interest and penalties in excess of our tax provisions.
The Chinese government has provided tax incentives to our HUHU China, including reduced enterprise income tax rates. For example, under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, the statutory enterprise income tax rate is 25%. However, the income tax of an enterprise that has been determined to be a high and new technology enterprise can be reduced to a preferential rate of 15%. Any increase in the enterprise income tax rate applicable to HUHU China, or any discontinuation, retroactive or future reduction or refund of any of the preferential tax treatments and local government subsidies currently enjoyed by HUHU China, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Further, in the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to complex income tax and other tax regulations, and significant judgment is required in the determination of a provision for income taxes. Although we believe our tax provisions are reasonable, if the PRC tax authorities successfully challenge our position and we are required to pay tax, interest and penalties in excess of our tax provisions, our financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
The procedure of the China Securities Regulatory Commission will be required in connection with this offering.
On December 24, 2021, the CSRC released the Administrative Provisions of the State Council Regarding the Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comments) (the “Draft Administrative Provisions”) and the Measures for the Overseas Issuance of Securities and Listing Record-Filings by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comments) (the “Draft Filing Measures”, collectively with the Draft Administrative Provisions, the “Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listing”), both of which have a comment period that expires on January 23, 2022. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listing lay out the filing regulation arrangement for both direct and indirect overseas listing, and clarify the determination criteria for indirect overseas listing in overseas markets.
On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures heighten the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
According to the Trial Measures and the Notice, PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing. As such, we can reasonably arrange the timing for submitting the filing application with the CSRC, and shall complete the filing with the CSRC in accordance with the Trial Measures before this offering.
In sum, we are subject to the filing requirements of the CSRC for this offering under the Trial Measures. On April 22, 2024, we received approval from the CSRC regarding our completion of the required filing procedures for this offering. We have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or objection from the CSRC with
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respect to this offering. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
We believe that HUHUTECH and its subsidiaries, including the PRC subsidiary are required to make filing with/obtain approval from Chinese authorities, including the filing procedures of China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, and Cybersecurity Administration Committee, or CAC, if applicable, to list on U.S exchanges or issue securities to foreign investors. We have not been denied any permission either as of the date of this prospectus. However, if we were required to obtain approval in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue listing on U.S. exchange, which would materially affect the interest of the investors.
We believe that we are required to comply with the filing requirements or procedures set forth in the Trial Measures and that none of the situations that would clearly prohibit overseas offering and listing applies to us. In reaching this conclusion, we are relying on the advice of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm. Any failure of us to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer our Ordinary Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
Failure to comply with PRC laws and regulations on leased property may expose us to potential fines and negatively affect our ability to use the properties we lease.
Our leasehold interests in leased properties have not been registered with the relevant PRC government authorities as required by PRC law, which may expose us to potential fines if we fail to remediate after receiving any notice from the relevant PRC government authorities. Failure to complete the lease registration will not affect the legal effectiveness of the lease agreements according to PRC law, but the real estate administrative authorities may require the parties to the lease agreements to complete lease registration within a prescribed period of time, and the failure to do so may subject the parties to fines from RMB1,000 to RMB10,000 for each of such lease agreements.
Certain lessors of our leased properties have not provided us with valid property ownership certificates or any other documentation proving their right to lease those properties to us. If our lessors are not the owners of the properties or they have not obtained consents from the owners or their lessors or permits from the relevant government authorities, our leases could be invalidated.
As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any actions, claims or investigations threatened against us or our lessors with respect to the defects in our leasehold interests. However, if any of our leases is terminated as a result of challenges by third parties or governmental authorities for lack of title certificates or proof of authorization to lease, we do not expect to be subject to any fines or penalties, but we may be forced to relocate the affected offices and incur additional expenses relating to such relocation.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws.
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the SAFE registrations in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as change of a PRC individual shareholder, name and operation term, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore special
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purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contribution, share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.
If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities do not complete their registration with the local SAFE branches, our PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing its profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated a Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, effective in June 2015. Under SAFE Circular 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
The failure or inability of such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE Circular 37 or other SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange restrictions. As a result, our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Any funds we transfer to the PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, are subject to approval by or registration with relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to a report with the local commerce department, the registration with the State Administration for Market Regulation or its local counterpart and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE. In addition, (i) any foreign loan procured by our PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with the SAFE or its local branches and (ii) any of our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between its total investment amount and registered capital or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the calculation approach and limitation as provided by the People’s Bank of China. Additionally, any medium or long-term loans to be provided by us to the PRC subsidiaries must be registered with the National Development and Reform Commission and SAFE or its local branches. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals or complete such registrations in a timely manner, or at all, with respect to future capital contributions or loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to receive such approvals or complete such registration or filing, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
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Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company may rely on dividend payments from the PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions, without prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from the operations of PRC subsidiaries may be used to pay dividends to our Company. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, we need to obtain SAFE approval to use cash generated from the operations of the PRC subsidiaries to pay off their respective debt in a currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside China, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside China in a currency other than Renminbi.
In light of the flood of capital outflows of China in 2016 due to the weakening Renminbi, the PRC government has imposed more restrictive foreign exchange policies and stepped up scrutiny of major outbound capital movement including overseas direct investment. More restrictions and substantial vetting process are put in place by SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions falling under the capital account. If any of our shareholders regulated by such policies fails to satisfy the applicable overseas direct investment filing or approval requirement timely or at all, it may be subject to penalties from the relevant PRC authorities. The PRC government may at its discretion further restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of the Ordinary Shares.
Our failure to fully comply with PRC labor-related laws may expose us to potential penalties.
We are required under PRC laws and regulations to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. We have not fully complied with the relevant PRC laws and regulations such as failing to make adequate employee benefit payments to the social security insurance and housing provident fund to the competent local governmental authorities. As such, we may be required to make up the contributions for these plans as well as to pay late fees and fines. Any such actions may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
All of our shareholders are in compliance with the PRC’s regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents. However, we are unable to assure that our shareholders who are subject to these rules continue to comply, and in the case of non-compliance, the shareholder may be subject to penalties.
In July 2014, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange promulgated the Circular on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or “Circular 37”. According to Circular 37, prior registration with the local SAFE branch is required for Chinese residents to contribute domestic assets or interests to offshore companies, known as SPVs. Circular 37 further requires amendment to a PRC resident’s registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the SPV, such as an increase or decrease in the capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division, or other material event. Further, foreign investment enterprises established by way of round-tripping shall complete the relevant foreign exchange registration formalities pursuant to the prevailing foreign exchange control provisions for direct investments by foreign investors, and disclose the relevant information such as actual controlling party of the shareholders truthfully.
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Currently, all of our shareholders who are Chinese residents have completed Circular 37 Registration and are in compliance. We have asked our shareholders who are Chinese residents to make the necessary applications and filings as required by Circular 37. We attempt to comply, and attempt to ensure that our shareholders who are subject to these rules continue to comply, with the relevant requirements. We cannot, however, provide any assurances that all of our and future shareholders who are Chinese residents will comply with our request to make or obtain any applicable registration or comply with other requirements required by Circular 37 or other related rules. The Chinese resident shareholders’ failure to comply with Circular 37 registration may result in restrictions being imposed on part of foreign exchange activities of the offshore special purpose vehicles, including restrictions on its ability to receive registered capital as well as additional capital from Chinese resident shareholders who fail to complete Circular 37 registration; and repatriation of profits and dividends derived from special purpose vehicles to China, by the Chinese resident shareholders who fail to complete Circular 37 registration, are also illegal. In addition, the failure of the Chinese resident shareholders to complete Circular 37 registration may subject each of the shareholders to fines less than RMB50,000. We cannot assure you that each of our Chinese resident shareholders will in the future complete the registration process as required by Circular 37.
Our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from being traded on a national exchange under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”), if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. The delisting of our Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.
On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
On May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in “Restrictive Market”, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or board of director for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. On December 18, 2020, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act was signed into law.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the HFCA Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which AHFCAA, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, and that as a result an exchange may determine to delist its securities.
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On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions. The final amendments were effective on January 10, 2022. The SEC began to identify and list Commission-Identified Issuers on its website shortly after registrants began filing their annual reports for 2021.
On December 16, 2021, PCAOB announced the PCAOB Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act determinations (the “PCAOB determinations”) relating to the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China of the PRC or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in China and Hong Kong.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong and has made plans to resume regular inspections since early 2023, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.
The lack of access to the PCAOB inspection in China prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of the auditors based in China. As a result, the investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of these accounting firms’ audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause existing and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
Our auditor, Wei, Wei & Co., LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess our auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor is headquartered in New York, New York, and is subject to inspection by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection completed in December 2023. Therefore, we believe that, as of the date of this prospectus, our auditors are not subject to the PCAOB determinations. Wei, Wei & Co., LLP has an office in Beijing, China, in which it has a total of 20 staff. Among them, there is one director, three managers, four seniors and twelve auditors. Regarding the audit of our Company, Wei, Wei & Co., LLP sent a team of eight staff from the Beijing Office, including one manager, two seniors and five auditors to conduct fieldwork under supervision of the U.S. office. Engagement quality control review was performed by the U.S. office.
However, the recent developments would add uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether the SEC, the PCAOB, Nasdaq, or other regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements. It remains unclear what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address these issues and what impact those actions will have on U.S. companies that have significant operations in the PRC and have securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national securities exchange or over-the-counter stock market). In addition, any additional actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these
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efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected, and we could be delisted if we and our auditor are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense and management time. If trading in our Ordinary Shares is prohibited under the HFCAA in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our Ordinary Shares. If our Ordinary Shares are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our Ordinary Shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our Ordinary Shares.
The current tension in international trade, particularly with regard to U.S. and China trade policies, may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Although cross-border business may not be an area of our focus, if we plan to expand our business internationally in the future, any unfavorable government policies on international trade, such as capital controls or tariffs, may affect the demand for our services, impact our competitive position, or prevent us from being able to conduct business in certain countries. If any new tariffs, legislation, or regulations are implemented, or if existing trade agreements are renegotiated, such changes could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Recently, there have been heightened tensions in international economic relations, such as the one between the United States and China. The U.S. government has recently imposed, and has recently proposed to impose additional, new, or higher tariffs on certain products imported from China to penalize China for what it characterizes as unfair trade practices. China has responded by imposing, and proposing to impose additional, new, or higher tariffs on certain products imported from the United States. Following mutual retaliatory actions for months, on January 15, 2020, the United States and China entered into the Economic and Trade Agreement Between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China as a phase one trade deal, effective on February 14, 2020.
Although the direct impact of the current international trade tension, and any escalation of such tension, on the industries in which we operate is uncertain, the negative impact on general, economic, political and social conditions may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Hong Kong legal system embodies uncertainties which could limit the legal protections available to the Company.
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the PRC and enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the “one country, two systems” principle. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s constitutional document, the Basic Law, ensures that the current political situation will remain in effect for 50 years. Hong Kong has enjoyed the freedom to function in a high degree of autonomy for its affairs, including currencies, immigration and custom, independent judiciary system and parliamentary system. However, we are not in any position to guarantee the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle and the level of autonomy as currently in place at the moment. Any changes in the state of political environment in Hong Kong may materially and adversely affect our business and operation. Additionally, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in Hong Kong may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us, including our ability to enforce our agreements with our clients.
Hong Kong regulatory requirement of prior approval for transfer of shares in excess of certain threshold may restrict future takeovers and other transactions.
Section 132 of SFO requires prior approval from the SFC for any company or individual to become a substantial shareholder of a SFC licensed company in Hong Kong. Under the SFO, a person will be a “substantial shareholder” of a licensed company if he, either alone or with associates, has an interest in or is entitled to control the exercise of the voting power of more than 10% of the total number of issued shares of the licensed company, or exercises control of 35% or more of the voting power of a company that controls more than 10% of the voting power of the licensed company. This regulatory requirement may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the Company, which could deprive our shareholders the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a future sale and may reduce the price of our shares upon the consummation of a future proposed business combination.
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Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans and withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government-mandated employee benefit contribution plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit contribution plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. Companies operating in China are also required to withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries based on the actual salary of each employee upon payment. We may be subject to late fees and fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits and under-withheld individual income tax, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Failure to obtain prior approval from the MOFCOM for or in connection with the Company’s reorganization may have an adverse effect on our operations.
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the MOFCOM, the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, or the SASAC, the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, the SAIC, the CSRC, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE (collectively the “M&A Agencies”) jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which came into effect on September 8, 2006 and were amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules provides that mergers and acquisitions of domestic companies with which they are affiliated by domestic companies, enterprises or natural persons in the name of companies legally established or controlled by them outside of China shall be reported to the Ministry of Commerce for approval. Article 11 of the M&A Rules further provides that the parties thereto shall not evade the above provision by the domestic investment of a foreign investment enterprise or by any other means.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not applied for approval from the Ministry of Commerce related to the reorganization that was completed on January 14, 2022. As advised by our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, the Company’s reorganization, pursuant to the M&A Provisions, may be subject to prior approval from the MOFCOM. Not obtaining such prior approval may adversely affect our reorganization. Pursuant to Article 38 of the PRC Foreign Investment Law, the violations of laws and regulations committed by foreign investors and foreign-funded enterprises could be subject to sanctions by any of the relevant departments according to the law and included in the credit information system according to the relevant provisions issued by the state. As such, we may face regulatory actions or penalties imposed by MOFCOM, foreign exchange control authorities or any other competent PRC regulators for failing to obtain MOFCOM’s approval prior to our reorganization. Although there remain uncertainties as to the actions that may be taken, including fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC or limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, any such action may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ordinary shares.
Risks Related to Doing Business in Japan
We are subject to various laws and regulations related to the construction industry in Japan, which may adversely affect our business.
HUHU Japan is primarily engaged in the construction of factories, which is subject to various laws and regulations in Japan.
We are subject to the Building Standard Law, which regulates minimum standards for the general structure of houses, fire prevention and evacuation-related matters, and road access obligations and which requires a confirmation from building official and a certificate of confirmation before commencing construction when a building owner intends to construct (new construction, expansion, renovation, or relocation) a building of a size, structure, or use that exceeds a certain scope, or to carry out large-scale repairs or major redecoration. In addition, certain buildings must be periodically inspected for age-related deterioration and other conditions by a first-class architect or other qualified person, and the results must be reported to the specified administrative agency.
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Violations of the Standard Law could result in our licenses being revoked or our business being suspended, which could materially impact our ability to continue our operations in these businesses. In addition to the above, our construction of factories business is subject to several other national and local regulations concerning matters such as personal for construction management at the construction site, supervisor for subcontracted construction work, and we are required to obtain numerous governmental permits and approvals.
Changes to other laws and regulations with more general applicability to Japanese corporations, such as tax laws and accounting rules, could also have an impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Violations of laws and regulations could result in significant regulatory sanctions against us, including the suspension or revocation of our governmental permits and approvals, which could have a negative impact on our reputation and materially affect our results of operations.
Changes in applicable laws and regulations could also result in reduced flexibility in conducting our business and increased compliance costs or may have other adverse effects on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. For a description of these and certain further laws and regulations that are material to our businesses, see “Regulations.”
We may be unsuccessful in expanding and operating our business in Japan, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We have established subsidiary in Japan and expanded our operations in this market. The entry and operation of our business in this market could cause us to be subject to unexpected, uncontrollable, and rapidly changing events and circumstances in Japan. As we grow our Japanese operations, we may need to recruit and hire new sales, marketing, and support personnel and establish new marketing and sales channels. Our ability to continue to expand into Japanese market involves various risks, including:
• varied, unfamiliar, unclear, and changing legal and regulatory restrictions, including different legal and regulatory standards applicable to the construction industry development;
• compliance with multiple and potentially conflicting regulations in China and Japan;
• difficulties in staffing and managing Japanese operations;
• differing intellectual property laws that may not provide sufficient protections for our intellectual property;
• proper compliance with local tax laws, which can be complex and may result in unintended adverse tax consequences;
• fluctuations in currency exchange rates and may adversely affect the profitability in JPY;
• changes in general economic, health, and political conditions in Japan;
• potential labor strike, lockouts, work slowdowns, and work stoppages; and
• different consumer preferences and requirements in Japanese markets.
Our current and any future expansion plans will require management attention and resources and may be unsuccessful. We may find it impossible or prohibitively expensive to continue expanding into Japanese market or we may be unsuccessful in our attempt to do so, and our results of operations could be adversely impacted.
Fluctuation of the value of the Japanese yen against certain foreign currencies may have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations.
Some of our operations’ functional currencies are not the Japanese yen. Since the currency in which sales are recorded may not be the same as the currency in which expenses are incurred, foreign exchange rate fluctuations may materially affect our results of operations. We expect that an increasing portion of our revenue and expenses in the future will be denominated in currencies in Japanese yen. Accordingly, our consolidated financial results and assets and liabilities may be materially affected by changes in the exchange rates of foreign currencies in which we conduct our business.
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Risks Related to Our Business
We may fail to anticipate or adapt to technology innovations in a timely manner, so our software design may fail to gain recognition from the customers and the software design industry.
The software design industry is experiencing rapid technological changes. Failure to anticipate technology innovations or adapt to such innovations in a timely manner, or at all, may result in our products becoming obsolete at sudden and unpredictable intervals. As a result, our software design may fail to gain recognition from the customers and the industry, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. To maintain the relevancy of our products, we have actively invested in product planning and research and development. The process of developing and marketing new products is inherently complex and involves significant uncertainties. We cannot assure you that our efforts will bring customers and industry recognition. There are various risks, including the following:
• our product planning efforts may fail to result in the development or commercialization of new technologies or ideas;
• our research and development efforts may fail to translate new product plans into commercially feasible products;
• our new technologies or new products may not be well received by consumers;
• we may not have adequate funding and resources necessary for continual investments in product planning and research and development;
• our products may become obsolete due to rapid advancements in technology and changes in consumer preferences; and
• our newly developed technologies may not be protected as proprietary intellectual property rights.
Any failure to anticipate the next-generation technology roadmap or changes in customer preferences or to timely develop new or enhanced products in response could result in decreased revenue and market share. In particular, we may experience difficulties with product design, product development, marketing or certification, which could result in excessive research and development expenses and capital expenditure, delays or prevent our introduction of new or enhanced products. Furthermore, our research and development efforts may not yield the expected results or may prove to be futile due to the lack of market demand.
The average selling prices of our products may decrease from time to time due to technological advancement, and we may not be able to pass onto our suppliers such decreases, which may in turn adversely affect our profitability.
The factory facility design industry is characterized by rapid launches of new products, continuous technological advancements, and changing market trends and customer preferences, all of which translate to a shorter life cycle and a gradual decrease in the average selling prices of products over time. Because we compete in the environment of rapidly-evolving technology advancement and market trends and developments of the facility design industry, we may need to lower the price of our products to gain stronger market competitiveness and we cannot assure you that we will be able to pass on any decrease in average selling prices of our products to our suppliers. If the average selling prices of our products unusually or significantly decrease and such decreases cannot be offset by a corresponding decrease in the prices of the principal components of our products, our gross profit margins may be materially and adversely affected, which in turn, may adversely affect our profitability.
If we fail to maintain an effective quality control system, our business could be materially and adversely affected.
We place great emphasis on product quality and adhere to stringent quality control measures. To meet our customers’ requirements and expectations for the quality and safety of our products, we have selected leading third-party assembling partners with quality control certifications such as ISO9001 and adopted a stringent quality control system to ensure that every step of the production process is strictly monitored and managed. Failure to maintain an effective quality control system or to obtain or renew our quality standards certifications may result in a decrease in demand for our products or cancelation or loss of purchase orders from our customers. Moreover, our reputation could be impaired. As a result, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
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If we are unable to maintain or enhance our brand recognition, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
Maintaining and enhancing the recognition, image and acceptance of our brand are important to our ability to differentiate our products from and to compete effectively with our peers. Our brand image, however, could be jeopardized if we fail to maintain high product quality, pioneer and keep pace with evolving technology trends, or timely fulfill the orders for our products. If we fail to promote our brand or to maintain or enhance our brand recognition and awareness among our customers, or if we are subject to events or negative allegations affecting our brand image or the publicly perceived position of our brand, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our limited operating history and our volatile historical results of operations could make it difficult for us to forecast our business and assess the seasonality and volatility in our business.
We have a relatively short operating history since 2015. Our total revenue was $16,732,688 and $11,374,257 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As the facility design market is relatively nascent and still rapidly evolving, and due to our limited operating history and historical data, as well as the limited visibility into future demand trends for our products, we may not be able to accurately forecast our future total revenue and budget our operating expenses accordingly. As most of our expenses are fixed in the short-term or incurred in advance of anticipated total revenue, we may not be able to adjust our expenses in a timely manner in order to offset any shortfall in revenue.
Our business may be subject to the varying order patterns of the fabless facility design market. We may experience fluctuations in orders in the future. Our volatile historical results of operations could make it difficult to assess the impact of seasonal factors on our business. If we or any of our third-party manufacturing service providers are unable to increase production of new or existing products to meet any increases in demand due to seasonality or other factors, our total revenue would be adversely affected and our reputation with our customers may be damaged.
The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic had caused significant disruptions in our business, which might materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition in the future.
The outbreak of COVID-19 had spread throughout the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the outbreak a global pandemic. Many businesses and social activities in China and other countries and regions have been severely disrupted in the first quarter of 2020, including those of our suppliers, customers and employees. This global outbreak has also caused market panics, which materially and negatively affected the global financial markets, such as the plunge of global stocks on major stock exchanges in March 2020. Such disruption and the potential slowdown of the world’s economy in 2020 and beyond could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We and our customers experienced and may continue to experience significant business disruptions and suspension of operations due to quarantine measures to contain the spread of the pandemic, which may cause shortage in the supply of raw materials, reduce our production capacity, increase the likelihood of default from our customers and delay our product delivery. For example, in April 2022, we experienced temporary delay in product delivery due to shutdown caused by the pandemic that affected our logistics service providers. Our business operation was also disrupted, and may continue to be disrupted, if any of our employees are suspected of having contracted any contagious disease or condition, since it could require our employees to be quarantined or our offices and production to be closed down and disinfected. Moreover, regional outbreaks of COVID-19 may continue to emerge. All of these had, and may continue to have, a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition in the near term. COVID-19 and actions taken to reduce its spread continue to rapidly evolve. In late March and April 2022, certain regions in China were subject to lock-down and other constraints imposed by the local government authorities due to a new wave of COVID-19 outbreak in those regions. Employees who are located in those regions were required to work remotely and/or suspended any business travels. The extent to which COVID-19 may reduce the productivity of our employees, disrupt our service supply chains, reduce our access to capital or limit our business development activities, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions and social distancing in the Japan and other countries, business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the U.S. and other countries to contain and treat the disease. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business, financial condition and results of operations, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other
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risks described in this “Risk Factors” section. Despite the foregoing, COVID-19 did not have significant adverse impact on our operation for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. On December 7, 2022, China announced 10 new rules that constitute a relaxation of almost all of its stringent COVID-19 pandemic control measures. On May 5, 2023, WHO declared that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. However, the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s future financial results will be dependent on future developments such as the length and severity of COVID-19, the potential resurgence of COVID-19, future government actions in response to COVID-19 and the overall impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and capital markets, among many other factors, all of which remain highly uncertain and unpredictable. Given this uncertainty, the Company is currently unable to quantify the expected impact of COVID-19 on its future operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations if the current situation continues.
We are closely monitoring the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and continuously evaluating any further potential impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition, which we believe will depend on the duration and degree of the pandemic. If the outbreak persists or escalates, we may be subject to further negative impact on our business operations and financial condition.
Our management team lacks experience in managing a U.S.-listed public company and complying with laws applicable to such company, the failure of which may adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Our current management team lacks experience in managing a company publicly traded in the U.S., interacting with public company investors and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to U.S.-listed public companies. Prior to the completion of this offering, we mainly operate our businesses as a private company in the PRC. As a result of this offering, our company will become subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws and the scrutiny of securities analysts and investors, and our management currently has no experience in complying with such laws, regulations and obligations. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to becoming a U.S.-listed public company. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company.
Once we become a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company prior to our initial public offering. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq, have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. We expect these new rules and regulations to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and to make certain corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. In addition, we incur ongoing additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these new rules, and we cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
Increases in labor costs in the PRC and Japan may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
Macro economy has experienced increases in labor costs in recent years. The overall economy and the average wage in China and Japan are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our customers by increasing prices for our products or services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to stricter regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees and paying various statutory employee benefits, including pension insurance, housing provident fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and childbearing insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law, or the Labor Contract Law, that became effective in January 2008 and its implementing rules that became effective in September 2008 and its amendments that became effective in July 2013, employers are subject to stricter
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requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employees’ probation and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In the event that we decide to terminate some of our employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules may limit our ability to effect those changes in a desirable or cost-effective manner, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
There are various labor-related laws in Japan, including the Labor Standards Act (Act No. 49 of April 7, 1947, as amended), the Industrial Safety and Health Act (Act No. 57 of June 8, 1972, as amended), and the Labor Contracts Act (Act No. 128 of December 5, 2007). The Labor Standards Act regulates, among others, minimum standards for working conditions such as working hours, leave period, and leave days. The Industrial Safety and Health Act requires, among others, the implementation of measures to secure employee safety and protect the health of workers in the workplace. The Labor Contracts Act regulates, among others, the change of terms of employment contracts and working rules, and dismissal and disciplinary action. For details, please see “Regulations.”
As the interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still evolving, we cannot assure you that our employment practice does not and will not violate labor-related laws and regulations in China and Japan, which may subject us to labor disputes or government investigations. If we are deemed to have violated relevant labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide additional compensation to our employees and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We may be unable to make the substantial research and development investments required to remain competitive in our business.
Advances in technologies, such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, have led to increased demand for software of higher performance and power efficiency for solving computational problems of increasing complexity. We intend to broaden our product offerings to design and develop solutions covering more application scenarios, including vision computing and privacy computing. We are committed to investing in new product development in order to stay competitive in our markets. Nevertheless, if we are unable to generate enough revenue or raise enough capital to make adequate research and development investments going forward, our product development and relevant research and development initiatives may be restricted or delayed, or we may not be able to keep pace with the latest market trends and satisfy our customers’ needs, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Furthermore, our substantial research and development expenditures may not yield the expected results that enable us to roll out new products, which in turn will harm our prospects and results of operations.
We are currently working on providing more systematic products in the high-purity industry by combining equipment manufacturing and system installation. This combined business model will increase our competitiveness in the industry. If we fail to realize the prospect, our business may become less competitive compared to similar high-purity system providers.
We may encounter difficulties in recruiting and retaining key personnel.
Our future growth and success depend to a significant extent on the continuing service and contribution of our engineers and senior management personnel. Many of these key personnel are highly skilled and experienced and are difficult to recruit and retain, particularly as we seek to expand our business with respect to the high-purity conveyor system solutions and distributed computing and monitoring software solutions. Competition for recruiting qualified personnel is intense, and recruiting personnel with the combination of skills and attributes required to execute our business strategy may be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a result, the loss of any key personnel or failure to recruit, train or retain qualified personnel could have a significant negative impact on our operations.
We may face difficulties in protecting our intellectual property rights.
We rely on our intellectual property rights, and in particular, our patents and software copyrights. Even though we have successfully registered certain of our intellectual property rights in China, it may be possible for a third party to imitate or use our intellectual property rights without authorization. Additionally, we have developed and utilized some intellectual property that has not been registered. If a third party misuses or misappropriates our
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intellectual property, we may not be able to easily differentiate our products from the others in the market easily. As a result, we may be forced into an adverse price competition that reduces our profit margin. As we develop new technologies, we will need to continue to apply for intellectual property rights protections. There is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain valid and enforceable intellectual property rights in China or in other relevant jurisdictions as needed. Even when we are able to obtain such protections, there is no guarantee that we will be able to effectively enforce our rights effectively.
In this respect, we may incur expenses and efforts to monitor and enforce our intellectual property rights. Infringement of our intellectual property rights and the resulting diversion of resources to protect such rights through litigation or other means could also adversely affect our profitability.
We currently do not have insurance coverage covering all risks related to our business and operations.
We do not maintain insurance policies covering all of our business risks, such as risks relating to properties, receivables, goods in transit and public liability. We cannot assure you that the insurance coverage we currently have would be sufficient to cover our potential losses. See “Business — Insurance” for more information on the insurance policies maintained by us. In the event there is any damage to any assets or incidents for which we do not have sufficient insurance coverage if at all, we would have to pay for the difference ourselves where our cash flow and liquidity could be negatively affected.
Any global systemic economic and financial crisis could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Any prolonged slowdown in global economy may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, the global financial markets have experienced significant disruptions since 2008 and the United States, Europe and other economies have experienced periods of recession. The recovery from the lows of 2008 and 2009 has been uneven and there are new challenges, including the escalation of the European sovereign debt crisis from 2011. The market panics over the global outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 and the drop in oil price had materially and negatively affected the global financial markets in March 2020, which caused a potential slowdown of the world’s economy. Additionally, there is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. There have also been (1) concerns over the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa, which have resulted in volatility in financial and other markets; (2) concerns over the United Kingdom leaving the European Union as well as the significant potential changes to United States trade policies, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs regarding China; (3) concerns about the economic effect of the tensions in the relationship between countries; and (4) concerns over the rising level of inflation in major industrial countries including the United States and worries that efforts to curb inflation may result in recession. There were and could be in the future a number of domino effects from such turmoil on our business, including significant decreases in orders from our customers, insolvency of key suppliers resulting in product delays, rises in raw material prices leading up to increased level of cost of revenues that we may not be able to pass onto customers, inability of customers to obtain credit to finance purchases of our products and/or customer insolvencies, and counterparty failures negatively impacting our operations. Any systemic economic or financial crisis could cause revenues for the semiconductor industry as a whole to decline dramatically and could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for, 2022 and 2023 were increases of 2.0% and 0.2%, respectively. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Japan, the year-over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for, 2022 and 2023 were increases of 2.5% and 3.2%, respectively. Since inflation in China and Japan has not materially impacted our business operations and results of operations, we have not taken or planned to take actions to mitigate inflationary pressures. Although we have not in the past been materially affected by inflation since our inception, we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected in the future by higher rates of inflation in China.
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Because our business is primarily conducted in RMB and Japanese Yen (“JPY”) and the price of our Ordinary Shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, changes in currency conversion rates may affect the value of your investments. Any significant revaluation of the RMB and JPY may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenue and financial condition. Changes in the conversion rate between the United States dollar and the RMB and JPY will affect the amount of proceeds we will have available for our business.
Our business is conducted in the PRC and Japan, our books and records are maintained in RMB and JPY, and the financial statements that we file with the SEC and provide to our shareholders are presented in United States dollars. Changes in the exchange rate between the RMB and U.S. dollar, and the JPY and dollar affect the value of our assets and the results of our operations in United States dollars. The value of the RMB/JPY against the United States dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the political and economic conditions and perceived changes in the economy of the PRC/Japan and the United States. Any significant revaluation of the RMB/JPY may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenue and financial condition. Further, our Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus are offered in United States dollars, we will need to convert the net proceeds we receive into RMB/JPY in order to use the funds for our business. Changes in the conversion rate between the United States dollar and the RMB/JPY will affect that amount of proceeds we will have available for our business.
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions in China and by China’s foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. On November 30, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the regular five-year review of the basket of currencies that make up the Special Drawing Right, or the SDR, and decided that with effect from October 1, 2016, Renminbi was determined to be a freely usable currency and was included in the SDR basket as a fifth currency, along with the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Renminbi depreciated significantly in the backdrop of a surging U.S. dollar and persistent capital outflows of China.
This depreciation halted in 2017, and the RMB appreciated approximately 7% against the U.S. dollar during this one-year period. The Renminbi in 2018 depreciated approximately by 5% against the U.S. dollar. Starting from the beginning of 2019, the Renminbi has depreciated significantly against the U.S. dollar again. In early August 2019, the PBOC set the Renminbi’s daily reference rate at RMB7.0039 to US$1.00, the first time that the exchange rate of Renminbi to U.S. dollar exceeded 7.0 since 2008. With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system, and we cannot assure you that the Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
There remains significant international pressure on the Chinese government to adopt a flexible currency policy to allow the Renminbi to appreciate against the U.S. dollar. Significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment. Substantially all of our revenues and costs are denominated in Renminbi. Any significant revaluation of Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our revenues, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our Ordinary Shares in U.S. dollars.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this offering into Renminbi for capital expenditures and working capital and other business purposes, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, a significant depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings, which in turn could adversely affect the price of our Ordinary Shares, and if we decide to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making dividend payments on our Ordinary Shares, strategic acquisitions or investments or other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
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To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange may be affected by PRC exchange management regulations on converting Renminbi into foreign currency. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.
Risks Related to this Offering
There has been no public market for our shares or Ordinary Shares prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our Ordinary Shares at or above the price you paid, or at all.
Prior to this initial public offering, there has been no public market for our shares or Ordinary Shares. We will apply to list our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Our shares will not be listed on any exchange or quoted for trading on any over-the-counter trading system. If an active trading market for our Ordinary Shares does not develop after this offering, the market price and liquidity of our Ordinary Shares will be materially and adversely affected.
Negotiations with the Underwriter will determine the initial public offering price for our Ordinary Shares which may bear no relationship to their market price after the initial public offering. We cannot assure you that an active trading market for our Ordinary Shares will develop or that the market price of our Ordinary Shares will not decline below the initial public offering price.
The trading price of the Ordinary Shares is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
The trading price of the Ordinary Shares is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, including the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for the Ordinary Shares may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:
• variations in our revenues, earnings, cash flow;
• fluctuations in operating metrics;
• announcements of new investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures by us or our competitors;
• announcements of new solutions and services and expansions by us or our competitors;
• termination or non-renewal of contracts or any other material adverse change in our relationship with our key customers or strategic investors;
• changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
• detrimental negative publicity about us, our competitors or our industry;
• additions or departures of key personnel;
• release of lockup or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities;
• regulatory developments affecting us or our industry; and
• potential litigation or regulatory investigations.
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which the Ordinary Shares will trade. Furthermore, the stock market in general experiences price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies like us. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. Volatility or a lack of positive performance in our ordinary share price may also adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, most of whom have been granted share incentives.
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In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may experience extreme stock price volatility unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance, financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Ordinary Shares.
Recently, there have been instances of extreme stock price run-ups followed by rapid price declines and strong stock price volatility with a number of recent initial public offerings, especially among companies with relatively smaller public floats. As a relatively small-capitalization company with relatively small public float, we may experience greater stock price volatility, extreme price run-ups, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies. In particular, our Ordinary Shares may be subject to rapid and substantial price volatility, low volumes of trades and large spreads in bid and ask prices. Such volatility, including any stock-run up, may be unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance, financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Ordinary Shares.
In addition, if the trading volumes of our Ordinary Shares are low, persons buying or selling in relatively small quantities may easily influence prices of our Ordinary Shares. This low volume of trades could also cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to fluctuate greatly, with large percentage changes in price occurring in any trading day session. Holders of our Ordinary Shares may also not be able to readily liquidate their investment or may be forced to sell at depressed prices due to low volume trading. Broad market fluctuations and general economic and political conditions may also adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. As a result of this volatility, investors may experience losses on their investment in our Ordinary Shares. A decline in the market price of our Ordinary Shares also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional Ordinary Shares or other securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. No assurance can be given that an active market in our Ordinary Shares will develop or be sustained. If an active market does not develop, holders of our Ordinary Shares may be unable to readily sell the Ordinary Shares they hold or may not be able to sell their Ordinary Shares at all.
Furthermore, the stock market in general, and the market prices for companies with operations in China in particular, have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. The securities of some China-based companies that have listed their securities in the United States have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings in recent years, including, in some cases, substantial declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading performances of these companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors towards China-based companies listed in the United States in general, which consequently may impact the trading performance of our Ordinary Shares, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or other matters of other China-based companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards China-based companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have engaged in any inappropriate activities.
In addition to the above factors, the price and trading volume of the Ordinary Shares may be highly volatile due to multiple factors, including the following:
• regulatory developments affecting us, our clients or our industry;
• conditions in the financing advisory industry in China;
• announcements of studies and reports relating to the quality of our service offerings or those of our competitors;
• investor perceptions about us, our business and in general companies with operations in China;
• changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other financing advisory companies;
• general economic and securities market conditions;
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• actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results;
• the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections;
• the absence of cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares;
• changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
• announcements by us or our competitors of new product and service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
• additions to or departures of our senior management;
• detrimental negative publicity about us, our management or our industry;
• fluctuations of exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar;
• release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding Ordinary Shares;
• the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our Ordinary Shares;
• sales or perceived potential sales of additional Ordinary Shares; and
• The COVID-19 pandemic, the ensuing economic recessions and deterioration in the credit market in many countries.
Other than the aforementioned potential factors that may affect the price and trading volume of our Ordinary Shares, there are no known factors particular to our offering that may add to this risk.
If securities or industry analysts cease to publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding the Ordinary Shares, the market price for the Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for the Ordinary Shares will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade the Ordinary Shares, the market price for the Ordinary Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for the Ordinary Shares to decline.
We currently do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering and you must rely on the price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares for return on your investment.
We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings after this offering to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our Ordinary Shares as a source for any future dividend income.
Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands exempted company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our Ordinary Shares will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares. There is no guarantee that our Ordinary Shares will appreciate in value after this offering or even maintain the price at which you purchased the Ordinary Shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in our Ordinary Shares and you may even lose your entire investment in our Ordinary Shares.
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Because our initial public offering price is substantially higher than our net tangible book value per share, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution.
If you purchase Ordinary Shares in this offering, you will pay more for your Ordinary Shares than the amount paid by our existing shareholders for their Ordinary Shares on a per ordinary share basis. As a result, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution, representing the difference between the initial public offering price of per ordinary share, and our adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share, after giving effect to our sale of the Ordinary Shares offered in this offering. In addition, you may experience further dilution to the extent that our Ordinary Shares are issued upon the exercise or vesting, as the case may be, of our share incentive awards. See “Dilution” for a more complete description of how the value of your investment in the Ordinary Shares will be diluted upon completion of this offering.
Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our Ordinary Shares in the public market could cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to decline.
Sales of our Ordinary Shares in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our Ordinary Shares to decline. All Ordinary Shares sold in this offering will be freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act. The remaining Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding after this offering will be available for sale, upon the expiration of the lock-up period in connection with this offering, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. Any or all of these shares may be released prior to the expiration of the lock-up period at the discretion of the Underwriter of this offering. To the extent shares are released before the expiration of the lock-up period and sold into the market, the market price of our Ordinary Shares could decline.
After completion of this offering, certain holders of our Ordinary Shares may cause us to register under the Securities Act the sale of their shares, subject to the lock-up period in connection with this offering. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in Ordinary Shares representing these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the form of Ordinary Shares in the public market could cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to decline.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our Ordinary Shares and the Ordinary Shares.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares with such preferred, deferred or other special rights, restrictions or privileges whether in regard to voting, distributions, a return of capital or otherwise and in such classes and series, if any, as the directors may determine, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our Ordinary Shares. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of the Ordinary Shares may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our Ordinary Shares and the Ordinary Shares may be materially and adversely affected.
You may experience dilution of your holdings due to inability to participate in rights offerings.
We may, from time to time, distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire securities. We may be unable to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to these rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have a registration statement declared effective. Accordingly, holders of Ordinary Shares may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution of their holdings as a result.
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You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by our minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors owed to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors owed to us under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have the standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other than the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and any special resolutions passed by such companies, and the registers of mortgages and charges of such companies) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Under Cayman Islands law, the names of our current directors can be obtained from a search conducted at the Registrar of Companies. Our directors have discretion under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of our board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.
Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. All of our current operations are conducted in China and Japan. In addition, substantially all of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China or Japan may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Cayman Islands, China, and Japan, see “Enforceability of Civil liabilities.”
We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.
As a company with less than US$1.235 billion in revenues for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the JOBS Act. Therefore, we may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting and permission to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such reporting and other requirements, in particular the auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.
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The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. We do not plan to “opt out” of such exemptions afforded to an emerging growth company. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.
Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:
• 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;
• the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD; and
• certain audit committee independence requirements in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the Ordinary Shares.
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be considered a passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC,” for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income.
Based upon our current and projected income and assets, including the expected proceeds from this offering, and projections as to the value of our assets (which are based on the expected market price of the Ordinary Shares immediately following this offering), we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we will be or become a PFIC is a factual determination made annually that will depend, in part, upon the composition of our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of the Ordinary Shares may cause us to be a PFIC for the current or future taxable years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market price of the Ordinary Shares from time to time (which may be volatile). If our market capitalization subsequently declines, we may be or become a PFIC for the current taxable year or future taxable years. Furthermore, the composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in this offering. Under circumstances where our revenue from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to our revenue from activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of being or becoming a PFIC may substantially increase. Because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year.
If we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. investor held an ordinary share or an ordinary share, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to the U.S. investor. See “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an “emerging growth company.”
Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company and expect to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, impose various
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requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more time-consuming and costly.
As a result of becoming a public company, we will need to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. We also expect that operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the number of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
In addition, as an emerging growth company, we will still incur expenses in relation to management assessment according to requirements of Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. After we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we expect to incur additional significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC.
