QUHUO Ltd F-3/A, filed Feb 22, 2022
QUHUO Ltd (QH)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2022
Registration No. 333-261789
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Quhuo Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
| Cayman Islands | Not Applicable | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
3rd Floor, Block D, Tonghui Building
No. 1132 Huihe South Street
Chaoyang District Beijing 100020
The People’s Republic of China
Telephone: (+86-10) 5338 4963
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
USA
(212) 947-7200
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Elizabeth Fei Chen, Esq.
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Telephone: (212) 326-0199
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company 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 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated February 22, 2022
Prospectus
Quhuo Limited
Class A Ordinary Shares
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Quhuo Limited, a holding company, is incorporated in the Cayman Islands on July 13, 2019 (“Quhuo,” “we,” “us,” “our company” or “our”), may offer and sell from time to time Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares, or ADSs, preferred shares, debt securities and warrants of Quhuo in any combination from time to time in one or more offerings, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The securities offered by this prospectus will have an aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000. The preferred shares, debt securities and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A ordinary shares or other securities. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we sell the securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may sell the securities independently or together with any other securities registered hereunder through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The principal executive offices of Quhuo Limited is located at 3rd Floor, Block D, Tonghui Building, No. 1132 Huihe South Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, and its telephone number at that address is (+86-10) 5338 4963. The registered address of Quhuo Limited in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
Our Class A ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “QH.”
Pursuant to Instruction 7 to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3, the aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates was approximately $42,233,529.6 based on 61,676,213 ordinary shares outstanding, of which 35,194,608 shares were held by non-affiliates, and a last reported sale price on the NASDAQ Global Market of $1.20 per share on January 4, 2022. Accordingly, an aggregate of $14,077,843.2 is currently available under the Form F-3.
Investing in our securities involves risks. We are not a Chinese operating company but a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct all of our operations through our operating entities established in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC, primarily our variable interest entity (the “VIE”) and our subsidiaries. We do not have any equity ownership of the VIE, instead, for accounting purposes, we receive the economic benefits of the VIE’s business operations through certain contractual arrangements, which enables us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and its subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP. The contractual arrangements with our VIE have not been tested in court. The VIE structure is used to allow foreign investment in China-based companies where Chinese law prohibits or restricts direct foreign investment in the operating companies, and foreign investors may never directly hold equity interests in the Chinese operating entities. Our securities offered in this prospectus are securities of our Cayman Islands holding company that maintains service agreements with the associated operating companies. See “OUR COMPANY—Summary of Risk Factors—Variable Interest Entity Structure” on page 13. and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Our current corporate structure and business operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares may be affected by the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law which does not explicitly classify whether VIEs that are operated through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign-invested enterprises if they are ultimately operated by foreign investors through such contractual arrangements” on pages 16, 17 and 19 of this prospectus.
The majority of our operations are conducted in China, and we are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with the VIE’s operations in China. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material negative change in the VIE’s operations, significant depreciation of the value of our Class A ordinary shares, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors, which could cause the value of your securities to become worthless. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, 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 of such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. or other foreign exchange. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our structure, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our securities could decline or become worthless. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Substantial uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations could have a significant impact upon any business conducted in the PRC by us and accordingly on the results of our operations and financial condition” on page 16 and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—If the PRC government deems that the VIE Agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries or other laws or regulations of the PRC, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations, which could materially reduce the value of our Class A ordinary shares or cause them to become worthless” on page 17. In addition, our securities may be prohibited from trading on a national exchange or over-the-counter under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”) if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included in our annual report filed with the SEC, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Because we have substantial operations within the PRC and the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct full inspections of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm as it relates to those operations without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our independent registered public accounting firm is not currently inspected thoroughly by the PCAOB. This lack of PCAOB inspections in the PRC prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our independent registered public accounting firm’s audits and its quality control procedures, and our independent registered public accounting firm is therefore subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections. Further, trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or investigate completely independent registered public accounting firm for a period of three consecutive years, and as a result an exchange may determine to delist our securities.
See the “Risk Factors” section beginning page 16 of this prospectus, and those contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before investing in our securities.
Besides the financial support fee charged by Beijing Quhuo Information Technology Co., Ltd., our wholly-foreign owned entity, or WOFE, under the VIE agreements, our VIE and its subsidiaries have not issued any dividends or distributions to respective holding companies, to us or any investors as of the date of this prospectus. See the section titled “Our Company—Cash Transfer and Dividend Payment” beginning on page 9 of the prospectus. The majority of our income is received in Renminbi (“RMB”), and shortages in foreign currencies may restrict our ability to pay dividends or other payments, or otherwise satisfy our foreign currency denominated obligations, if any. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of the Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) in the PRC as long as certain procedural requirements are met. Approval from appropriate government authorities is required if RMB is 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, at its discretion, impose restrictions on access to foreign currencies for current account transactions and if this occurs in the future, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. See the section titled “Our Company—Cash Transfer and Dividend Payment” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus for details.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the disclosures in this prospectus, including any prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2022
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You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires,
| • | “ADSs” refer to American depositary shares, each of which represents one Class A ordinary share; |
| • | “Companies Act” means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time; |
| • | “shares” or “Class A ordinary shares” refer to our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share; |
| • | “US$,” “U.S. Dollars,” “$” and “dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States; |
| • | “VIE” refers to Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.; and |
| • | “Quhuo,” “we,” “us,” “our company” and “our” refer to Quhuo Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company. |
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process permitted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell our shares, debt securities and warrants or any combination of any of the foregoing having an aggregate initial offering price of up to US$200,000,000 from time to time in one or more offerings on a continuous or delayed basis. This prospectus only provides you with a summary description of these securities. Each time we sell the securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and the specific terms of that offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any of the securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system, and all information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at this website. We also maintain a website at https://ir.quhuo.cn/, but information contained on, or linked from, our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You should not regard any information on our website as a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
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As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We will furnish Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the depositary of the ADSs, with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. You will find additional information about us in the registration statement. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning a contract or other document of ours is not necessarily complete, and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC for a more complete understanding of the document or matter. Each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such documents shall not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
| • | our Annual Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on May 17, 2021, or the 2020 Annual Report; |
| • | our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K dated May 27, 2021, June 2, 2021, June 28, 2021, August 25, 2021, September 24, 2021; November 29, 2021; December 21, 2021 and January 5, 2022; and |
| • | with respect to each offering of the securities under this prospectus, all our subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F and any report on Form 6-K that indicates that it is being incorporated by reference that we file or furnish with the SEC on or after the date on which the registration statement is first filed with the SEC and until the termination or completion of the offering by means of this prospectus. |
Our 2020 Annual Report contains a description of our business and audited consolidated financial statements with reports by our independent auditors. The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically
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incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
Leslie Yu, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (+86-10) 5338 4963
E-mail: leslie@meishisong.cn
3rd Floor, Block D, Tonghui Building
No. 1132 Huihe South Street, Chaoyang District
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making any offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those listed under “—Risk Factors,” may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995.