If we fail to establish and maintain proper internal financial reporting controls, our ability to produce accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired
Prior to this offering, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal controls and procedures. We will be in a continuing process of developing, establishing, and maintaining internal controls and procedures that will allow our management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, our internal controls over financial reporting if and when required to do so under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Although our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until the date we are no longer an emerging growth company, our management will be required to report on our internal controls over financial reporting under Section 404.
As of December 31, 2023, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses relate to that the Company does not have in-house accounting personnel with sufficient knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting experiences. Management concluded that as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective.
In order to address and resolve the foregoing material weaknesses, we have implemented measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting to remediate the material weaknesses, including hiring consultants who have requisite training and experience in the preparation of financial statements in compliance with applicable SEC requirements. In addition to hiring an outside consultant, we also plan to take remedial measures including (i) hiring more qualified accounting personnel with relevant U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience and qualifications to strengthen the financial reporting function and to set up a financial and system control framework; (ii) implementing regular and continuous U.S. GAAP accounting and financial reporting training programs for our accounting and financial reporting personnel; (iii) setting up an internal audit function as well as engaging an external consulting firm to assist us with assessment of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements and improvement of overall internal control; and (iv) appointing independent directors, establishing an audit committee, and strengthening corporate governance.
The implementation of these measures may not fully address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, and we cannot conclude that they have been fully remedied. Our failure to correct theses material weaknesses or our failure to discover and address any other material weaknesses could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Ordinary Shares, may be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting significantly hinders our ability
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to prevent fraud. Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company in the United States subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 will require that we include a report from management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our second annual report on Form 20-F after becoming a public company. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, after we become a public company, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation.
Nasdaq may apply additional and more stringent criteria for our initial and continued listing because we plan to have a small public offering and insiders will hold a large portion of the company’s listed securities. Our offering will not be completed in the absence of Nasdaq listing approval. If Nasdaq denies our application, we could face significant consequences.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5101 provides Nasdaq with broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities in Nasdaq and Nasdaq may use such discretion to deny initial listing, apply additional or more stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular securities, or suspend or delist particular securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs that makes initial or continued listing of the securities on Nasdaq inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of Nasdaq, even though the securities meet all enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing on Nasdaq. In addition, Nasdaq has used its discretion to deny initial or continued listing or to apply additional and more stringent criteria in the instances, including but not limited to: (i) where the company engaged an auditor that has not been subject to an inspection by the PCAOB, an auditor that PCAOB cannot inspect, or an auditor that has not demonstrated sufficient resources, geographic reach, or experience to adequately perform the company’s audit; (ii) where the company planned a small public offering, which would result in insiders holding a large portion of the company’s listed securities. Nasdaq was concerned that the offering size was insufficient to establish the company’s initial valuation, and there would not be sufficient liquidity to support a public market for the company; and (iii) where the company did not demonstrate sufficient nexus to the U.S. capital market, including having no U.S. shareholders, operations, or members of the Board of Directors or management. Our public offering will be relatively small and the insiders of our Company will hold a large portion of the company’s listed securities. Nasdaq might apply the additional and more stringent criteria for our initial and continued listing, which might cause delay or even denial of our listing application. The denial of our application could cause significant consequences including a limited availability for market quotations for our securities, reduced liquidity with respect to our securities, limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
We will seek to have our securities approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market upon consummation of this offering. Our offering will not be completed in the absence of Nasdaq listing approval. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. If the Nasdaq Capital Market does not list our securities, or subsequently delists our securities from trading, we could face significant consequences, including:
• a limited availability for market quotations for our securities;
• reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;
• limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
• a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
52
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this prospectus other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, our business strategy and plans, and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.
53
We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $4.3 million (assuming no exercise of the Underwriter’s over-allotment), after deducting estimated underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, and based upon an assumed initial offering price of $5.0 per ordinary share, the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $1.1 million, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us and assuming no change to the number of ordinary shares offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
We plan to use the net proceeds from this offering as follows:
• approximately 50% of the net proceeds from this offering for the construction of a 5,000 square meter R&D plant, for which we applied with the government in Xinwu District, and the expansion of the R&D team, the construction of additional facilities, and purchase of equipment for the production of equipment for gas supply system in our Wuxi plant;
• approximately 30% of the net proceeds from this offering for the expansion and development of the Company’s business located in the PRC.
• approximately 15% of the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, team building, operating expenses and other general corporate purposes; and
• approximately 5% of the net proceeds from this offering for paying taxes, provident fund, and social security.
This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and overall business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and prevailing business conditions evolve. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.
The net proceeds from this offering must be remitted to China before we will be able to use the funds to grow our business. The procedure to remit funds may take several months after the completion of this offering, and we will be unable to use the offering proceeds in China until the remittance is completed. See “Risk Factors” for further information.
54
We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and finance the growth and development of our business after the Company’s initial public offering. Therefore, we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As of the date of this prospectus, neither HUHUTECH nor any of its subsidiaries have paid dividends or made distributions to their shareholders.
Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions and future prospects and other factors the board of directors may deem relevant.
Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts due in the ordinary course of business.
If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Ordinary Shares in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent receiving funds from our operating subsidiary. Current PRC regulations permit our WFOE to pay dividends to HUHU HK only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the discretionary common reserve, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its shareholder. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation. Our subsidiaries in China are required to set aside statutory reserves and have done so.
The PRC government also regulates the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries and affiliates in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments.
Cash dividends, if any, on our Ordinary Shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. HUHU HK may be considered a non-resident enterprise for tax purposes, so that any dividends WFOE pays to HUHU HK may be deemed as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. See “Taxation — People’s Republic of China Enterprise Taxation.”
In order for us to pay dividends to our shareholders, we will rely on dividends from our subsidiaries. Dividend payments from HUHU China to our WFOE are subject to PRC taxes, including value-added tax, or VAT, urban maintenance and construction tax, educational surcharges. In addition, if our subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.
Pursuant to the Arrangement between mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC project. However, the 5% withholding tax rate does not automatically apply only when certain requirements are satisfied, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong project must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong project must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC project during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends.
55
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2023 on (i) an actual basis, and (ii) a pro forma as adjusted basis giving effect to the sale of 1,250,000 Ordinary Shares in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $5.00 per share and to reflect the application of the proceeds after deducting the underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and estimated offering expenses payable by us. You should read this table in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and “Use of Proceeds” and “Description of Share Capital.”
Ordinary Shares
U.S. Dollars
|
As of |
|||||||
|
Actual |
Pro forma(1) |
||||||
|
Shareholders’ Equity: |
|
|
|
||||
|
Ordinary shares, $0.0000025 par value, 20,000,000,000 shares authorized, 20,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023(2) |
$ |
50 |
|
53 |
|
||
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
1,738,179 |
|
5,256,926 |
|
||
|
Statutory reserves |
|
343,077 |
|
343,077 |
|
||
|
Retained earnings |
|
3,958,029 |
|
3,958,029 |
|
||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) |
|
(258,538 |
) |
(258,538 |
) |
||
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
$ |
5,780,797 |
|
9,299,547 |
|
||
|
Total capitalization |
|
|
|
||||
____________
(1) On a pro forma basis to give effect to the sale of 1,250,000 Ordinary Shares in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $5.0 per share and reflects the application of the net proceeds after deducting the underwriting discounts, expense allowance and other estimated offering expenses payable by us. We estimate that such net proceeds will be approximately $4.3 million, assuming no over-allotment option is exercised, and approximately $5.2 million, assuming the over-allotment option is exercised in full.
(2) Giving effect to the forward split at a ratio of 1-for-4, with effective date of July 15, 2024.
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $5.0 per ordinary share would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted amount of total capitalization by $1.1 million, assuming that the number of Ordinary Shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase (decrease) of one million in the number of Ordinary Shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted amount of total capitalization by $4.6 million, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per ordinary share as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
56
If you invest in the Ordinary Shares, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per ordinary share and our net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the public offering price per ordinary share is substantially in excess of the book value per ordinary share attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently outstanding Ordinary Shares.
As of December 31, 2023, our net tangible book value was $4.9 million, or $0.24 per ordinary share. Our net tangible book value per share represents total tangible assets less total liabilities, all divided by the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding on December 31, 2023.
After giving effect to the sale of Ordinary Shares in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $5.0 per ordinary share and after deducting the underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2023 would have been $9.2 million, or $0.43 per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value to existing investors and immediate dilution of $4.57 per ordinary share to new investors.
The following table illustrates the dilution on a per ordinary share basis at the assumed public offering price per ordinary share of US$5.0:
|
Offering |
|||
|
Assumed initial public offering price per ordinary share |
$ |
5.00 |
|
|
Net tangible book value per ordinary share as of December 31, 2023 |
$ |
0.24 |
|
|
Increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share attributable to new investors purchasing Ordinary Shares in this offering |
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering |
$ |
0.43 |
|
|
Dilution per ordinary share to new investors in this offering |
$ |
4.57 |
|
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $5.00 per ordinary share would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2023 after this offering by approximately $0.06 per ordinary share, and would increase (decrease) dilution to new investors by $0.94 per ordinary share, assuming that the number of Ordinary Shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of December 31, 2023, the differences between existing shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number of Ordinary Shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price per ordinary share before deducting the underwriting discounts, non-accountable expense allowance and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
|
|
Total consideration |
Average |
||||||||||
|
Number |
Percent |
Amount |
Percent |
|||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
||||||||||||
|
Existing shareholders |
20,000,000 |
94.1% |
$ |
1,738,229 |
21.8% |
$ |
0.09 |
|||||
|
New investors |
1,250,000 |
5.9% |
$ |
6,250,000 |
78.2% |
$ |
5.00 |
|||||
|
Total |
21,250,000 |
100% |
$ |
7,988,229 |
100% |
$ |
0.38 |
|||||
The pro forma as adjusted information as discussed above is illustrative only. Our net tangible book value following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our Ordinary Shares and other terms of this offering determined at the pricing.
57
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company limited by shares. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company, such as:
• political and economic stability;
• an effective judicial system;
• a favorable tax system;
• the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and
• the availability of professional and support services.
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include, but are not limited to:
• the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors as compared to the United States; and
• Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in the federal courts of the United States.
Our constituent documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
All of our operations are conducted in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China and Japan. A majority of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and most of their assets are located outside the United States. Specifically, a majority of our directors and officers are located in China. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these individuals, or to bring an action against us or these individuals in the United States, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 E 42nd St 18th Fl, New York, NY 10168, as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.
Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States.
Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP has informed us that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment (a) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (b) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (c) is final, (d) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty, and (e) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities law if such judgment is determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
58
HUHU Japan is a joint-stock corporation with limited liability organized under Japanese law. All of its executive officers and directors reside in Japan and significantly all of its assets and the assets of such persons are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon HUHU Japan or these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether, and on what basis, a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. Under the PRC Civil Procedures Law, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law against a company in China for disputes if they can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case, and there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the suit. It will be, however, difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in the PRC in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding the Ordinary Shares, to establish a connection to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.
Corporate history and structure
HUHUTECH is a holding company with no operations of its own. We conduct our operations in China and Japan primarily through our direct PRC and Japanese subsidiaries. The Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are those of HUHUTECH.
The following figure shows our corporate structure as of the date of this prospectus, including our main subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities:

59
HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares, was incorporated on July 8, 2021. It is a holding company and is not actively engaged in any business as of the date of this prospectus. HUHUTECH was authorized to issue 5,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.00001 per ordinary share. On July 15, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-4 forward split of our Ordinary Shares. As a result, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0000025 per ordinary share. There are currently 20,000,000 issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of HUHUTECH. HUHUTECH’s registered office is located at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman, KY1-1002, Cayman Islands.
HUHU HK was incorporated on July 28, 2021 under the laws of Hong Kong. HUHU HK is a Hong Kong limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH. HUHU HK is a holding company and does not have any operations.
HUHU Japan was incorporated on April 25, 2022 under the laws of Japan. HUHU Japan is a Japanese limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH.
Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., LTD was incorporated on December 10, 2021 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. WFOE is a limited liability company, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUHU HK. WFOE is a holding company and does not have any operations.
Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd. was incorporated on August 20, 2015 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. HUHU China is a limited liability company.
Holding Company Structure
HUHUTECH is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We currently conduct our operations primarily through the HUHU China and HUHU Japan. Investors will not and may never directly hold equity interests in HUHU China and HUHU Japan. We control and receive the economic benefits of HUHU China’s and HUHU Japan’s business operation, if any, through equity ownership.
Transfers of cash to and from our subsidiaries
Our management monitors the cash position of each entity within our organization regularly and prepares budgets on a monthly basis to ensure each entity has the necessary funds to fulfill its obligation for the foreseeable future and to provide adequate liquidity. In the event that there is a need for cash or a potential liquidity issue, it will be reported to our Chief Financial Officer and subject to approval by our board of directors, we will enter into an intercompany loan for the applicable subsidiary.
HUHUTECH is permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands to provide funding to HUHU HK through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. HUHU HK is permitted under the respective laws of Hong Kong to provide funding to WFOE through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. There are no restrictions on dividend transfers from Hong Kong to the Cayman Islands.
To transfer cash from HUHU HK to WFOE, HUHU HK can increase its registered capital in WFOE, which requires a report with the local commerce department, the registration with the local administration for market regulation and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE, or through a shareholder loan, which requires a registration with the SAFE or its local bureau. Aside from the aforesaid declaration to the relevant authorities, there is no restriction or limitations on such cash transfer.
To make loans to HUHU HK, WFOE or HUHU China, according to Matters relating to the Macro-prudential Management of Comprehensive Cross-border Financing, or PBOC Circular 9 promulgated by the People’s Bank of China, the total cross-border financing of a company shall be calculated using a risk-weighted approach and shall not exceed an upper limit. The upper limit shall be calculated as capital or assets (for enterprises, net assets shall apply) multiplied by a cross-border financing leverage ratio and multiplied by a macro-prudential regulation parameter. The macro-prudential regulation parameter is currently 1.5, which may be adjusted by the People’s Bank of China and the SAFE in the future, and the cross-border financing leverage ratio
60
is 2 for enterprises. Therefore, the upper limit of the loans that a PRC company can borrow from foreign companies shall be calculated at 2 times the borrower’s net assets. When WFOE and HUHU China jointly apply for borrowing foreign debt, the upper limit of borrowing shall be 2 times of the net assets in the consolidated financial statement.
HUHUTECH may rely on dividends paid by its subsidiaries for its working capital and cash needs, including the funds necessary to pay dividends to its shareholders. If HUHUTECH’s subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to HUHUTECH.
As a result of PRC laws and regulations (noted below) that require annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside in a general reserve fund prior to payment of dividends, WFOE is restricted in that respect, as well as in other respects noted below, in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to HUHU HK as a dividend. We note the following:
1. PRC regulations currently permit the payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits, as determined in accordance with accounting standards and PRC regulations;
2. WFOE is required to set aside, at a minimum, 10% of its net income after taxes, based on PRC accounting standards, each year as statutory general reserves until the cumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital;
3. Such reserves may not be distributed as cash dividends;
4. WFOE may, upon a decision made by the shareholder, draw a discretionary common reserve from the after-tax profits; and
5. The incurrence of debt, specifically the instruments governing such debt, may restrict a subsidiary’s ability to pay stockholder dividends or make other cash distributions.
To transfer cash from HUHU Japan to WFOE, it is subject to restrictions under the Japanese Corporate Law.
(1) A company may pay dividends of surplus to its shareholders (Article 453 of the Companies Act).
(2) In order for a company to pay dividends from surplus, it must meet the following requirements:
(1) The company’s net assets must be at least 3 million yen (Article 458 of the Companies Act).
(2) To distribute surplus within the limit of the amount available for distribution (Article 461 of the Companies Act).
The distributable amount is calculated in accordance with Article 461, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act and Articles 156 and 158 of the Corporate Calculation Regulations. The amount is the “amount of other capital surplus plus other retained earnings” as of the end of the fiscal year.
(3) To record reserves as required by the Law and the Ministry of Justice Ordinance (Article 445, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act and Article 22 of the Corporate Calculation Regulations).
When a company pays dividends from its surplus, it must record an amount equal to “the amount of surplus to be reduced × 1/10” as additional paid-in capital or legal reserve. Such reserves may be recorded until the amount of reserves reaches “amount of capital × 1/4” (Article 445, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act, Article 22 of the Corporate Accounting Regulations).
(3) Whenever a company intends to distribute surplus, it shall, by an ordinary resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, determine the type of dividend property and the total book value, matters concerning the allocation of dividend property to shareholders, and the effective date of the distribution of surplus (Article 454(1) of the Companies Act).
The articles of incorporation may stipulate that the board of directors determine the distribution of surplus if:
A, the company is a company with accounting auditors
B, the term of office of directors does not exceed one year
61
C, the company has a board of corporate auditors, audit committee, or nominating committee (Article 459, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Companies Act).
(4) If a distribution of surplus is made in violation of the regulations on the amount available for distribution, the person who received the money, etc. must pay to the company money equivalent to the book value of the money that he or she received. (Article 462, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act).
As of the date of this prospectus, HUHUTECH and its subsidiaries do not have any plans to distribute earnings or settle amounts in the foreseeable future. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no cash transfers between the holding company and its subsidiaries.
See “Corporate History and Structure — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries”
62
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear in this prospectus. In addition to historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly in “Risk Factors.” All amounts included herein with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or U.S. GAAP.
Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts and per share amounts in this prospectus have been presented giving effect to a forward split of our Ordinary Shares at a ratio of 1-for-4, approved by our shareholders on July 15, 2024.
Overview
We are a holding company incorporated as an exempted company on July 8, 2021 under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct substantially all of our operations through HUHU China and HUHU Japan. HUHU China and HUHU Japan are professional system integration providers to design and implement integrated facility management systems and industrial automation monitoring systems mainly for the optoelectronic, semiconductor, telecom and logistic industries in the PRC and Japan.
The Company currently generates most of its revenues from system integration projects, which represented 97.2% and 99.7% of total revenue for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We also generate revenue from product sales, which represented 1.6% and 0% of our revenue for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Engineering consulting services represented 1.2% and 0.3% of total revenue for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our total revenues were approximately $16.7 million and $11.4 million, respectively.
Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) updates
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. Many businesses and social activities in China and other countries and regions have been severely disrupted in the first quarter of 2020, including those of our suppliers, customers and employees. This global outbreak has also caused market panics, which materially and negatively affected the global financial markets, such as the plunge of global stocks on major stock exchanges in March 2020. Such disruption and the potential slowdown of the world’s economy in 2020 and beyond could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Due to the fact that the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak appears to be gradually contained in China, our production and sales activities gradually returned to normal in fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We and our customers have not experienced significant business disruptions and suspension of operations due to quarantine measures to contain the spread of the pandemic. We have experienced some occasional minor disruptions due to the quarantine measures taken by the local government. For example, in April 2022, we experienced temporary delays in product delivery due to shutdown caused by the pandemic that affected our logistics service providers. We believe delays of such nature have not created significant disruption of our business operations overall. The Company’s revenues increased approximately 12% as compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. On December 7, 2022, China announced 10 new rules that constitute a relaxation of almost all of its stringent COVID-19 pandemic control measures. Shortly after their announcement, additional mobility restrictions issued by local governments were also scrapped.
On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. However, the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s future financial results will be dependent on future developments such as the length and severity of COVID-19, the potential resurgence of COVID-19, future government actions in
63
response to the COVID-19 and the overall impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and capital markets, among many other factors, all of which remain highly uncertain and unpredictable. Given this uncertainty, the Company is currently unable to quantify the expected impact of COVID-19 on its future operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Trends and Key Factors that Affect Operating Results
HUHU China currently derives a majority of its revenues from the system integration projects. Approximately 8% of the integration projects are long-term projects, which mainly include gas monitoring system, heat insulation system and facility monitoring and management system, and 92% are short-term contracts that are mainly supplemental contracts of long-term contracts. HUHU China intends to continually enhance the services and cross-sell new services to existing customers and acquire new customers by increasing market penetration with a deeper market coverage and broader geographical reach. HUHU China’s construction enterprise qualification is first-class and well recognized by clients. Maintaining and enhancing the recognition, image and acceptance of our brand are important to HUHU China’s ability to differentiate our products from and to compete effectively with our peers. Our brand image, however, could be jeopardized if we fail to maintain high product quality, pioneer and keep pace with evolving technology trends, or timely fulfill the orders for our products. If we fail to promote our brand or to maintain or enhance our brand recognition and awareness among our customers, or if we are subject to events or negative allegations affecting our brand image or the publicly perceived position of our brand, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
HUHU China intends to expand the scope of services to the existing customers and acquire new customers by continually making significant investments in R&D. We plan to use 50% of our proceeds from this offering to construct a 5,000 square meter R&D plant in Xinwu District Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province, PRC and purchase of the related equipment for the production of equipment for gas supply systems. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 we incurred R&D expense of $1,341,221 and $1,213,529, respectively. We will continue to improve upon and expand our production and products offerings through our research and development and technology innovations in order to deliver innovative products. We expect our research and development spending to stay above the amounts from the past years. Our business is closely related to the software and semiconductor industry, which is now experiencing rapid technological changes. Failure to anticipate technology innovations or adapt to such innovations in a timely manner, or at all, may result in our products becoming obsolete at sudden and unpredictable intervals. We monitor a number of financial and non-financial key business metric to evaluate on a regular basis business and growth trends, establish budgets, measure the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts, and assess operational efficiencies. We believe that some of the most important measures include gross margin, operating margin, net income (loss) as well as the non-financial key metrics discussed below which may differ from other similarly titled metrics used by other companies, securities analysts or investors. Number of contracts for our system integration projects
We monitor the number of contracts with customers for our system integration projects. The number of contracts will directly impact our results of operations, including revenues and gross margins for the foreseeable future. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we completed 135 system integration projects, which decrease from 138 projects for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Average contract price for our system integration projects
We monitor the average contract price for our system integration projects, which impacts our future revenues and gross margins. Our average contract price increased from $82,203 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $120,407 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The average contract price is affected by number of new clients obtained, large contracts completed, and different clients customized needs. It varies across the presented financial periods.
Expansion of our geographic coverage
We believe there is a substantial opportunity to further grow our customer base by continuing to make significant investments in sales, marketing and brand awareness. Our ability to attract new customers will depend on a number of factors, including competitive dynamics in our targeted new geographical markets in Japan. We intend to expand our marketing and sales team with a focus on increasing sales in targeted geographies and customer segments. HUHU Japan started operation in July 2022. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, HUHU Japan provided services to 9 and 1 clients, and completed 32 and 1 projects, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, HUHU Japan contributed 33.9% and 0.01% of total revenue, respectively.
64
Results of Operations
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and provides information regarding the dollar and percentage increase or (decrease) during such periods.
|
For the Years Ended |
|||||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
|
REVENUES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
System integration projects |
$ |
16,254,922 |
|
$ |
11,344,086 |
|
$ |
4,910,836 |
|
43.3 |
% |
||||
|
Engineering consulting services |
|
204,712 |
|
|
30,171 |
|
|
174,541 |
|
578.5 |
% |
||||
|
Product sales |
|
273,054 |
|
|
— |
|
|
273,054 |
|
— |
% |
||||
|
Total revenues |
|
16,732,688 |
|
|
11,374,257 |
|
|
5,358,431 |
|
47.1 |
% |
||||
|
COST OF REVENUES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
System integration projects |
|
11,049,539 |
|
|
7,822,489 |
|
|
3,227,050 |
|
41.3 |
% |
||||
|
Engineering consulting services |
|
65,163 |
|
|
1,787 |
|
|
63,376 |
|
3546.5 |
% |
||||
|
Product sales |
|
206,094 |
|
|
— |
|
|
206,094 |
|
— |
% |
||||
|
Total cost of revenues |
|
11,320,796 |
|
|
7,824,276 |
|
|
3,496,520 |
|
44.7 |
% |
||||
|
GROSS PROFIT |
|
5,411,892 |
|
|
3,549,981 |
|
|
1,861,911 |
|
52.4 |
% |
||||
|
OPERATING EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Selling expenses |
|
871,797 |
|
|
391,013 |
|
|
480,784 |
|
123.0 |
% |
||||
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
1,036,922 |
|
|
1,033,079 |
|
|
3,843 |
|
0.4 |
% |
||||
|
Research and development expenses |
|
1,341,221 |
|
|
1,213,529 |
|
|
127,692 |
|
10.5 |
% |
||||
|
Total operating expenses |
|
3,249,940 |
|
|
2,637,621 |
|
|
612,319 |
|
23.7 |
% |
||||
|
Income from operations |
|
2,161,952 |
|
|
912,360 |
|
|
1,249,592 |
|
129.8 |
% |
||||
|
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Interest income |
|
7,279 |
|
|
4,021 |
|
|
3,258 |
|
81.0 |
% |
||||
|
Interest expense |
|
(72,197 |
) |
|
(51,985 |
) |
|
(20,212 |
) |
39.1 |
% |
||||
|
Other income, net |
|
492,123 |
|
|
99,920 |
|
|
392,303 |
|
392.5 |
% |
||||
|
Total other income, net |
|
427,205 |
|
|
51,956 |
|
|
375,249 |
|
717.9 |
% |
||||
|
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES |
|
2,589,157 |
|
|
964,316 |
|
|
1,624,841 |
|
160.1 |
% |
||||
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
255,570 |
|
|
34,307 |
|
|
221,263 |
|
645.0 |
% |
||||
|
NET INCOME |
$ |
2,333,587 |
|
$ |
930,009 |
|
$ |
1,403,578 |
|
143.2 |
% |
||||
Revenues
We derive revenues from three sources: (1) system integration projects, (2) engineering consulting services, and (3) product sales.
The Company is a professional system integration provider to design and implement integrated facility management systems and industrial automation monitoring systems mainly for optoelectronic, semiconductor, telecom and logistic industries. For the year ended December 31, 2023, our total revenue was approximately $16.7 million as compared to $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s total revenue increased by approximately $5.3 million, or 47.1%. The overall increase in total revenue was primarily attributable to a $4.9 million increase in revenue from system integration projects.
Revenue from system integration projects
The Company’s revenues from system integration projects are normally under fixed-price contracts that may last from six months to three years. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, most of our system integration project contracts are short term contracts. Our system integration project contracts require the Company to perform customized services of project planning, system coding, installation of hardware and equipment, and
65
configuration based on customers’ specific needs which requires significant customization. Revenue is recognized over the contract time using an input method under which the percentage of revenue to be recognized for a given project is measured by the estimates of the extent of progress towards project completion.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, revenue from system integration projects was approximately $16.3 million as compared to $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, representing an increase of $5.0 million or 43.3%, which was due to the expansion of our business in the Japanese market for the year ended December 31, 2023. The number of contracts we completed were 135 and 138 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The average contract price increased from $82,203 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $120,407 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Revenue from engineering consulting services
Revenues generated from engineering consulting services are recognized upon the delivery of the engineering report as the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied. For the year ended December 31, 2023, revenues from engineering consulting services were approximately $205,000 as compared to $30,171 for the year ended December 31, 2022, representing an increase of $174,000 or 578.5%. The significant increase was a result of the system integration projects as the Company provided consulting services as auxiliary service to some system integration clients in need.
Revenue from product sales
Revenues from product sales is recognized when delivery has occurred and the customer accepts the equipment and the Company has no performance obligations after the acceptance.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our product sales were approximately $273,000 as compared to $nil for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of product sales revenue was due to increase in product sales in HUHU Japan along with system integration projects in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cost of Revenues
Our cost of revenues mainly consists of outsourcing costs, material costs and compensation expenses for our professionals. Our total cost of revenues increased by approximately $3.5 million or 44.7% from approximately $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cost of system integration projects increased by approximately $3.2 million or 41.3% from approximately $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $11.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was in line with the revenue increase.
Cost of engineering consulting services increased by $63,376 from $1,787 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $65,163 for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was in line with the revenue increase.
Cost of product sales increased by approximately $0.2 million from $nil for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was consistent with the increase of the revenue from product sales.
Gross profit
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
GROSS PROFIT |
Gross |
Gross |
Gross |
Gross |
Change |
% of |
||||||||||||
|
System integration projects |
$ |
5,205,383 |
32.0 |
% |
$ |
3,521,597 |
31.0 |
% |
$ |
1,683,786 |
47.8 |
% |
||||||
|
Engineering consulting services |
|
139,549 |
68.2 |
% |
|
28,384 |
94.1 |
% |
|
111,165 |
391.6 |
% |
||||||
|
Product sales |
|
66,960 |
24.5 |
% |
|
— |
— |
% |
|
66,960 |
— |
% |
||||||
|
Total gross profit |
$ |
5,411,892 |
32.3 |
% |
$ |
3,549,981 |
31.2 |
% |
$ |
1,861,911 |
52.4 |
% |
||||||
66
Our gross profit increased by approximately $1.9 million or 52.4% from approximately $3.5 million in fiscal 2022 to approximately $5.4 million in fiscal 2023. The increase of gross profit in fiscal 2023 was mainly due to the increase of our revenue from system integration projects. Gross margin as a percent of overall revenue for fiscal 2023 and 2022 was 32.3% and 31.2%, respectively. The Company’s gross profit margin is relatively stable.
Gross profit for system integration projects increased by approximately $1.7 million from approximately $3.5 million in fiscal 2022 to approximately $5.2 million in fiscal 2023. Gross profit margin for fiscal 2023 and 2022 was 32.0% and 31.0%, respectively. The increase of the gross profit margin was because we completed several large contracts with higher gross profit margin.
Gross profit for engineering consulting services increased by $111,165 from $28,384 in fiscal 2022 to $139,549 in fiscal 2023. Gross profit margin for fiscal 2023 and 2022 was 68.2% and 94.1%, respectively. The decrease of the gross profit margin in fiscal 2023 was mainly due to the use third-party outsourced services.
Gross profit for product sales increased from $nil in fiscal 2022 to $66,960 in fiscal 2023. Gross profit margin for fiscal 2023 was 24.5%.
Operating Expenses
|
For the Years Ended |
||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
% Change |
|||||||||
|
OPERATING EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Selling expenses |
$ |
871,797 |
$ |
391,013 |
$ |
480,784 |
123.0 |
% |
||||
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
1,036,922 |
|
1,033,079 |
|
3,843 |
0.4 |
% |
||||
|
Research and development expenses |
|
1,341,221 |
|
1,213,529 |
|
127,692 |
10.5 |
% |
||||
|
Total operating expenses |
$ |
3,249,940 |
$ |
2,637,621 |
$ |
612,319 |
23.7 |
% |
||||
Our operating expenses consist of selling, general and administrative and R&D expenses. Operating expenses increased by approximately $0.6 million, or 23.7%, from approximately $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in our operating expenses was primarily due to the increases in R&D expenses of approximately $0.1 million and selling expenses of approximately $0.5 million.
Selling expenses primarily consisted of promotional fees, advertising expenses, travel, salary and compensation expenses relating to our sales personnel and other expenses relating to our sales activities. Selling expenses increased by approximately $0.5 million or 123.0% from approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 mainly due to the operation of HUHU Japan. Office expense increased by approximately $0.2 million. Salary and social welfare expenses increased by approximately $0.1 million as a result of an increased headcount of marketing personnel. Business reception expenses increased by approximately $0.1 million. Travel and other expenses increased by approximately $0.1 million.
General and administrative expenses primarily consisted of salary and compensation expenses relating to our accounting, human resources and executive office personnel, and included rental expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, office overhead, impairment losses, professional service fees and travel and transportation costs. General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $4,000 or 0.4% from approximately $1,033,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $1,037,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. due to the operation of HUHU Japan. Office expense increased by approximately $105,000, salary and social welfare expenses increased by approximately $62,000 as a result of an increased headcount of office personnel, offset by a decrease in consulting and audit fees by approximately $163,000.
R&D expenses primarily consisted of materials, compensation and benefit expenses relating to our R&D personnel as well as office overhead and other expenses relating to our R&D activities. Our R&D expenses increased from approximately $1.2 million in fiscal 2022 to approximately $1.3 million in fiscal 2023, representing 8.0% and 10.7% of our total revenues for fiscal 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase was due to (1) an increase of approximately $70,000 in material costs; and (2) an increase of approximately $53,000 in technical consulting fees charged by a third party.
67
Other Income (Expense)
Other income (expense) primarily consists of interest income, interest expense and other income. Our net other income amounted to $427,205 in fiscal 2023, as compared to a net other income of $51,956 in fiscal 2022, mainly due to an increase of $367,216 in government grants.
Income tax provision
Income tax provision was $255,570 and $34,307 in fiscal 2023 and 2022, respectively. Under the EIT Law of PRC, domestic enterprises and Foreign Investment Enterprises (the “FIE”) are usually subject to a unified 25% enterprise income tax rate while preferential tax rates, tax holidays and even tax exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis. According to PRC tax regulations, 200% of current year R&D expense approved by the local tax authority may be deducted from taxable income since January 1, 2021 and HUHU China obtained the “high-tech enterprise” tax status in June 2023, which reduced its statutory income tax rate to 15%. The new certificate is valid for three years and expires in December 2025. In addition, we realized income before taxes in Japan of $1,186,251 which is taxed at a 20% rate. The impact of the tax treatment noted above lowered our effective income tax rate to 11.9% and 3.6% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Net Income
As a result of reasons and circumstances discussed above, our net income increased by approximately $1.4 million, or 143.2%, from approximately $0.9 million in fiscal 2022 to approximately $2.3 million in fiscal 2023. The increase in net income is contributed by an increase of approximately $1.9 million in gross profit and an increase of approximately $0.4 million in government grants, partially offset by an increase of approximately $0.6 million in operating expenses.
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation adjustments amounted to $(105,029) and $(238,627) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The balance sheet amounts with the exception of equity as of December 31, 2023 were translated at RMB7.0999 to USD1.00 as compared to RMB6.8972 to USD1.00 as of December 31, 2022. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the income statements accounts for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were RMB7.0809 to USD1.00 and RMB6.7290 to USD1.00, respectively. The change in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar may affect our financial results reported in the U.S, dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations. The balance sheet amounts with the exception of equity as of December 31, 2023 were translated at JPY140.80 to USD1.00 as compared to JPY131.81 to USD1.00 as of December 31, 2022. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the income statements accounts for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were JPY140.82 to USD1.00 and JPY131.46 to USD1.00, respectively. The change in the value of the JPY relative to the U.S. dollar may affect our financial results reported in the U.S, dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China and Japan. Majority of our revenue, expenses, and cash are denominated in RMB. RMB is subject to the exchange managements regulation in China, and, as a result, we may have difficulty distributing any dividends outside of China due to PRC exchange management regulations on converting RMB into U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the aggregate amount of cash in banks of $1,572,577 and $1,326,217, respectively, was held at major financial institutions in the PRC. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the aggregate amount of cash in banks of $1,157,820 and $165,264, respectively, was held at major financial institutions in the Japan.
We have historically funded our working capital needs primarily from operations, bank loans, advance payments from customers and capital contributions from shareholders. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022. We had working capital of approximately $3.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we generated net income of approximately $2.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively. The Company generated cash flows from operations of approximately $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cash
68
flows used in operations was approximately $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, The working capital requirements are affected by the efficiency of operations, the numerical volume and dollar value of revenue contracts, the progress or execution on customer contracts, and the timing of accounts receivable collections.
In assessing our liquidity, we monitor and analyze our cash on hand, our ability to generate sufficient revenue sources in the future and our operating and capital expenditure commitments. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had unrestricted cash of approximately $2.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, our short term bank loan balance was approximately $1.7 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
We also had restricted cash of $107,129 and $326,888 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Restricted cash consists of cash and cash equivalents which is used as collateral to secure notes payable and used as guarantee deposit to secure the performance guarantee bank acceptance. A note payable is a draft issued by a bank for payments in future, which defers the payment until the due date for redeeming the note. According to the notes payable agreement with the bank, 50%-100% of the amount is required to be deposited at the bank as security for the notes payable. Guarantee deposit is the deposit in bank to secure the performance guarantee bank acceptance issued by the bank. The performance guarantee bank acceptance is required by the Company’s customer for certain project as a guarantee to fulfill the contract. The security deposit for notes payable and performance guarantee bank acceptances amounted to $96,125 and $11,004, respectively, as of December 31, 2023. The security deposit for notes payable and performance guarantee bank acceptances amounted to $254,221 and $72,667, respectively, as of December 31, 2022. The Company earns interest at a variable rate per month on this restricted cash balance.
The Cayman holding company is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through HUHU China and HUHU Japan. As a result, the Company’s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our subsidiaries. HUHU China is permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, our subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profits each year based on PRC accounting standards, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. The statutory reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by our subsidiaries out of China is subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE. Our subsidiaries have not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds. In addition, we would need to accrue and pay withholding taxes if we were to distribute funds from HUHU China to us. We do not intend to repatriate such funds in the foreseeable future, as we plan to use existing cash balance in PRC for general corporate purposes. When HUHU Japan pays dividends to its parent company in Cayman, it is subject to restrictions under the Japanese Corporate Law.
(1) A company may pay dividends of surplus to its shareholders (Article 453 of the Companies Act).
(2) In order for a company to pay dividends from surplus, it must meet the following requirements:
(1) The company’s net assets must be at least 3 million yen (Article 458 of the Companies Act).
(2) To distribute surplus within the limit of the amount available for distribution (Article 461 of the Companies Act).
The distributable amount is calculated in accordance with Article 461, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act and Articles 156 and 158 of the Corporate Calculation Regulations. The amount is the “amount of other capital surplus plus other retained earnings” as of the end of the fiscal year.
(3) To record reserves as required by the Law and the Ministry of Justice Ordinance (Article 445, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act and Article 22 of the Corporate Calculation Regulations).
When a company pays dividends from its surplus, it must record an amount equal to “the amount of surplus to be reduced × 1/10” as additional paid-in capital or legal reserve. Such reserves may be recorded until the amount of reserves reaches “amount of capital × 1/4” (Article 445, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act, Article 22 of the Corporate Accounting Regulations).
69
(3) Whenever a company intends to distribute surplus, it shall, by an ordinary resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, determine the type of dividend property and the total book value, matters concerning the allocation of dividend property to shareholders, and the effective date of the distribution of surplus (Article 454(1) of the Companies Act).
The articles of incorporation may stipulate that the board of directors determine the distribution of surplus if:
A, the company is a company with accounting auditors.
B, the term of office of directors does not exceed one year.
C, the company has a board of corporate auditors, audit committee, or nominating committee (Article 459, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Companies Act).
(4) If a distribution of surplus is made in violation of the regulations on the amount available for distribution, the person who received the money, etc. must pay to the company money equivalent to the book value of the money that he or she received. (Article 462, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act).
A business executive who has made a distribution of surplus in violation of the regulations on the distributable amount or a director proposing a proposal for a general meeting shall be required to pay money equivalent to the book value of the surplus, etc. distributed in violation of the regulations on the distributable amount. must pay jointly and severally to the company.
Criminal penalties may be imposed on directors, accounting counselors, auditors, executive officers, etc. (Article 963, Paragraph 5, Item 2 of the Companies Act).
The Company believes that its cash on hand and operating cash flows will be sufficient to fund its operations over at least the next 12 months from the date of this prospectus. However, the Company may need additional cash resources in the future if the Company experiences changed business conditions or other developments, and/or access to short term bank loans, and may also need additional cash resources in the future if the Company wishes to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, strategic cooperation or other similar actions. If it is determined that the cash requirements exceed the Company’s amounts of cash on hand, the Company may seek to issue debt or equity securities or obtain a credit facility.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following summarizes the key components of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
|
For the Years Ended |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
$ |
3,048,929 |
|
$ |
(139,539 |
) |
||
|
Net cash (used in) investing activities |
|
(1,208,253 |
) |
|
(95,448 |
) |
||
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
(594,576 |
) |
|
1,317,284 |
|
||
|
Effect of exchange rate change on cash |
|
(88,057 |
) |
|
(5,196 |
) |
||
|
Net increase in cash |
$ |
1,158,043 |
|
$ |
1,077,101 |
|
||
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which mainly consisted of approximately $2.3 million of net income, adjustment of $0.3 million non-cash items, and changes in working capital, which primarily comprised of: an increase in accounts payable of approximately $1.6 million due to increase of purchase volume, an increase in accounts receivable of approximately $2.8 million due to increase in revenue, an increase in advance from customers of approximately $0.4 million due to more projects, an increase in taxes payable of approximately $0.2 million and an decrease in inventories of approximately $0.9 million.
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Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Cash used by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 mainly consisted of approximately $0.9 million of net income, adjustment of $0.1 million non-cash items, an increase in accounts receivable of approximately $1.4 million due to the increase in revenue, an increase in inventory of approximately $1.0 million due to the Company had more contracts on going and in preparation, an increase in prepayments and other assets of approximately $0.2 million due to a bidding security deposit, an increase in advance from customers of approximately $0.5 million due to more projects and an increase in accounts payable of approximately $0.7 million due to an increase of purchase volume.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $1.2 million for fiscal 2023, mainly consisting of purchases of land, property and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $0.1 million for fiscal 2022, mainly consisting of purchases of property and equipment.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $0.6 million for fiscal 2023, which consisted of proceeds from short-term bank loans of approximately $2.4 million and proceeds from related parties $0.3 million, offset by repayment of short-term bank loans of approximately $2.7 million, repayment of notes payable of approximately $0.4 million, and payment of offering costs of approximately $0.2 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $1.3 million for fiscal 2022, which consisted of proceeds from short-term bank loans of approximately $5.1 million and proceeds from notes payable of approximately $0.4 million, offset by repayment of short-term bank loans of approximately $4.0 million and payment of offering costs of approximately $0.2 million.
Capital Expenditures
The Company made capital expenditures of approximately $1.2 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In these periods, our capital expenditures were mainly used for purchases of property, intangible assets and equipment in connection with our expansion in Japan. The Company will continue to make capital expenditures to meet the expected growth of its business.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
There were no off-balance sheet arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 that have or that in the opinion of management are likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Research and development, patents and licenses, etc.
See “Business — Research and Development” and “Our Business — Intellectual Property”.
Trend Information
Other than as described elsewhere in this prospectus, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our revenue, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause our reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that can have a meaningful effect on the reporting of consolidated financial statements. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in our estimates.
Critical accounting estimates are defined as those reflective of significant judgments, estimates and uncertainties, which may result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. The following descriptions of critical accounting estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other disclosures included in this prospectus.
When reading our consolidated financial statements, you should consider our selection of critical accounting policies, the judgment and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions. Our critical accounting policies and practices include allowance for doubtful accounts, allowance for inventories obsolescence, revenue recognition and the realization of deferred tax assets. We believe the following accounting estimates involve the most significant judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Accounts receivable, net
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires the Company to measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held and not accounted for at fair value through net income. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2023. ASC 326 introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate the allowance for credit losses, which replaces the previous incurred loss impairment model. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounts receivable are recognized and carried at original invoiced amount less an estimated allowance for credit losses. The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses based on an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable, assessment of collectability, including any known or anticipated economic conditions, customer-specific circumstances, recent payment history and other relevant factors.
Inventories
Inventories are materials stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Costs include purchase price and related shipping costs. The cost of inventories is calculated using the weighted average method. Any excess of the cost over the net realizable value of each item of inventories is recognized as an inventory valuation allowance. Net realizable value is estimated using selling price in the normal course of business less any costs to complete and sell products. No inventory reserve was recorded as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Property, plant and equipment, net
Land is recorded at cost. Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided in the amounts sufficient to depreciate the cost of the related assets over their useful lives using the straight-line method, as follows:
|
Useful life |
||
|
Office equipment |
3 – 5 years |
|
|
Transportation equipment |
4 years |
|
|
Building |
20 years |
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs, which do not materially extend the useful lives of the assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments which substantially extend the useful life of assets are capitalized. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income in other income or expenses.
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Revenue recognition
The Company adopted ASC Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. Revenues were presented under ASC 606 and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC 606 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the contract (s) with a customer
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Step 3: Determine the transaction price
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation
The Company derives its revenues primarily from three sources: (1) system integration projects; (2) product sales; (3) engineering consulting services. All of the Company’s contracts with customer do not contain cancellable and refund-type provisions.
Revenue from system integration projects
The Company’s revenues from system integration projects are normally under fixed-price contracts that may last from six months to three years. These contracts require the Company to perform customized services of project planning, system coding, installation of hardware and equipment, and configuration based on the customers’ specific needs which requires significant customization. Upon delivery of the services and equipment, customer acceptance is generally required. In the same contract, the Company is required to provide a warranty period for one to two years (“warranty period”) after the customized project is delivered with a 3% – 10% holdback of the total contract price (“contract holdback”) which is to be paid after the end of warranty period. The Company determined the warranty clause included in the contractual term is directly related to the quality of the Company’s integration projects and there are no specific tasks to be performed during the warranty period, and therefore, consider it an assurance-type warranty. The warranty is not considered a separate performance obligation and no revenue is associated with these services under ASC 606. Because of the nature of the projects, and the contract owners perform inspection during the project and prior to acceptance, the Company has not experienced material warranty costs and, therefore, does not believe an accrual for these costs is necessary.
Revenue is recognized over the contract term using an input method under which the percentage of revenue to be recognized for a given project is measured by the estimates of the extent of progress towards project completion. Such contracts provide that the customer accept completion of progress to date and compensate the Company for services rendered, which may be measured in terms of costs incurred, units installed, or some other measure of progress. Application of the input method requires the use of estimates of costs to be incurred for the performance of the contract. Contract costs include all direct material costs, direct labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, and all costs associated with operation of equipment. The contract holdback is recognized as revenue after the warranty period has expired.
The cost estimation process is based upon the professional knowledge and experience of the Company’s engineers, project managers and financial professionals. Management conducts monthly reviews to assess the contract’s schedule, performance, technical matters and estimated cost at completion. When changes in estimated contract costs are identified, such revisions may result in current period adjustments to operations applicable to performance in prior periods.
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Revenue from product sales
The Company generates revenue primarily through the sale and delivery of promised goods to customers and recognizes revenue when control is transferred to customers, which typically occurs upon customer acceptance, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services and is recorded net of value-added tax (“VAT”). The Company’s contracts with customers are primarily on a fixed-price basis and do not contain cancellable and refund-type provisions.
The Company generally provides a one-year warranty against defects in materials related to the sale of products. The Company considerers the warranty as an assurance type warranty since the warranty provides the customer the assurance that the product complies with agreed-upon specifications. Estimated future warranty obligations are included in cost of product sales in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. The determination of the Company’s warranty accrual is based on actual historical experience with the product, estimates of repair and replacement costs and any product warranty problems that are identified after shipment. The Company estimates and adjusts these accruals at each balance sheet date in accordance with changes in these factors.
Revenue from engineering consulting services
Revenues generated from engineering consulting services are recognized upon the delivery of the engineering report as the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied. Expenses related to these types of services are recognized as incurred.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
A list of recent relevant accounting pronouncements is included in Note 2 “Summary of Principal Accounting Policies” of our Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Overview
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct our operations through our subsidiaries established in China and Japan. Our PRC subsidiary, HUHU China was incorporated in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, PRC on August 20, 2015 under the laws of the PRC. Our Japan subsidiary, HUHU Japan was incorporated on April 25, 2022 under the laws of Japan.
We, through our subsidiaries, specialize in providing factory facility management and monitoring systems, including high-purity process system (“HPS”) and factory management and control systems (“FMCS”) for our industrial clients, who are mainly semi-conductor manufacturers and electronics manufacturers in China. We believe our products and services are widely used by semi-conductor manufacturers, LED and micro-electronics factories, as well as some pharmaceutical, food and beverage manufacturers.
Within the HPS, we provide two types of solutions: (1) High-purity gas conveyor system. The high-purity gas conveyor consists of a specialized gas cabinet, the valve manifold box (“VMB”), the gas monitoring software and gas valve parts. This system is connected to our clients’ own factory equipment, which will receive gas through the system we install. The gas conveyor ensures that the high-purity gas will not be contaminated by being exposed to air, liquid or small particles during the delivery. (2) High-purity chemicals conveyor system. The high-purity chemicals conveyor system conveys multiple chemicals used in the cleaning, corrosion and grinding process. This system consolidates multiple sub-systems including high-purity chemical pipes, valve, chemical sensor, and the chemical monitoring software. With the high-purity chemical conveyor system, we deliver chemicals from the storage container to the client’s manufacture equipment through the distribution valve. Both high-purity gas conveyor system and high-purity chemicals conveyor system are capable of delivering special high purity gas and chemicals in a highly controlled environment that ensures the gas and chemicals meet the purity requirement of our clients’ production process, as well as monitors potential safety issues in the production.
Our FMCS solution provides instant and effective monitoring over our clients’ manufacturing process through the control center located in the clients’ factory. The FMCS service monitors the facility production atmosphere, and consolidates sub-systems, including gas monitoring system (GMS), chemical monitoring system (CMS), high and low voltage power distribution, air pressure system, air conditioning system, water system, access control system, elevator system, sewage treatment system, waste gas emission system, pure water system and other systems. Our software is capable of consolidating all the sub-systems by creating a facility-wide software monitoring platform, where one can monitor and control every aspect of the factory condition. Additionally, we also develop individual sub-systems for our clients, such as gas monitoring system and chemical monitoring system.
Some of our clients are seasoned manufacturers in their industries in China. Our clients include Li Yi System Engineering (Shanghai) Limited, Hefei Lanke Investment Co., Ltd., Shiyuan Technology Engineering Co., Ltd., and AUO Corporation.
We are a nationally recognized brand: we have received ISO9001 standard quality management system certification in June 2021, from Beijing Zhong Jian Xie Certification Centre Co., Ltd., and received both ISO14001 Standard Environmental Management System Certification and ISO45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification in April 2021, both from TQCS International (Group) Pty, Ltd. We have been recognized as a Technology Driven Medium-Small Enterprise by the Science and Technology Bureau in Jiangsu Province in April 2020. We have been rewarded as First-class Qualification for Professional Contracting of Construction Mechanical and Electrical Installation Engineering by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Construction in September 2021.
We obtain raw materials mainly from suppliers in mainland China. Our most common raw materials include programmable logic controllers (“PLC”) modules, network switches, power modules, signal lines, control lines, cables, bridges, and heating materials. For the year ended December 31, 2023, three suppliers accounted for approximately 14.5% 14.0% and 11.5% of total purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one supplier accounted for approximately 13.8% of total purchases. As of December 31, 2023, two suppliers accounted for approximately 33.0% and 10.8% of total accounts payable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, four suppliers accounted for approximately 14.0%, 12.8%, 11.4% and 10.9% of total accounts payable, respectively.
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Corporate History and Structure
HUHUTECH is a holding company with no operations of its own. We conduct our operations in China and Japan through our subsidiaries in the PRC and Japan. The Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are those of HUHUTECH.
The following diagram shows our corporate structure as of the date of this prospectus, including our main subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities:

HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares, was incorporated on July 8, 2021. It is a holding company and is not actively engaged in any business as of the date of this prospectus. HUHUTECH was authorized to issue 5,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.00001 per ordinary share. On July 15, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-4 forward split of our Ordinary Shares. As a result, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0000025 per ordinary share. There are currently 20,000,000 issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of HUHUTECH. HUHUTECH’s registered office is located at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman, KY1-1002, Cayman Islands.
HUHU HK was incorporated on July 28, 2021 under the laws of Hong Kong. HUHU HK is a Hong Kong limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH. HUHU HK is a holding company and does not have any operations.
HUHU Japan was incorporated on April 25, 2022 under the laws of Japan as a limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of HUHUTECH.
Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., LTD (“WFOE”) was incorporated on December 10, 2021 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. WFOE is a limited liability company, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUHU HK. WFOE is a holding company and does not have any operations.
Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd. (“HUHU China”) was incorporated on August 20, 2015 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. HUHU China is a limited liability company.
Our Solutions
We, through HUHU China and HUHU Japan, design and provide customized high-purity gas and chemical production system and equipment. Our products mainly include HPS and FMCS. Our products are customized according to the needs of our clients.
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High-purity Process System
The high-purity process system revolves around applying effective control of impurities in the production process. It is mainly used in the core processes of integrated circuit manufacturing in the pan-semiconductor industry, including the processes of doping, photolithography, etching and CVD film formation processes. The system consists of high-purity process system equipment, high-purity process system piping, valve boxes, valve components and monitoring systems. We offer the overall solution design, installation and value-added services such as ancillary engineering, testing, plant hosting, calibration and maintenance. The technology used in this industry involves a variety of basic sciences such as physics, semiconductor physics, physical chemistry and electrochemistry and various engineering disciplines such as chemical, mechanical, materials and surface treatment. The new production lines of domestic fabrication plants (“fabs”) will bring business opportunities for us for the following reason: our high-purity process system covers 16-65nm equipment, and our high-purity process system possesses the essential technology to support equipment that is used to produce 5nm sized wafers; we believe such capacity gives us a comparative advantage in the industry, due to the technical difficulty in supporting equipment producing wafers of that size; such comparative advantage will help us gain more market shares in the industry, which will bring us business opportunities and potential customers.
We provide high-purity process systems which we design and install for the clients, utilizing the equipment we procure from our suppliers, which is special equipment used in high-purity process systems and transport distribution pipelines. Within high purity process systems, there are two main types: high purity gas conveyor systems and high purity chemical conveyor systems.
High-purity Gas Conveyor System
The high purity gas conveyor system consists of components including special gas cabinets, valve manifold box, gas monitoring software systems (safety and security systems), gas pipes and valve fittings etc. The front end of the system is connected to the high-purity gas plant and the rear end of the system is connected to the client’s own production equipment. This system currently generates most of the Company’s revenue.
High-purity Chemical Conveyor System
The high- purity chemical delivery system is used during the manufacturing process in the pan-semiconductor industry. It supplies a wide range of chemicals for cleaning, etching, grinding and other industrial processes at production facilities in the pan-semiconductor industry. The chemical conveyor system delivers chemicals from tanks and tankers to the various machine demand points via VMB distribution valves. In addition to the associated piping, equipment and valves, a reliable chemical software monitoring system is also required for the system to work properly.
We also offer our customers value-added services related to the conveyor systems, such as ancillary engineering, testing, plant hosting, calibration and maintenance, if applicable.
Factory Management and Control System (FMCS)
Our FMCS provides instant and effective monitoring of our clients’ manufacturing process through the control center of the clients’ factories. We offer a consolidated factory monitoring system that combines multiple factory monitoring systems on one platform and individual factory monitoring systems that specialize in certain aspects of factory environment, including gas monitoring system and chemical monitoring system. All our systems are equipped with a control room where multiple monitoring screens show live status of the facility condition.
Consolidated FMCS
Consolidated FMCS integrates the monitoring information of the various systems of the plant facilities into the central monitoring server, using Ethernet, controllers and communication equipment to form a factory-wide monitoring web, so as to interoperate the information of the whole factory, improve the overall management performance of the factory, simplify the operation and maintenance process, and reduce the management costs. This system integrates the entire factory sub-systems. Through integration, it manages the operational status of each sub-system, serving as the monitoring and management center and coordinating and managing the operation of the entire facility.
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We prioritize the software development of the FMCS, among other aspects of the FMCS solution. The system monitors our clients’ entire plant, including the plant’s gas monitoring, process cooling water monitoring, water supply and drainage monitoring, pure water station monitoring, waste water treatment monitoring, plant environment monitoring, air conditioning monitoring, hot and cold source monitoring, ventilation and exhaust system monitoring, compressed air/vacuum and bulk gas system monitoring, variable power distribution system monitoring, and comprehensive automation monitoring.
Gas Monitoring System (GMS)
We also design and install individual gas monitoring systems. As hazardous gas is routinely used in the manufacturing process in the semi-conductor facilities, the monitoring system of poisonous gas plays a crucial role in the facility. The design of our gas monitoring system takes into account the types of particular gas and the pipeline used to distribute the particular gas, as well as the arrangement of the processing machines. The monitoring system collects data, transmits signals through the gas monitoring equipment and turns off the gas valve timely when warning signs appear. The GMS system has great stability, and is supported by a network of multiple internet devices that work independently without being interfered by any breakdown that could occur to one of the devices. The system is also equipped with backup monitors in the monitoring room in case any individual monitor stops working. The above designs ensures that our monitoring system provides around-the-clock control of the gas transportation process and sends a signal that can turn off the gas valve timely. The picture below illustrates our GMS design:

The GMS is connected to the alarm system and is capable of detecting any leakage of hazardous gas and sending timely signals to people in the facilities. The design is fairly flexible and easy to adapt and improve through our software control. It works with any number of equipment without the need of being adapted or rewritten.
Chemical Monitoring System (CMS)
In the factories in the pan-semiconductor industry, various chemical ingredients are used for cleaning, etching, grinding and other processes, and are distributed through chemical containers and distribution valves. The CMS monitors the safety of the distribution process. The display unit in the control room shows the facility status, including the valve status, pressure number, error signs, electricity input and output, and then sends warnings to the technicians onsite who can timely check the equipment status.
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Production Procedure
For a typical production project, we obtain clients’ needs and formulate an initial proposal of our design, which we will submit for bidding to the client. The client will assess our qualifications before admitting us into the bidding process. If we win the bid, we enter into an agreement with the clients. Our team will then start production. We have adopted an integrated business model to meet our clients’ needs in the production stage: our engineering team sets up the schedule and production steps; the quality control team confirms the qualification of equipment, material sample quality and staff qualification. We charge our clients based on the quantity of equipment that is connected to our system. 10% – 20% of payment will be made upon entry of the agreement, with the remainder of the payment made throughout the production stage. Typically, 95% to 97% of the total purchase price will have been paid upon project delivery. The remaining payment will be made one to two years after the delivery, when the customer is satisfied with our production.
The following chart illustrates our production process:

Our Industry
High purity process system refers to a series of process equipment and related services, including the process system of high purity gases, chemicals and liquids.
The development of modern manufacturing industries such as pan-semiconductor (integrated circuit, flat panel display, photovoltaic, and LED, for example), optical fiber, biomedicine and food and beverage has added complexities in the integrated circuit design, chip manufacturing, packaging and testing along the industry chain.
Such development calls for the specialized division of labor. The high-purity process system is one specialized division in the industry.
The industry of high-purity systems is fairly fragmented, especially among the small to medium sized companies, which compete in a low-concentration market. Meanwhile, the top tier market is divided by a few large companies that provide system installation, equipment production and accessory production to their clients. In 2022, the estimated consumption of high-purity systems equipment that is used in semi-conductor field is estimated to be between $133.28 billion and $152.32 billion. Source: page 6, Global and China High Purity System Solution Market Report, Beijing Zhongdao Taihe Information Consulting Company.
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Expanding Capacity of Semi-conductor Production
Expanding Wafer Production
More than 98% of the Company’s business focuses on the semiconductor field. For instance, gas supplying method is essential to wafer production in the semiconductor industry, and serves an important role in single crystal wafer manufacturing, photolithography, etching and deposition. In the above manufacturing process, multiple high-purity chemicals are used. In the integrated circuit field, high-purity process systems mainly include high-purity special gas systems, bulk gas systems, high-purity chemical systems, grinding liquid supply and recovery systems, and precursor process media systems. Through the high purity system, supporting equipment connects to the process chamber of oxidation/diffusion, etching, ion implantation, deposition, grinding, cleaning and other processes as a working system.
On a global scale, there had been 19 newly launched wafer production factories by the end of 2021, and an additional 10 wafer production factories in 2022. In the next few years, the equipment-related expenditure for these new wafer production facilities is expected to be over $140 billion. It is estimated that by 2026, more than 200 wafer production factories would operate production lines for 12-inch wafers. Source: page 9, Global and China High Purity System Solution Market Report, Beijing Zhongdaotaihe.
The following chart illustrates the past and future of the semiconductor production in China and globally:

• The pillars show the production volume of semiconductor in China (unit: $0.1 billion); the red dots track the growth rate of the production.
Source: page 9, Global and China High Purity System Solution Market Report, Beijing Zhongdaotaihe.
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• The pillars show the production volume of semiconductor in the world (unit: $0.1 billion); the red dots track the growth rate of the production.
Source: page 10, Global and China High Purity System Solution Market Report, Beijing Zhongdaotaihe.
Expanding Photovoltaic Production
The global photovoltaic power generation industry increased from 1% of the total power generation from 2013 to 3% in 2019. In China, the photovoltaic power machine installation in 2020 has grown more than 20 times since 2010. The following chart is a prediction of the development of photovoltaic machine installation in the next decade:

The pillars show the projected photovoltaic installed capacity in China (unit GW), and the red dots track the growth rate.
Source: page 19, Global and China High Purity System Solution Market Report, Beijing Zhongdaotaihe.
Our Suppliers
For the year ended December 31, 2023, three suppliers accounted for approximately 14.5% 14.0% and 11.5% of total purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one supplier accounted for approximately 13.8% of total purchases. As of December 31, 2023, two suppliers accounted for approximately 33.0% and 10.8% of total accounts payable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, four suppliers accounted for approximately 14.0%, 12.8%, 11.4% and 10.9% of total accounts payable, respectively.
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Our Customers
We service major players in the pan-semiconductor industry by supplying reliable high-purity gas and chemical systems and equipment and FMCS. We are a business partner and supplier of many renowned companies in Asia, including Shiyuan Technology Engineering Co., Ltd., Suzhou Ruize System Engineering Co., Ltd., Hesheng Enterprise Co., Ltd., China Electronic System Engineering Fourth Construction Co., Ltd., Li Yi System Engineering (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, one customer accounted for 22.6% of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2022, four customers accounted for 24.4%, 12.7%, 11.5% and 10.0% of total revenues, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, three customers accounted for 16.0%, 13.6% and 11.2% of total accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, five customers accounted for 18.4%, 16.7%, 12.2%, 11.2% and 10.6% of total accounts receivable, respectively.
Our Growth Strategy
Our growth strategies include the following:
• Client Development and Management — Our team consists of members with years of experience in the industry. We have built an excellent relationship with our suppliers and customers.
• Research & Development — We will keep investing substantially in research and development, including research and development of semiconductor process line cleaning control systems, semiconductor ultrapure water system control software, semiconductor process gas detection systems, semiconductor process pipeline temperature automatic control system, FMCS related technology and new equipment. We will keep improving our existing technology and explore the development of FMCS and related new equipment.
• Expand Product and Service Range — We aim to expand our product range to areas including water supply systems, electricity supply systems, air conditioning and ventilation systems. In the services section, we plan to offer annual maintenance and servicing program, the software maintenance and valve and PLC module replacement for the FMCS product. We believe such plans will improve our profitability.
Competitive Advantages
We are committed to providing our customers with high quality service. We believe we have several competitive advantages that will enable us to maintain and further improve our market position in the industry. Our competitive advantages include:
• Technological Capacity. We own software copyright over various programs in fields including facility gas supply, chemical and water processing. Our products, such as the FMCS software, effectively increase operation efficiency by using standardized module software.
• Experienced and Diverse Management Team. Our management team members have more than ten years of experience in their respective fields. Our founder Yujun Xiao is an experienced entrepreneur with extensive experience in business management and operations. Since the founding of the Company, we have established a reliable, professional team with many management and strategy talents. Mr. Xiao and members of this team entered the semiconductor industry relatively early, and have experienced the early development stage of the monitoring service industry for semiconductor businesses in China. He built this team from years of experience as an industry veteran.
• Software Solution Modularity. The PLC module in the system adopts mature algorithm. After the one-time arrangement is completed, the subsequent increase of detector gas cabinet, valve manifold box equipment does not require redownloading of the PLC program. This reduces the errors caused by frequent updates of the program (such as mistakenly shutting down the gas delivery equipment) that could cause customer downtime and lead to significant economic losses. Utilizing software simulation, we test and improve our software without interfering with the operation of the equipment. Our software solution is user-friendly and our clients can add monitoring applications from their end.
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Sales and Marketing
We believe that our solutions have a strong competitive edge in China’s domestic market. Our CEO and CTO play essential roles in bringing in new clients, due to their multiple years of experience in the industry. Additionally, we have established a good reputation among our clients through our consistent high-quality products, which ensures we have plenty of long-term clients that we maintain carefully on a periodical basis. Our sales and marketing department work diligently in maintaining existing client relationships by visiting clients regularly. Our sales personnel also attend industry events and exhibitions to expand our connections and promote our products. Due to our renowned reputation in China, we also receive consultation requests and offers from prospective clients, who discover our product and service by word of mouth and industry exhibitions such as SEMII CHINA and China (Shanghai) International Semiconductor Exhibition.
Research and Development
Our R&D efforts are focused on improving and enhancing our existing products as well as developing new features of such products.
R&D expenses primarily consist of materials, and compensation and benefits expenses relating to our R&D personnel as well as office overhead and other expenses relating to our R&D activities. Our R&D expenses increased from approximately $1.2 million in fiscal 2022 to approximately $1.3 million in fiscal 2023, representing 8.0% and 10.7% of our total revenues for fiscal 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Seasonality
Historically, our operating results and operating cash flows have not been subject to seasonal variations.
Intellectual Property
We rely on trademarks, patent and know-how, as well as contractual restrictions on information disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. We have signed relevant confidentiality agreements or clauses with our executives, certain customers and suppliers, and rely on such confidentiality agreements or clauses and other protections of our technical knowledge to maintain our technological advantages in products and designs.
Protecting our intellectual property is a strategic focus of our business. We do not rely on intellectual property rights authorized by third parties for our business operation.
As of the date of this prospectus, HUHU China has 8 registered trademarks, 1 registered domain name, 32 effective patents and 22 registered copyrights, all in China.
Trademarks
Through HUHU China, we have the following registered trademarks:
|
Trademark |
File Date |
Trademark Name |
Status |
Expiration Date |
Jurisdiction |
Owner |
||||||
|
47408547 |
2021/03/07 |
|
Granted |
2031.03.06 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
47406526 |
2021/05/14 |
|
Granted |
2031.05.13 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
30600821 |
2019/04/28 |
|
Granted |
2029.04.27 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
30582408 |
2019/04/28 |
|
Granted |
2029.04.27 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
30582406 |
2019/04/28 |
|
Granted |
2029.04.27 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
30542505 |
2019/02/14 |
|
Granted |
2029.02.13 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
57890054 |
2021/07/21 |
|
Granted |
2032.04.06 |
China |
HUHU China |
||||||
|
65590985 |
2022/06/28 |
|
Granted |
2033.02.27 |
China |
HUHU China |
83
Patents
Through HUHU China, we currently have 32 Chinese patents, as follows:
|
Patent Number |
File Date |
Issue Date |
Expiration Date |
Title |
Status |
|||||
|
ZL202020062419.0 |
2020.01.13 |
2020.12.25 |
2030.01.12 |
A kind of semiconductor process line cleaning device pipeline structure |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202020063477.5 |
2020.01.13 |
2020.12.25 |
2030.01.12 |
A kind of mobile semiconductor process pipeline device with liquid holding structure |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202020063452.5 |
2020.01.13 |
2020.12.25 |
2030.01.12 |
A kind of semiconductor process pipeline cleaning device |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409472.7 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.14 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of support seat for electromechanical equipment installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409193.0 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.14 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of special lifting equipment for electromechanical installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921431038.9 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.14 |
2029.08.27 |
A new type of positioning clamps for the modular construction of electromechanical installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409218.7 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.14 |
2029.08.27 |
Anti-dislodging Zhicheng electromechanical connection device |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409423.3 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.14 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of tensile installation base for electromechanical equipment |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409194.5 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.10 |
2029.08.27 |
Electrical piping slotting device for building electromechanical installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409483.5 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.07.10 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of safety protection device for electromechanical installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409482.0 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.05.19 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of height adjustable electromechanical equipment installation seat |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409421.4 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.05.19 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of positioning instrument for electromechanical equipment installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409427.1 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.05.19 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of tool holder for electromechanical equipment installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409185.6 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.05.19 |
2029.08.27 |
Auxiliary lifting tools for electrical equipment installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL201921409217.2 |
2019.08.28 |
2020.05.19 |
2029.08.27 |
A kind of slide base for electromechanical installation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202120099080.6 |
2021.01.14 |
2021.09.10 |
2031.01.13 |
A kind of automatic control module for pipeline insulation and heating |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202120097501.1 |
2021.01.14 |
2021.09.10 |
2031.01.13 |
An automatic control system for pipe insulation |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202120097085.5 |
2021.01.14 |
2021.09.10 |
2031.01.13 |
A kind of positioning sensing module for engineering installation |
Effective |
84
|
Patent Number |
File Date |
Issue Date |
Expiration Date |
Title |
Status |
|||||
|
ZL202120096838.0 |
2021.01.14 |
2021.10.01 |
2031.01.13 |
A gas mixing device for semiconductor process |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202120097382.X |
2021.01.14 |
2021.10.22 |
2031.01.13 |
An electrochemical sensor for semiconductor gas detection |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202010032952.7 |
2020.01.13 |
2022.2.22 |
2042.02.21 |
A control method of cleaning equipment for semiconductor manufacturing piping |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202322856290.7 |
— |
— |
— |
Wastewater treatment system |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202322289205.3 |
2023.08.25 |
2024.03.29 |
2033.08.25 |
High purity chemical weighing system |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202322762508.2 |
— |
— |
— |
High purity gas weighing system |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202222544195.9 |
2022.09.26 |
2023.07.11 |
2032.09.26 |
High-purity chemical supply system fully automatic centralized high-purity liquid supply cabinet |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202222594998.5 |
2022.09.28 |
2023.01.06 |
2032.09.28 |
A high-purity chemical system distribution box |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202222513806.3 |
2022.09.22 |
2023.02.24 |
2032.09.22 |
High-purity chemical supply system high-purity chemical mixing cabinet |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202221947498.9 |
2022.07.27 |
2022.12.13 |
2032.07.27 |
A high-purity gas supply system special gas cylinder rack |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202222187593.X |
2022.08.19 |
2022.12.06 |
2032.08.19 |
High purity gas supply system special gas supply diverter plate |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202222159890.3 |
2022.08.17 |
2022.12.06 |
2032.08.17 |
High purity gas supply system special gas supply distribution cabinet |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202221919159.X |
2022.07.25 |
2023.03.03 |
2032.07.25 |
High purity gas supply system special gas cylinder cabinet |
Effective |
|||||
|
ZL202221904215.2 |
2022.07.22 |
2022.12.06 |
2032.07.22 |
Large flow special gas supply system |
Effective |
Copyrights
The following table sets forth a brief description of the Company’s software copyrights:
|
Copyright Number |
Issue Date |
Category |
Copyright Name |
Jurisdiction |
Owner |
|||||
|
2020SR1142390 |
2020.09.22 |
Software |
Huhu Storage Control System |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2020SR1137453 |
2020.09.22 |
Software |
Huhu Storage Management System |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2019SR0983981 |
2019.09.23 |
Software |
Electrical Equipment Installation Automatic Control and Pipeline Design Management |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2019SR0983207 |
2019.09.23 |
Software |
Electrical Equipment Engineering Guideline Management System |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2019SR0983975 |
2019.09.23 |
Software |
Electrical Equipment Installation Engineering Pricing Management System |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2019SR0983888 |
2019.09.23 |
Software |
Electrical Equipment Engineering Safety Coordination Management System |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2019SR0983202 |
2019.09.23 |
Software |
Electrical Equipment Installation Engineering Management System |
China |
HUHU China |
85
|
Copyright Number |
Issue Date |
Category |
Copyright Name |
Jurisdiction |
Owner |
|||||
|
2018SR049719 |
2018.01.22 |
Software |
Gas Monitoring Software |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2021SR0146014 |
2021.01.27 |
Software |
Gas Monitoring System |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2021SR1802422 |
2021.11.19 |
Software |
Plant Service Gas Detector Data Acquisition System V1.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2021SR2002783 |
2021.12.06 |
Software |
Plant Gas Management System Software V1.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2022SR0476107 |
2022.04.15 |
Software |
Plant UPW system monitoring software V1.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2022SR0476108 |
2022.04.15 |
Software |
Plant VOC system monitoring software V1.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2021SR1395107 |
2021.09.17 |
Software |
Heating system monitoring software V1.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2021SR1411095 |
2021.09.22 |
Software |
Air conditioning room system monitoring software V1.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2022SR0999333 |
2022.08.03 |
Software |
HUHU Intelligent Monitoring System Heating V2.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2022SR0999334 |
2022.08.03 |
Software |
Factory Management Control System V3.0 |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2024SR0369857 |
2024.03.08 |
Software |
GMS monitoring system important alarm automatic upload platform |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2024SR0369854 |
2024.03.08 |
Software |
GMS monitoring system real-time data automatic upload platform |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2024SR0369839 |
2024.03.08 |
Software |
GMS monitoring system operation and maintenance data analysis platform |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2023SR1553946 |
2023.12.04 |
Software |
High purity gas supply system GC control software |
China |
HUHU China |
|||||
|
2023SR1558025 |
2023.12.04 |
Software |
High purity gas supply system flow control software |
China |
HUHU China |
Domain
|
Number |
Issue Date |
Registration |
Domain Name |
Owner |
Expiration Date |
|||||
|
1 |
2016/09/06 |
HUHU China |
HUHUTECH.com.cn |
HUHU China |
2026/09/06 |
Our Properties and Facilities
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the total net worth of our equipment and facilities is approximately $1.53 million and $0.51 million, respectively.
We have one owned property located at A3-1208 Tianan Zhihui City, Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu, China, which is the principal office of the Company.
We have one owned property located at 328-2 Nitta, Muro, Otsu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Japan, which serves as the company housing.
We have one owned property located at 819-2 Shimogenba, Oaza Sugimizu, Ozu, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto, Japan, which is a warehouse and office under construction for the Company.
86
Information on our leased properties as of the date of this prospectus is summarized below:
|
No. |
Location |
Space |
Lease Term, |
Monthly |
||||
|
1 |
Room 804, Unit 2, Building 13, Zuoling New City 3rd Community, Gaoxin Avenue, Donghu High-tech Zone, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China |
— |
6.20.2024 – 12.20.2024 |
$282 |
||||
|
2 |
Room 1302, Unit 1, Building 17, Yuquan Community, Zuoling, Donghu New District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China |
— |
12.22.2023 – 12.21.2024 |
$226 |
||||
|
3 |
Room 606, Building 27, Lianhuan Community, Shushan District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China |
— |
2.15.2024 – 2.15.2025 |
$235 |
||||
|
4 |
Shop room (1-3 floors) at No. 117, Building 1F, Area F, Jingshang Trade City, Yaohai District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China |
— |
4.8.2021 – 4.7.2025 |
$71 |
||||
|
5 |
No. 13, Jinding Road, Qiaolin Street, Pukou District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China |
6,458.35 |
10.1.2021 – 9.30.2025 |
$1,216 |
||||
|
6 |
Office Building 9, Tianan Smart City, Xin’an Street, Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China |
15,410.69 |
12.25.2023 – 12.24.2026 |
$6,066 |
||||
|
7 |
Room 401, Building 29, Area 5, Xin’an Garden, Xin’an Street, Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China |
1,044.10 |
10.6.2023 – 10.5.2024 |
$353 |
||||
|
8 |
2-13-7, Jigyo-ku, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka shi, Japan |
981.5 |
4.15.2023 – 4.14.2025 |
$1,527 |
||||
|
9 |
2-1, Kuwamizu 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Japan (Room #403) |
333.3 |
1.5.2023 – 1.4.2025 |
$298 |
||||
|
10 |
2-1, Kuwamizu 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Japan (Room #503) |
333.3 |
11.14.2022 – 11.13.2024 |
$305 |
||||
|
11 |
2-20, Kuwamizu 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Japan |
1,005.3 |
7.15.2022 – 12.31.2024 |
$703 |
Our Employees
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had a total of 74 and 81 full-time employees in China and Japan, respectively. The breakdown of our employees is as the following:
|
Department |
December 31, |
December 31, |
||
|
Human Resources & Administration |
9 |
12 |
||
|
Finance |
6 |
5 |
||
|
Research & Development |
27 |
28 |
||
|
Engineering |
24 |
27 |
||
|
Sales & Marketing |
6 |
6 |
||
|
Product Procurement |
2 |
3 |
||
|
Total |
74 |
81 |
Our employees are not represented by a labor organization or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have not experienced any work stoppages.
87
We are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified percentages of our after-tax profit. In addition, we are required by PRC law to cover employees in China with various types of social insurance and housing funds. To mitigate risks in connection with employment, HUHU Japan must comply with the relevant Japanese laws and regulations. Please refer to the Section entitled “Regulations on Employment” for more details of the relevant PRC and Japanese laws.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of our business. We record a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not involved in any legal or administrative proceedings that may have a material adverse impact on our business, balance sheets or results of operations and cash flows other than as described herein.
88
This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China and Japan.
Regulations in PRC
Regulations on Foreign Investment in China
The establishment, operation and management of companies in China are governed by the PRC Company Law, as amended in 2005, 2013, 2018 and 2023. The Revised Company Law further stipulates the establishment and withdrawal of the company, the organizational structure and the capital system of the company, and strengthens the responsibilities of shareholders and management personnel and Corporate Social Responsibility. The PRC Company Law applies to both PRC domestic companies and foreign-invested companies. The direct or indirect investment activities of a foreign investor shall be governed by the PRC Foreign Investment Law and its implementation rules. The PRC Foreign Investment Law is promulgated by the National People’s Congress on March 15, 2019, and has taken effect since January 1, 2020, which replaced the PRC Sino-foreign Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the PRC Sino-foreign Cooperative Enterprise Law and the PRC Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law. The Foreign Investment Law adopts the administrative system of pre-establishment national treatment along with a negative list for foreign investments, establishing the basic framework for the access to, and the promotion, protection and administration of foreign investments in view of investment protection and fair competition.
Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investments” refers to any direct or indirect investment activities conducted by any foreign individual, enterprise, or organization (collectively referred to as “foreign investors”) in the PRC, which includes any of the following circumstances: (i) foreign investors establishing foreign-invested enterprises, or FIEs, in the PRC solely or jointly with other investors; (ii) foreign investors acquiring shares, equity interests, property portions or other similar rights and interests thereof within the PRC; (iii) foreign investors investing in new projects in the PRC solely or jointly with other investors; and (iv) other forms of investments as defined by laws, regulations, or as otherwise stipulated by the State Council. According to the Foreign Investment Law, the State Council shall promulgate or approve a list of special administrative measures for market access of foreign investments. The Foreign Investment Law grants national treatment to foreign-invested entities, except for those foreign-invested entities that operate in industries deemed to be either “restricted” or “prohibited” in the negative list. The Foreign Investment Law provides that foreign investors shall not invest in the “prohibited” industries, and shall meet certain requirements as stipulated under the negative list for investing in “restricted” industries.
In addition, the Foreign Investment Law also provides several protective rules and principles for foreign investors and their investments in the PRC, including, among others, (i) that local governments shall abide by their commitments to the foreign investors; (ii) FIEs are allowed to issue stocks and corporate bonds; except for special circumstances, in which case statutory procedures shall be followed and fair and reasonable compensation shall be made in a timely manner, expropriation or requisition of the investment of foreign investors is prohibited; (iii) mandatory technology transfer by any administrative body is prohibited; and (iv) the capital contributions, profits, capital gains, proceeds out of asset disposal, licensing fees of intellectual property rights, indemnity or compensation legally obtained, or proceeds received upon settlement by foreign investors within the PRC, may be freely remitted inward and outward in RMB or a foreign currency. Also, foreign investors or FIEs shall assume legal liabilities for failing to report investment information in accordance with the requirements. Furthermore, the Foreign Investment Law provides that FIEs established prior to the effectiveness of the Foreign Investment Law may maintain their legal form and structure of corporate governance within five years after January 1, 2020.
On December 26, 2019, the State Council further issued the Implementation Rules of Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, and replaced the Regulations on Implementing the PRC Sino-foreign Joint Venture Enterprise Law, Provisional Regulations on the Duration of PRC Sino-foreign Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Regulations on Implementing the PRC Sino-foreign Cooperative Enterprise Law, and the Regulations on Implementing the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law. The Regulations on Implementing the PRC Foreign Investment Law restates certain principles of the Foreign Investment Law and further provides that, among others, (i) if an FIE established prior to the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law fails to adjust its legal form or governance structure to comply with the provisions of the Companies Law of the PRC or the Partnership Enterprises Law of the PRC, as applicable, and complete amendment registration before January 1, 2025,
89
the enterprise registration authority will not process other registration matters of the FIE and may public such non-compliance thereafter; and (ii) the provisions regarding equity interest transfer and distribution of profits and remaining assets as stipulated in the contracts among the joint venture parties of an FIE established before the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law may, after adjustment of the legal form and governing structure of such FIE, remain binding upon the parties during the joint venture term of the enterprise.
On June 23, 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2020 Edition), or the 2020 Negative List, which came into effect on July 23, 2020. In addition, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Encouraged Industry Catalogue for Foreign Investment (2020 Edition), or the 2020 Encouraged Industry Catalogue, which was promulgated on December 27, 2020 and came into effect on January 27, 2021. Industries not listed in the 2020 Negative List are generally open for foreign investments unless specifically restricted by other PRC laws. The establishment of wholly foreign-owned enterprises is generally allowed in encouraged and permitted industries. Some restricted industries are limited to equity or contractual joint ventures, while in some cases Chinese partners are required to hold the majority equity interests in such joint ventures. In addition, foreign investment in projects in a restricted category is subject to government approvals. Foreign investors are not allowed to invest in industries in the prohibited category.
On December 27, 2021, the NDRC, and the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Edition), or the 2021 Negative List, which came into effect on January 1, 2022. On March 12, 2022, the 2022 Negative List was released and took effect on the same day. In addition, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Encourage Industry Catalogue for Foreign Investment (2022 Edition). Industries not listed in the 2022 Negative List are generally open for foreign investments unless specifically restricted by other PRC laws. The establishment of wholly foreign-owned enterprises is generally allowed in encouraged and permitted industries. Some restricted industries are limited to equity or contractual joint ventures, while in some cases Chinese partners are required to hold the majority equity interests in such joint ventures. In addition, foreign investment in projects in a restricted category is subject to government approvals. Foreign investors are not allowed to invest in industries in the prohibited category. Our PRC Counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, has advised us that our business is not in an industry on the 2022 Negative list, and it does not involve or operate in either a prohibited or restricted industry.
As the PRC Foreign Investment Law has taken effect, the SAMR, jointly approved the Foreign Investment Information Report Measures on December 30, 2019, which has been in effect since January 1, 2020. According to the Foreign Investment Information Report Measures, which repealed the Provisional Administrative Measures on Establishment and Modifications (Filing) for Foreign Invested Enterprises, foreign investors or FIEs shall report their investment-related information to the competent local counterparts of the Ministry of Commerce through Enterprise Registration System and National Enterprise Credit Information Notification System.
The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severe and Lawful Crackdown on Illegal Securities Activities or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have completed the filing with the China Securities Regulatory Commission on April 22, 2024. We have secured all material permits and approvals required for our operations. According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, neither the Company nor HUHU China has been subject to any investigation, or receive any notice, warning, or sanction from relevant government authorities related to non-compliance with the PRC Company Law or Foreign Investment Law.
90
Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights
Patent Law
Pursuant to the Patent Law of the PRC, or the Patent Law, promulgated by the SCNPC on March 12, 1984, as latest amended on October 17, 2020, and became effective on June 1, 2021 and the Implementation Rules of the Patent Law of the PRC, promulgated by the State Council on June 15, 2001 and latest amended on December 11, 2023 and became effective on January 20, 2024, there are three types of patents in the PRC: invention patent, utility model patent and design patent. The protection period is 20 years for invention patent and 10 years for utility model patent and 15 years for design patent, commencing from their respective application dates. Any individual or entity that utilizes a patent or conducts any other activity in infringement of a patent without prior authorization of the patentee shall pay compensation to the patentee and is subject to a fine imposed by relevant administrative authorities and, if constituting a crime, shall be held criminally liable in accordance with the law. In the event that a patent is owned by two or more co-owners without an agreement regarding the distribution of revenue generated from the exploitation of any co-owner of the patent, such revenue shall be distributed among all the co-owners.
Existing patents can become narrowed, invalid or unenforceable due to a variety of grounds, including lack of novelty, creativity, and deficiencies in patent application. In China, a patent must have novelty, creativity and practical applicability. Under the Patent Law, novelty means that before a patent application is filed, no identical invention or utility model has been publicly disclosed in any publication in China or overseas or has been publicly used or made known to the public by any other means, whether in or outside of China, nor has any other person filed with the patent authority an application that describes an identical invention or utility model and is recorded in patent application documents or patent documents published after the filing date. Creativity means that, compared with existing technology, an invention has prominent substantial features and represents notable progress, and a utility model has substantial features and represents any progress. Practical applicability means an invention or utility model can be manufactured or used and may produce positive results. Patents in China are filed with the State Intellectual Property Office, or SIPO. Normally, the SIPO publishes an application for an invention patent within 18 months after the filing date, which may be shortened at the request of applicant. The applicant must apply to the SIPO for a substantive examination within 3 years from the date of application.
Regulations on Copyright
The Copyright Law of the PRC, or the Copyright Law, which took effect on June 1, 1991 and was amended in 2001, 2010 and 2020 (the latest revision come into effect on June 1, 2021), provides that Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations shall, whether published or not, own copyright in their copyrightable works, which include, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer software. Copyright owners enjoy certain legal rights, including right of publication, right of authorship and right of reproduction. The amended Copyright Law extends copyright protection to internet activities, products disseminated over the Internet and software products. In addition, PRC laws and regulations provide for a voluntary registration system administered by the Copyright Protection Center of China, or the CPCC. According to the Copyright Law, an infringer of the copyrights shall be subject to various civil liabilities, which include ceasing infringement activities, apologizing to the copyright owners and compensating the loss of copyright owner. Infringers of copyright may also subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities in severe situations.
The NCA administers software copyright registration and the CPCC, is designated as the software registration authority. The CPCC shall grant registration certificates to the Computer Software Copyrights applicants which meet the requirements of both the Computer Software Copyright Registration Measures and the Computer Software Protection Regulations (Revised in 2013).
The Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Certain Issues Related to the Application of Law in the Trial of Civil Cases Involving Disputes on Infringement of the Information Network Dissemination Rights specifies that disseminating works, performances or audio-video products by the internet users or the internet service providers via the internet without the permission of the copyright owners shall be deemed to have infringed the right of dissemination of the copyright owner.
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The Measures for Administrative Protection of Copyright Related to Internet, which was jointly promulgated by the NCA and the MII on April 29, 2005 and became effective on May 30, 2005, provides that upon receipt of an infringement notice from a legitimate copyright holder, an ICP operator must take remedial actions immediately by removing or disabling access to the infringing content. If an ICP operator knowingly transmits infringing content or fails to take remedial actions after receipt of a notice of infringement that harms public interest, the ICP operator could be subject to administrative penalties, including an order to cease infringing activities, confiscation by the authorities of all income derived from the infringement activities, or payment of fines.
On May 18, 2006, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information (as amended in 2013). Under these regulations, an owner of the network dissemination rights with respect to written works, performance or audio or video recordings who believes that information storage, search or link services provided by an Internet service provider infringe his or her rights may require that the Internet service provider delete, or disconnect the links to, such works or recordings.
Trademark Law
Trademarks are protected under the PRC Trademark Law, which was adopted on August 23, 1982 and subsequently amended in 1993, 2001, 2013, and 2019, and the Implementation Regulations of the PRC Trademark Law adopted by the State Council in 2002 and most recently amended in 2014. The Trademark Office under the State Administration for Market Regulation (formally known as the State Administration for Industry and Commerce) handles trademark registrations. The Trademark Office grants a ten-year term to registered trademarks and the term may be renewed for another ten-year period upon request by the trademark owner. A trademark registrant may license its registered trademarks to another party by entering into trademark license agreements, which must be filed with the Trademark Office for the record. As with patents, the Trademark Law has adopted a first-to-file principle with respect to trademark registration. If a trademark applied for is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or subject to a preliminary examination and approval for use on the same or similar kinds of products or services, such a trademark application may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration of a trademark may not injure existing trademark rights first obtained by others, nor may any person register in advance a trademark that has already been used by another party and has already gained a “sufficient degree of reputation” through such other party’s use.
Regulations on Domain Names
The MIIT promulgated the Measures on Administration of Internet Domain Names on August 24, 2017, which became effective on November 1, 2017 and replaced the Administrative Measures on China Internet Domain Names promulgated by the MIIT on November 5, 2004. Pursuant to these measures, the MIIT oversees the administration of PRC internet domain names. The domain name registration follows a first-to-file principle. Applicants for registration of domain names must provide the true, accurate, and complete information of their identities to domain name registration service institutions. The applicants will become the holder of such domain names upon completion of the registration procedure.
According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, HUHU China has 6 registered trademarks, 1 registered domain name, 21 effective patents and 23 registered copyrights, all in China.
Regulations on Foreign Exchange
General Administration of Foreign Exchange
According to the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations of the PRC, which were promulgated by the State Council on January 29, 1996, came into effect on April 1, 1996, and were amended on January 14, 1997, and August 1, 2008 (which amendment came into effect on August 5, 2008), payments for transactions that take place within the PRC must be made in Renminbi. PRC companies or individuals may repatriate foreign exchange receipts received overseas or deposit overseas. Renminbi is freely convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for capital account items, such as direct investments, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of the PRC, unless prior approval is obtained from SAFE and prior registration with SAFE is made. Foreign exchange proceeds under the current accounts may be either retained or sold to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange. For foreign exchange proceeds under the capital accounts, approval from SAFE is generally required for the retention or sale of such proceeds to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange.
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Foreign Investment
According to Provisions on the Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Direct Investments of Foreign Investors, which were promulgated on May 10, 2013, by SAFE, upon establishment of a foreign investment enterprise pursuant to the law, registration formalities shall be completed with SAFE. In the event of subsequent changes in the capital of the foreign investment enterprise such as increase in capital, capital reduction, and equity transfer, registration change formalities shall be completed with SAFE.
Pursuant to the Circular of SAFE on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment, or the “SAFE Circular No. 59,” promulgated by SAFE on November 19, 2012, and was further amended on May 4, 2015, approval is not required for opening a foreign exchange account and depositing foreign exchange into the account relating to the direct investments. SAFE Circular No. 59 also simplified foreign exchange-related registration required for the foreign investors to acquire the equity interests of Chinese companies and further improve the administration on foreign exchange settlement for foreign investment enterprises.
The Notice of the SAFE on Reforming the Mode of Management of Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-Funded Enterprises, or the “SAFE Circular No.19,” which was promulgated by SAFE on March 30, 2015, and became effective on June 1, 2015, provides that a foreign investment enterprise may, according to its actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign exchange capital in its capital account for which the relevant foreign exchange administration has confirmed monetary capital contribution rights and interests (or for which the bank has registered the injection of the monetary capital contribution into the account). Pursuant to the SAFE Circular No.19, for the time being, foreign investment enterprises are allowed to settle 100% of their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis; a foreign-invested enterprise shall truthfully use its capital for its own operational purposes within the scope of business; where an ordinary foreign-invested enterprise makes domestic equity investment with the amount of foreign exchanges settled, the invested enterprise shall first go through domestic re-investment registration and open a corresponding account for foreign exchange settlement pending payment with the foreign exchange administration or the bank at the place where it is registered.
Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment
Under SAFE Circular 37 issued by SAFE and effective on July 4, 2014, PRC residents are required to register with the local SAFE branch prior to the establishment or control of an offshore SPV, which is defined as offshore enterprises directly established or indirectly controlled by PRC residents for offshore equity financing of the enterprise assets or interests they hold in the PRC. An amendment to registration or subsequent filing with the local SAFE branch by such PRC resident is also required if there is any change in basic information of the offshore company or any material change with respect to the capital of the offshore company. At the same time, SAFE has issued the Operation Guidance for the Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over Round-trip Investment regarding the procedures for SAFE registration under SAFE Circular 37, which became effective on July 4, 2014, as an attachment of SAFE Circular 37, and provided operational guidance in detail on how to complete the required registration under SAFE Circular 37. Pursuant to the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Currency Management Policy on Direct Investment, which was promulgated by SAFE and effective from June 1, 2015, the administrative approvals of foreign exchange registration of direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment are canceled and the procedure of foreign exchange-related registration are simplified. The investors shall register with banks for direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment.
Currently, all of our shareholders have completed Circular 37 Registration and are in compliance. All our significant shareholders, directors and officers have completed Circular 37 Registration. We cannot guarantee that our shareholders will continue to comply with the requirement and timely update their application. However, we do not believe the shareholders’ failure to complete registrations will have a substantial impact on our business operations or cross-border investment activities.
Dividend Distribution
Under the Company Law, the Foreign Investment Law, and Implementation Regulations of Foreign Investment Law, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with China accounting standards and regulations. According to the Foreign Investment Law and Implementation Regulations of Foreign Investment Law, foreign investors’ investment, profits,
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capital gains, assets disposal income, intellectual property license fees, compensation or indemnification obtained according to law, and income from liquidation, among other things, may be freely remitted in or out of China in RMB or foreign currency. In addition, under the Company Law, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — HUHUTECH is a holding company, and may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, neither the Company nor HUHU China has been subject to any investigation, or receive any notice, warning, or sanction from relevant government authorities related to non-compliance with the PRC foreign exchange laws.
Offshore Investment
Under the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, effective on July 4, 2014, PRC residents are required to register with the local SAFE branch prior to the establishment or control of an offshore special purpose vehicle, which is defined as an offshore enterprise directly established or indirectly controlled by PRC residents for investment and financing purposes, with the enterprise assets or interests PRC residents hold in China or overseas. The term “control” means to obtain the operation rights, right to proceeds, or decision-making power of a special purpose vehicle through acquisition, trust, holding shares on behalf of others, voting rights, repurchase, convertible bonds, or other means. An amendment to registration or subsequent filing with the local SAFE branch by such PRC residents is also required if there is any change in the basic information of the offshore company or any material change with respect to the capital of the offshore company. At the same time, SAFE has issued the Operation Guidance for the Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over Round-Trip Investment regarding the procedures for SAFE registration under SAFE Circular 37, which became effective on July 4, 2014, as an attachment of SAFE Circular 37.
Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 may result in bans on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliates, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, neither the Company nor HUHU China has been subject to any investigation, or receive any notice, warning, or sanction from relevant government authorities related to non-compliance with the PRC offshore investment regulations.
Regulation Relating to Overseas Listings
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, along with the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures heighten the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
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According to the Trial Measures and the Notice, PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.
As such, we can reasonably arrange the timing for submitting the filing application with the CSRC, and shall complete the filing with the CSRC in accordance with the Trial Measures before this offering. In sum, we are subject to the filing requirements of the CSRC for this offering under the Trial Measures. On April 22, 2024, we received approval from the CSRC regarding our completion of the required filing procedures for this offering. We have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or objection from the CSRC with respect to this offering. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
If the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering and any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals and we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek such approvals which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors and the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and be worthless.
Regulations on Dividend Distribution
The principal laws and regulations regulating the distribution of dividends by FIEs in China include the PRC Company Law and were subsequently amended from time to time, and the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Rules. Under the current regulatory regime in China, FIEs in China may pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. A PRC company is required to set aside as statutory reserve funds at least 10% of its after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of such reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital, unless laws regarding foreign investment provide otherwise. A PRC company cannot distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset.
According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, neither the Company nor HUHU China has been subject to any investigation, or receive any notice, warning, or sanction from relevant government authorities related to non-compliance with the PRC regulations on Dividend Distribution.
Regulations on Taxation
Enterprise Income Tax
On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC EIT Law, which was amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018. On December 6, 2007, the State Council enacted the Regulations for the Implementation of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and was amended on April 23, 2019. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and the relevant implementing regulations, both resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises are subject to tax in China. Resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are established in China in accordance with PRC laws, or that are established in accordance with the laws of foreign countries but are actually or in effect controlled from within China. Non-resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are organized under the laws of foreign countries and whose actual management is conducted outside China, but have established institutions or premises in China, or have no such established institutions or premises but have income generated from inside China. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and relevant implementing regulations, a uniform corporate income tax rate of 25% is applied. However, if non-resident enterprises have not formed permanent establishments or premises in China, or if they have formed permanent establishments or premises in China but there is no actual relationship between the relevant income derived in China and the established institutions or premises set up by them, withholding income tax is set at the rate of 10% with respect to their income sourced from inside the PRC.
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Value-Added Tax
The PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax were promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993, became effective on January 1, 1994, and were subsequently amended from time to time. The Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax (2011 Revision) were promulgated by the Ministry of Finance on December 25, 1993 and subsequently amended in 2008 and 2011. On November 19, 2017, the State Council promulgated the Decisions on Abolishing the PRC Provisional Regulations on Business Tax and Amending the PRC Provisional Regulations on VAT. Pursuant to these regulations, rules and decisions, all enterprises and individuals engaged in sale of goods, provision of processing, repair, and replacement services, sales of services, intangible assets, real property, and the importation of goods within the PRC are value-added tax, or VAT, taxpayers. On March 20, 2019, the Ministry of Finance, the SAT, and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued the Announcement on Relevant Policies on Deepening the Reform of Value-Added Tax. Pursuant to this announcement, the generally applicable VAT rates are simplified as 13%, 9%, which became effective on April 1, 2019, and the VAT rate applicable to the small-scale taxpayers is 3%. If a small-scale taxpayer’s total monthly sales amount does not exceed RMB100 thousand and its quarterly sales volume does not exceed RMB300 thousand, the VAT will be exempted.
Dividend Withholding Tax
The Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that since January 1, 2008, an income tax rate of 10% will normally apply to dividends declared to non-PRC resident investors that do not have an establishment or place of business in China, or that have such establishment or place of business but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within China.
Pursuant to the Arrangement Between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent PRC tax authority to have met the relevant conditions and requirements under this arrangement and other applicable laws, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise receives from a PRC resident enterprise may be reduced to 5%. However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties issued on February 20, 2009, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretions, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Circular on Several Questions regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which was issued on February 3, 2018 by SAT and became effective on April 1, 2018, when determining the applicant’s status as the “beneficial owner” regarding tax treatment in connection with dividends, interests, or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors, including, without limitation, whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than 50% of his or her income in twelve months to residents in a third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes the actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax or grant any tax exemption on relevant incomes or levy tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account, and such factors will be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of the specific cases.
Tax on Indirect Transfer
On February 3, 2015, SAT issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, an “indirect transfer” of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises, may be recharacterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. When determining whether there is a “reasonable commercial purpose” in the transaction arrangement, features to be taken into consideration include, inter alia, whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives directly or indirectly from PRC taxable assets; whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect investment in China or if its income is mainly derived from China; and whether the offshore enterprise and its subsidiaries directly or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have a real
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commercial nature which is evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, where the payer fails to withhold any or sufficient tax, the transferor shall declare and pay such tax to the tax authority by itself within the statutory time limit. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest. Bulletin 7 does not apply to transactions of sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares are acquired on a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non- resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or Bulletin 37, which was amended by the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Revising Certain Taxation Normative Documents issued on June 15, 2018 by SAT. Bulletin 37 further elaborates the relevant implemental rules regarding the calculation, reporting, and payment obligations of the withholding tax by the non-resident enterprises. Nonetheless, there remain uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of Bulletin 7. Bulletin 7 may be determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to our offshore transactions or sale of our shares or those of our offshore subsidiaries where non-resident enterprises, being the transferors, are involved.
According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, neither the Company nor HUHU China has been subject to any investigation, or receive any notice, warning, or sanction from relevant government authorities related to non-compliance with the PRC Taxation laws.
Regulations on Employment
Labor Contract Law
The PRC Labor Contract Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and amended in 2012, primarily aims at regulating rights and obligations of employment relationships, including the establishment, performance, and termination of labor contracts. Pursuant to the Labor Contract Law, labor contracts must be executed in writing if labor relationships are to be or have been established between employers and employees. Employers are prohibited from forcing employees to work above certain time limits and employers must pay employees for overtime work in accordance with national regulations. In addition, employees’ wages must not be lower than local standards on minimum wages and must be paid to employees in a timely manner.
Social Insurance
As required under the Regulation of Insurance for Labor Injury implemented on January 1, 2004 and amended in 2010, the Provisional Measures for Maternity Insurance of Employees of Corporations implemented on January 1, 1995, the Decisions on the Establishment of a Unified Program for Old-Aged Pension Insurance of the State Council issued on July 16, 1997, the Decisions on the Establishment of the Medical Insurance Program for Urban Workers of the State Council promulgated on December 14, 1998, the Unemployment Insurance Measures promulgated on January 22, 1999, and the PRC Social Insurance Law implemented on July 1, 2011 and amended on December 29, 2018, employers are required to provide their employees in China with welfare benefits covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, and medical insurance. These payments are made to local administrative authorities. Any employer that fails to make social insurance contributions may be ordered to rectify the non-compliance and pay the required contributions within a prescribed time limit and be subject to a late fee. If the employer still fails to rectify the failure to make the relevant contributions within the prescribed time, it may be subject to a fine ranging from one to three times the amount overdue. On July 20, 2018, the General Office of the State Council issued the Plan for Reforming the State and Local Tax Collection and Administration Systems, which stipulated that SAT will become solely responsible for collecting social insurance premiums.
Housing Fund
In accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Funds, which was promulgated by the State Council in 1999 and amended in 2002 and 2019, employers must register at the designated administrative centers and open bank accounts for depositing employees’ housing funds. Employers and employees are also required to pay and deposit housing funds, with an amount no less than 5% of the monthly average salary of the employee in the preceding year in full and on time.
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Regulations on Share Incentive Plans
Pursuant to the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, which was issued by SAFE on February 15, 2012, employees, directors, supervisors, and other senior management who participate in any stock incentive plan of a publicly listed overseas company and who are PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of no less than one year, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a qualified domestic agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures.
In addition, SAT has issued certain circulars concerning employee stock options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, employees working in China who exercise stock options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. The PRC subsidiaries of an overseas listed company are required to file documents related to employee stock options and restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of employees who exercise their stock options or purchase restricted shares. If the employees fail to pay or the PRC subsidiaries fail to withhold income tax in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries may be subject to sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC governmental authorities.
According to our PRC legal counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, as of the date of this prospectus, neither the Company nor HUHU China has been subject to any investigation, or receive any notice, warning, or sanction from relevant government authorities related to non-compliance with the PRC labor laws.
Regulations in Japan
Companies Act
The Formation, organization, operation and management of companies in Japan are governed by the JP Companies Act (Act No.86 of 2005). The JP Companies Act applies to both JP domestic companies and foreign-invested companies. And the registration authority for Japanese companies is the Legal Affairs Bureau. According to the document issued by the Kumamoto District Legal Affairs Bureau, Huhu Japan was established on April 25, 2022, a company which is established under the JP Companies Act.
Regulations Relating to the Construction Industry
Construction Business Act
In Japan, some industries need to apply for “license” to the government. For example, there are various construction-related laws in Japan, including Construction Business Act (Act No. 100 of 1949), Act on Construction, etc. of Government and Other Public Office Facilities (Act No. 181 of 1951). A company which seeks to operate a construction business, must obtain a license from the Minster of Land, Infrastructure, transport and Tourism when the company establishes business offices (head office, branch offices or an equivalent office specified by Cabinet Order; the same applies hereinafter) in the areas of two or more prefectures, or from the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the office when the company establishes a business office in the areas of only one prefecture. HUHU Japan’s business operations are mainly governed by the Construction Business Act. According to the Notification issued by the Prefecture governor of Kumamoto, HUHU Japan has obtained the “Specific Construction Business License” on September 16, 2022. The validity period of this license is from September 30, 2022 to September 29, 2027.
The purpose of the Construction Business Act is to ensure the proper execution of construction work (Article 1 of the Act), but a person who intends to operate a construction business (a business whose business is to undertake the completion of construction work) must Construction business license must be obtained (Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the same law).
When construction companies (licensed construction companies) carry out contracted construction work, they must have a chief engineer in charge of construction management at the construction site (Article 26, Paragraph 1 of the Act). If construction work is directly undertaken by the client, and if more than 45 million yen (or 70 million yen in the case of complete construction work) is subcontracted, a supervising engineer must be appointed in place of the chief engineer (Article 2 of Construction Industry Law Enforcement Order).
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Building Standard Law
The Building Standard Law establishes minimum standards for the general structure of houses, fire prevention and evacuation-related matters, and road access obligations. When a building owner intends to construct (new construction, expansion, renovation, or relocation) a building of a size, structure, or use that exceeds a certain scope, or to carry out large-scale repairs or major redecoration, the owner must obtain confirmation from the building official (Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the same law) and obtain a certificate of confirmation before commencing construction (Article 6, Paragraph 4).
In addition, certain buildings must be periodically inspected for age-related deterioration and other conditions by a first-class architect or other qualified person, and the results must be reported to the specified administrative agency (Article 12, Paragraph 1 of the same law)
Regulations on Foreign Exchange
Foreign Exchange Law
Japanese company may be subject to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law (hereinafter referred to as the “Foreign Exchange Law”) when importing, exporting.
Under the Foreign Exchange Law, permission or approval from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is required for the import or export of specific goods, the export of goods to a specific country or region, or the import of goods to a specific country or region of origin or place of shipment (Article 48 for export, Article 52 for import).
The Customs Law stipulates that, in principle, all import/export goods must be declared to the Director-General of Customs, and that permission must be obtained after the necessary inspection of the goods (Article 67).
Regulations on Taxation
Corporate Tax Law
Since HUHU Japan is incorporated in Japan, it must pay taxes in accordance with the Corporate Tax Law, the Consumption Tax Law, and other laws.
Consumption Tax Law
Under the Consumption Tax Law, a business operator in a domestic transaction must pay consumption tax (Article 4).
Regulations on Employment
Labor Standards Law
The Labor Standards Law stipulates minimum standards for working conditions between workers and employers, including payment of wages (Article 24), working hours (Article 32), overtime and holiday work (Article 36), premium wages (Article 37), notice of termination (Article 20), fixed-term employment contracts (Article 14), and paid leave (Article 39), and employers who regularly employ 10 or more workers must prepare employment regulations and notify the Labor Standards Inspection Office (Article 89).
Furthermore, the Minimum Wage Act stipulates the minimum standards for workers’ wages, and working conditions that fall below this standard are invalidated, and the wages stipulated by the Act must be paid (Article 4 of the Law).
In addition, discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited in the recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, education and training of workers by employers, as well as dismissal, pregnancy, childbirth, maternity leave and other disadvantageous treatment on the basis of marriage (Articles 5 and 6 of the Law Concerning the Maintenance of Equal Opportunity and Treatment of Men and Women in Employment).
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Furthermore, there shall be no unreasonable difference in treatment between part-time and fixed-term workers and regular employees in all forms of treatment, and discriminatory treatment of part-time and fixed-term workers, who should be regarded as regular employees, is prohibited in all forms of treatment (Articles 8 and 9 of the Act on Improvement, etc. of Employment Management for Part-Time Workers and Fixed-Term Workers).
Occupational Safety and Health Law
The Occupational Safety and Health Law states that it is the duty of employers to realize a comfortable work environment and to ensure the safety and health of workers in the workplace (Article 3 of the Law), and health system in the workplace (appointment of a general safety and health manager, safety manager, health manager, industrial physician, etc. and establishment of a safety committee, health committee, etc.) (Article 10 and following), and specific measures to prevent industrial accidents at workplaces (hazard prevention standards, safety and health education, etc.) (Article 20 and following).
In addition, the government provides necessary insurance benefits for workers’ injuries and illnesses due to work-related reasons or commuting (Articles 2 and 7 of the Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance Law, etc.); This is covered by insurance premiums borne by business owners, and business owners are required to pay the insurance premiums (Article 30 of the Law).
Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property rights are defined as 1 those produced by human creative activity (inventions, devices, designs, and works), 2 those indicating goods or services used in business activities by companies, etc. (trademarks), and 3 technical or business information useful in business activities (trade secrets) (Article 2(1) of the Basic Intellectual Property Law).
Inventions are governed by the Patent Law, devices by the Utility Model Law, designs by the Design Law, trademarks by the Trademark Law, works by the Copyright Law, and trade secrets by the Unfair Competition Prevention Law. The Patent Law, Utility Model Law, Design Law, Trademark Law, and Copyright Law grant rights as intellectual property rights to the owners of each type of intellectual property for protection if the respective requirements are met.
The Unfair Competition Prevention Law prohibits the following acts: (i) causing confusion of well-known trade or other indications, (ii) infringement of well-known trade or other indications, (iii) offering products that imitate the form of products of others, (iv) infringement of trade secrets, (v) improper acquisition of limited offer data, (vi) offering devices or other means that prevent the effect of technical restrictive measures, (vii) improper acquisition of domain names, ( (viii) acts of causing misidentification of the origin or quality of goods or services, (ix) acts of defamation, and (x) misuse of trademarks by agents, etc., are regulated as unfair competition (Article 2(1) of the Act).
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Executive Officers and Directors
Set forth below is information concerning our directors, director nominees, executive officers and other key employees.
|
Name |
Age |
Position(s) |
||
|
Yujun Xiao |
43 |
Director, Chief Executive Officer |
||
|
Yinglai Wang |
41 |
Director, Chairperson of the Board |
||
|
Huiping Zhang |
46 |
Chief Financial Officer |
||
|
Xiaoming Chen |
37 |
Chief Technology Officer |
||
|
Xiaoqiu Zhang*(1)(2)(3) |
44 |
Independent Director Nominee |
||
|
Qi Zheng*(1)(2)(3) |
44 |
Independent Director Nominee |
||
|
Jin Ma*(1)(2)(3) |
46 |
Independent Director Nominee |
____________
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
(3) Member of the Nominating Committee
* The individual shall be appointed and consents to be in such position effective upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Yujun Xiao, Chief Executive Officer, Director
Yujun Xiao has been our director since July 8, 2021 and our Chief Executive Officer since July 28, 2021. He founded HUHU China in 2015, prior to which he founded Shanghai Huhu Technology Ltd. in 2010 and served as its CEO from 2010 to 2015. From 2006 to 2010, he was the head of the engineer department of Shentong Computer Ltd. From 2001 to 2006, he served as a senior engineer at Shanghai South Asia Technology Ltd. Mr. Xiao has extensive experience in corporate management and strategic decision making. He oversees the Company’s daily operations at a company-wide level and makes periodic business development plans based on the Company’s strategies. Mr. Xiao is also responsible for overseeing the Shenton Company strategy and business plan execution. Mr. Xiao holds a bachelor’s degree from Suzhou Top Institute Of Information Technology, specializing in machinery manufacturing and automation. Yujun Xiao is the spouse of Yinglai Wang, Director and Chairperson of the Board.
Huiping Zhang, Chief Financial Officer
Huiping Zhang has been our Chief Financial officer since July 28, 2021. She served as the Chief Financial Officer in multiple companies from 2002 to 2020. Her most recent experience prior to joining us was the CFO at Zhongcheng Zhihui Technology Ltd., a position she served from 2017 to 2020. Ms. Zhang has many years of experience in financial work and team management experience. She is familiar with companies related to banking, tax, industry and commerce. She is also familiar with work procedures in obtaining tax benefits at high technology companies. Ms. Zhang has extensive knowledge of financial coordination and due diligence work in the early stage of listing in China, and has great expertise in accounting and financial analysis. Ms. Zhang holds a bachelor degree from Jiangsu Open University in accounting. She also has an Intermediate Accountant Certificate in China.
Yinglai Wang, Chairperson of the Board, Director
Yinglai Wang has served as the director and the Chairperson of the board since July 8, 2021. She co-founded Shanghai Huhu Technology Ltd. in 2010. Ms. Wang has extensive experience in corporate management in the mechanical engineering industry and has a unique and advanced perspective in the strategic development of the company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Wuxi Taihu College, specializing in business management. Yinglai Wang is the spouse of Yujun Xiao, who is the CEO and a director of the Company.
Xiaoming Chen, Chief Technology Officer
Xiaoming Chen has been our Chief Technology officer since July 9, 2021. He has served as the Chief Technology officer in HUHU China since 2015, prior to which he was the head of technology in Hanjin Electrical Automation System (Kunshan) Ltd. since 2011. He has worked as an engineer in multiple companies since 2009. Mr. Chen has abundant expertise in large to medium automation system project planning. Mr. Chen holds a college degree from Xuzhou Industry Career Technique College, specializing in electric automation.
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Xiaoqiu Zhang, Independent Director Nominee
Xiaoqiu Zhang founded Wuxi Xinzhan Corporate Management Consulting Limited and has served as the general manager since 2016. She oversees corporate management and creating strategic planning. From June 2015 to June 2018, she served as a director at Wuxi Dongling Smart Technology Co., during which she assisted the company in its public listing process in China. Ms. Zhang holds a college degree from Nanjing Political Academy in December 2004, and obtained her bachelor degree in business management from Northeastern Finance University in October 2020.
Qi Zheng, Independent Director Nominee
Qi Zheng has served as the managing director of Beijing Weiheng (Wuxi) Law Firm since September 2021, prior to which role, he was the senior partner from March 2020 at Beijing Weiheng (Wuxi) Law Firm, responsible for the firm’s daily operation and corporate compliance department and criminal law department. He is also in-house counsel to multiple companies. Prior to joining Beijing Weiheng (Wuxi) Law Firm, he was an attorney at Jiangsu Manxiu Law Firm from April 2017 to March 2020. Mr. Zheng holds a bachelor of law degree in Nanjing University of Finance & Economics on June 6, 2003, and a master of law degree from Tongji University in March 2015.
Jin Ma, Independent Director Nominee
Mr. Jin Ma has experience in consulting and accounting for over 10 years. He worked for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP and Motorola Solutions (China) Co., Ltd. He co-founded Brook Partners consultancy in 2008 and has been the managing partner in charge of financial consulting and risk management consulting since then. Mr. Ma covers financial consulting, internal control and risk management for large-size state-owned enterprises and public companies. Mr. Ma graduated from Tianjin University of Finance & Economics with a bachelor’s degree in auditing in 2002. He was admitted as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in UK in 2012 and a chartered professional accountant member of the Chartered Professional Accountant of British Columbia, Canada in 2015.
Family Relationships
Our CEO and director, Yujun Xiao is the spouse of our Chairperson Yinglai Wang.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors will consist of 5 directors upon declaration of effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company to qualify to serve as a director. A director who to his or her knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of his or her interest at the meeting of the board of directors at which the question of entering into the contract or arrangement is first considered, if he or she knows his or her interest then exists, or in any other case at the first meeting of the board of directors after he or she knows that he or she is or has become so interested. Following such declaration being made and subject to any separate requirement for audit committee approval under applicable law or the rules and regulations of the relevant stock exchange and, unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement in which such director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such meeting. The board of directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company and, subject to the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, to issue debentures, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. There are no directors’ service contracts with the Company or its subsidiaries providing for benefits upon termination of employment.
Committees of the board of directors
Prior to the declaration of effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we intend to establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee under the board of directors. We intend to adopt a charter for each of the three committees prior to the completion of this offering.
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Duties of Directors
As a matter of Cayman Islands law, directors of a Cayman Islands company owe fiduciary duties to the company and separately a duty of care, diligence and skill to the company. Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties: (i) a duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; (ii) a duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; (iii) a duty not to improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; (iv) a duty to exercise powers fairly as between different classes of shareholders; (v) a duty to exercise independent judgment; and (vi) a duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. In fulfilling their duty of care to our company, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. Our company may have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached.
Our board of directors has all the powers necessary for managing, and, for directing and supervising, our business affairs. The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
• convening shareholders’ annual and extraordinary 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 transfer in our register of members.
Terms of Directors and Officers
Subject to our Articles and the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, the Company may by ordinary resolution of our shareholders elect any person to be a director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board of directors. Alternatively, the directors may from time to time and at any time appoint any person as a director to fill a casual vacancy on the board of directors or as an addition to the existing board of directors (subject to the Company’s compliance with director nomination procedures required under the rules and regulations of any relevant stock exchange, as long as shares are listed on a stock exchange, unless the board of directors resolves to follow any available exceptions or exemptions). Our directors will hold office until the expiration of his or her term or until their successors are elected or appointed. A director may be removed by way of an ordinary resolution of the shareholders at any time before the expiration of his or her period of office notwithstanding anything in our Articles or in any agreement between the Company and that director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under any such agreement). In addition, a director will cease to be a director if the director: (i) resigns his or her office by notice in writing delivered to the Company at the Company’s registered office or tendered at a meeting of the board of directors; (ii) becomes of unsound mind or dies; (iii) without special leave of absence from the board of directors, is absent from meetings of the board of directors for three consecutive meetings and the board of directors resolves that his or her office be vacated; (iv) becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or her or suspends payment or compounds with his or her creditors; (v) is prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands from being a director; or (vi) ceases to be a director by virtue of any provision of any Cayman Islands legislation applying to the Company or is removed from office pursuant to our Articles.
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, and may be removed by our board of directors.
Employment Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law, any of our confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential
103
information or trade secrets of our clients or prospective clients, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations and rights for these inventions, designs and trade secrets.
The agreement with our CEO Yujun Xiao provides for an annual base salary of the amount of RMB 36,360. Under the terms of the agreement, Yujun Xiao’s employment will continue indefinitely, subject to termination by either party to the agreement upon 1 months’ prior written notice or the equivalent salary in lieu of such notice.
The agreement with our CFO Huiping Zhang provides for an annual base salary of the amount of RMB 135,000. Under the terms of the agreement, Huiping Zhang’s employment will continue from February 2022 through February 2025, subject to termination by either party to the agreement upon 1 months’ prior written notice or the equivalent salary in lieu of such notice.
The agreement with our Chairperson of the Board Yinglai Wang provides for an annual base salary of the amount of RMB 72,000. Under the terms of the agreement, Yinglai Wang’s employment will continue indefinitely, subject to termination by either party to the agreement upon 1 months’ prior written notice or the equivalent salary in lieu of such notice.
The agreement with our CTO Xiaoming Chen provides for an annual base salary of the amount of RMB 60,000. Under the terms of the agreement, Xiaoming Chen’s employment will continue indefinitely, subject to termination by either party to the agreement upon 1 months’ prior written notice or the equivalent salary in lieu of such notice.
In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to engage in business that is similar or identical to the Company’s business, or to provide assistance for any individual or organization who is involved in similar or identical business with the Company.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
In fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we paid an aggregate of RMB 1,563,796 (USD 220,847) and RMB 1,355,499 (USD 201,441) in cash to our executive officers. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our directors and executive officers. The PRC subsidiaries are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employee’s salary for his or her pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance and other statutory benefits and a housing provident fund.
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The table below sets forth the major related parties and their relationships with the Company as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
(1) Related party relationships:
|
Name of Related Party |
Relationship to the Company |
|
|
Mr. Yujun Xiao |
CEO of the Company and spouse of Ms. Yinglai Wang |
|
|
Shanghai Tongcheng Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. |
Mr. Yujun Xiao served as a supervisor and holds 40% of the shares |
|
|
Anhui Zhongke Shengwei Intelligent Data Co., Ltd., |
Mr. Yujun Xiao is the legal representative and holds 9.51% of the shares |
|
|
Ms. Yinglai Wang |
Chairperson of the Company and spouse of Mr. Yujun Xiao |
(2) Due to related parties:
|
As of |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
||||||
|
Mr. Yujun Xiao |
$ |
443,027 |
$ |
172,973 |
637,000 |
|||
|
Ms. Yinglai Wang |
|
425,411 |
|
375,500 |
— |
|||
|
$ |
868,438 |
$ |
548,473 |
637,000 |
||||
Mr. Yujun Xiao and Ms. Yinglai Wang made advances to the Company as working capital to support the Company’s operations during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The balances are unsecured, interest-free and due upon demand. The balance was repaid RMB 1,600,000 (US225,355) on May 27, 2024.
(3) Due from related party:
|
As of |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
||||||
|
Shanghai Tongcheng Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
1,569 |
|||
The balance was fully repaid on September 5, 2022.
(4) Purchases from a related party:
|
For the years ended |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
||||||
|
Anhui Zhongke Shengwei Intelligent Data Co., Ltd. |
$ |
210,251 |
$ |
805,679 |
— |
|||
Our affiliated entity Anhui Zhongke and HUHU China entered into a software purchase agreement, whereby Anhui Zhongke sold factory management and monitoring software to HUHU China. The purchase price of the software was $210,251 and $805,679 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The software was then sold to customers and the purchase price of the software was included in cost of revenue.
(5) Guaranty from related parties:
On April 19, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $313,844 (RMB 2,000,000) for one year with a maturity date on April 18, 2022 at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.4%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, Chairperson of the Company, provided her real estate property to guarantee the loan repayment. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On March 22, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $470,765 (RMB 3,000,000) for one year with a maturity date on March 15, 2022 at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.4%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, Chairperson of the Company, provided her real estate property to guarantee the loan repayment. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On December 10, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the China Construction Bank to obtain a loan of $188,306 (RMB 1,200,000) for one year with a maturity date on November 3, 2022 at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.05%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, personally guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
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On December 21, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the China Construction Bank to obtain a loan of $78,461 (RMB 500,000) for one year with a maturity date on November 3, 2022 at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.05%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, personally guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Ningbo to obtain a loan of $434,959 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on March 28, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.35%. After the repayment of $289,973 during fiscal year 2022, the loan balance was $144,986 as of December 31, 2022. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On July 18, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Nanjing to obtain a loan of $413,719 (RMB 3,000,000) for one year with a maturity date on July 17, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.70%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was subsequently fully repaid upon maturity.
On October 27, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $551,625 (RMB 4,000,000) with a maturity date on August 13, 2023 at an effective monthly interest rate of 2.8333‰. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was subsequently fully repaid upon maturity.
On November 9, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $689,532 (RMB 5,000,000) with a maturity date on August 13, 2023 at an effective monthly interest rate of 2.8333‰. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was subsequently fully repaid upon maturity.
On December 28, 2022, the Company obtained a loan of $144,986 (RMB 1,000,000) from Bank of Jiangsu with a maturity date on December 27, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.3505%, pursuant to a loan agreement between the Company and Bank of Jiangsu dated November 9, 2022. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, is a guarantor of the loan. The loan was fully repaid on January 3, 2023.
On March 17, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $137,906 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on March 16, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.7%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On July 20, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $275,813 (RMB 2,000,000) with a maturity date on May 09, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.7%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid on December 13, 2023.
On June 28, 2023, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $172,508 (JPY 25,000,000) each with a maturity date on December 26, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 2.0%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans. The loan was subsequently fully repaid upon maturity.
On July 20, 2023, the Company obtained a loan of $137,906 (RMB 1,000,000) from Bank of Jiangsu with a maturity date on September 20, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.3505%, pursuant to a loan agreement between the Company and Bank of Jiangsu dated November 9, 2022. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, is a guarantor of the loan. The loan was fully repaid on July 24, 2023.
On July 28, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Ningbo to obtain a loan of $281,694 (RMB 2,000,000) with a maturity date on July 27, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.45%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On August 03, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $563,388 (RMB 4,000,000) with a maturity date on June 2, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.3%. After the repayment of $211,270 during fiscal year 2023, the loan balance was $352,118 as of December 31, 2023. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On August 11, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $422,541 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on June 10, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.3%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
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On November 27, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $492,965 (RMB 3,500,000) with a maturity date on June 20, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.05%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On March 06, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $140,847 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on April 06, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.1%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On March 19, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $281,694 (RMB 2,000,000) with a maturity date on March 18, 2026 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.6%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On March 26, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $422,541 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on March 25, 2026 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.6%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On April 02, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $140,847 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on May 02, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.1%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On April 16, 2024, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $1,235,795 (JPY 174,000,000) each with a maturity date on August 30, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.875%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans.
On April 26, 2024, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $353,412 (JPY 5,700,000) each with a maturity date on August 30, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.875%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans.
On April 29, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Ningbo to obtain a loan of $137,605 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on April 28, 2025 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.7%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $756,825 (RMB 5,500,000) with a maturity date on May 20, 2025 at an effective monthly rate of 2.54167‰. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On June 6, 2024, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $477,416 (JPY 7,700,000) each with a maturity date on August 30, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.875%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans.
On June 27, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Communications to obtain a loan of $963,232 (RMB 7,000,000) with a maturity date on June 27, 2025 at an effective annual interest rate of 2.98%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, is a guarantor of the loan.
On June 28, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Communications to obtain a loan of $412,814 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on June 28, 2025 at a fixed annual interest rate of 2.98%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
Employment Agreements
See “Management — Employment Agreements.”
Share Issuance
See “Principal Shareholders.”
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The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the ordinary shares offered in this offering for
• each of our directors and executive officers who beneficially owns our ordinary shares; and
• each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our ordinary shares.
Beneficial ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as indicated below, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person prior to this offering is based on 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (reflecting a 1-for-4 forward split of our Ordinary Shares, approved by our shareholders on July 15, 2024). Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person after this offering includes 21,250,000 ordinary shares outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment.
As of the date of the prospectus, we have 5 shareholders of record, none of which is located in the United States. Each shareholder currently has the same voting rights.
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Amount of |
Pre-Offering |
Post-Offering |
|||||
|
Directors, Director Nominees, and Named Executive Officers: |
|
|
||||||
|
Yujun Xiao, Chief Executive Officer and Director(1) |
18,540,000 |
92.70 |
% |
87.25 |
% |
|||
|
Yinglai Wang, Director and Chairperson(2) |
18,540,000 |
92.70 |
% |
87.25 |
% |
|||
|
Huiping Zhang, Chief Financial Officer |
0 |
— |
|
— |
|
|||
|
Xiaoming Chen, Chief Technology Officer |
0 |
— |
|
— |
|
|||
|
Xiaoqiu Zhang |
0 |
— |
|
— |
|
|||
|
Qi Zheng |
0 |
— |
|
— |
|
|||
|
Jin Ma |
0 |
— |
|
— |
|
|||
|
All directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (7 persons) |
18,540,000 |
92.70 |
% |
87.25 |
% |
|||
|
5% or Greater Shareholders: |
|
|
||||||
|
Army Xiao Holdings Limited(3) |
8,438,000 |
42.19 |
% |
39.71 |
% |
|||
|
Billion Wang Holdings Limited(4) |
8,248,000 |
41.24 |
% |
38.81 |
% |
|||
|
Increase Willpower Limited Partnership(5) |
1,854,000 |
9.27 |
% |
8.73 |
% |
|||
____________
(1) Army Xiao Holdings Limited, a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, of which Yujun Xiao is the sole shareholder and director, holds 8,438,000 Ordinary Shares. In addition, Army Xiao Holdings Limited is the general partner of Increase Willpower Limited Partnership, a limited partnership formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Yujun Xiao is deemed the beneficial owner of the 8,438,000 Ordinary Shares held by Army Xiao Holdings Limited and 1,854,000 Ordinary Shares held by Increase Willpower Limited Partnership. 8,248,000 shares held by Yinglai Wang, Yujun Xiao’s spouse, are included in Mr. Xiao’s beneficial ownership numbers and percentage.
(2) Billion Wang Holdings Limited, a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, of which Yinglai Wang is the sole shareholder and director, holds 8,248,000 Ordinary Shares. 10,292,000 shares held by Yujun Xiao, Yinglai Wang’s spouse, are included in Ms. Wang’s beneficial ownership numbers and percentage.
(3) Army Xiao Holdings Limited, a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, of which Yujun Xiao is the sole shareholder and director, holds 8,438,000 Ordinary Shares.
(4) Billion Wang Holdings Limited, a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, of which Yinglai Wang is the sole shareholder and director, holds 8,248,000 Ordinary Shares.
(5) Increase Willpower Limited Partnership, a limited partnership formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, of which Army Xiao Holdings Limited is the general partner, holds 1,854,000 Ordinary Shares.
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We were incorporated as an exempted company limited by shares and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time (our “Articles”), and the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, or the “Cayman Islands Companies Act.” A Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares:
• is a company that conducts its business mainly outside the Cayman Islands;
• is prohibited from trading in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the exempted company carried on outside the Cayman Islands (and for this purpose can effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands);
• does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
• does not have to make its register of members open to inspection by shareholders of that company;
• may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation;
• may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
• may register as a limited duration company; and
• may register as a segregated portfolio company.
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on that shareholder’s shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Our Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our shareholders have adopted amended and restated memorandum and articles of association pursuant to a special resolution dated July 15, 2024. The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act insofar as they relate to the material terms of our Ordinary Shares.
Ordinary Shares
All of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our Ordinary Shares are issued in registered form, and are issued when registered in our register of members. Unless the relevant member requests a share certificate in writing from the Company, each holder of our Ordinary Shares will not receive a certificate in respect of such Ordinary Shares. Our shareholders may freely hold and vote their Ordinary Shares. We may not issue shares or warrants to bearer.
Our authorized share capital is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0000025 per share. Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our Articles and any applicable rules of the relevant stock exchange, the unissued shares of the Company are at the disposal of our board of directors, which may offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such times and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors may in its absolute discretion determine. Such authority could be exercised by the directors to allot shares which carry rights and privileges that are preferential to the rights attached to Ordinary Shares.
At the completion of this offering, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option by the Underwriter, there will be 21,250,000 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding. Our authorized share capital of 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares comprises solely a single class of shares.
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Dividends
Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our board of directors may from time to time declare dividends in any currency to be paid to our shareholders. Dividends may be declared and paid out of the profits of the Company, realised or unrealised, or from any reserve set aside from profits which our directors determine is no longer needed. Our board of directors may also declare and pay dividends out of our share premium account or any other fund or account which can be authorised for this purpose in accordance with the Cayman Islands Companies Act.
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 this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. The directors when paying dividends to shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.
No dividend shall bear interest as against the Company.
Voting Rights
Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any shares by or in accordance with our Articles, at any general meeting of the Company on a show of hands every shareholder present in person or by proxy shall have one vote. On a poll every shareholder present in person or by proxy or shall have one vote for every fully paid share of which he or she is the holder.
Variation of Rights of Shares
If at any time our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, all of the rights attached to the shares of any class may, unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be may be varied, modified or abrogated with the sanction of a special resolution (being a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such holders of shares of such class as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of such shareholders as are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy) passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
The rights conferred upon the holders of any shares or class of shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to or the terms of issue of such shares, be deemed to be varied, modified or abrogated by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with those shares or that class.
Alteration of Share Capital
The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution of our shareholders in accordance with the Cayman Islands Companies Act alter the conditions of our memorandum of association to:
(a) increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amounts as prescribed by the resolution;
(b) consolidate and divide all or any of our capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares;
(c) without prejudice to the powers of our board of directors under our Articles, divide our shares into several classes and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing shares attach to them any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges, conditions or such restrictions which in the absence of any such determination by the Company in general meeting, as the directors may determine;
(d) sub-divide our shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by our memorandum of association (subject, nevertheless, to the Cayman Islands Companies Act), and may by such resolution determine that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from such sub-division, one or more of the shares may have any such preferred, deferred or other rights or be subject to any such restrictions as compared with the other or others as the Company has power to attach to unissued or new shares; and
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(e) cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of that resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
We may from time to time by special resolution of our shareholders, subject to any confirmation or consent required by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve or other undistributable reserve in any manner permitted by law.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture
Subject to our Articles and to the terms of allotment, the directors may from time to time make calls upon the shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium), and each shareholder will (subject to being given at least fourteen (14) clear days’ notice specifying the time and place of payment) pay to the Company as required by such notice the amount called on his or her shares. A call may be extended, postponed or revoked in whole or in part as the board of directors determines but no shareholder shall be entitled to any such extension, postponement or revocation except as a matter of grace and favour. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made. The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls and instalments due in respect thereof or other moneys due in respect thereof. If a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding twenty per cent. (20%) per annum) as the board of directors may determine, but the board of directors may in its absolute discretion waive payment of such interest in whole or in part.
We have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all moneys (whether presently payable or not) called or payable at a fixed time in respect of that share. We also have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether or not jointly with other shareholders) for all amounts of money presently payable by such shareholder or his or her estate to the Company whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company of any equitable or other interest of any person other than such member, and whether the period for the payment or discharge of the same shall have actually become due or not, and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such shareholder or his estate and any other person, whether a shareholder or not. The Company’s lien on a share shall extend to all dividends or other moneys payable thereon or in respect thereof. The board of directors may at any time, generally or in any particular case, waive any lien that has arisen or declare any share exempt in whole or in part, from the provisions of the Articles.
Unclaimed Dividend
Any dividend that remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date of declaration of such dividend shall be forfeited and revert to the Company.
Forfeiture or Surrender of Shares
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the board of directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen (14) clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and which may still accrue up to the date of actual payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the shares on which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
If the requirements of any such notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before payment of all calls and interest due in respect thereof has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the board of directors to that effect, and such forfeiture shall include all dividends and bonuses declared in respect of the forfeited share but not actually paid before the forfeiture
Any share so forfeited shall be deemed the property of the Company and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of to such person, upon such terms and in such manner as the board of directors determines, and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be annulled by the board of directors on such terms as the board of directors determines.
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A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a shareholder in respect of the forfeited shares but nevertheless shall remain liable to pay us all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were presently payable by him or her to us in respect of the shares, with (if the board of directors in its discretion requires) interest thereon from the date of forfeiture until payment at such rate (not exceeding twenty per cent. (20%) per annum) as the board of directors determine.
Share Premium Account
The directors shall establish a share premium account and shall carry the credit of such account from time to time to a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any share of the Company.
Redemption and Purchase of Own Shares
Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, the rules and regulations of any relevant stock exchange and our Articles, and to the special rights conferred on the holders of any shares or attaching to any class of shares, we may by our directors:
(a) issue shares on terms that they may be, or at the option of the Company or the holder are, liable to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner, including out of capital, as the board of directors may deem fit; and
(b) purchase or otherwise acquire our own shares (including any redeemable shares) on such terms and subject to such conditions and in such manner as the directors determine.
Transfer of Shares
The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of an ordinary share until the name of the transferee is entered on the register of members of the Company.
Where the shares in question are not listed on or subject to the rules of Nasdaq, shares are transferable, subject to the consent of our board of directors who may, in their absolute discretion, refuse to consent to any transfer and decline to register the transfer without giving any reason.
If our directors refuse to register a transfer of a share, they are required, within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged, to notify the transferee and transferor of the refusal.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our Ordinary Shares will have no general right under the Cayman Islands Companies Act to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records. Under Cayman Islands law, the names of our current directors can be obtained from a search conducted at the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.
General Meetings
All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. We are not obliged to hold an annual general meeting.
A majority of the directors or the chairman of the board of directors may call extraordinary general meetings, which extraordinary general meetings shall be held at such times and locations (as permitted hereby) as such person or persons shall determine. Any one or more shareholders holding not less than one-third of all votes attaching to the total issued and paid up share capital of the Company at the date of deposit of the requisition shall at all times have the right, by written requisition to the board of directors (or the secretary of the Company if any), to require an extraordinary general meeting to be called by the board of directors for the transaction of any business specified in such requisition; and such meeting shall be held within two (2) months after the deposit of such requisition. If within twenty one (21) days of such deposit the board of directors fails to proceed to convene such meeting the requisitionist(s) himself or herself (themselves) may do so in the same manner, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionist(s) as a result of the failure of the board of directors shall be reimbursed to the requisitionist(s) by the Company.
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A general meeting may be called by not less than ten (10) clear days’ notice but may be called by shorter notice, subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, if it is so agreed: (a) in the case of a meeting called as an annual general meeting, by all the shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat; and (b) in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the shareholders having the right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five per cent. (95%) in nominal value of the issued shares giving that right. Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all shareholders other than to such shareholders as, under the provisions of our Articles or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notices from the Company, to all persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a shareholder and to each of the directors.
No business other than the appointment of a chairman of a meeting shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the commencement of the business. At any general meeting of the Company, two (2) shareholders entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy or (in the case of a shareholder being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative representing not less than one-third in nominal value of the total issued voting shares in the Company throughout the meeting shall form a quorum for all purposes.
If, within thirty minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) from the time appointed for the general meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and (where applicable) same place(s) or, to such time and (where applicable) such place(s) and in such form and manner as the directors may absolutely determine. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for holding the meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved.
The chairman may adjourn any meeting from time to time (or indefinitely), and/or from place to place and/or from one form to another (a physical meeting, a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting), but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
Unless a poll is duly demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or not carried by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect made in the minute book of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against the resolution.
Preferred Shares
Pursuant to our Articles, our directors have the authority to issue shares and other securities of the Company with such preferred, deferred or other special rights, restrictions or privileges whether with regard to voting, distributions, a return of capital, or otherwise and in such classes and series, if any, as the directors may determine. We do not currently have plans to issue any preferred shares.
Directors
We may by ordinary resolution of our shareholders impose a minimum number of directors required and by resolution of our directors impose a maximum number of directors permitted to hold office at any time and vary such limits from time to time. Under our Articles, we are required to have a minimum of one director unless otherwise resolved by ordinary resolution.
A director may be elected by ordinary resolution or appointed by the directors. Any election or appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director.
The directors shall be entitled to such remuneration as the directors may determine.
Under our Articles, no director shall be required to hold any shares of the Company by way of qualification.
A director may be removed by ordinary resolution of our shareholders.
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Under our Articles, the office of a director shall be vacated if the director:
(a) resigns his or her office by notice in writing delivered to the Company at our registered office or tendered at a meeting of the board of directors;
(b) becomes of unsound mind or dies;
(c) without special leave of absence from the board of directors, is absent from meetings of the board of directors for three consecutive meetings and the board of directors resolves that his or her office be vacated;
(d) becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or suspends payment or compounds with his or her creditors;
(e) is prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands from being a director; or
(f) ceases to be a director by virtue of any provision of any Cayman Islands legislation applying to the Company or is removed from office pursuant to our Articles.
Each of the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of at least three directors and the majority of the committee members shall be independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance rules. The audit committee shall consist of at least three directors, all of whom shall be independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance rules and will meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10C-1 of the Exchange Act.
Powers and Duties of Directors
The business of the Company is managed and conducted by our board of directors, which may exercise all powers of the Company (whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or otherwise) which are not by applicable Cayman Islands law or by our Articles required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting, subject nevertheless to the provisions of applicable Cayman Islands law and of our Articles and to such regulations being not inconsistent with such provisions, as may be prescribed by the Company in general meeting. No regulations made by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the board of directors which would have been valid if such regulations had not been made.
The directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions to any committee consisting of one or more directors and other persons as they think fit. The directors may also, from time to time, revoke such delegation or revoke the appointment of and discharge any such committees either wholly or in part, and either as to persons or purposes. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed on it by the directors. The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in our Articles for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the board of directors so far as the same are applicable.
The directors may establish any regional or local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company in any place, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local boards, or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration (either by way of salary or by commission or by conferring the right to participation in the profits of the Company or by a combination of two or more of these modes) and pay the working expenses of any staff employed by them upon the business of the Company. The directors may delegate to any regional or local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable by the directors (other than its powers to make calls and forfeit shares), with power to sub-delegate, and may authorise the members of any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies. Any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the directors may think fit, and the directors may remove any person appointed as aforesaid, and may revoke or vary such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.
The directors may by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the directors under our Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such
114
power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the directors may think fit, and may also authorize any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.
The directors may entrust to and confer upon a managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, an executive director or any director any of the powers exercisable by them upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they think fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, their own powers, and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.
The officers of the Company consist of the chairman of the board of directors, the directors and secretary and such additional officers (who may or may not be directors) as the board of directors may from time to time determine, The officers shall receive such remuneration as the directors may from time to time determine. The secretary and additional officers, if any, shall be appointed by the directors and shall hold office on such terms and for such period as the directors may determine. The officers of the Company shall have such powers and perform such duties in the management, business and affairs of the Company as may be delegated to them by the directors from time to time.
The directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company and, subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, to issue debentures, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act and to our Articles, no director or proposed or intending director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company, either with regard to his tenure of any office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or in any other manner whatsoever, nor shall any such contract or any other contract or arrangement in which any director is in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company or the shareholders for any remuneration, profit or other benefits realized by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such director holding that office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established provided that such director shall disclose the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement in which he is interested in accordance with our Articles. Any such transaction that would reasonably be likely to affect a director’s status as an “independent director”, or that would constitute a “related party transaction” as defined by the rules and regulations of the relevant stock exchange or under applicable laws, shall require the approval of our audit committee. A director who to his or her knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of his or her interest at the meeting of the board of directors at which the question of entering into the contract or arrangement is first considered, if he or she knows his or her interest then exists, or in any other case at the first meeting of the board of directors after he or she knows that he or she is or has become so interested. Following such declaration being made and subject to any separate requirement for audit committee approval under applicable law or the rules and regulations of the relevant stock exchange and, unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement in which such director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such meeting.
Capitalization of Profits
The Company may, upon the recommendation of the board of directors, at any time and from time to time pass an ordinary resolution to the effect that it is desirable to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including a share premium account and capital redemption reserve and the profit and loss account) whether or not the same is available for distribution and accordingly that such amount be set free for distribution among the shareholders or any class of shareholders who would be entitled thereto if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the basis that the same is not paid in cash but is applied either in or towards paying up the amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such shareholders respectively or in paying up in full unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company, to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid up among such shareholders, or partly in one way and partly in the other.
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Liquidation Rights
Subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to the distribution of available surplus assets on liquidation for the time being attached to any class or classes of shares (i) if the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the capital paid up at the commencement of the winding up, the excess shall be distributed pari passu amongst such shareholders in proportion to the amount paid up on the shares held by them respectively and (ii) if the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders as such shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the paid-up capital such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the shareholders in proportion to the capital paid up, or which ought to have been paid up, at the commencement of the winding up on the shares held by them respectively.
Register of Members
Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
• the names and addresses of our shareholders, together with a statement of the shares held by each shareholder, such statement shall confirm (i) the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each shareholder; (ii) the number and category of shares held by each member, and (iii) whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the articles of association of the company, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional;
• the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a shareholder; and
• the date on which any person ceased to be a shareholder.
Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, the register of members of our Company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (that is, the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a shareholder registered in the register of members is deemed as a matter of the Cayman Islands Companies Act to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon completion of this offering, the register of members will be immediately updated to record and give effect to the issuance of shares by us to the custodian or its nominee. Once our register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name.
If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a shareholder of our company, the person or shareholder aggrieved (or any shareholder of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the “Grand Court”) for an order that the register be rectified, and the Grand Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
Differences in Corporate Law
The Cayman Islands Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of the United Kingdom but does not follow recent United Kingdom statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the current Companies Act of the United Kingdom. In addition, the Cayman Islands Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain significant differences between the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
The Cayman Islands Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (1) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and
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liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company and (2) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (1) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (2) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a declaration as to the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands courts) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
In addition, the Cayman Islands Companies Act contains statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction 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. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
(a) the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met;
(b) the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class;
(c) the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and
(d) the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Cayman Islands Companies Act.
The Cayman Islands Companies Act also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissentient minority shareholders upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of 90.0% of the shares affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court, but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If an arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, or if a takeover offer is made and accepted, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholders’ Suits and Protection of Minority Shareholders.
In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and as a general rule, a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English law authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Grand Court can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule derived from the seminal English case of Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto, which limits the circumstances in which a shareholder may bring a
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derivative action on behalf of the company or a personal action to claim loss which is reflective of loss suffered by the company) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against, or derivative actions in the name of, a company to challenge the following acts in the following circumstances:
• 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.”
In the case of a company (not being a bank) having its share capital divided into shares, the Grand Court may, on the application of members holding not less than one fifth of the shares of the company in issue, appoint an inspector to examine the affairs of the company and to report thereon in such manner as the Grand Court shall direct.
Any of our shareholders may petition the Grand Court which may make a winding up order if the Grand Court is of the opinion that it is just and equitable that we should be wound up and cease doing business, which may occur on the basis that there has been a loss of substratum and/or misconduct by management. Alternatively, the Grand Court may make an order: (1) regulating the conduct of our affairs; (2) requiring us to refrain from doing or continuing an act complained of by the shareholder petitioner or to do an act which the shareholder petitioner has complained we have omitted to do; (3) authorizing civil proceedings to be brought in our name and on our behalf by the shareholder petitioner on such terms as the Grand Court may direct; or (4) providing for the purchase of the shares of any of our shareholders by other shareholders or us and, in the case of a purchase by us, a reduction of our capital accordingly.
Generally, claims against us must be based on the general laws of contract or tort applicable in the Cayman Islands or individual rights as shareholders as established by our memorandum and articles of association.
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Articles permit indemnification of officers and directors for liabilities incurred in their capacities as such as a result of any act or failure to act unless such losses or damages arise from their own dishonesty, wilful default or fraud. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.
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 acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
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As a matter of Cayman Islands law, directors of a Cayman Islands company owe fiduciary duties to the company. Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties: (i) a duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; (ii) a duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; (iii) a duty not to improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; (iv) a duty to exercise powers fairly as between different classes of shareholders; (v) a duty to exercise independent judgment; and (vi) a duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. In fulfilling their duty of care to our company, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time.
A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, there are indications that English and Commonwealth courts are moving 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 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. The Delaware General Corporation Law does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, but in keeping with common law, Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. 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.
The Cayman Islands Companies Act provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our Articles provide that general meetings may also be convened by any one or more of our directors, or our secretary (if any), on the written request of shareholders entitled to exercise one-third of all votes attaching to the total issued and paid up share capital of the Company at the date of deposit of the requisition; and such meeting shall be held within two (2) months after the deposit of such request. Such written request must state the objects of the meeting. The written request must be lodged at our registered office in the Cayman Islands. If the directors do not proceed to convene a general meeting within 21 days of the written request to requisition a meeting being lodged, the requisitionist(s) may convene the general meeting, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionist(s) as a result of the failure of the directors shall be reimbursed to the requisitionist(s) by the Company. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
Cumulative Voting
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for election 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. As permitted under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our Articles 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. Subject to the provisions of our Articles (which include the removal of a director by ordinary resolution), the office of a director may be vacated if the director: (i) resigns his or her office by notice in writing delivered to the Company at the Company’s registered office or tendered at a meeting of
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the board of directors; (ii) becomes of unsound mind or dies; (iii) without special leave of absence from the board of directors, is absent from meetings of the board of directors for three consecutive meetings and the board of directors resolves that his or her office be vacated; (iv) becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or her or suspends payment or compounds with his or her creditors; (v) is prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands from being a director; or (vi) ceases to be a director by virtue of any provision of any Cayman Islands legislation applying to the Company or is removed from office pursuant to our Articles.
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 or bylaws that is approved by its shareholders, 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 stock or who or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and owned 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock 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.
The Cayman Islands Companies Act 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 the Cayman Islands Companies Act does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, under Cayman Islands law such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
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 of directors.
Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act and our Articles, the Company may be wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders, or if the winding up is initiated by our board of directors, by either a special resolution of our members or, if our company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of our members. In addition, a company may be wound up by an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands. 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.
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 our Articles, if at any time our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, all of the rights attached to the shares of any class may, unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be may be varied, modified or abrogated with the sanction of a special resolution (being a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such holders of shares of such class as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of such shareholders as are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy) passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
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Amendment of Governing Documents
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may be amended only if adopted and declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and the bylaws may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and may, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, also be amended by the board of directors. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our Articles may only be amended by special resolution of our shareholders.
Anti-money Laundering — Cayman Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we may be required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.
We also reserve the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment of redemption proceeds to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reason for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or is involved with terrorism or terrorist property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of their business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) a nominated officer (appointed in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (as amended), if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering or (ii) to a police constable or a nominated officer (pursuant to the Terrorism Act (as amended of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (as amended), if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and terrorist property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0000025 per share, 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding. Upon completion of this offering, 21,250,000 Ordinary Shares will be issued and outstanding. Of that amount, 1,250,000 Ordinary Shares will be publicly held by investors participating in this offering, and 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares will be held by our existing shareholders, some of whom may be our “affiliates” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. As defined in Rule 144, an “affiliate” of an issuer is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the issuer. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Ordinary Shares. While we intend to list the Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital market, we cannot assure you that a regular trading market will develop in our Ordinary Shares.
All of the Ordinary Shares sold in the offering will be freely transferable by persons other than our “affiliates” in the United States without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. Ordinary shares purchased by one of our “affiliates” may not be resold, except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from registration, including an exemption under Rule 144 under the Securities Act described below.
The Ordinary Shares held by existing shareholders are, and any Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding following the completion of this offering will be, “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restricted securities may be sold in the United States only if they are registered or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act. These rules are described below.
Sales of substantial amounts of the Ordinary Shares in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the Ordinary Shares. As described below, only a limited number of our Ordinary Shares currently outstanding will be available for sale immediately after this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale. Nevertheless, after these restrictions lapse, future sales of substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares, including Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of outstanding options, in the public market in the United States, or the possibility of such sales, could negatively affect the market price in the United States of our Ordinary Shares and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.
Lock-up Agreements
Pursuant to the underwriting agreement in connection with this offering, we, our directors and executive officers and the holders of 5% or more of our outstanding Ordinary Shares have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of our Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our Ordinary Shares for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. After the expiration of the 180-day period, the Ordinary Shares held by our directors, executive officers and such shareholders may be sold subject to the restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act, or by means of a registered public offering. See “Underwriting — Lock-up Agreements” for more details.
Rule 144
All of our Ordinary Shares outstanding prior to the completion of this offering are “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act and may be sold publicly in the United States only if they are subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement such as those provided by Rule 144 and Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person who is not deemed to have been our affiliate at any time during the three months preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for more than six months would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliate who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least one year from the later of the date these shares were acquired from us or from our affiliate would be entitled to freely sell those shares.
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A person who is deemed to be an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned “restricted securities” for at least six months would be entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that is not more than the greater of:
• 1% of the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding, in the form of Ordinary Shares or otherwise, which will equal approximately shares immediately after this offering; or
• the average weekly trading volume of the Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale.
Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases our Ordinary Shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement relating to compensation is eligible to resell such Ordinary Shares 90 days after we became a reporting company under the Exchange Act in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144.
Regulation S
Regulation S under the Securities Act provides an exemption from registration requirements in the United States for offers and sales of securities that occur outside the United States. Rule 903 of Regulation S provides the conditions to the exemption for a sale by an issuer, a distributor, their respective affiliates or anyone acting on their behalf. Rule 904 of Regulation S provides the conditions to the exemption for a resale by persons other than those covered by Rule 903. In each case, any sale must be completed in an offshore transaction, as that term is defined in Regulation S, and no directed selling efforts, as that term is defined in Regulation S, may be made in the United States.
We are a foreign issuer as defined in Regulation S. As a foreign issuer, securities that we sell outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S are not considered to be restricted securities under the Securities Act, and, subject to the offering restrictions imposed by Rule 903, are freely tradable without registration or restrictions under the Securities Act, unless the securities are held by our affiliates. We are not claiming the potential exemption offered by Regulation S in connection with the offering of newly issued shares outside the United States and will register all of the newly issued shares under the Securities Act.
Subject to certain limitations, holders of our restricted shares who are not our affiliates or who are our affiliates by virtue of their status as our officer or director may resell their restricted shares in an “offshore transaction” under Regulation S if:
• none of the shareholder, its affiliate nor any person acting on their behalf engages in directed selling efforts in the United States, and
• in the case of a sale of our restricted shares by an officer or director who is our affiliate solely by virtue of holding such position, no selling commission, fee or other remuneration is paid in connection with the offer or sale other than the usual and customary broker’s commission that would be received by a person executing such transaction as agent.
Additional restrictions are applicable to a holder of our restricted shares who will be our affiliate other than by virtue of his or her status as our officer or director.
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The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Ordinary Shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this registration statement, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the Ordinary Shares, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, the People’s Republic of China and the United States. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it represents the opinion of Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP, our Cayman Islands counsel; to the extent it relates to PRC tax law, it is the opinion of Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, our PRC counsel.
Cayman Islands Taxation
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Ordinary Shares and Ordinary Shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Ordinary Shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
People’s Republic of China Taxation
Under the PRC EIT Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of the business, production, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the SAT issued a circular, known as Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe that HUHUTECH is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. HUHUTECH is not controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group and we do not believe that HUHUTECH meets all of the conditions above. HUHUTECH is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, its key assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries, and its key assets are located, and its records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside the PRC. For the same reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” There can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with ours.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that HUHUTECH is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises, including the holders of the Ordinary Shares. In addition, non-resident enterprise
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shareholders (including the ordinary shareholders) may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of Ordinary Shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders (including the ordinary shareholders) would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% (and such PRC tax may be withheld at source in the case of dividends). Any PRC income tax liability may be reduced under applicable tax treaties. However, it is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of HUHUTECH would in practice be able to obtain the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that HUHUTECH is treated as a PRC resident enterprise.
Provided that our Cayman Islands holding company, HUHUTECH, is not deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, holders of the Ordinary Shares and Ordinary Shares who are not PRC residents will not be subject to PRC income tax on dividends distributed by us or gains realized from the sale or other disposition of our shares or Ordinary Shares. However, under Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity which directly owns such taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC EIT, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. However, sales of shares and Ordinary Shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares or Ordinary Shares are acquired on a public stock exchange are currently exempt from these indirect transfer rules under Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37. We and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of being required to file a return and being taxed under Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37, and we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these circulars. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC — We face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in our PRC subsidiaries.”
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of the Ordinary Shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) that acquires the Ordinary Shares in this offering and holds the Ordinary Shares as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. This discussion is based upon existing U.S. federal tax law, which is subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion, moreover, does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, Medicare, and alternative minimum tax considerations, or any state, local and non-U.S. tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of the Ordinary Shares. The following summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances or to persons in special tax situations such as:
• banks and other financial institutions;
• insurance companies;
• pension plans;
• cooperatives;
• regulated investment companies;
• real estate investment trusts;
• broker-dealers;
• traders that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting;
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• certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents;
• tax-exempt entities (including private foundations);
• holders who acquire their Ordinary Shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation;
• investors that will hold their 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 holding their Ordinary Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside the United States;
• persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value); or
• partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding the Ordinary Shares through such entities, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those discussed below.
Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal taxation to its particular circumstances, and the state, local, non-U.S. and other tax considerations of the ownership and disposition of the Ordinary Shares.
General
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of the ordinary that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
• an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
• a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in or organized under the law of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
• an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
• a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code.
If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the Ordinary Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding the Ordinary Shares and their partners are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in the Ordinary Shares.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares will generally be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the Ordinary Shares. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a U.S. Holder of the Ordinary Shares will be treated in this manner. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of Ordinary Shares for Ordinary Shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be a PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, if either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, cash and assets readily convertible into cash are generally categorized as a passive asset and the company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are taken into account. Passive income generally includes, among other things,
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dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
After the restructure that was completed in March 2022, HUHU China is now an indirect subsidiary of the Company. Based upon our current and projected income and assets, including the expected proceeds from this offering, and projections as to the value of our assets (which are based on the expected market price of the Ordinary Shares immediately following this offering), we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we are or will become a PFIC is a factual determination made annually that will depend, in part, upon the composition of our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of the Ordinary Shares may cause us to be or become a PFIC for the current or future taxable years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market price of the Ordinary Shares from time to time (which may be volatile). In estimating the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, we have taken into account our anticipated market capitalization immediately following the close of this offering. Among other matters, if our market capitalization is less than anticipated or subsequently declines, we may be or become a PFIC for the current or future taxable years. The composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in this offering. Under circumstances where our revenue from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to our revenue from activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of being or becoming a PFIC may substantially increase. Because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, and because our PFIC status is an annual factual determination, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year.
If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds the Ordinary Shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds the Ordinary Shares.
The discussion below under “— Dividends” and “— Sale or Other Disposition” is written on the basis that we will not be or become a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply generally if we are treated as a PFIC are discussed below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Dividends
Any cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares (including the amount of any PRC tax withheld) out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder, in the case of Ordinary Shares, in the case of Ordinary Shares. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, any distribution we pay will generally be treated as a “dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received on the Ordinary Shares will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.
Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders will be subject to tax at the lower capital gain tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income”; provided that certain conditions are satisfied, including that (1) the Ordinary Shares on which the dividends are paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or, in the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC tax law, we are eligible for the benefit of the United States-PRC income tax treaty (the “Treaty”), (2) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder (as discussed below) for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid and the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period and other requirements are met. We intend to list the Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Provided that this listing is approved, we believe that the Ordinary Shares will generally be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. There can be no assurance that the Ordinary Shares will continue to be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in later years. Because the Ordinary Shares will not be listed on a U.S. exchange, we do not believe that dividends received with respect to Ordinary Shares that are not represented by Ordinary Shares will be treated as qualified dividends. Non-corporate U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to the Ordinary Shares.
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In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC EIT Law (see “Taxation — People’s Republic of China Taxation”), we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. If we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our Ordinary Shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by the Ordinary Shares, and regardless of whether the Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation described in the preceding paragraph, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met and that we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid and the preceding taxable year.
For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, dividends paid on the Ordinary Shares generally will be treated as income from foreign sources and generally will constitute passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC EIT Law, a U.S. Holder may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid on the Ordinary Shares (see “Taxation — People’s Republic of China Taxation”). Depending on the U.S. Holder’s particular facts and circumstances and subject to a number of complex conditions and limitations, PRC withholding taxes on dividends that are non-refundable under the Treaty may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld may instead claim a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholding, but only for a year in which such holder elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex and U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale or Other Disposition
A U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of Ordinary Shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Ordinary Shares. The gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Any capital gain or loss will be long term if the Ordinary Shares have been held for more than one year. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that the U.S. Holder recognizes will generally be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, which may limit the availability of foreign tax credits. However, in the event we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of the Ordinary Shares, a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may elect to treat such gain as PRC source income. If a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or fails to make the election to treat any gain as foreign source, then such U.S. Holder may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC tax imposed on the disposition of the Ordinary Shares unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against United States federal income tax due on other income derived from foreign sources in the same income category (generally, the passive category). Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is imposed on a disposition of the Ordinary Shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit under its particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the Ordinary Shares, and unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules on (i) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125 percent of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition including, under certain circumstances, a pledge, of Ordinary Shares. Under the PFIC rules:
• the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the 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 a PFIC (each, a “pre-PFIC year”) will be taxable as ordinary income; and
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• 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.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the Ordinary Shares, and any of our subsidiaries is also a PFIC (a “lower-tier PFIC”), such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock. If a U.S. Holder makes this election with respect to the Ordinary Shares, the holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such Ordinary Shares and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the Ordinary Shares over the fair market value of such Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year, but such deduction will only be allowed to the extent of the amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of the Ordinary Shares and we cease to be a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above during any period that we are not a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of the Ordinary Shares in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will only be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable United States Treasury regulations. We anticipate that the Ordinary Shares should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot technically be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make qualified electing fund elections which, if available, would result in tax treatment different from (and generally less adverse than) the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
If a U.S. Holder owns the Ordinary Shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, the holder must generally file an annual IRS Form 8621. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the Ordinary Shares if we are or become a PFIC.
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We will enter into an underwriting agreement with Craft Capital Management LLC, or the representative, to act as the representative of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters named below have agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to them, the number of our Ordinary Shares at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and as indicated below:
|
Name |
Number of |
|
|
Craft Capital Management LLC |
|
|
|
Total |
— |
The underwriters are offering the ordinary shares subject to their acceptance of the ordinary shares from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the ordinary shares offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the ordinary shares offered by this prospectus if any such shares are taken.
The underwriters will offer the ordinary shares to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of __% of the offering price per ordinary share. After this offering, the initial public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers may be reduced by the representative. No such reduction shall change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. The securities are offered by the underwriters as stated herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in part. The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm sales to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
Discounts and Expenses
The underwriting discounts are equal to 7.5% of the initial public offering price.
The following table shows the price per share and total initial public offering price, underwriting discounts, and proceeds before expenses to us.
|
Per Share |
Total(5) |
|||||
|
Initial public offering price |
$ |
5.00 |
$ |
6,250,000 |
||
|
Underwriting discount (7.5%) |
$ |
0.375 |
$ |
468,750 |
||
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
$ |
4.625 |
$ |
5,781,250 |
||
We will also pay to the representative by deduction from the net proceeds of the offering contemplated herein, a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds received by us from the sale of the shares, including any over-allotment shares.
We have agreed to reimburse the representative up to a maximum of $200,000 for out-of-pocket accountable expenses (including legal fees for representative’s counsel and other disbursements). We have paid an advance of $50,000 to the representative upon the execution of the engagement letter (the Engagement Letter”) between us and the representative dated August 20, 2024, for the representative’s anticipated out-of-pocket accountable expenses. Any expenses advancement will be returned to us to the extent the representative’s out-of-pocket accountable expenses are not actually incurred in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A).
We paid a total of $127,000 to the previous underwriter for this offering; for the avoidance of doubt, this amount is not part of, and does not count towards, the representative’s maximum out-of-pocket accountable expenses.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the underwriting discounts and non-accountable expense allowance, will be approximately $2 million.
Right of First Refusal
If within the 12-month period following consummation of this offering, the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) decides to finance or refinance any indebtedness using a manager or agent, the representative (or any affiliate designated by the representative) shall have the right to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner, sole
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placement agent and/or sole advisor, at the representative’s sole discretion, with respect to such financing or refinancing; or (ii) decides to raise funds by means of an equity offering or a private placement of equity or debt securities using an underwriter or placement agent, the representative (or any affiliate designated by the representative) shall have the right to act as exclusive financial advisor, sole investment banker, sole book-runner and/or sole placement agent, at Craft Capital’s sole discretion, for such financing (the “Right of First Refusal”). The Right of First Refusal shall be subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5), including that it may be terminated by the Company for cause, which shall be a breach by the representative of the Engagement Letter or a material failure by the underwriter to provide the services as contemplated by the Engagement Letter.
Representative’s Warrants
In addition, we have agreed to issue the Underwriter Warrants to the representative an aggregate number of ordinary shares equal to 5% of the total number of ordinary shares sold in this offering. Each such warrant evidencing the right to purchase one share of the ordinary shares being offered in this offering, and has an exercise price equal to 125% of the initial public offering price of the ordinary shares sold in this offering. The Underwriter Warrants will be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four and half year period commencing six months from the commencement date of sales in the offering. The Underwriter Warrants and the underlying shares will be deemed compensation by FINRA, and therefore will be subject to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1). In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), and except as otherwise permitted by FINRA rules, neither the Underwriter Warrants nor any of our ordinary shares issued upon exercise of the Underwriter Warrants may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person, for a period of six months beginning on the date of the closing of the offering. The Underwriter Warrants and the underlying ordinary shares will be registered in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We agreed to maintain an effective registration statement on Form F-1 (or Form F-3, if we are eligible to use such form) until such date that is the earlier of the date when all of the ordinary shares underlying the representative’s warrants have been publicly sold by holder of such warrants or such time as Rule 144 or another similar exemption under the Securities Act is available for the sale of all of such ordinary shares underlying the representative’s warrants without registration. In addition, although the Underwriter Warrants and the underlying ordinary shares will be registered in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we have also agreed that the Underwriter Warrants will provide for registration rights in certain cases. These registration rights apply to all of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ warrants. The one demand registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the date of commencement of sales of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(C). The piggyback registration rights provided will not be greater than seven years from the date of commencement of sales of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D).
We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the ordinary shares underlying the Underwriter Warrants, other than any underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the warrant holders. The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Underwriter Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances, including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. The warrant exercise price and/or underlying shares may also be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below the warrant exercise price.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and liabilities arising from breaches of representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, or to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
Lock-Up Agreements
We have agreed, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, not to offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, except in this offering, any of our Ordinary Shares or securities that are substantially similar to our Ordinary Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase our Ordinary Shares, or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that
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represent the right to receive, our Ordinary Shares or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date such lock-up agreement was executed), without the prior written consent of the representative.
Our officers, directors, and 5% or greater shareholders have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to a 180-day lock-up period after the date of this prospectus, with respect to the Ordinary Shares that they beneficially own, including the issuance of shares upon the exercise of convertible securities and options that may be currently outstanding or which may be issued. This means that, for a period of twelve months following the date of this prospectus, such persons may not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of these securities without the prior written consent of the representative or as otherwise agreed.
The representative has no present intention to waive or shorten the lock-up period; however, the terms of the lock-up agreements may be waived at its discretion. In determining whether to waive the terms of the lock-up agreements, the representative may base its decision on its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and companies similar to ours in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in general.
Listing
We intend to apply to list our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HUHU”. We make no representation that such application will be approved or that our Ordinary Shares will trade on such market either now or at any time in the future. However, we will not complete this offering unless we are so listed.
Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriters or selling group members, if any, or by their affiliates, and the underwriters may distribute prospectus electronically. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of Ordinary Shares to selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. The Ordinary Shares to be sold pursuant to internet distributions will be allocated on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on, or that can be accessed through, these websites and any information contained in any other website maintained by these entities is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters, and should not be relied upon by investors.
In connection with this offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.
Passive Market Making
Any underwriter who is a qualified market maker on Nasdaq may engage in passive market making transactions on Nasdaq, in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of the shares and extending through the completion of the distribution. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as a passive market maker. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security. If all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
Pricing of this Offering
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Ordinary Shares. The initial public offering price for our Ordinary Shares will be determined through negotiations between us and the representative. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations will be prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the representative believe to be comparable to us, estimate of our business potential and earning prospects, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant. The initial public offering price of our Ordinary Shares in this offering does not necessarily bear any direct relationship to the assets, operations, book or other established criteria of value of our company.
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Potential Conflicts of Interest
The underwriters and their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our Company. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
No Sales of Similar Securities
We have agreed not to offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares or enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our Ordinary Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of Ordinary Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the representative, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.
Selling Restrictions
Other than in the United States, no action may be taken, and no action has been taken, by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the Ordinary Shares offered by, or the possession, circulation or distribution of, this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such shares be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
In addition to the offering of the Ordinary Shares in the United States, the underwriters may, subject to applicable foreign laws, also offer the Ordinary Shares in certain countries.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
Until the distribution of the Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus is completed, rules of the SEC may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for and to purchase our Ordinary Shares. As an exception to these rules, the underwriters may engage in transactions effected in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that are intended to stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our Ordinary Shares. The underwriters may engage in over-allotment sales, if applicable, syndicate covering transactions, stabilizing transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M.
• Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made by the managing underwriter for the purpose of preventing or slowing a decline in the market price of our securities while this offering is in progress.
• Short sales and over-allotments occur when the managing underwriter, on behalf of the underwriting syndicate, sells more of our shares than they purchase from us in this offering. In order to cover the resulting short position, the managing underwriter may exercise the over-allotment option described above and/or may engage in syndicate covering transactions. There is no contractual limit on the size of any syndicate covering transaction. The underwriters will deliver a prospectus in connection with any such short sales. Purchasers of shares sold short by the underwriters are entitled to the same remedies under the federal securities laws as any other purchaser of units covered by the registration statement.
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• Syndicate covering transactions are bids for or purchases of our securities on the open market by the managing underwriter on behalf of the underwriters in order to reduce a short position incurred by the managing underwriter on behalf of the underwriters.
• A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the managing underwriter to reclaim the selling concession that would otherwise accrue to an underwriter if the Ordinary Shares originally sold by the underwriter were later repurchased by the managing underwriter and therefore were not effectively sold to the public by such underwriter.
Stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our Ordinary Shares or preventing or delaying a decline in the market price of our Ordinary Shares. As a result, the price of our Ordinary Shares may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market.
Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the prices of our Ordinary Shares. These transactions may occur on Nasdaq or on any trading market. If any of these transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The contents of this prospectus have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this prospectus, you should obtain independent professional advice. Please note that (i) our shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of this prospectus or any document other than to “professional investors” within the meaning of Part I of Schedule 1 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) (SFO) and any rules made thereunder, or in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong) (CO) or which do not constitute an offer or invitation to the public for the purpose of the CO or the SFO, and (ii) no advertisement, invitation or document relating to our shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the SFO and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the People’s Republic of China
This prospectus may not be circulated or distributed in the PRC and the shares may not be offered or sold, and will not offer or sell to any person for re-offering or resale directly or indirectly to any resident of the PRC except pursuant to applicable laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. For the purpose of this paragraph only, the PRC does not include Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Taiwan, the Republic of China
The Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China, pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be offered or sold in Taiwan through a public offering or in any manner which would constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or would otherwise require registration with or the approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Cayman Islands
This prospectus does not constitute an invitation or offer to the public in the Cayman Islands of the Ordinary Shares, whether by way of sale or subscription. The underwriters have not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any Ordinary Shares in the Cayman Islands.
134
EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts, the non-accountable expense allowance and non-accountable expenses, that we expect to incur in connection with this offering. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, filing fee, and the stock exchange market entry and listing fee, all amounts are estimates.
|
SEC Registration Fee |
$ |
1,500 |
|
|
FINRA Fee |
|
2,000 |
|
|
Stock Exchange Market Entry and Listing Fee |
|
10,000 |
|
|
Printing Expenses |
|
65,000 |
|
|
Legal Fees and Expenses |
|
1,580,000 |
|
|
Transfer Agent Expenses |
|
30,000 |
|
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
|
250,000 |
|
|
Miscellaneous |
|
61,500 |
|
|
Total |
$ |
2,000,000 |
135
We are being represented by Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP with respect to certain legal matters of U.S. federal securities and New York state law. The validity of the Ordinary Shares offered in this offering and other certain legal matters as to Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for us by Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP. Legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Jiangsu Junjin law Firm and for the underwriters by King & Wood Mallesons, Chengdu Office. Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP may rely upon Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm with respect to matters governed by PRC law. Our Underwriter, Craft Capital Management LLC is represented by Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC with respect to certain legal matters of U.S. federal securities and New York state law. Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC may rely upon King & Wood Mallesons, Chengdu Office with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
The consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, included in this Registration Statement have been so included in reliance on the report of Wei, Wei & Co., LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm in auditing and accounting. The office of Wei, Wei & Co., LLP is located at 13310 39th Avenue, Flushing, New York, 11354.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement, including relevant exhibits, with the SEC on Form F-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the underlying Ordinary Shares represented by the Ordinary Shares to be sold in this offering. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement on Form F-1, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should read our registration statements and their exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and the Ordinary Shares.
Immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form F-1 of which this prospectus forms a part, we will become subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC.
136
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
Page |
||
|
Consolidated Financial Statements |
||
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 2388) |
F-2 |
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 |
F-3 |
|
|
F-4 |
||
|
F-5 |
||
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 |
F-6 |
|
|
F-7 – F-30 |
F-1

F-2
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
As of December 31, |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
CURRENT ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash |
$ |
2,739,530 |
|
$ |
1,361,728 |
|
||
|
Restricted cash |
|
107,129 |
|
|
326,888 |
|
||
|
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for credit losses of $375,975 and $361,014 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively) |
|
8,708,075 |
|
|
6,097,806 |
|
||
|
Inventories |
|
530,048 |
|
|
1,419,608 |
|
||
|
Advance to vendors |
|
64,750 |
|
|
61,398 |
|
||
|
Prepayments and other assets, net |
|
181,371 |
|
|
238,917 |
|
||
|
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS |
|
12,330,903 |
|
|
9,506,345 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
1,528,982 |
|
|
512,755 |
|
||
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
124,679 |
|
|
168,880 |
|
||
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
56,931 |
|
|
70,873 |
|
||
|
Deferred offering costs |
|
805,889 |
|
|
575,098 |
|
||
|
Right-of-use assets, net |
|
255,573 |
|
|
38,199 |
|
||
|
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
15,102,957 |
|
$ |
10,872,150 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Short term bank loans |
$ |
1,690,165 |
|
$ |
2,029,809 |
|
||
|
Notes payable |
|
103,943 |
|
|
507,277 |
|
||
|
Accounts payable |
|
4,532,958 |
|
|
3,019,972 |
|
||
|
Due to related parties |
|
868,438 |
|
|
548,473 |
|
||
|
Advance from customers |
|
943,348 |
|
|
512,369 |
|
||
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
561,439 |
|
|
509,381 |
|
||
|
Taxes payable |
|
400,071 |
|
|
159,174 |
|
||
|
Operating lease liabilities – current |
|
107,424 |
|
|
13,724 |
|
||
|
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES |
|
9,207,786 |
|
|
7,300,179 |
|
||
|
Operating lease liabilities – non-current |
|
114,374 |
|
|
19,732 |
|
||
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
|
9,322,160 |
|
|
7,319,911 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 13) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Ordinary shares, $0.0000025 par value, 20,000,000,000 shares authorized, 20,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022* |
|
50 |
|
|
50 |
|
||
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
1,738,179 |
|
|
1,738,179 |
|
||
|
Statutory reserves |
|
343,077 |
|
|
204,604 |
|
||
|
Retained earnings |
|
3,958,029 |
|
|
1,762,915 |
|
||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(258,538 |
) |
|
(153,509 |
) |
||
|
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
5,780,797 |
|
|
3,552,239 |
|
||
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
$ |
15,102,957 |
|
$ |
10,872,150 |
|
||
____________
* Share and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the reorganization and the forward split at a ratio of 1-for-4, with effective date of July 15, 2024.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
For the Years Ended |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||
|
Revenues |
$ |
16,732,688 |
|
$ |
11,374,257 |
|
||
|
Cost of revenues – third parties |
|
11,110,545 |
|
|
7,018,597 |
|
||
|
Cost of revenues – related party |
|
210,251 |
|
|
805,679 |
|
||
|
Total cost of revenues |
|
11,320,796 |
|
|
7,824,276 |
|
||
|
Gross profit |
|
5,411,892 |
|
|
3,549,981 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Selling expenses |
|
871,797 |
|
|
391,013 |
|
||
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
1,036,922 |
|
|
1,033,079 |
|
||
|
Research and development expenses |
|
1,341,221 |
|
|
1,213,529 |
|
||
|
Total operating expenses |
|
3,249,940 |
|
|
2,637,621 |
|
||
|
Income from operations |
|
2,161,952 |
|
|
912,360 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Interest income |
|
7,279 |
|
|
4,021 |
|
||
|
Interest expense |
|
(72,197 |
) |
|
(51,985 |
) |
||
|
Other income, net |
|
492,123 |
|
|
99,920 |
|
||
|
Total other income, net |
|
427,205 |
|
|
51,956 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Income before income taxes |
|
2,589,157 |
|
|
964,316 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
255,570 |
|
|
34,307 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net income |
|
2,333,587 |
|
|
930,009 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
(105,029 |
) |
|
(238,627 |
) |
||
|
Comprehensive income |
$ |
2,228,558 |
|
$ |
691,382 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Earnings per share* |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Basic and diluted |
$ |
0.12 |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding* |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Basic and diluted |
|
20,000,000 |
|
|
20,000,000 |
|
||
____________
* Share and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the reorganization and the forward split at a ratio of 1-for-4, with effective date of July 15, 2024.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
Additional |
Statutory |
Retained |
Accumulated |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares* |
Amount |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
20,000,000 |
$ |
50 |
$ |
1,738,179 |
$ |
99,850 |
$ |
937,660 |
|
$ |
85,118 |
|
$ |
2,860,857 |
|
|||||||
|
Net income |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
930,009 |
|
|
— |
|
|
930,009 |
|
|||||||
|
Statutory reserves |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
104,754 |
|
(104,754 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|||||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
(238,627 |
) |
|
(238,627 |
) |
|||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
20,000,000 |
|
50 |
|
1,738,179 |
|
204,604 |
|
1,762,915 |
|
|
(153,509 |
) |
|
3,552,239 |
|
|||||||
|
Net income |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2,333,587 |
|
|
— |
|
|
2,333,587 |
|
|||||||
|
Statutory reserves |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
138,473 |
|
(138,473 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|||||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
(105,029 |
) |
|
(105,029 |
) |
|||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
20,000,000 |
$ |
50 |
$ |
1,738,179 |
$ |
343,077 |
$ |
3,958,029 |
|
$ |
(258,538 |
) |
$ |
5,780,797 |
|
|||||||
____________
* Share and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the reorganization and the forward split at a ratio of 1-for-4, with effective date of July 15, 2024.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
For the Years Ended |
||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Net income |
$ |
2,333,587 |
|
$ |
930,009 |
|
||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
214,106 |
|
|
138,572 |
|
||
|
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses |
|
25,335 |
|
|
(52,229 |
) |
||
|
Deferred tax expense |
|
11,950 |
|
|
34,665 |
|
||
|
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
53,307 |
|
|
19,643 |
|
||
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Accounts receivable |
|
(2,817,167 |
) |
|
(1,370,494 |
) |
||
|
Inventories |
|
851,308 |
|
|
(979,451 |
) |
||
|
Prepayments and other assets |
|
50,862 |
|
|
(171,856 |
) |
||
|
Advance to vendors |
|
(5,119 |
) |
|
28,844 |
|
||
|
Accounts payable |
|
1,603,497 |
|
|
674,460 |
|
||
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
115,482 |
|
|
60,707 |
|
||
|
Advance from customers |
|
446,802 |
|
|
485,270 |
|
||
|
Taxes payable |
|
246,100 |
|
|
81,964 |
|
||
|
Operating leases liabilities |
|
(81,121 |
) |
|
(19,643 |
) |
||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
3,048,929 |
|
|
(139,539 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Additions to property, plant, and equipment |
|
(1,205,784 |
) |
|
(95,448 |
) |
||
|
Acquisition of intangible asset |
|
(2,469 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
|
Net cash (used in) investing activities |
|
(1,208,253 |
) |
|
(95,448 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Payments to related parties |
|
— |
|
|
(65,358 |
) |
||
|
Advances from related parties |
|
325,642 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
(Repayments of) proceeds from bank acceptance notes payable, net |
|
(389,894 |
) |
|
426,965 |
|
||
|
Proceeds from short-term bank loans |
|
3,135,195 |
|
|
5,079,409 |
|
||
|
Repayment of short-term bank loans |
|
(3,417,645 |
) |
|
(3,952,709 |
) |
||
|
Payment of offering costs |
|
(247,874 |
) |
|
(171,023 |
) |
||
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
(594,576 |
) |
|
1,317,284 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash |
|
(88,057 |
) |
|
(5,196 |
) |
||
|
Net increase in cash and restricted cash |
|
1,158,043 |
|
|
1,077,101 |
|
||
|
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of year |
|
1,688,616 |
|
|
611,515 |
|
||
|
Cash and restricted cash at the end of year |
$ |
2,846,659 |
|
$ |
1,688,616 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash, end of year |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash |
$ |
2,739,530 |
|
$ |
1,361,728 |
|
||
|
Restricted cash |
|
107,129 |
|
|
326,888 |
|
||
|
Cash and restricted cash at the end of year |
$ |
2,846,659 |
|
$ |
1,688,616 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Supplemental cash flow disclosures: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash paid for income tax |
$ |
68,649 |
|
$ |
31,015 |
|
||
|
Cash paid for interest |
$ |
68,255 |
|
$ |
51,985 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Non-cash investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations |
$ |
323,290 |
|
$ |
7,372 |
|
||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
HUHUTECH International Group Inc. (“HUHUTECH” or the “Company”) is a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on July 8, 2021. HUHUTECH, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries is a professional system integration provider to design and implement integrated facility management systems and industrial automation monitoring systems mainly for the optoelectronic, semiconductor, telecom and logistic industries in the People’s Republic of China (“China” or “PRC”) and Japan.
Reorganization
A Reorganization of the legal structure was completed on January 14, 2022. The Reorganization involved the incorporations of HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands holding company; HUHUTECH (HK) Limited (“HUHU HK”), a holding company established in Hong Kong, PRC; Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd (“WFOE”), a company established in the PRC; and the transfer of Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd (“HUHU China”), a company established in the PRC, to WFOE.
Before and after the Reorganization, the Company, together with its subsidiaries, are effectively controlled by the same shareholder, who is the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, therefore the reorganization is considered as a recapitalization of entities under common control in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805-50-25. The consolidation of the Company and its subsidiaries have been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the aforementioned transactions had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Details of the subsidiaries of the Company as of December 31, 2023 are set out below:
|
Name of Entity |
Date of |
Jurisdiction of |
Percentage of |
Principal |
||||
|
HUHUTECH (HK) Limited (“HUHU HK”) |
July 28, 2021 |
Hong Kong, PRC |
100% by HUHU |
Investment holding |
||||
|
Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd (“WFOE”) |
December 10, 2021 |
PRC |
100% by HUHU HK |
Investment holding |
||||
|
Jiangsu Huhu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd. (“HUHU China”) |
August 20, 2015 |
PRC |
100% by WFOE |
System integration and engineering services |
||||
|
Huhu Technology Co., Ltd. (“HUHU Japan”) |
April 25, 2022 |
JAPAN |
100% by HUHU |
System integration and engineering services |
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Principles of consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of HUHUTECH International Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
F-7
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Uses of estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on information as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and are adjusted to reflect actual experience when necessary. Significant estimates required to be made by management include, but are not limited to allowance for credit losses, allowance for inventories obsolescence and revenue recognition. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash
Cash comprises cash at banks and on hand. Cash balances in bank accounts in PRC are insured by the People’s Bank of China Financial Stability Department (“FSD”) where there is a RMB 500,000 (approximately $70,000) deposit insurance limit for a legal entity’s aggregated balance at each bank The Company had $1,157,820 in bank accounts in Japan as of December 31, 2023. Cash balances in bank accounts in Japan are insured pursuant to the Deposit Insurance Act in Japan. Under the Deposit Insurance Act in Japan, the maximum amount of protection is JPY 10 million (approximately $76,000) per customer within one bank.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash consists of cash and cash equivalents which are used as collateral to secure note payable and used as guarantee deposit to secure the performance guarantee bank acceptance. A note payable is a draft issued by a bank for payments in future, which defers the payment until the due date for redeeming the note. According to the notes payable agreement with the bank, 50% to 100% of the amount is required to be deposited at the bank as security for the notes payable. Guarantee deposit is the deposit in bank to secure the performance guarantee bank acceptance issued by the bank. The performance guarantee bank acceptance is required by the Company’s customer for certain project as a guarantee to fulfill the contract. The security deposit for notes payable and performance guarantee bank acceptance amounted to $96,125 and $11,004, respectively, as of December 31, 2023. The security deposit for notes payable and performance guarantee bank acceptance amounted to $254,221 and $72,667, respectively, as of December 31, 2022. The Company earns interest at a variable rate per month on this restricted cash balance.
Accounts receivable, net
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires the Company to measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held and not accounted for at fair value through net income. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2023. ASC 326 introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate the allowance for credit losses, which replaces the previous incurred loss impairment model. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounts receivable are recognized and carried at original invoiced amount less an estimated allowance for credit losses. The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses based on an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable, assessment of collectability, including any known or anticipated economic conditions, customer-specific circumstances, recent payment history and other relevant factors. Allowance for credit losses amounted to $375,975 and $361,014 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
F-8
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Inventories
Inventories are materials stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Costs include purchase price and related shipping costs. The cost of inventories is calculated using the weighted average method. Any excess of the cost over the net realizable value of each item of inventories is recognized as an inventory valuation allowance. Net realizable value is estimated using selling price in the normal course of business less any costs to complete and sell products. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the inventory valuation allowance was nil.
Advances to vendors
Advance to vendors consists of balances paid to suppliers for technical services and materials that have not been provided or received. Advances to suppliers are short-term in nature and are reviewed periodically to determine whether their carrying value has become impaired. The Company considers the assets to be impaired if the collectability of the advance becomes doubtful. The Company uses the aging method to estimate the allowance for uncollectible balances. In addition, at each reporting date, the Company determines the adequacy of the allowance by evaluating all available information, and then records specific allowances for those advances based on the available facts and circumstances. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the allowance for uncollectible advances to vendors was nil.
Prepayments and other assets, net
Prepayments and other assets primarily consist of prepaid rents and advances to employees, which are presented net of allowance for credit losses. Prepayment and other assets are classified as either current or non-current based on the terms of the respective agreements. These advances are unsecured and are reviewed periodically to determine whether their carrying value has become impaired. The Company considers the assets to be impaired if the collectability of the advance becomes doubtful. The Company uses the aging method to estimate the allowance for uncollectible balances. The allowance is also based on management’s best estimate of specific losses on individual exposures, as well as a provision on historical trends of collections and utilizations. Actual amounts received or utilized may differ from management’s estimate of credit worthiness and the economic environment. Prepayment and other assets are written off against the allowances only after exhaustive collection efforts. The allowance for uncollectible balances amounted to $3,565 and $3,670 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Property, plant and equipment, net
Land is recorded at cost. Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided in the amounts sufficient to depreciate the cost of the related assets over their useful lives using the straight-line method, as follows:
|
Useful life |
||
|
Office equipment |
3 – 5 years |
|
|
Transportation equipment |
4 years |
|
|
Building |
20 years |
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs, which do not materially extend the useful lives of the assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments which substantially extend the useful life of assets are capitalized. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income in other income or expenses.
F-9
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Intangible assets
Intangible assets consist primarily of the Type Class A license in construction and computer software. Type Class A license in construction is valid for five years and subject to renewal. Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method.
|
License |
5 years |
|
|
Computer software |
3 – 5 years |
Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances (such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets) indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than the Company had originally estimated. When these events occur, the Company evaluates the impairment by comparing the carrying value of the assets to an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets over the fair value of the assets. No impairment charge was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Deferred offering costs
Deferred offering costs are expenses directly related to the Company’s planned initial public offering (“IPO”). These costs consisted of legal, accounting, printing, and filing fees that the Company capitalized, including fees incurred by the independent registered public accounting firm directly related to the offering. The deferred offering costs will offset against the IPO proceeds and will be reclassified to additional paid-in capital upon completion of the IPO.
Notes payable
Notes payable are bank acceptance notes issued by financial institutions on the Company’s behalf to vendors with a specific due date usually for a period of within 12 months. These notes can either be endorsed by the vendor to other third parties as payment or can be factored to other financial institutions before maturity date. As collateral security for financial institutions’ undertakings, the Company is required to maintain deposits with such financial institutions as restricted cash amounts of 50% to 100% of the balances of the bank acceptance notes. As of December 31, 2023, the Company deposited a total of $96,125 (RMB 682,476) as collateral to secure and issue eight bank acceptance notes of $ 103,943 (RMB737,988) to its vendors with maturity period of six months. As of April 16, 2024, bank acceptance notes of $103,943 (RMB737,988) were fully paid upon maturity and the restricted deposit was also released upon the payment. As of December 31, 2022, the Company deposited a total of $254,221 (RMB1,753,410) as collateral to secure and issue seventeen bank acceptance notes of $499,375 (RMB3,444,291) to its vendors with maturity period of six months and one bank acceptance note of $7,902 (RMB54,500) to its vendors with maturity period of twelve months. As of March 31, 2023, ten notes were fully paid upon maturity and the restricted deposit was also released upon the payment.
F-10
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Fair value of financial instruments
U.S. GAAP requires certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
• Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
• Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
• Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable.
Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, advances to vendors, prepayments and other assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, advances from customers, notes payable, due to related parties and bank loans, approximates their recorded values due to their short-term maturities. The Company determined that the carrying value of the short-term bank loans approximated their fair value by comparing the stated loan interest rate to the rate charged by similar financial institutions.
Revenue recognition
The Company accounts for revenue recognition under FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). In accordance with FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the contract (s) with a customer
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Step 3: Determine the transaction price
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation
The Company derives its revenues primarily from three sources: (1) system integration projects; (2) product sales; (3) engineering consulting services. All of the Company’s contracts with customers do not contain cancellable and refund-type provisions.
Revenue from system integration projects
The Company’s revenues from system integration projects are normally under fixed-price contracts that may last from six months to three years. These contracts require the Company to perform customized services of project planning, system coding, installation of hardware and equipment, and configuration based on the customers’ specific needs which requires significant customization. Upon delivery of the services and equipment, customer acceptance is generally required. In the same contract, the Company is required to provide a warranty period for one to two years (“warranty period”) after the customized project is delivered with a 3% – 10% holdback of the total
F-11
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
contract price (“contract holdback”) which is to be paid after the end of warranty period. The Company determined the warranty clause included in the contractual term is directly related to the quality of the Company’s integration projects and there are no specific tasks to be performed during the warranty period, and therefore, consider it an assurance-type warranty. The warranty is not considered a separate performance obligation and no revenue is associated with these services under ASC 606. Thus, the Company identifies a single performance obligation for the system integration projects, which includes a series of integrated services of project planning, system coding, installation of hardware and equipment, and configuration. Because of the nature of the projects, and the contract owners perform inspection during the project and prior to acceptance, the Company has not experienced material warranty costs and, therefore, does not believe an accrual for these costs is necessary.
Revenue is recognized over the contract term using an input method under which the percentage of revenue to be recognized for a given project is measured by the estimates of the extent of progress towards project completion. Such contracts provide that the customer accept completion of progress to date and compensate the Company for services rendered, which may be measured in terms of costs incurred, units installed, or some other measure of progress. Application of the input method requires the use of estimates of costs to be incurred for the performance of the contract. Contract costs include all direct material costs, direct labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, and all costs associated with operation of equipment. The contract holdback is recognized as revenue after the warranty period has expired. The warranty holdback amounted to $384,837 and $169,360 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The cost estimation process is based upon the professional knowledge and experience of the Company’s engineers, project managers and financial professionals. Management conducts monthly reviews to assess the contract’s schedule, performance, technical matters and estimated cost at completion. When changes in estimated contract costs are identified, such revisions may result in current period adjustments to operations applicable to performance in prior periods.
Revenue from product sales
The Company generates revenue primarily through the sale and delivery of promised goods to customers and recognizes revenue when control is transferred to customers, which typically occurs upon customer acceptance, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services and is recorded net of value-added tax (“VAT”). The Company’s contracts with customers are primarily on a fixed-price basis and do not contain cancellable and refund-type provisions. The Company generally provides a one-year warranty against defects in materials related to the sale of products. The Company considerers the warranty as an assurance type warranty since the warranty provides the customer the assurance that the product complies with agreed-upon specifications. Estimated future warranty obligations are included in cost of product sales in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. The determination of the Company’s warranty accrual is based on actual historical experience with the product, estimates of repair and replacement costs and any product warranty problems that are identified after shipment. The Company estimates and adjusts these accruals at each balance sheet date in accordance with changes in these factors.
Revenue from engineering consulting services
Revenues generated from engineering consulting services are recognized upon the delivery of the engineering report as the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied. Expenses related to these types of services are recognized as incurred.
Contract balances
Accounts receivable represent amounts invoiced and revenues recognized prior to invoicing when the Company has satisfied the Company’s performance obligation and has the unconditional rights to payment. The balances of accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses were $8,708,075 and $6,097,806 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Unearned revenues consist of payments received from customers related to unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of the period, and included in advance from customers in the
F-12
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Company’s consolidated balance sheets with the balance of $943,348 and $512,369 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. All unsatisfied performance obligation will be performed within the next twelve months and no significant financing component is involved. There is no significant financing component in the Company’s revenue arrangement because the Company’s expected length of time between the payment and when the Company transfers the promised services is less than 12 months. For the portion of security deposit with more than 12 months is measured at present value at the reporting date by its primary borrowing rate. The impact of discounted interest expenses is not material for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Disaggregation of revenues
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the disaggregation of revenues by major revenue stream is as follows:
|
For the years ended |
||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||
|
System integration projects |
$ |
16,254,922 |
$ |
11,344,086 |
||
|
Product sales |
|
273,054 |
|
— |
||
|
Engineering consulting services |
|
204,712 |
|
30,171 |
||
|
Total |
$ |
16,732,688 |
$ |
11,374,257 |
||
Research and development costs
Research and development activities are directed toward the development of cleaning control system, ultrapure water control system, gas detection system, and temperature automatic control system used in the semiconductor manufacturing process. These costs, which primarily include salaries, contract services and supplies, are expensed as incurred.
Operating leases
The Company has lease contracts for manufacturing facilities and office space under operating leases. The Company determines whether an arrangement constitutes a lease and records lease liabilities and right-of-use assets on its consolidated balance sheets at lease commencement. The Company measures its lease liabilities based on the present value of the total lease payments not yet paid discounted based on the more readily determinable of the rate implicit in the lease or its incremental borrowing rate, which is the estimated rate the Company would be required to pay for a collateralized borrowing equal to the total lease payments over the term of the lease. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on an analysis of weighted average interest rate of its own bank loans. The Company measures right-of-use assets based on the corresponding lease liability adjusted for payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date, and initial direct costs it incurs under the lease. The Company begins recognizing lease expense when the lessor makes the underlying asset available to the Company.
For leases with lease term less than one year (short-term leases), the Company records operating lease expense in its consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term and record variable lease payments as incurred.
Value added tax (“VAT”)
Revenue represents the invoiced value of goods and services, net of VAT. The VAT is based on gross sales price and VAT rates range from 6% to 13%, depending on the type of products sold or service provided. Entities that are VAT general taxpayers are allowed to offset qualified input VAT paid to suppliers against their output VAT liabilities. Net VAT balance between input VAT and output VAT is recorded in taxes payable. All of the VAT returns filed by the Company’s subsidiaries in PRC remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
F-13
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Government grants
Government grants are recognized as income in other income, net or as a reduction of specific costs and expenses for which the grants are intended to compensate. Such amounts are recognized in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income upon receipt and all conditions attached to the grants are fulfilled. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company received $486,562 and $119,346 of government grants for various research programs. The benefit of these government grants, net of taxes, on net income per share (basic and diluted) was $0.02 and $0.01 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Income taxes
Cayman Islands
The Company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and is not subject to tax on income or capital gains under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Under Hong Kong tax laws, HUHU HK is subject to a statutory income tax rate at 16.5% if revenue is generated in Hong Kong and they are exempted from income tax on their foreign-derived income. There are no withholding taxes in Hong Kong on remittance of dividends.
PRC
Under the Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) Law of PRC, domestic enterprises and Foreign Investment Enterprises (the “FIE”) are usually subject to a unified 25% enterprise income tax rate while preferential tax rates, tax holidays and even tax exemption may be granted on case-by-case basis. EIT grants preferential tax treatment to High and New Technology Enterprises (“HNTEs”). Under this preferential tax treatment, HNTEs are entitled to an income tax rate of 15%, subject to a requirement that they re-apply for HNTE status every three years. HUHU China was approved as a HNTE and is entitled to a reduced income tax rate of 15% beginning December 2022. The certificate is valid until December 2025
EIT is typically governed by the local tax authority in PRC. Each local tax authority at times may grant preferred tax treatment to local enterprises as a way to encourage entrepreneurship and stimulate local economy. The impact of the tax treatment noted above decreased PRC taxes by $140,305 and $109,750 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The benefit of the preferred tax treatment on net income per share (basic and diluted) was $0.03 and $0.02 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Japan
Under Japanese tax laws, HUHU Japan is subject to a statutory income tax rate at 20% on income that is generated in Japan and they are exempted from income tax on their foreign-derived income. There are no withholding taxes in Japan on remittance of dividends.
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized when temporary differences exist between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period including the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
F-14
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred. No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. All of the tax returns of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
Earnings per Share
The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”. ASC 260 requires companies to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as net income divided by the weighted average ordinary shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS presents the dilutive effect on a per-share basis of the potential ordinary shares (e.g., convertible securities, options and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential ordinary shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no dilutive shares. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, earnings per share amounted to $0.12 and $0.05, respectively.
Foreign currency translation
The functional currencies of the Company are the local currency of the county in which the subsidiaries operate. The Company’s consolidated financial statements are reported using U.S. Dollars. The results of operations and the consolidated statements of cash flows denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the average rates of exchange during the reporting period. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange in effect on that date. The equity denominated in the functional currencies is translated at the historical rates of exchange at the time of capital contributions. Because cash flows are translated based on the average translation rates, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheets. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a separate component in accumulated other comprehensive income included in consolidated statements of changes in equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income.
Since the Company operates primarily in the PRC, the Company’s main functional currency is the Chinese Yuan (“RMB”). HUHU Japan’s functional currency is the Japanese Yen (“JPY”). The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been translated into the reporting currency of U.S. Dollars (“US$”). The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions must take place through authorized institutions. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at the rates used in the translation.
The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in creating the consolidated financial statements in this report:
|
For the |
For the |
|||
|
Period Ended RMB: USD exchange rate |
7.0999 |
6.8972 |
||
|
Period Average RMB: USD exchange rate |
7.0809 |
6.7290 |
||
|
Period Ended JPY: USD exchange rate |
140.80 |
131.81 |
||
|
Period Average JPY: USD exchange rate |
140.82 |
131.46 |
F-15
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of foreign currency translation adjustments resulting from the Company not using US$ as its functional currency.
Risks and uncertainties
Beginning in late 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) first emerged in China and spread globally. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic. Governments in affected countries imposed travel bans, quarantines and other emergency public health measures, which caused material disruption to businesses globally resulting in an economic slowdown. Due to the fact that the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak appears to be contained in China, the Company’s production and sales activities gradually returned to normal in fiscal 2022 and 2023. On December 7, 2022, China announced 10 new rules that constituted a relaxation of almost all of its stringent COVID-19 pandemic control measures. On May 5, 2023, WHO declared that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. However, the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s future financial results will be dependent on future developments such as the length and severity of COVID-19, the potential resurgence of COVID-19, future government actions in response to COVID-19 and the overall impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and capital markets, among many other factors, all of which remain highly uncertain and unpredictable. Given this uncertainty, the Company is currently unable to quantify the expected impact of COVID-19 on its future operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations if the current situation continues.
Segment reporting
In accordance with ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer. The Company’s CODM reviews the consolidated financial results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing the performance of the Company as a whole and hence, the Company has only one reportable segment. The Company operates and manages its business in PRC China and Japan as a single segment. The Company’s long-lived assets are substantially all located in the PRC and Japan and substantially all the Company’s revenues are derived from within the PRC and Japan.
The following table presents revenue by geographic location for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
|
For the |
For the |
|||||
|
PRC |
$ |
11,056,162 |
$ |
11,345,810 |
||
|
Japan |
|
5,676,526 |
|
28,447 |
||
|
Total revenues |
$ |
16,732,688 |
$ |
11,374,257 |
||
Concentrations of risks
(a) Concentration of credit risk
Assets that potentially subject the Company to a significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash, accounts receivable and other current assets. The maximum exposure of such assets to credit risk is their carrying amounts as at the balance sheet dates. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the aggregate amount of cash of $1,240,178 and $1,160,765 respectively, was held at major financial institutions in PRC. Cash balances in bank accounts in PRC are insured by the People’s Bank of China Financial Stability Department (“FSD”) where there
F-16
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
is a RMB 500,000 (approximately $70,000) deposit insurance limit for a legal entity’s aggregated balance at each bank. As a result, the amounts that was not covered by FSD were $1,485,064 and $1,011,259 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company had $1,157,820 in bank accounts in Japan. Cash balances in bank accounts in Japan are insured pursuant to the Deposit Insurance Act in Japan. Under the Deposit Insurance Act in Japan, the maximum amount of protection is JPY 10 million (approximately $76,000) per customer within one bank. As a result, the amounts not covered by Deposit Insurance Act were $1,086,796 and $89,397 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. To limit the exposure to credit risk relating to deposits, the Company primarily places cash deposits with large financial institutions. The Company conducts credit evaluations of its customers and suppliers, and generally does not require collateral or other security from them. The Company establishes an accounting policy to provide for allowance for credit losses based on the individual customer’s and supplier’s financial condition, credit history, and the current economic conditions.
(b) Significant customers
For the year ended December 31, 2023, one customer accounted for 22.6% of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2022, four customers accounted for 24.4%, 12.7%, 11.5% and 10.0% of total revenues, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, three customers accounted for 16.0%, 13.62% and 11.2% of total accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, five customers accounted for 18.4%, 16.7%, 12.2%, 11.2% and 10.6% of total accounts receivable, respectively.
(c) Significant suppliers
For the year ended December 31, 2023, three suppliers accounted for approximately 14.5% 14.0% and 11.5% of total purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one supplier accounted for approximately 13.8% of total purchases. As of December 31, 2023, two suppliers accounted for approximately 33.0% and 10.8% of total accounts payable, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, four suppliers accounted for approximately 14.0%, 12.8%, 11.4% and 10.9% of total accounts payable, respectively.
(d) Foreign currency risk
A majority of the Company’s transactions are denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Company and its subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China must be processed through the PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies which require certain supporting documentation in order to affect the remittance.
The Company’s functional currency is the RMB, and the Company’s financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. The change in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar may affect the Company’s financial results reported in the U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying changes in the Company’s business or results of operations. Currently, the Company’s assets, liabilities, revenues and costs are denominated in RMB. To the extent that the Company needs to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for capital expenditures and working capital and other business purposes, appreciation of RMB against U.S. dollars would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount the Company would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if the Company decides to convert RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends, strategic acquisition or investments or other business purposes, appreciation of U.S. dollars against RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to the Company.
F-17
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
Recent accounting pronouncements
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standards updates (“ASUs”). Management periodically reviews new accounting standards that are issued.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires the Company to measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held and not accounted for at fair value through net income. In November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses,” “ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses,” “Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments,” and “ASU No. 2019-05, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief,” which provided additional implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2019 for public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer, excluding entities eligible to be SRCs as defined by the SEC. All other entities, ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13 beginning January 1, 2023. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, “’Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2021-08”). This ASU requires entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The amendments improve comparability after the business combination by providing consistent recognition and measurement guidance for revenue contracts with customers acquired in a business combination and revenue contracts with customers not acquired in a business combination. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning after December 15, 2023, and are applied prospectively to business combinations that occur after the effective date. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2021-04 to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). This ASU requires that public business entities must annually “(1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and (2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (if the effect of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than 5 percent of the amount computed by multiplying pretax income or loss by the applicable statutory income tax rate).” A public entity should apply the amendments in ASU 2023-09 prospectively to all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating these new disclosure requirements and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact.
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative” (“ASU 2023-06”). This ASU incorporates certain SEC disclosure requirements into the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”). The amendments in the ASU are expected to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of Codification Topics, allow users to more easily compare entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosures with those entities that were not previously subject to the requirements, and align the requirements in the Codification with the SEC’s regulations. ASU 2023-06 will become effective for each amendment on the effective date of the SEC’s corresponding disclosure rule changes. The Company is currently evaluating these new disclosure requirements and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. This ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss. Public
F-18
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in the update and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and requires retrospective adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating these new disclosure requirements and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact.
The Company does not believe other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income and statements of cash flows.
NOTE 3 — ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Accounts receivable from third-party customers |
$ |
9,084,050 |
|
$ |
6,458,820 |
|
||
|
Less: allowance for credit losses |
|
(375,975 |
) |
|
(361,014 |
) |
||
|
Account receivable, net |
$ |
8,708,075 |
|
$ |
6,097,806 |
|
||
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Accounts receivable from non-state-owned customers |
$ |
6,876,994 |
|
$ |
4,436,909 |
|
||
|
Accounts receivable from state-owned customers |
|
2,207,056 |
|
|
2,021,911 |
|
||
|
Less: allowance for credit losses |
|
(375,975 |
) |
|
(361,014 |
) |
||
|
Account receivable, net |
$ |
8,708,075 |
|
$ |
6,097,806 |
|
||
Allowance for credit losses movement is as follows:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Beginning balance |
$ |
361,014 |
|
$ |
419,509 |
|
||
|
Provision |
|
25,335 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Reduction |
|
— |
|
|
(27,251 |
) |
||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
(10,374 |
) |
|
(31,244 |
) |
||
|
Ending balance |
$ |
375,975 |
|
$ |
361,014 |
|
||
Approximately $3.2 million or 36.2% of the account receivable balance as of December 31, 2023 has been collected as of April 30, 2024.
NOTE 4 — PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS, NET
Prepayments and other assets consisted of the following:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Prepaid rents |
$ |
13,893 |
|
$ |
40,067 |
|
||
|
Deposits |
|
99,104 |
|
|
132,527 |
|
||
|
Prepaid expense |
|
71,939 |
|
|
69,993 |
|
||
|
Less: allowance for uncollectible balances |
|
(3,565 |
) |
|
(3,670 |
) |
||
|
Prepayments and other current assets; net |
$ |
181,371 |
|
$ |
238,917 |
|
||
F-19
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 4 — PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS, NET (cont.)
Allowance for credit losses movement is as follows:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Beginning balance |
$ |
(3,670 |
) |
$ |
(28,299 |
) |
||
|
Provision |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Reduction |
|
— |
|
|
23,038 |
|
||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
(105 |
) |
|
1,591 |
|
||
|
Ending balance |
$ |
(3,565 |
) |
$ |
(3,670 |
) |
||
NOTE 5 — PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property, plant and equipment, net, consist of the following:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Building |
$ |
484,006 |
|
$ |
339,959 |
|
||
|
Office equipment |
|
221,840 |
|
|
96,782 |
|
||
|
Transportation equipment |
|
330,793 |
|
|
320,167 |
|
||
|
Land |
|
823,540 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Construction in progress |
|
77,677 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Subtotal |
|
1,937,856 |
|
|
756,908 |
|
||
|
Less: accumulated depreciation |
|
(408,874 |
) |
|
(244,153 |
) |
||
|
Property and equipment, net |
$ |
1,528,982 |
|
$ |
512,755 |
|
||
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $172,152 and $92,825, respectively.
NOTE 6 — INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
The Company states intangible assets at cost less accumulated amortization.
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
License |
$ |
220,444 |
|
$ |
226,178 |
|
||
|
Computer software |
|
2,462 |
|
|
744 |
|
||
|
Less: accumulated amortization |
|
(98,227 |
) |
|
(58,042 |
) |
||
|
Intangible assets, net |
$ |
124,679 |
|
$ |
168,880 |
|
||
Amortization expenses were $41,954 and $45,747 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The estimated future amortization expenses are as follows:
|
Years ending December 31, |
Estimated |
||
|
2024 |
$ |
42,315 |
|
|
2025 |
|
42,315 |
|
|
2026 |
|
39,386 |
|
|
2027 |
|
568 |
|
|
2028 |
|
95 |
|
|
Total |
$ |
124,679 |
|
F-20
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 7 — LEASES
The Company has several operating leases for manufacturing facilities and offices. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
The Company adopts Topic 842 using a modified retrospective transition method. The Company combines the lease and non-lease components in determining the ROU assets and related lease obligation. Adoption of this standard resulted in the recording of operating lease ROU assets and corresponding operating lease liabilities. ROU assets and related lease obligations are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term.
Total lease expense amounted to $57,499 for the year ended December 31, 2023, which included $4,192 interest and $53,307 amortization expenses of ROU assets. Total lease expense amounted to $19,643 for the year ended December 31, 2022, which included $1,978 interest and $17,664 amortization expenses of ROU assets. Total cash paid for operating leases amounted to $120,617 and $54,624 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases was as follows:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||
|
Right-of-use assets, net |
$ |
255,573 |
$ |
38,199 |
||
|
Operating lease liabilities – current |
$ |
107,424 |
$ |
13,724 |
||
|
Operating lease liabilities – non-current |
|
114,374 |
|
19,732 |
||
|
Total operating lease liabilities |
$ |
221,798 |
$ |
33,456 |
||
The weighted average remaining lease terms and discount rates for all of operating leases were as follows as of December 31, 2023:
|
Remaining lease term and discount rate: |
|
||
|
Weighted average remaining lease term (years) |
3 |
|
|
|
Weighted average discount rate |
4.5 |
% |
The following is a schedule of maturities of lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023:
|
Years ending December 31, |
|||
|
2024 |
$ |
115,035 |
|
|
2025 |
|
83,807 |
|
|
2026 |
|
36,297 |
|
|
Total future minimum lease payments |
|
235,139 |
|
|
Less: imputed interest |
|
13,341 |
|
|
Total |
$ |
221,798 |
|
NOTE 8 — ACCRUED EXPENSE AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other liabilities consisted of the following:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||
|
Payroll payable |
$ |
469,384 |
$ |
359,224 |
||
|
Rent payable |
|
37,424 |
|
3,844 |
||
|
Equipment payable |
|
13,335 |
|
57,035 |
||
|
Other payables |
|
41,296 |
|
89,278 |
||
|
Total |
$ |
561,439 |
$ |
509,381 |
||
F-21
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 9 — SHORT TERM LOANS
Short-term borrowings consisted of the following:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||
|
Bank of Jiangsu |
|
|
||||
|
Interest rate of 5.3505%, from December 28, 2022 to December 27, 2023 |
$ |
— |
$ |
144,986 |
||
|
Interest rate of 3.7%, from March 17, 2023 to March 16, 2024 |
|
140,847 |
|
— |
||
|
Bank of Ningbo |
|
|
||||
|
Interest rate of 4.35%, from April 1, 2022 to March 28, 2023 |
|
— |
|
144,986 |
||
|
Interest rate of 3.45%, from July 28, 2023 to July 27, 2024 |
|
281,694 |
|
— |
||
|
Bank of Nanjing |
|
|
||||
|
Interest rate of 3.70%, from July 18, 2022 to July 17, 2023 |
|
— |
|
434,959 |
||
|
Bank of China |
|
|
||||
|
Interest rate of 2.83333%, from October 27, 2022 to August 13, 2023 |
|
— |
|
579,945 |
||
|
Interest rate of 2.83333%, from November 9, 2022 to August 13, 2023 |
|
— |
|
724,933 |
||
|
Interest rate of 3.30%, from August 3, 2023 to June 2, 2024 |
|
352,118 |
|
— |
||
|
Interest rate of 3.30%, from August 11, 2023 to June 10, 2024 |
|
422,541 |
|
— |
||
|
Interest rate of 3.05%, from November 27, 2023 to June 20, 2024 |
|
492,965 |
|
— |
||
|
Total |
$ |
1,690,165 |
$ |
2,029,809 |
||
On December 28, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $144,986 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on December 27, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.3505%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, is a co-borrower of the loan. The loan was fully repaid on January 28, 2023.
On March 17, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $140,847 (RMB 2,000,000) with a maturity date on March 16, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.70%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, is a co-borrower of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On April 01, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Ningbo to obtain a loan of $434,959 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on March 28, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.35%. After the repayment of $289,973 during fiscal year 2022, the loan balance was $144,986 as of December 31, 2022. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On July 28, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Ningbo to obtain a loan of $281,694 (RMB 2,000,000) with a maturity date on July 27, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.45%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On July 18, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Nanjing to obtain a loan of $434,959 (RMB 3,000,000) for one year with a maturity date on July 17, 2023 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.70%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On October 27, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $579,945 (RMB 4,000,000) with a maturity date on August 13, 2023 at a fixed monthly interest rate of 2.8333%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
F-22
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 9 — SHORT TERM LOANS (cont.)
On November 09, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $724,933 (RMB 5,000,000) with a maturity date on August 13, 2023 at a fixed monthly interest rate of 2.8333%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On August 03, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $563,388 (RMB 4,000,000) with a maturity date on June 2, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.3%. After the repayment of $211,270 during fiscal year 2023, the loan balance was $352,118 as of December 31, 2023. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On August 11, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $422,541 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on June 10, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.3%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On November 27, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $492,965 (RMB 3,500,000) with a maturity date on June 20, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.05%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded bank loan interest expenses of $72,197 and $51,985, respectively.
NOTE 10 — RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
Related party balances as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and transactions for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
(1) Related party relationships:
|
Name of Related Party |
Relationship to the Company |
|
|
Mr. Yujun Xiao |
CEO of the Company and spouse of Ms. Yinglai Wang |
|
|
Ms. Yinglai Wang |
Chairperson of the Company and spouse of Mr. Yujun Xiao |
|
|
Anhui Zhongke Shengwei Intelligent Data Co., Ltd (“Anhui Zhongke”) |
Mr. Yujun Xiao is the legal representative and holds 9.51% of the shares |
(2) Purchases from related party:
|
For the years ended |
||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||
|
Anhui Zhongke |
$ |
210,251 |
$ |
805,679 |
||
Our affiliated entity Anhui Zhongke and HUHU China entered into a software purchase agreement, whereby Anhui Zhongke sold factory management and monitoring software to HUHU China. The purchase price of the software is $210,251 and $805,679 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The software was then sold to customers and the purchase price of the software was included in cost of revenue.
F-23
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 10 — RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (cont.)
(3) Due to related parties:
|
As of |
||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|||||
|
Mr. Yujun Xiao |
$ |
443,027 |
$ |
172,973 |
||
|
Ms. Yinglai Wang |
|
425,411 |
|
375,500 |
||
|
$ |
868,438 |
$ |
548,473 |
|||
Mr. Yujun Xiao and Ms. Yinglai Wang made advances to the Company as working capital to support the Company’s operations. The balances are unsecured, interest-free and due upon demand.
NOTE 11 — TAXES
Corporate Income Taxes (“CIT”)
The income before taxes by geographic area is as follows:
|
Income (loss) before taxes: |
For the |
For the |
||||||
|
China |
$ |
1,403,006 |
|
$ |
1,097,501 |
|
||
|
Japan |
|
1,186,251 |
|
|
(82,873 |
) |
||
|
Cayman |
|
(100 |
) |
|
(50,312 |
) |
||
|
Total income before taxes |
$ |
2,589,157 |
|
$ |
964,316 |
|
||
The components of the income tax provision are as follows:
|
For the |
For the |
|||||
|
Current income tax expense |
$ |
244,235 |
$ |
568 |
||
|
Deferred income tax expense |
|
11,335 |
|
33,739 |
||
|
Total provision for income taxes |
$ |
255,570 |
$ |
34,307 |
||
The following table reconciles the PRC statutory rate to the Company’s effective tax rate:
|
For the |
For the |
|||||
|
PRC statutory tax rate |
25.0 |
% |
25.0 |
% |
||
|
Effect of different tax jurisdiction |
(2.3 |
)% |
2.8 |
% |
||
|
Effect of PRC preferential tax rate |
(5.4 |
)% |
(11.4 |
)% |
||
|
Research and development (“R&D”) tax credit |
(13.0 |
)% |
(18.9 |
)% |
||
|
Non-deductible items* |
5.6 |
% |
6.1 |
% |
||
|
Effective tax rate |
9.9 |
% |
3.6 |
% |
||
____________
* Non-deductible items represent excess expenses and losses not deductible for PRC tax purpose.
F-24
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 11 — TAXES (cont.)
The following table summarizes deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from differences between financial accounting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||
|
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
||||
|
Allowance for credit losses |
$ |
56,931 |
$ |
54,703 |
||
|
Net operating losses |
|
— |
|
16,170 |
||
|
Total deferred tax assets |
$ |
56,931 |
$ |
70,873 |
||
The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the cumulative earnings and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Recovery of substantially all of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future income, exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are recoverable, management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets as at December 31, 2023.
Taxes payable
Taxes payable consist of the following:
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||
|
Income tax payable |
$ |
151,948 |
$ |
14,089 |
||
|
VAT payable |
|
245,175 |
|
132,188 |
||
|
Other taxes payable |
|
2,948 |
|
12,897 |
||
|
Total taxes payable |
$ |
400,071 |
$ |
159,174 |
||
NOTE 12 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares
The Company was established by the founding shareholders under the laws of the Cayman Islands on July 8, 2021. The Company was authorized to issue 5,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares with a par value of $0.00001 each. On July 15, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-4 forward split of its Ordinary Shares. As a result, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0000025 per ordinary share. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding.
The Company believes that the share information should be accounted for on a retroactive basis pursuant to ASC 260. All ordinary shares and per share data for all periods have been retroactively restated accordingly.
Capital contributions
HUHU China was incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China with a total registered capital of approximately $3.27 million (RMB 21,575,000). As of December 31, 2019, the Company received total capital contributions of approximately $1.16 million (RMB 8,000,000). During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company received capital contributions of $113,636 (RMB 790,000) and $461,041 (RMB 3,000,000), respectively. As of the date of this report, pursuant to the articles of incorporation of HUHU China, the remaining capital investment of approximately $1.54 million (RMB 9,785,000) shall be contributed in full before December 31, 2049.
F-25
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 12 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (cont.)
Statutory reserve and restricted net assets
As stipulated by relevant PRC laws and regulations, the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC must take appropriations from after-tax profits to non-distributive funds. These reserves include the general reserve and the development reserve.
The general reserve requires an annual appropriation of 10% of after-tax profits each year-end until the balance reaches 50% of a PRC company’s registered capital. The development reserve is set aside at the Company’s discretion. These reserves can only be used for general enterprise expansion and are not distributable as cash dividends. The general reserve amounted to $343,077 and $204,604 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Because the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC can only pay distributions out of distributable profits reported in accordance with PRC accounting standards, the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC are restricted from transferring a portion of their net assets to the Company. The restricted amounts include the paid-in capital and statutory reserves of the Company’s entities in the PRC. The aggregate amount of paid-in capital and statutory reserves, which represented the amount of net assets of the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC not available for distribution, was $2,081,256 and $1,942,783 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
NOTE 13 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is subject to certain legal proceedings, claims and disputes that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted, the Company does not believe these actions, in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has no outstanding litigation.
NOTE 14 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing of this registration statement and determined that there have been no events that have occurred that would require adjustments to or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements except for the following:
Bank loans
On March 06, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $140,847 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on April 06, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.1%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
On March 19, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $281,694 (RMB 2,000,000) with a maturity date on March 18, 2026 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.6%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On March 26, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $422,541 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on March 25, 2026 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.6%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On April 02, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Jiangsu to obtain a loan of $140,847 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on May 02, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.1%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity.
F-26
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 14 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (cont.)
On April 16, 2024, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $1,235,795 (JPY 174,000,000) each with a maturity date on August 30, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.875%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans.
On April 26, 2024, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $353,412 (JPY 5,700,000) each with a maturity date on August 30, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.875%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans.
On April 29, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Ningbo to obtain a loan of $137,605 (RMB 1,000,000) with a maturity date on April 28, 2025 at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.7%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a loan of $756,825 (RMB 5,500,000) with a maturity date on May 20, 2025 at an effective monthly rate of 2.54167‰. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
On June 6, 2024, the Company entered into two loan agreements with the Bank of Kumamoto to obtain two loans of $477,416 (JPY 7,700,000) each with a maturity date on August 30, 2024 at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.875%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loans.
On June 27, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Communications to obtain a loan of $963,232 (RMB 7,000,000) with a maturity date on June 27, 2025 at an effective annual interest rate of 2.98%. Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, is a guarantor of the loan.
On June 28, 2024, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Bank of Communications to obtain a loan of $412,814 (RMB 3,000,000) with a maturity date on June 28, 2025 at a fixed annual interest rate of 2.98%. Mr. Yujun Xiao, the CEO of the Company, and Ms. Yinglai Wang, the shareholder of the Company, guaranteed the repayment of the loan.
Ordinary shares split
On July 15, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-4 forward split of its Ordinary Shares. As a result, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0000025 per ordinary share.
F-27
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE I — PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company. The payment of dividends by entities organized in the PRC is subject to limitations, procedures and formalities. Regulations in the PRC currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in the PRC. The Company’s subsidiaries are also required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its statutory reserves account until the accumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of its respective registered capital. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends.
In addition, the Company’s operations and revenues are conducted and generated in the PRC, all of the Company’s revenues being earned and currency received are denominated in RMB. RMB is subject to the foreign exchange control regulation in China, and, as a result, the Company may be unable to distribute any dividends outside of China due to PRC foreign exchange control regulations that restrict the Company’s ability to convert RMB into USD.
Regulation S-X requires the condensed financial information of registrant shall be filed when the restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries exceed 25 percent of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. For purposes of the above test, restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries shall mean that amount of the registrant’s proportionate share of net assets of consolidated subsidiaries (after intercompany eliminations) which as of the end of the most recent fiscal year may not be transferred to the parent company by subsidiaries in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends without the consent of a third party. The condensed parent company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 12-04, Schedule I of Regulation S-X as the restricted net assets of the Company’s PRC subsidiary exceed 25% of the consolidated net assets of the Company.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. The Company’s investment in subsidiary is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries.
The condensed financial information has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the consolidated financial statements except that the equity method has been used to account for investments in its subsidiaries. For the parent company, the Group records its investments in subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting as prescribed in ASC 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Such investments are presented on the Condensed Balance Sheets as ‘‘Investments in subsidiaries’’ and the subsidiaries’ gain as ‘‘Equity in gain of subsidiaries’’ on the Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income.
For the period from July 8, 2021 (the date of incorporation of the parent company) to December 31, 2023 there were no material contingencies, significant provisions of long-term obligations, guarantees of the parent company.
F-28
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE I — PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
189 |
|
||
|
Investment in subsidiaries, net |
|
3,697,532 |
|
|
1,519,185 |
|
||
|
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
3,697,532 |
|
$ |
1,519,374 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Due to related party |
$ |
50,411 |
|
$ |
50,500 |
|
||
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
|
50,411 |
|
|
50,500 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
EQUITY: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Share capital |
|
50 |
|
|
50 |
|
||
|
Additional paid in capital |
|
(50 |
) |
|
(50 |
) |
||
|
Retained earnings |
|
3,956,211 |
|
|
1,672,935 |
|
||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
|
(309,090 |
) |
|
(204,061 |
) |
||
|
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
3,647,211 |
|
|
1,468,874 |
|
||
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
$ |
3,697,532 |
|
$ |
1,519,374 |
|
||
____________
* Shares and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the recapitalization.
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
For the |
For the |
|||||||
|
G&A expenses |
$ |
(100 |
) |
$ |
(50,311 |
) |
||
|
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries |
|
2,333,687 |
|
|
980,320 |
|
||
|
NET INCOME |
|
2,333,587 |
|
|
930,009 |
|
||
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
(105,029 |
) |
|
(238,627 |
) |
||
|
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
$ |
2,228,558 |
|
$ |
691,382 |
|
||
F-29
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE I — PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
For the |
For the |
|||||||
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Net income |
$ |
2,333,587 |
|
$ |
930,009 |
|
||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries |
|
(2,333,687 |
) |
|
(980,320 |
) |
||
|
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
(100 |
) |
|
(50,311 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Payments to related party |
|
(89 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
|
Due from related party |
|
— |
|
|
50,500 |
|
||
|
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
(89 |
) |
|
50,500 |
|
||
|
CHANGES IN CASH |
|
(189 |
) |
|
189 |
|
||
|
CASH AT THE BEGINNING OF YEAR |
|
189 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
CASH D OF YEAR |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
189 |
|
||
F-30
1,250,000 Ordinary Shares
HUHUTECH International Group Inc.
PROSPECTUS

CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
, 2024
Until and including , 2024 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our Ordinary Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended memorandum and articles of association provide that every director, alternate director, secretary or officer, and the personal representatives of the same, shall be indemnified out of the assets and profits of the Company against any liability incurred by him as a result of any act or failure to act in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions other than such liability (if any) that he may incur by his dishonesty, wilful default or fraud.
To the extent permitted by law, we may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former secretary or any of our officers in respect of any matter identified in above on condition that the secretary or officer must repay the amount paid by us to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the secretary or that officer for those legal costs.
The Underwriting Agreement, the form of which has been filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
ITEM 7. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
Since inception, we have issued the following securities. We believe that each of the following issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Rule 901 of Regulation S under the Securities Act regarding sales by an issuer in offshore transactions, or Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act regarding transactions not involving a public offering. No underwriters were involved in these issuances of securities.
Founding Transactions
On July 8, 2021, we issued 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares in connection with the incorporation of the Company pursuant to the exemptions from registration under Rule 901 of Regulation S and Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act.
The details of the above-mentioned issuance are as follows:
|
Shareholders |
Date of Issuance |
Number of |
Consideration |
|||
|
Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited* |
July 8, 2021 |
1 |
US$ 0.00001 |
|||
|
Billion Wang Holdings Limited |
July 8, 2021 |
2,061,999 |
US$ 20.6 |
|||
|
Army Xiao Holdings Limited |
July 8, 2021 |
2,109,500 |
US$ 21.1 |
|||
|
Fountain Qian Holdings Limited |
July 8, 2021 |
210,000 |
US$ 2.1 |
|||
|
Lucky Wei Holdings Limited |
July 8, 2021 |
155,000 |
US$ 1.6 |
|||
|
Increase Willpower Limited Partnership |
July 8, 2021 |
463,500 |
US$ 4.6 |
____________
* On July 8, 2021, Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited transferred 1 share to Billion Wang Holdings Limited. pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act, for transactions by persons other than an issuer, underwriter, or dealer.
Share Split
On July 15, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-4 forward split of our Ordinary Shares. As a result, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares, of which 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding.
II-1
Giving effect to the forward split of our Ordinary Shares, the details are as follows:
|
Shareholders |
Number of |
Number of |
||
|
Billion Wang Holdings Limited |
2,061,999 |
8,248,000 |
||
|
Army Xiao Holdings Limited |
2,109,500 |
8,438,000 |
||
|
Fountain Qian Holdings Limited |
210,000 |
840,000 |
||
|
Lucky Wei Holdings Limited |
155,000 |
620,000 |
||
|
Increase Willpower Limited Partnership |
463,500 |
1,854,000 |
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index beginning on page II-4 of this registration statement.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the Underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the Underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
II-2
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that: Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(3) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(4) That for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(5) That for the purpose of determining any liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
II-3
HUHUTECH International Group Inc.
Exhibit Index
|
Exhibit No. |
Description |
|
|
1.1* |
||
|
3.1*** |
||
|
4.1* |
||
|
5.1*** |
||
|
5.2* |
||
|
8.1*** |
Opinion of Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm regarding certain PRC tax matters (included in Exhibit 99.1) |
|
|
10.1*** |
Form of Employment Agreement by and between Executive Officers and the Company |
|
|
10.2* |
||
|
10.3*** |
||
|
10.4*** |
||
|
10.5*** |
||
|
10.6*** |
||
|
10.7*** |
||
|
10.8*** |
||
|
10.9*** |
||
|
10.10*** |
||
|
10.11*** |
||
|
10.12*** |
||
|
10.13*** |
||
|
10.14*** |
||
|
10.15*** |
English Translation of Property Certificate of Tianan Zhihui City property owned by the Company |
|
|
10.16*** |
||
|
10.17*** |
||
|
10.18*** |
||
|
10.19*** |
||
|
10.20*** |
||
|
10.21*** |
II-4
____________
* Filed herewith.
** To be filed by amendment
*** Previously filed
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Jiangsu, China, on September 9, 2024.
|
HUHUTECH International Group Inc. |
||||||
|
By: |
/s/ Yujun Xiao |
|||||
|
Name: |
Yujun Xiao |
|||||
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
|||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on September 9, 2024.
|
Signature |
Title |
|
|
/s/ Yujun Xiao |
Chief Executive Officer and Director |
|
|
Name: Yujun Xiao |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
/s/ Huiping Zhang |
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
Name: Huiping Zhang |
(Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer or Controller) |
|
|
/s/ Yinglai Wang |
Chairperson of the Board |
|
|
Name: Yinglai Wang |
II-6
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of HUHUTECH International Group Inc., has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in New York on September 9, 2024.
|
Authorized U.S. Representative |
||||||
|
Cogency Global Inc. |
||||||
|
By: |
/s/ Colleen A. De Vries |
|||||
|
Name: |
Colleen A. De Vries |
|||||
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
|||||
II-7
Exhibit 1.1
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[●], 2024
Craft Capital Management LLC
377 Oak Street, Lower Concourse
Garden City, NY 11530
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, without limitation, all entities disclosed or described in the Registration Statement (as defined below) as being its subsidiaries or affiliates, the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with several underwriters (such underwriters, including the Representative (as defined below), the “Underwriters”) named on Schedule A hereto for which Craft Capital Management LLC shall act as the representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”) to issue and sell an aggregate of [1,250,000] ordinary shares (the “Firm Shares”) of the Company, par value $0.0000025 (the “Ordinary Shares”). The Company has also granted to the Representative an option to purchase up to [187,500] additional Ordinary Shares, on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 2(c) hereof (the “Additional Shares”). The Firm Shares and any Additional Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement are herein collectively referred to as the “Offered Securities.” The offering and sale of the Offered Securities contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Offering.”
The Company confirms its agreement with the Underwriters as follows:
Section 1 Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows with the understanding that the same may be relied upon by the Underwriters in this offering, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined below):
(a) Filing of the Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-270958), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules contained in the registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is required, the form of final prospectus relating to the Offered Securities included in the Registration Statement at the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Effective Date”), is called the “Prospectus.” All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement (each, a “preliminary prospectus”), the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). The preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” Any reference to the “most recent preliminary prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest preliminary prospectus included in the registration statement. Any reference herein to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment to either thereof shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such reference.
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(b) “Applicable Time” means [●], Eastern Time, on the date of this Agreement.
(c) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations on [●], 2024. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission or any other regulatory authority in any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the China Securities Regulatory Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical in content to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the Offering, other than with respect to any artwork and graphics that were not filed. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment to either the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times until the expiration of the prospectus delivery period required under Section 4(3) of the Securities Act, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times until the Underwriters have completed the placement of the offering of the Offered Securities, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to either the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company in writing expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished on behalf of any of the Underwriters consists of (i) the name of the Underwriters contained on the cover page of the Pricing Prospectus and Prospectus and (ii) the sub-section titled “Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution,” under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus (the “Underwriters Information”). There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been fairly and accurately described in all material respects or filed as required.
(d) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Pricing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, (ii) each issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified on Schedule B hereto, (iii) the pricing terms set forth on Schedule C to this Agreement, and (iv) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Information.
(e) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without taking account any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.
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(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Information.
(g) Offering Materials Furnished to the Underwriters. The Company has delivered to the Underwriters a copy of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Underwriters have reasonably requested in writing.
(h) Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed or authorized the distribution of, and will not distribute, prior to the completion of the Underwriters’ purchase of the Offered Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities other than a preliminary prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Underwriters, and the Registration Statement.
(i) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(j) Authorization of the Offered Securities and Underwriter’s Securities. The Offered Securities to be sold by the Company through the Underwriters, the Representative’s Warrant and Ordinary Shares underlying the Underwriter’s Warrant (the “Warrant Shares”) have been duly and validly authorized by all required corporate action and have been reserved for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when so issued and delivered by the Company, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens (as defined in Section1(r)). The Company has sufficient Ordinary Shares for the issuance of the maximum number of Offered Securities issuable pursuant to the Offering as described in the Prospectus, including the Warrant Shares.
(k) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the final prospectus, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities of the Company registered for sale under the Registration Statement and included in the Offering.
(l) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the final prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business prospects or operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company (any such change, a “Material Adverse Change”; and any resulting effect, a “Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company in respect of its shares.
(m) Independent Accountant. Wei, Wei & Co., LLP (the “Accountant”), which has expressed its opinions with respect to the audited financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
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(n) Preparation of the Financial Statements. Each of the historical financial statements of the Company, respectively, filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, presents fairly the information provided as of and at the dates and for the periods indicated. Such financial statements comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. Each item of historical financial data relating to the operations, assets or liabilities of the Company set forth in summary form in each of the preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus fairly presents such information on a basis consistent with that of the complete financial statements contained in the Registration Statement.
(o) Incorporation and Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a company limited by shares under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. As of the Closing Date, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity that is not otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus.
(p) Capitalization and Other Share Capital Matters. The authorized, issued, and outstanding share capital of the Company is as set forth in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, as the case may be). The Ordinary Shares conform, and, when issued and delivered as provided in this Agreement, the Offered Securities will conform, in all material respects, to the description thereof contained in each of the Disclosure Package and Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and have been issued in compliance with applicable laws. None of the outstanding Ordinary Shares were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. The Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) has authorized the Ordinary Shares for delivery through its full fast transfer facilities. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any shares of the Company other than those described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The description of the Company’s share option and other share plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options, and rights. No further approval from the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) or authorization of any regulatory authority or governmental body, shareholder, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”), or others, is required for the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no shareholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s Ordinary Shares to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.
(q) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company is not in violation of its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound (including, without limitation, any agreement or contract filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or to which any of the property or assets of the Company are subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”)), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation, or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company, except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent such conflict, breach, Default or violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except the registration or qualification of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
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(r) Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) has been identified on Schedule E hereto. Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, has full power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Change on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. All of the equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, are fully paid in accordance with their respective constitutive or organizational documents and non-assessable and are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims (“Liens”). None of the outstanding share capital or equity interest in any Subsidiary was issued in violation of preemptive or similar rights of any security holder of such Subsidiary. All of the constitutive or organizational documents of each of the Subsidiaries comply with the requirements of applicable laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and are in full force and effect. Apart from the Subsidiaries, the Company has no direct or indirect subsidiaries or any other company over which it has direct or indirect effective control. Other than the Subsidiaries, the Company does not directly or indirectly control any entity through contractual arrangements or otherwise such that the entity would be deemed a consolidated affiliated entity whose financial results would be consolidated under U.S. GAAP with the financial results of the Company on the consolidated financial statements of the Company, regardless of whether the Company directly or indirectly owns less than a majority of the equity interests of such person.
(s) No Material Actions or Proceedings. There are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (collectively, “Actions”) pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) which have as the subject thereof any officer or director (in such capacities) of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such Action might be determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (B) any such Action, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor disputes with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with the employees of any principal supplier, manufacturer, customer or contractor of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. No executive officer, to the knowledge of the Company, is in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries have been and are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has within the last 10 years been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.
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(t) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, possesses or has obtained valid and legally enforceable licenses for, and otherwise has legally enforceable rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals and trade secrets (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct its business as now conducted or, otherwise, as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except to the extent such failure to own, possess or have other rights to use such Intellectual Property would not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and not described in all material respects; None of the technology employed by the Company or any Subsidiary has been obtained or is being used by the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, to the knowledge of the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in violation of the rights of any persons. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, or any arbitrator, nor has it entered into nor is it a party to any agreement made in settlement of any pending or threatened litigation, which materially restricts or impairs its use of any Intellectual Property Rights.
(u) All Necessary Permits, etc. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries possesses such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the applicable regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business, and has made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate national, regional, local or other governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or assets or the conduct of their respective business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where lack of the licenses would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such licenses and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company has no reason to believe that such licenses will not be renewed in the ordinary course of their respective business that, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. Such licenses are valid and in full force and effect and contain no materially burdensome restrictions or conditions not described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus.
(v) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned by it in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, equity, adverse claim or other defect, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company. The real property, improvements, equipment, and personal property held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(w) Tax Law Compliance. (i) The Company and its Subsidiaries have each filed all necessary tax returns required to be filed or have timely and properly filed requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them in all material respects; (ii) no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has had (nor does the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its Subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined; and (iv) all governmental tax credit, exemptions, waivers, financial subsidies, and tax relief, concessions and preferential treatment enjoyed by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the Prospectus are valid, binding and enforceable and do not violate any laws, regulations, rules, orders, decrees, guidelines, judicial interpretations, notices or other legislation of the applicable jurisdictions, including without limitation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong”) of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), Japan and the PRC (excluding Hong Kong).
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(x) Company Not an “Investment Company”. The Company is not, and after giving effect to payment for the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(y) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
(z) FINRA Matters. No officer, director or any beneficial owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the Company’s unregistered securities has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Participating Member (as defined under FINRA rules). The Company will advise the Representative and its counsel, Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC, if it learns that any officer, director, or owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares is or becomes an affiliate or registered person of a Participating Member. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares is true, complete, correct and compliant in all material respects with FINRA’s rules.
(aa) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions, directly or indirectly, involving the Company, its Subsidiaries, or any other person, required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus, that have not been described as required.
(bb) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Regulations) designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company is not aware of (a) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.
(cc) Company’s Accounting System. The Company has established and maintains a system of accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with the applicable generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(dd) Money Laundering Law Compliance. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the United States Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any competent governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
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(ee) OFAC.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, or affiliate of the Company, of any other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity of any kind(“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:
(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria).
(ii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary or affiliated entity, joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(ff) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary or any other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, taken any action that (i) would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or otherwise subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if done in the past, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) if continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business, or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The foregoing includes, without limitation, giving or agreeing to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that might subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding.
(gg) Internal Control and Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company is in full compliance with any provision applicable to it of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. and all applicable rules of the listing exchanges. The Company maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting, an internal audit function and legal and regulatory compliance controls that comply with all applicable laws and regulations including without limitation the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission, and the rules of the listing exchanges.
(hh) Exchange Act Filing. A registration statement in respect of the Ordinary Shares has been filed on Form 8-A (the “Form 8-A Registration Statement”) pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act. The Form 8-A Registration Statement is effective and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.
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(ii) Foreign Private Issuer Status. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(jj) Earning Statements. The Company will make generally available (which includes filings pursuant to the Exchange Act made publicly through the EDGAR system) to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen (16) months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal year, an earnings statement (which needs not be audited) covering a twelve (12)-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.
(kk) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission, all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Ordinary Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
(ll) Valid Title. The Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, has legal and valid title to all of its properties and assets, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, equities, claims, options and restrictions except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by such entity; each lease agreement to which it is a party is duly executed and legally binding; its leasehold interests are set forth in and governed by the terms of the applicable lease agreements, and, to the knowledge of the Company, such agreements are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and the applicable law; and except as described in the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package, none of the Company of any of its Subsidiaries owns, operates, manages or has any other right or interest in any other material real property of any kind.
(mm) Foreign Tax Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, to the best of our knowledge, no transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or withholding taxes or duties are payable in the PRC, Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands or the Cayman Islands to any taxing authority in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities, and the delivery of the Offered Securities to or for the account of the Underwriters.
(nn) Compliance with PRC Oversea Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations. Except as otherwise disclosed in Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has complied with the filing procedures as set out in the relevant laws and regulations, including, among others, the Trial Administrative Measures for Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and has taken reasonable steps to cause the Company’s direct or indirect principal shareholders who are PRC residents to comply with any applicable rules and regulations of relevant PRC government agencies (including but not limited to the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) , and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) relating to overseas investment by PRC residents and citizens (all of the foregoing laws, rules, and regulations, collectively, the “PRC Oversea Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations”), including, without limitation, requiring each such person that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen to complete any registration, to timely report material changes, and other procedures required under any applicable PRC Oversea Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations.
(oo) M&A Rules. The Company is aware of and has been advised as to the content of the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and SAFE on August 8, 2006 (the “M&A Rules”), in particular, the relevant provisions thereof that purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles formed for the purpose of obtaining a stock exchange listing outside of the PRC and controlled directly or indirectly by companies or natural persons of the PRC, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on a stock exchange located outside of the PRC; the Company has received legal advice specifically with respect to the M&A Rules from its PRC counsel and based on such legal advice, the Company confirms with the Underwriters:
(i) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, the listing and trading of the Offered Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not and will not be, as of the date hereof or at the Closing Date, materially affected by the M&A Rules or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules as amended as of the date hereof (collectively, the “M&A Rules and Related Clarifications”).
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(ii) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the date hereof, the M&A Rules and Related Classifications did not and do not require the Company to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the listing and trading of the Offered Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(pp) Securities Offering and Listing Rules. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters that this Offering or the listing of the Company’s securities on Nasdaq have fully complied with the requirements of the Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”) and related regulations, rules or guidelines, including but not limited to the Provisions on Strengthening the Confidentiality and Archive Management Work Relating to the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing (the “Confidentiality Provisions”).
(qq) Choice of Law. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Materials, and the Prospectus, the choice of law provision set forth in this Agreement constitutes a legal and valid choice of law under the laws of the Cayman Islands and will be recognized and given effect to in any action brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in the Cayman Islands, except for those laws (A) which such court considers to be procedural in nature, (B) which are revenue or penal laws, or (C) the application of which would be inconsistent with public policy, as such term is interpreted under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and subject to compliance with relevant civil procedural requirements (that do not involve a re-examination of the merits of the claim) in the Cayman Islands. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 16 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each of the New York Courts, and the Company has the power to designate, appoint and authorize, and pursuant to Section 16 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably designated, appointed an authorized agent for service of process in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the Securities in any New York Court, and service of process effected on such authorized agent will be effective to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company as provided in Section 14 of this Agreement.
(rr) D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as well as in the Lock-Up Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A provided to the Representative is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate and incorrect.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Representative shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters set forth therein. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
(ss) Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of each Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder, the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, are sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from each Closing Date. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.
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(tt) Regulation M Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, and, to its knowledge, no one authorized to act on their behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Offered Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Offered Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Underwriters in connection with the Offering.
(uu) EGC Status and Testing-the-Waters Communications. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company”, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (“Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (a) has alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (b) has authorized anyone other than the Underwriters to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Underwriters has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule F hereto. “Written Testing the Waters Communication” means any Testing the Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. As of the time of each sale of the Offered Securities in connection with the Offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, no individual Written Testing the Waters Communications, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(vv) Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity securities of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Federal Reserve Board. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary controls (as such term is defined under Section 2 of the BHCA) a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation promulgated thereunder by the Federal Reserve Board.
(ww) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the Underwriters’ request.
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(xx) Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, and none of the proceeds of Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Offered Securities to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board.
(yy) Integration. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act.
(zz) No Accounting Issues. The Company has not received any notice, oral or written, from its Board of Directors or Audit Committee (as defined below) stating that it is reviewing or investigating, and neither the Company’s independent auditors nor its internal auditors have recommended that the Board of Directors or Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) any matter that may add to, delete, change the application of, or change the Company’s disclosure with respect to, any of the Company’s material accounting policies; or (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of the Company’s financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior two (2) fiscal years.
(aaa) Forward-looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus, or shall be contain in any amendments and supplements thereof, has been made or reaffirmed, or will be made, without a reasonable basis, or has been disclosed or will be disclosed other than in good faith.
(bbb) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ccc) No Finder’s Fee. There are no contracts, agreements, or understandings between the Company or its Subsidiaries and any other person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this Offering, or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments, or issuance with respect to the Company, or its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, partners, employees or related parties that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined by FINRA.
(ddd) Operating and Other Data. All operating and other data pertaining to the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are true and accurate in all material respects.
(eee) Third-party Data. Any statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agrees with the sources from which it is derived, and the Company has obtained the written consent for the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.
(fff) Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are (a) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (b) have received and are in compliance with the requirements for maintaining, all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (c) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not cause a Material Adverse Change.
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(ggg) Compliance with Law, Constitutive Documents and Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is (a) in breach or violation of any provision of applicable law (including, but not limited to, any applicable law concerning information collection and user privacy protection), (b) in breach or violation of its respective constitutive or organizational documents, or (c) in default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) any agreement or other instrument that is binding upon the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, except in the cases of (a) and (c) above, where any such breach, violation or default would not cause a Material Adverse Change
(hhh) No Unlawful Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, Ordinary Shares to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate, or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.
(iii) Scheme or Arrangement with Shareholders. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliate is a party to any scheme or arrangement through which shareholders or potential shareholders are being loaned, given or otherwise having money made available for the purchase of shares whether before, in or after the Offering. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates is aware of any such scheme or arrangement, regardless of whether it is a party to a formal agreement.
(jjj) Reliance on Representations. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and counsel to the Representative and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
Section 2 Firm Shares; Additional Shares; Representative’s Warrants.
(a) Purchase of Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of [1,250,000] Ordinary Shares (“Firm Shares”) at the purchase price (net of discounts)1 of $[●] per share.
(b) Delivery of and Payment for Firm Shares. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 A.M., Eastern time, on the second (2nd) business day following the Applicable Time, or at such time as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company, at the offices of the Underwriters’ counsel or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company. The hour and date of delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.” The closing of the payment of the purchase price for is referred to herein as the “Closing.” Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds upon delivery to the Underwriters of certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or if uncertificated through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date. If certificated, the Company will permit the Underwriters to examine and package the Firm Shares for delivery at least one (1) full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for all the Firm Shares.
| 1 | 7.5% |
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(c) Additional Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters an option (the “Over-allotment Option”), exercisable for 45 days after the Closing, to purchase up to an additional [187,500] Ordinary Shares, in each case solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments of such securities, if any. The Over-allotment Option is, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for Additional Shares.
(d) Exercise of Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof may be exercised by the Representative on or within 45 days after the Closing. The purchase price to be paid per Additional Shares shall be equal to the price per Firm Share in Section 2(a). The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which shall be confirmed in writing via overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission, setting forth the number of Additional Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Additional Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative’s counsel or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Additional Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters the number of Additional Shares specified in such notice and (ii) the Underwriters shall purchase that portion of the total number of Additional Shares.
(e) Delivery and Payment of Additional Shares. Payment for the Additional Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Additional Shares (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Additional Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for applicable Additional Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Additional Shares.
(f) Underwriting Discount. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters, with respect to any Offered Securities sold to investors in this Offering, a seven and a half percent (7.5%) underwriting discount.
(g) Representative’s Warrants. The Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date warrants (“Representative’s Warrants”) to purchase such number of Ordinary Shares, representing five percent (5%) of the total number of Offered Securities. The agreement(s) representing the Representative’s Warrants, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Representative’s Warrant Agreement”), shall be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four and half year period commencing six months from the commencement of sales of the Offering, at an initial exercise price per share of $[●], which is equal to 125% of the offering price of the Firm Shares. During such time as the Representative’s Warrants are outstanding, the Company agrees not to merge, reorganize, or take any action which would terminate the Representative’s Warrants without first making adequate provisions for the Representative’s Warrants. The Representative’s Warrant Agreement and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise thereof (the “Warrant Shares”) are hereinafter referred to together as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Warrants and the Warrant Shares during the one hundred eighty (180) days beginning on the date of commencement of sales of the Offering and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Warrants, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days beginning on the date of commencement of sales of the Offering to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions.
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(h) Delivery of the Representative’s Warrants. Delivery of the Representative’s Warrants shall be made on the Closing Date and each Closing Date and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.
Section 3 Covenants of the Company
The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters as follows:
(a) Underwriters’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period beginning at the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as, in the opinion of the Representative’s counsel, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or selected dealers, including under circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriters reasonably objects.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriters in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Offered Securities from any securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or order or notice of prevention or suspension at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430A, as applicable, under the Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder and will confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Exchange Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, to the extent the Company becomes subject to reporting obligation under the Exchange Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Underwriters of any such event or condition (unless such event or condition was previously brought to the Company’s attention by the Underwriters during the Prospectus Delivery Period) and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) and Section 3(f) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
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(e) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriters, it will not make, any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Underwriters hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each free writing prospectuses listed on Schedule B hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriters is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.
(f) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Underwriters, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each of the preliminary prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(h) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Offered Securities.
(i) Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The internal controls, upon consummation of the offering of the Offered Securities, will be overseen by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq.
(j) Exchange Listing. The Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to official notice of issuance. The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of the rules and regulations promulgated by Nasdaq and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements (to the extent applicable to the Company as of the date hereof or the Closing Date; and subject to all exemptions and exceptions from the requirements thereof as are set forth therein, to the extent applicable to the Company). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to the qualifications above: (i) all members of the Company’s Board of Directors who are required to be “independent” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations), including, without limitation, all members of each of the Audit Committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, meet the qualifications of independence as set forth under such laws, rules and regulations, (ii) the Audit Committee has at least one (1) member who is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under such laws, rules and regulations), and (iii) that, based on discussions with Nasdaq, the Company meets all requirements for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Company shall use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement and a current prospectus relating to the registration of the Warrant Shares until (i) all Warrant Shares have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (ii) all Warrant Shares are sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act are met, or (iii) all Warrant Shares become and remain eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c)(1). During any period when the Company fails to have maintained an effective Registration Statement or a current Prospectus relating thereto and a holder of the Representative’s Warrant desires to exercise such warrant and, in the opinion of counsel to the Holder, Rule 144 is not available as an exemption from registration for the resale of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly file a registration statement registering the resale of such Warrant Shares and use its reasonable best efforts to have it declared effective by the Commission within thirty (30) days.
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(k) Future Reports to the Underwriters. For one (1) year after the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish, if not otherwise available on EDGAR, to the Representative at 377 Oak Street, Lower Concourse, Garden City, NY 11530, Attention: Stephen Kiront, Chief Operating Officer: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 20-F, quarterly financial statements using a Form 6-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its shares.
(l) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.
(m) Existing Lock-Up Agreements. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no existing agreements between the Company and its securityholders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon the securities of the Company that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated therein.
(n) Company Lock-Up.
(i) The Company on behalf of itself and any successor entity agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, contract to sell, or sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Ordinary Shares or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Ordinary Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
(ii) Restrictions contained in Section 3(o)(i) hereof shall not apply to: (A) the Offered Securities, (B) any Ordinary Shares issued under any share plans of or warrants issued by the Company, as applicable, and in each case, described as outstanding in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (C) any options and other awards granted under any share plan of the Company or Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to an employee share purchase plan, as applicable, and in each case, as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or (D) Ordinary Shares or other securities issued in connection with a transaction with an unaffiliated third party that includes a bona fide commercial relationship (including joint ventures, marketing or distribution arrangements, collaboration agreements or intellectual property license agreements) or any acquisition of assets or acquisition of not less than a majority or controlling portion of the equity of another entity; provided that (x) the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to clause (D) shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total number of outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately following the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant hereto and (y) the recipient of any such Ordinary Shares or other securities issued or granted pursuant to clause (D) during the Lock-Up Period shall enter into an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
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(o) Restriction on Continuous Offerings. Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in Section 3(o), the Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, it will not, for a period of twelve (12) months from the commencement of the Company’s first day of trading, directly or indirectly in any “at-the-market” or continuous equity transaction, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of shares of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of the Company.
(p) Right of First Refusal. The Company and the Representative agree that for a period of twelve (12) months from the Closing Date, whether or not the engagement contemplated under this Agreement is terminated (other than termination for Cause, as defined below), the Company grants the Representative the right (provided that the Offering is completed) to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner, sole placement agent and/or sole advisor, at the representative’s sole discretion, with respect to such financing or refinancing; or (ii) decides to raise funds by means of an equity offering or a private placement of equity or debt securities using an underwriter or placement agent, the representative (or any affiliate designated by the Representative) shall have the right to act as exclusive financial advisor, sole investment banker, sole book-runner and/or sole placement agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for such financing (the “Right of First Refusal”). The Right of First Refusal shall be subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5), including that it may be terminated by the Company for Cause, which shall mean a material breach by the Representative of this Agreement. The Representative shall notify the Company of its intention to exercise the Right of First Refusal within fifteen (15) business days following notice in writing by the Company. Any decision by the Representative to act in any such capacity shall be contained in separate agreements, which agreements would contain, among other matters, provisions for customary fees for transactions of similar size and nature, as may be mutually agreed upon, and indemnification of the Representative and shall be subject to general market conditions. If the Representative declines to exercise the Right of First Refusal, the Company shall have the right to retain any other person or persons to provide such services on terms and conditions which are not more favorable to such other person or persons than the terms declined by the Representative. The services provided by the Representative is solely for the benefit of the Company and are not intended to confer any rights upon any persons or entities not a party hereto (including without limitation, securityholders, employees or creditors of the Company) as against the Representative or its directors, officers, agents, and employees.
(q) Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental or regulatory agency or body or any court) is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, except for such as have been obtained, or made on or prior to the Closing Date, and are, or on the Closing Date will be, in full force and effect. No authorization, consent, approval, license, qualification or order of, or filing or registration with any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) in any foreign jurisdiction is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the Offering, issuance and sale of the Offered Securities under the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction, except for such as have been obtained or made.
Section 4 Payment of Fees and Expenses.
The Company covenants and agrees with Representative that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Offered Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey if any; (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Offered Securities on Nasdaq; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Offered Securities; provided, that the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if applicable; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Offered Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants if any incurred; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section.
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The Company also agrees to pay to the Representative a non-accountable expense allowance of one percent (1.0%) of the gross proceeds of the Offering.
The Company will also reimburse the Representative up to a maximum of $200,000 for out-of-pocket accountable expenses, including, but not limited to: (i) background check on the Company’s principal shareholders, directors and officers; (ii) all due diligence expenses; and (iii) legal counsel fees. The Company has paid an advance of $[100,000] to the Representative for its anticipated out-of-pocket expenses; any advance will be returned to the Company to the extent the Representative’s out-of-pocket accountable expenses are not actually incurred in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A). It is understood and agreed that the Company shall be responsible for the Representative’s external counsel legal costs, any due diligence costs and any other accountable out-of-pocket fees and expenses in connection with the Offering irrespective of whether the Offering is consummated or not, subject to a maximum of $50,000 in the event that there is not a Closing.
Section 5 Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters.
The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made; (ii) the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder; (iii) no objections from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement; and (iv) each of the following additional conditions:
(a) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representative shall have received from the Accountant, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Representative, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(b) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order. During the period from and after the execution of this Agreement to and including the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, as applicable:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective; and
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
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(c) No Material Adverse Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement to and including the Closing Date and/or each Option Closing Date, as applicable, in the reasonable judgment of the Representative there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change.
(d) CFO Certificate. On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, on behalf of the Company, with respect to certain financial data contained in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
(e) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and this Agreement, to the effect that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of such Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, as applicable, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened under the Securities Act; no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Offered Securities or any other securities of the Company has been issued by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States; and
(iii) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been: (a) any Material Adverse Change; (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business; (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (d) any material change in the share capital (except changes thereto resulting from the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of outstanding indebtedness into Ordinary Shares of the Company) or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary (except for the conversion of such indebtedness into Ordinary Shares of the Company); (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on Ordinary Shares of the Company; or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any Subsidiary which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Secretary’s Certificate. On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, certifying: (i) that each of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as applicable, attached to such certificate is true and complete, has not been modified, and is in full force and effect; (ii) that each of the Subsidiaries’ constitutive and organizational documents attached to such certificate is true and complete, has not been modified, and is in full force and effect; (iii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Offering attached to such certificate are in full force and effect and have not been modified; and (iv) the good standing of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries (except in such jurisdictions where the concept of good standing is not applicable). The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Representative shall have received from the Accountant, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that the Accountant reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished by it pursuant to Section 6(a), except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date.
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(h) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each of the Company’s officers, directors, securityholders of five percent (5%) or more of the Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares listed on Schedule D hereto.
(i) Exchange Listing. The Offered Securities to be delivered on the Closing Date shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to official notice of issuance.
(j) Company Counsel Opinions. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received:
(i) the favorable opinion of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP, U.S. securities counsel to the Company, dated as of such date, addressed to the Representative, including a negative assurance letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative;
(ii) the favorable opinion of Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, PRC counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative;
(iii) the favorable opinion of [●], Japanese counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative; and
(iv) the favorable opinion of Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP, Cayman Islands counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
The Underwriters shall rely on the opinions of (i) the Company’s Cayman Islands counsel, Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP, filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement, as to the due incorporation, validity of the Offered Securities, and due authorization, execution and delivery of the Agreement and (ii) the Company’s PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement.
(k) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Representative and counsel for the Representative shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by written notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4 (with respect to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, bona fide expenses actually incurred by the Representative) and Section 7 (with respect to indemnification and contribution obligations) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 6 Effectiveness of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall not become effective until the later of (i) the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification (including by way of oral notification from the reviewer at the Commission) by the Commission to the Company of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
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Section 7 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their respective affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, members, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each a “Underwriter Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company) arising out of (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, or arise out of or are based upon the omission from the Registration Statement, or alleged omission to state therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any other materials used in connection with the Offering, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse such Underwriter Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement in, or omission from any preliminary prospectus, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any other materials used in connection with the Offering made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information. The indemnification obligations under this Section 7(a) are not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Underwriters might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Underwriter Indemnified Party.
(b) Indemnification by the Underwriters. The Underwriters shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Company’s affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Company Indemnified Parties” and each a “Company Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Underwriters) arising out (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission to state in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Information and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(b), in no event shall any indemnity by the Underwriters under this Section 7(b) exceed the total discounts received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. The indemnification obligations under this Section 7(b) are not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Company might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Company Indemnified Party.
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(c) Procedure. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially adversely prejudiced by such failure; and, provided, further, that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b), as applicable, for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(a), (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time any such indemnified party (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Underwriters if the indemnified party under this Section 7 is an Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if an indemnified party under this Section 7 is a Company Indemnified Party. Subject to this Section 7(c), the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 7 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated herein effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (30) days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
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(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or Section 7(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified parry or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Offered Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 7(d) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this Section 7(d) but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering of the Offered Securities purchased by investors as contemplated by this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters for use in any preliminary prospectus, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to above in this Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), a underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discounts received in cash by such underwriter in connection with the Offering less the amount of any damages that such underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act by such underwriter. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Section 8 Termination of this Agreement.
Prior to the Closing Date, whether before or after notification by the Commission to the Company of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by written notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by Nasdaq; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any U.S. federal or Cayman Islands authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions that, in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriters, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Offered Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Offered Securities, (v) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (vi) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Offered Securities. Any termination pursuant to this Section 8 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any of the Underwriters, except that the Company shall be, subject to demand by the Underwriters, obligated to reimburse the Representative for only those out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel, and expenses associated with a due diligence report), actually incurred by the Representative in connection herewith as allowed under FINRA Rule 5110, less any amounts previously paid by the Company; provided, however, that all such expenses shall not exceed $50,000 in the aggregate, (b) the Underwriters to the Company, or (c) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4 (with respect to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, bona fide expenses actually incurred by the Representative) and Section 7 (with respect to indemnification and contribution obligations) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination
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Section 9 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s-length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Offered Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understanding that no Underwriters has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including, without limitation, any negotiation related to the pricing of the Offered Securities; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may have financial interests in the success of the Offering that are not limited to the difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Company by the Underwriters for the Offered Securities, and the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose, or account to the Company for, any of such additional financial interests.
Section 10 Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.
The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers, and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section 11 Taxes.
(a) If any sum payable by the Company under this Agreement is subject to tax in the hands of an Underwriter or Representative (each a “Taxable Entity”) or taken into account as a receipt in computing the taxable income of that Taxable Entity (excluding net income taxes on underwriting commissions payable hereunder), the Company shall pay such additional amount as will ensure that the Taxable Entities shall be left with the sum it would have had in the absence of such tax.
(b) All sums payable by the Company under this Agreement shall be paid free and clear of and without deductions or withholdings of any present or future taxes or duties, unless the deduction or withholding is required by law, in which case the Company shall pay such additional amount as will result in the receipt by each Taxable Entity of the full amount that would have been received had no deduction or withholding been made.
(c) All sums payable to a Taxable Entity shall be considered exclusive of any value added or similar taxes. Where the Company is obliged to pay value added or similar tax on any amount payable hereunder to a Taxable Entity, the Company shall in addition to the sum payable hereunder pay an amount equal to any applicable value added or similar tax.
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(d) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if a Taxable Entity is required by any Hong Kong government authority to pay any taxes imposed by the Hong Kong, PRC or Japan governments or any administrative subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (“Foreign Taxes”) as a result of this Agreement, the Company will pay an additional amount to such Taxable Entity so that the full amount of such payments as agreed herein to be paid to the such Taxable Entity is received by the such Taxable Entity and will further, if requested by such Taxable Entity, use commercially reasonable efforts to give such assistance as such Taxable Entity may reasonably request to assist such Taxable Entity in discharging its obligations in respect of such Foreign Taxes, including by making filings and submissions on such basis and such terms as such Taxable Entity may reasonably request, promptly making available to such Taxable Entity notices received from any Hong Kong governmental authority and, subject to the receipt of funds from such Taxable Entity, by making payment of such funds on behalf of such Taxable Entity to the relevant foreign government authority in settlement of such Foreign Taxes. In the event the Company must pay any such Foreign Taxes to a relevant taxing authority, the Company shall forward to such Taxable Entity an official receipt or a copy of the official receipt issued by the taxing authority or other document evidencing such payment.
Section 12 Notices.
All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered, or emailed to the parties hereto as follows:
|
To the Underwriters at: |
Craft Capital Management LLC 377 Oak Street, Lower Concourse Garden City, NY 11530 Attn: Stephen Kiront, COO Email: skiront@craftcm.com
|
| With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC 950 Third Avenue, 19th Floor New York, NY 10022 Attn: Ying Li, Esq; Guillaume de Sampigny, Esq. Email: yli@htflawyers.com; gdesampigny@htflawyers.com
|
| To the Company at: |
3-1208 Tiananzhihui Compound People’s Republic of China 214135 Attn: Yujun Xiao Email: yjxiao@huhutech.com.cn
|
| With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP 366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017 Attn: William S. Rosenstadt, Esq.; Mengyi “Jason” Ye, Esq. Email: wsr@orllp.legal; jye@orllp.legal |
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
Section 13 Successors.
This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Offered Securities as such merely by reason of such purchase.
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Section 14 Partial Unenforceability.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph, or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph, or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
Section 15 Governing Law Provisions.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof.
Section 16 Consent to Jurisdiction.
No legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “Related Proceeding”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts (collectively, the “Specified Courts”) shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of any Related Proceeding, and the parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction the Specified Courts and personal service of process with respect thereto. The parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 17 General Provisions.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the Offering, except for those specific provisions of the Engagement Letter between the Company and the Representative, dated as of August 20, 2024, that are not related to the Offering, each of which provisions shall remain in full force and effect for the term of the Engagement Letter. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 7, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 7 hereto fairly allocate the risks in the light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the officers or employees of the Underwriters, any person controlling any of the Underwriters, the Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of the Offered Securities and payment for them as contemplated hereby and (iii) termination of this Agreement.
Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Underwriters, the Underwriters’ officers and employees, any controlling persons referred to herein, the Company’s directors and the Company’s officers who sign the Registration Statement and their respective successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Offered Securities from the Underwriters merely because of such purchase.
[signature page follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of the Agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Yujun Xiao | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Underwriters as of the date first above written.
For itself and on behalf of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto
| CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
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SCHEDULE A
| Underwriter | Number of Firm Shares | |
| Craft Capital Management LLC | [●] | |
| [●] | [●] | |
| Total | [1,250,000] |
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SCHEDULE B
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es)
31
SCHEDULE C
Pricing Information
Number of Firm Shares: [1,250,000] shares
Public Offering Price per Share: $
Underwriting Discount per Share: $
Proceeds to Company per Share (before expenses): $
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SCHEDULE D
Lock-Up Parties
| Name | Title |
| Yujun Xiao | CEO, Director |
| Yinglai Wang | Director, Chairperson of the Board |
| Huiping Zhang | CFO |
| Xiaoming Chen | CTO |
| Xiaoqiu Zhang | Independent Director |
| Qi Zheng | Independent Director |
| Jin Ma | Independent Director |
| Army Xiao Holdings Limited | 5% or Greater Shareholder |
| Billion Wang Holdings Limited | 5% or Greater Shareholder |
| Increase Willpower Limited Partnership | 5% or Greater Shareholder |
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SCHEDULE E
Subsidiaries
| Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization | |
| HUHUTECH (HK) Limited | Hong Kong | |
| Wuxi Xinwu District Jianmeng Electromechanical Technology Co., LTD | PRC | |
| Jiangsu HUHU Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd | PRC | |
| HUHU Technology Co., Ltd | Japan |
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SCHEDULE F
Written Testing the Waters Communication
None.
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
36
EXHIBIT B
Form of Representative’s Warrant
37
Exhibit 4.1
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) DAYS BEGINNING ON THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF THE OFFERING PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY (FILE NO. 333-270958). THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE WARRANT EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) DAYS FOLLOWING THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SALE OF THE COMPANY’S ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.0000025 PER SHARE, PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES (FILE NO. 333-[ ● ]) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, OR A REPRESENTATIVE OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER.
THIS PURCHASE WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO [ ● ], 2024. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, [ ● ], 2029.
FORM OF WARRANT
FOR THE PURCHASE OF [●] ORDINARY SHARES
OF
HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.
1. Purchase Warrant. THIS CERTIFIES THAT, pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement by and between HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC (the “Holder”), dated as of [ ● ], 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), the Holder, as registered owner of this Purchase Warrant, is entitled, at any time and from time to time, during the four and half year period commencing six months from the commencement of sales of the Offering, i.e., from [ ● ], 2024 (the “Exercise Date”), to [ ● ], 2029 (the “Expiration Date”), at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase, and receive, in whole or in part, up to such number of Ordinary Shares representing five percent (5 %) of the total number of Offered Securities, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Purchase Warrant. This Purchase Warrant is initially exercisable at $[ ● ] per Ordinary Share (125% of the price of the Firm Shares sold in the Offering); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Warrant, including the exercise price per Ordinary Share and the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price as set forth above or the adjusted exercise price as a result of the events set forth in Section 6 below, depending on the context. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
2. Exercise.
2.1. Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto as Exhibit A must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the Ordinary Shares being purchased payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company or by certified check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.
1
2.2. Cashless Exercise. At any time after the Exercise Date and until the Expiration Date, Holder may elect to receive the number of Ordinary Shares equal to the value of this Purchase Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Purchase Warrant to the Company, together with the exercise form attached hereto, in which event the Company shall issue to Holder, Ordinary Shares in accordance with the following formula:
| X | = | Y(A-B) | ||
| A |
| Where, | X | = | The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to Holder; | |
| Y | = | The number of Ordinary Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised; | ||
| A | = | The fair market value of one (1) Ordinary Share; and | ||
| B | = | The Exercise Price. |
For purposes of this Section 2.2, the “fair market value” of an Ordinary Share is defined as follows:
| (i) | if the Ordinary Shares are traded on a national securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the closing price on such exchange for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on the day immediately prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant; or | |
| (ii) | if the Ordinary Shares are actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant; or | |
| (iii) | if there is no market for the shares of Ordinary Shares, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. |
2.3. Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Warrant shall bear the following legends unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or are exempt from registration thereunder:
| (i) | “THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) DAYS FOLLOWING THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SALE OF THE COMPANY’S ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.0000025 PER SHARE, PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES (FILE NO. 333-270958) AND MAY NOT BE (A) SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, OR BONA FIDE OFFICERS OR PARTNERS OF CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, OR (B) CAUSED TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITIES HEREUNDER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN FINRA RULE 5110(E)(2).” | |
| (ii) | Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Ordinary Shares represented by a certificate, instrument, or book entry so legended. |
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3. Transfer.
3.1. General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Warrant agrees by his, her or its acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Warrant for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the commencement of sales of the public offering (the “Effective Date”) to anyone other than: (i) an Underwriter (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, each, an “Underwriter”) or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of an Underwriter or of any such selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), or (b) cause this Purchase Warrant or the securities issuable hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this Purchase Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2). On and after that date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment notice form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed and completed, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) business days transfer this Purchase Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant or Purchase Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.
3.2. Restrictions Imposed by the Securities Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Company that such securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities that has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and includes a current prospectus, or (iii) a registration statement, pursuant to which the Holder has exercised its registration rights pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 herein, relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been filed and declared effective by the Commission and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.
4. Registration Rights.
4.1. Demand Registration.
4.1.1 Grant of Right. Unless all of the Warrant Shares are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus or a qualified offering statement with a current registration statement, the Company, upon written demand (a “Demand Notice”) of the Holder, agrees to register, on one occasion, all or any portion of the Warrant Shares that are permitted to be registered under the Securities Act. On such occasion, the Company will file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement with the Commission (a “Demand Registration Statement”) covering such Warrant Shares within sixty (60) days after receipt of a Demand Notice and use its best efforts to have the registration statement declared effective promptly thereafter, subject to compliance with review by the Commission; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to comply with a Demand Notice if the Company has filed a registration statement with respect to which the Holder is entitled to piggyback pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof and either: (i) the Holder has elected to participate in the offering covered by such registration statement; or (ii) if such registration statement relates to an underwritten primary offering of securities of the Company, until the offering covered by such registration statement has been withdrawn or until thirty days after such offering is consummated. The demand for registration may be made at any time during a period of five years beginning on the date of commencement of sales of the Offering.
4.1.2 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to the Demand Registration Statement pursuant to Section 4.1.1, but the Holder(s) shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holder(s) to represent the Holder(s)in connection with the sale of the Warrant Shares. The Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause the filing of a Demand Registration Statement required herein to become effective promptly and to qualify or register the Warrant Shares in such states as are reasonably requested by the Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register the Warrant Shares in a state in which such registration would cause: (i) the Company to be obligated to register or license to do business in such State or submit to general service of process in such State, or (ii) the principal stockholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Holder(s) shall only use the prospectuses provided by the Company to sell the shares of Ordinary Shares covered by such registration statement, and will immediately cease to use any prospectus furnished by the Company if the Company advises the Holder(s) that such prospectus may no longer be used due to a material misstatement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.1.2, the Holder(s) shall be entitled to a Demand Registration Statement under this Section 4.1.2 on only one occasion and such demand registration right shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the commencement of sales of the Offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(C).
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4.2. “Piggy-Back” Registration.
4.2.1 Grant of Right. Unless all of the Warrant Shares are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus or a qualified offering statement with a current offering circular, the Holder shall have the right, for a period of five years commencing on the date of commencement of sales of the Offering, to include the remaining Warrant Shares as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act or pursuant to Form F-3 or any equivalent form).
4.2.2 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 4.2.1 hereof, but the Holder(s) shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holder(s) to represent them in connection with the sale of the Warrant Shares. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Warrant Shares with not less than 30 days’ written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holder(s) shall continue to be given for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of the Warrant Shares have been registered under an effective registration statement. The holders of the Warrant Shares shall exercise the “piggy-back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. Except as otherwise provided in this Purchase Warrant, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holder may request registration under this Section 4.2.2. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.2.2, such piggyback registration rights shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the commencement of sales of the Offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D).
4.3. The Company shall use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement and a current prospectus relating to the registration of the Warrant Shares until (i) all Warrant Shares have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (ii) all Warrant Shares are sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act are met, or (iii) all Warrant Shares become and remain eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c)(1). During any period when the Company fails to have maintained an effective Registration Statement or a current Prospectus relating thereto and a holder of this Purchase Warrant desires to exercise such warrant and, in the opinion of counsel to the Holder, Rule 144 is not available as an exemption from registration for the resale of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly file a registration statement registering the resale of such Warrant Shares and use its reasonable best efforts to have it declared effective by the Commission within thirty (30) days.
5. New Purchase Warrants to be Issued.
5.1. Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Warrant for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor to this Purchase Warrant in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised or assigned.
5.2. Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of this Purchase Warrant and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Warrant executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.
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6. Adjustments.
6.1. Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of shares of Warrant Shares. The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:
6.1.1. Share Dividends, Split Ups. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a stock dividend payable in Ordinary Shares or by a split up of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding Ordinary Shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.
6.1.2. Aggregation of Shares of Ordinary Shares. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased.
6.1.3. Replacement of Ordinary Shares upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or Section 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of Ordinary Shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Warrant Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or Section 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 6.1.1, Section 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
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6.1.4. Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Purchase Warrant is outstanding, the Company enters into the following transactions with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (not including any Ordinary Shares held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with, the other Persons making or party to such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination): (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any direct or indirect purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Ordinary Shares are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Ordinary Shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Ordinary Shares is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spinoff or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Purchase Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of ordinary shares of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional or alternative consideration (the “Alternative Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Purchase Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction. For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternative Consideration based on the amount of Alternative Consideration issuable in respect of one (1) Ordinary Share in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternative Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternative Consideration. If holders of Ordinary Shares are given any choice as to the securities, cash, or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternative Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Purchase Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Purchase Warrant, and to deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Purchase Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Purchase Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the Ordinary Shares acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the Exercise Price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Purchase Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Purchase Warrant and the other transaction documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of, the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company, under this Purchase Warrant and the other transaction documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.
6.1.5. Changes in Form of Purchase Warrant. This form of Purchase Warrant needs not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 6.1 and Purchase Warrant may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Warrant Shares as are stated in the Purchase Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the date hereof or the computation thereof.
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6.2. Substitute Purchase Warrant. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), the corporation formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Warrant providing that the holder of the Purchase Warrant then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Warrant) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Warrant, the kind and amount of Ordinary Shares and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation, sale, or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided for in this Section 6. The above provisions of this Section 6 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share reconstructions or amalgamations.
6.3. Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Purchase Warrant, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties, or rights, as applicable.
7. Reservation and Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant, such number of Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights, as applicable, as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price therefor (either with cash or through cashless exercise pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof), in accordance with the terms hereby, all Ordinary Shares issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant and payment of the exercise price therefor (either with cash or through cashless exercise pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof), all Ordinary Shares and other securities, as applicable, issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. As long as this Purchase Warrant shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Warrant Shares and other securities, as applicable, issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all national securities exchanges (or, if applicable, on the OTCQB Market or any successor quotation system) on which the Ordinary Shares issued to the public in the Offering may then be listed and/or quoted (if at all).
8. Certain Notice Requirements.
8.1. Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holder the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a shareholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Warrant and its exercise thereof, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice to the Holder of such event at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books (the “Notice Date”) for the determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.
8.2. Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Ordinary Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Ordinary Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.
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8.3. Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holder of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.
8.4. Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents, and other communications under this Purchase Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made if made in accordance with the notice provisions of the Underwriting Agreement to the addresses and contact information set forth below:
If to the Holder:
CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
377 Oak Street, Lower Concourse
Garden City, NY, 11530
Attn: Stephen Kiront, COO
Email: skiront@craftcm.com
With a copy to:
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li
950 Third Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY, 10022
Attn: Ying Li, Esq; Guillaume de Sampigny, Esq
Email: yli@htflawyers.com; gdesampigny@htflawyers.comlaura
If to the Company:
HUHUTECH International Group Inc.
3-1208 Tiananzhihui Compound
228 Linghu Road
Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province
People’s Republic of China 214135Attn: Yujun Xiao
Email: yjxiao@huhutech.com.cn
With a copy to:
Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP
366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: William S. Rosenstadt, Esq.
Mengyi “Jason” Ye, Esq.
Email: wsr@orllp.legal; jye@orllp.legal
Phone No.: (212) 588-0022
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1. Amendments. This Purchase Warrant may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
9.2. Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Warrant.
9.3. Entire Agreement. This Purchase Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.4. Successors and Assigns. This Purchase Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Warrant or any provisions herein contained.
9.5. Binding Effect. This Purchase Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Warrant or any provisions herein contained.
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9.6. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Purchase Warrant shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and the Holder hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
9.7. Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to, at any time, enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Warrant, any provision hereof, or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Warrant. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
9.8. Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Warrant, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Warrant by Holder, if the Company and the Underwriter enter into an agreement pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Warrant(s) will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both (such, an “Exchange Agreement”), then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.
9.9. Execution in Counterparts. This Purchase Warrant may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Such counterparts may be delivered by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission.
9.10. Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Purchase Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Purchase Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in its capacity as the Holder of this Purchase Warrant, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of share, reclassification of share, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Purchase Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Purchase Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
9.11. Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Ordinary Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Purchase Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
9.12. Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Purchase Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Purchase Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Purchase Warrant.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Warrant to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the ____ day of _______, 2024.
| HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Yujun Xiao | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
EXHIBIT A
Exercise Notice
Form to be used to exercise Purchase Warrant:
Date: __________, 20___
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Purchase Warrant for ______ Ordinary Shares of HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and hereby makes payment of $____ (at the rate of $____ per Ordinary Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Ordinary Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.
or
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase ___ Ordinary Shares under the Purchase Warrant for ______ Ordinary Shares, as determined in accordance with the following formula:
| X | = | Y(A-B) | ||
| A | ||||
| Where, | X | = | The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to Holder; | |
| Y | = | The number of Ordinary Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised; | ||
| A | = | The fair market value of one (1) Ordinary Share which is equal to $_____; and | ||
| B | = | The Exercise Price which is equal to $______ per Ordinary Share | ||
The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole discretion.
Please issue the Ordinary Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been converted.
Craft Capital Management LLC
[Signature]
[Signature Guaranteed]
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
Name:
(Print in Block Letters)
Address:
NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.
EXHIBIT B
Assignment Notice
Form to be used to assign Purchase Warrant:
ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Warrant):
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _______________does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchase ______ ordinary shares of HUHUTECH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), evidenced by the Purchase Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.
Dated: , 20__
[Signature]
[Signature Guaranteed]
NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.
Exhibit 5.2
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366
Madison Avenue |
September 9, 2024
HUHUTECH International Group Inc.
3-1208 Tiananzhihui Compound
228 Linghu Road
Xinwu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province
People’s Republic of China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as United States counsel to HUHUTECH International Group Inc., a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), in connection with the registration statement on Form F-1, File No. 333-270958 (the “Registration Statement”), including all amendments and supplements thereto, and accompanying prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the offering by the Company of 1,250,000 ordinary shares of par value $0.0000025 per share and an additional 187,500 ordinary shares pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters (collectively the “IPO Shares”). The IPO Shares are to be sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by and between the Company and Craft Capital Management LLC, acting as the representative of the several underwriters (the “Representative”). The Company is also registering (i) warrants to purchase up to 5.0% of the ordinary shares sold in the offering to be issued to the underwriters as compensation pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters’ Warrants”), and (ii) the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Underwriters’ Warrants (the “Underwriters’ Warrant Shares”).
This opinion is being furnished to you in connection with the Registration Statement.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined the following documents:
| 1. | The Registration Statement, |
| 2. | The form of the Underwriting Agreement, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement, |
| 3. | The form of the Underwriters’ Warrants, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, |
| 4. | a copy of the executed written resolution of the directors of the Company dated August 20, 2024, and |
| 5. | such other documents and corporate records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to enable us to render the opinion below. |
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) the validity and accuracy of the documents and corporate records that we have examined, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such documents and (iii) that all relevant documents have been, or will be, validly authorized, executed, delivered and performed by all of the relevant parties. As to any facts material to the opinion expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and have assumed that such statements and representations are true, correct and complete without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief. Our opinion is conditioned upon, among other things, the initial and continuing truth, accuracy, and completeness of the items described above on which we are relying.
Subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth in the Registration Statement, we are of the opinion that the Underwriters’ Warrants, when issued as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Underwriting Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

HUHUTECH International Group Inc.
Our opinion is limited to the application of the laws of the State of New York, the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder only and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability of other federal laws, the laws of other countries, the laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state. No opinion is expressed as to any federal securities laws except as specifically set forth herein. Our opinion represents only our interpretation of the law and has no binding, legal effect on, without limitation, any court. It is possible that contrary positions may be asserted and that one or more courts may sustain such contrary positions. Our opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise this opinion to reflect any changes, including changes which have retroactive effect (i) in applicable law, or (ii) in any fact, information, document, corporate record, covenant, statement, representation, or assumption stated herein that becomes untrue, incorrect or incomplete.
This letter is furnished to you for use in connection with the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted, or otherwise referred to for any other purpose without our express written permission. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement wherever it appears. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP | |
| Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP |
Exhibit 10.2
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
_______________, 2024
Craft Capital Management LLC
377 Oak St, Lower Concourse
Garden City, New York 11530
Re: HUHUTECH International Group Inc.— Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned (the “Undersigned”), being an officer, director, and/or holder of Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0000025, or rights to acquire Ordinary Shares (such rights, together with the Ordinary Shares, collectively, the “Shares”) of HUHUTECH International Group Inc. (the “Company”), understands that you are the representative (the “Representative”) of several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), named or to be named in Schedule A to the underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered or to be entered into among the Underwriters and the Company, providing for the Offering of securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration Statement. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Offering of the securities of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Undersigned hereby agrees, for the benefit of the Company, the Representative and the other Underwriters that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, the Undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date of this Lock-up Agreement and continuing to and including the date that is one-hundred and eighty (180) days after the Effective Date (the “Lock-Up Period”), unless otherwise provided herein, directly or indirectly (a) offer, sell, agree to offer or sell, solicit offers to purchase, grant any call option or purchase any put option with respect to, pledge, encumber, assign, borrow or otherwise dispose of (each, a “Transfer”) any Relevant Security (as defined below) or otherwise publicly disclose the intention to do so, or (b) establish or increase any “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease any “call equivalent position” with respect to any Relevant Security (in each case within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) with respect to any Relevant Security or otherwise enter into any swap, derivative or other transaction or arrangement that Transfers to another, in whole or in part, any economic consequence of ownership of a Relevant Security, whether or not such transaction is to be settled by the delivery of Relevant Securities, other securities, cash or other consideration, or otherwise publicly disclose the intention to do so.
As used herein, the term “Relevant Security” means any Share, any warrant to purchase Shares, or any other security of the Company or any other entity that is convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Shares or any other equity security of the Company, in each case owned beneficially or otherwise by the Undersigned on the date of closing of the Offering or acquired by the Undersigned during the Lock-Up Period.
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The restrictions in the foregoing paragraph shall not apply to (a) any exercise (including a cashless exercise or broker-assisted exercise and payment of tax obligations), vesting, or settlement, as applicable, by the Undersigned of options or warrants to purchase Shares or other equity awards pursuant to any share incentive or award plan or share purchase plan of the Company; provided that any Shares received by the Undersigned upon such exercise, conversion, or exchange will be subject to the Lock-Up Period, (b) any establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the Transfer of Shares (such, a “Trading Plan”); provided that (i) the Trading Plan shall not provide for or permit any Transfers, sales or other dispositions of Shares during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) the Trading Plan would not require any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and no such filing is voluntarily made, (c) any Transfer of Shares acquired in open market transactions following the closing of the Offering, provided the Transfer would not require any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and no such filing is voluntarily made, (d) any Transfer of the Undersigned’s Shares or any other security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares to the Company in connection with the termination of the Undersigned’s employment with the Company or pursuant to any contractual arrangement under which the Company has the option to repurchase such Shares; provided that no filing by any party under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be made voluntarily within forty-five (45) days after the date the Undersigned ceases to provide services to the Company, and after such forty-fifth (45th) day, if the Undersigned is required make any filing under the Exchange Act to report a reduction in beneficial ownership of Ordinary Shares during the Lock-Up Period, the Undersigned shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that such filing and the reduction in beneficial ownership in connection therewith relates to the termination of the Undersigned’s employment, and no other public announcement shall be made voluntarily in connection with such Transfer (other than the filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period), (e) any conversion of any outstanding security of the Company into Shares; provided that any such Shares received upon such conversion shall be subject to the restrictions on Transfer of Relevant Securities set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement, or (f) any Transfer of Shares or any other security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer for securities of the Company, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the board of directors of the Company, made to all holders of Ordinary Shares involving a change of control (as defined below); provided that all of the Undersigned’s Relevant Securities subject to this Lock-Up Agreement shall remain subject to the restrictions described herein. For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “change of control” means any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation, or other similar transaction, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of affiliated persons, other than the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the total voting power of the voting securities of the Company (or any surviving entity).
In addition, the Undersigned further agrees that, except for the Registration Statement or any registration statement on Form S-8, during the Lock-Up Period, the Undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative: (a) file or participate in the filing with the Commission any registration statement or circulate or participate in the circulation of any preliminary or final prospectus or other disclosure documents, in each case with respect to any proposed offer or sale of any Relevant Security beneficially owned by the Undersigned, or (b) exercise any rights the Undersigned may have to require registration with the Commission of any proposed offeror sale of any Relevant Security beneficially owned by the Undersigned.
In furtherance of the Undersigned’s obligations hereunder, the Undersigned hereby authorizes the Company during the Lock-Up Period to cause the transfer agent for the Relevant Securities to decline to Transfer, and to note stop transfer restrictions on the shareholder register and any other record relating to, Relevant Securities, for which the Undersigned is the record owner and the Transfer of which would be a violation of this Lock-Up Agreement. In the case of any Relevant Securities for which the Undersigned is the beneficial owner but not the record owner, the Undersigned agrees that during the Lock-Up Period it will use its best efforts to cause the record owner to authorize the Company to cause the relevant transfer agent to decline to transfer and to note stop transfer restrictions on the shareholder register or any other records relating to such Relevant Securities to the extent such Transfer would be a violation of this Lock-Up Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contained herein to the contrary, the Undersigned may Transfer the Undersigned’s Relevant Securities:
| (i) | as a bona fide gift or gifts; | |
| (ii) | to any immediate family member of the Undersigned, or to any trust, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal entity commonly used for estate planning purposes which are established for the direct or indirect benefit of the Undersigned or a member or members of the immediate family of the Undersigned; |
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| (iii) | if the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (1) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other business entity that is a direct or indirect Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the Undersigned, (2) to partners, limited liability company members, shareholders or stockholders of the Undersigned or holders of similar equity interests in the Undersigned, or (3) in connection with a sale, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Undersigned or any other change of control of the Undersigned, not undertaken for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Agreement; | |
| (iv) | if the Undersigned is a trust, to the trustee or beneficiary of such trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; | |
| (v) | by testate or intestate succession; | |
| (vi) | by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement; | |
| (vii) | as permitted under the Underwriting Agreement; or | |
| (viii) | the withholder of Shares by, or surrender of Shares to, the Company pursuant to a “net” or “cashless” exercise or settlement feature to cover taxes due upon or the consideration required in connection with the exercise of securities issued under an equity incentive plan or share purchase plan of the Company; |
provided, in the case of clauses (i)-(vi), that (A) such Transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (B) the transferee agrees in writing with the Underwriters and the Company to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement, and (C) such Transfer would not require any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and no such filing is voluntarily made.
For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, or adoption, not more remote than the first cousin.
The Undersigned agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any transaction or other action in connection with a Transfer permitted hereunder) during the period from the date hereof to and including the 15 days following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate any such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period has expired.
The Undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or “friends and family” Ordinary Shares that the Undersigned may purchase in the Offering. If the Undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representative shall notify the Company of the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit A at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a Transfer of Shares, and (ii) the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of such release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a Transfer not for consideration, and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Lock-Up Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the Transfer.
The Undersigned, whether or not participating in the Offering, understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Offering in reliance upon this Lock-Up Agreement.
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The Undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the Undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement and that this Lock-Up Agreement has been duly authorized (if the Undersigned is not a natural person) and constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Undersigned, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon request, the Undersigned will execute any additional documents that the Underwriters deem necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the Undersigned shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Undersigned from the date of this Lock-Up Agreement.
This Lock-Up Agreement shall be delivered to the Representative prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement and shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (1) either the Representative, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, advising the other in writing, they have determined not to proceed with the Offering, (2) termination of the Underwriting Agreement before the sale of Ordinary Shares, (3) the withdrawal of the Registration Statement, or (4) the termination of the Offering prior to the sale of Ordinary Shares.
This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. No legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Lock-Up Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “Related Proceeding”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts (collectively, the “Specified Courts”) shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of any Related Proceeding, and the Undersigned hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction the Specified Courts and personal service of process with respect thereto. The Undersigned hereby irrevocably waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Delivery of a signed copy of this Lock-Up Agreement by facsimile or e-mail/.pdf transmission shall be effective as the delivery of the original hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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| Very truly yours, | ||
| Signature: | ||
| Name (printed): | ||
| Title (if applicable): | ||
| Entity (if applicable): | ||
[Signature page to the Lock-Up Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF WAIVER OF LOCK-UP
, 2024
[Name and Address of
Officer or Director
Requesting Waiver]
Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:
This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by HUHUTECH International Group Inc. (the “Company”) of [●] Ordinary Shares, and the lock-up agreement dated___, 2024 (the “Lock-up Agreement”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated___, 20[●], with respect to [●] Ordinary Shares (the “Shares”). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined has the meaning given to such terms in the Lock-up Agreement.
The undersigned hereby agree to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Agreement, but only with respect to the Shares, effective___, 20[●]; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].
Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule A of the Underwriting Agreement | |||
| CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
cc: [ ]
EXHIBIT B
Form of Press Release
[ ]
[●], 202[●]
HUHUTECH International Group Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that CRAFT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, acting as representative for the underwriters in the Company’s recent Offering of [●] of the Company’s Ordinary Shares, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to [●] Ordinary Shares held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on [●], 20[●], and the securities may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer or sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Exhibit 23.1

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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement of HUHUTECH International Group Inc. on Amendment No. 6 to the Form F-1 of our report dated June 3, 2024, except for Notes 12 and 14, as to which the date is August 15, 2024, with respect to our audit of the consolidated financial statements of HUHUTECH International Group Inc. as of and for the two years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in the Registration Statement.
/s/ Wei, Wei & Co., LLP
Flushing, New York |