You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
| • | our mission and strategies; |
| • | our future business development, financial condition and results of operations; |
| • | the expected growth of the online consumer finance market in China; |
| • | our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our products and services; |
| • | our expectations regarding our relationships with borrowers and institutional partners; |
| • | competition in our industry; |
| • | general economic and business condition in China and elsewhere; |
| • | relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry; and |
| • | the impact of COVID-19. |
These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. Our actual results could be materially different from our expectations. You should thoroughly read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents that we refer to with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. In addition, the rapidly changing nature of the online consumer finance industry results in significant uncertainties for any projections or estimates relating to the growth prospects or future condition of our market. Furthermore, if any one or more of
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the assumptions underlying the market data are later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or the information incorporated by reference herein relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in such document. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Overview
We are not a Chinese operating company but a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct all of our operations through our operating entities established in the PRC, including the VIE. We do not have any equity ownership of the VIE, instead, for accounting purposes, we receive the economic benefits of the VIE’s business operations through certain contractual arrangements, which enables us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and its subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP. The VIE structure is used to allow foreign companies to consolidate China-based companies where Chinese law prohibits or restricts direct foreign ownership in the operating companies, and that foreign investors may never directly hold equity interests in the Chinese operating entities.
Additionally, we are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with the VIE’s operations in China. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material negative change in the VIE’s operations, significant depreciation of the value of our common stock, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, 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 of such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. or other foreign exchange. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our structure, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our securities could decline or become worthless. Our current corporate structure and business operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares may be affected by the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law which does not explicitly classify whether VIEs that are operated through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign-invested enterprises if they are ultimately operated by foreign investors through such contractual arrangements. Our securities offered in this prospectus are shares of our Cayman Islands holding company, and, as a shareholder of the Company, you will have an equity interest in an entity which does not have ownership of the VIE, which generates a significant portion of the consolidated revenue. Because we do not have ownership of the VIE, we must rely on the shareholders of this VIE to comply with their contractual obligations. The approval of PRC regulatory agencies may be required in connection with this offering under a PRC regulation or any new laws, rules or regulations to be enacted, and if required, we may not be able to obtain such approval.
We are a leading workforce operational solution platform in China. We provide tech-enabled, end-to-end operational solutions primarily to blue-chip on-demand consumer service businesses in industries with significant
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e-commerce exposure, including delivery, ride-hailing, housekeeping and bike-sharing. Within the on-demand consumer service ecosystem, we play a unique and indispensable role as the link between consumer service businesses and the end consumers to enable the delivery of goods, services and experiences to consumers.
To the on-demand consumer service companies that we serve, our solutions have become critical to their business strategy, operational focus and financial performance. We have established deep-rooted, long-standing partnerships with blue-chip industry customers in an increasing number of on-demand consumer service industries in China. Our platform helps industry customers mobilize a large team of workers and utilize a combination of training, performance monitoring and refinement, and incentives to transform them into skilled workers who can follow industry-specific, standardized and highly efficient service procedures. Leveraging our technology capabilities, we conduct data-driven operational analysis to assist our industry customers in improving their service quality and consumer satisfaction. As of December 31, 2020, we partnered with industry customers mostly comprising top market players in their respective industries, such as Meituan and Ele.me in the on-demand delivery industry and other chain restaurants such as KFC, Meituan Bike, Didi and Hello in the mobility-as-a-service section (including bike-sharing and ride-hailing), and Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Kingkey Group, Marriott International, and Kempinski Hotels in the hotel industry. Our geographic footprint reached 111 cities across 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China as of December 31, 2020.
To the workers on our platform, we believe we have become a “go-to” one-stop platform that provides them with diversified, flexible earning opportunities. Workers are also attracted to our platform for career advancement prospects and various work-life support and services. We empower workers with minimal work experience to begin their career and progress with us. In the three months ended December 31, 2020, we had approximately 54,500 average monthly active workers on our platform. We believe that the size of our workforce allows us to further cement our relationship with industry customers and become their partner of choice when they enter new geographical markets or new on-demand consumer service industries. Workers on our platform are also encouraged to bring in their friends, relatives and acquaintances to continually and organically expand our workforce network. We believe that the bonds among workers on our platform can be forged by such social relations, minimizing worker turnovers and making our platform more stable.
Our ability to quickly scale up our business and effectively manage our workers rests on Quhuo+, a proprietary technology infrastructure that centralizes our operational management and streamlines our solution process. For workers in a management position, such as team leaders for our on-demand delivery solutions, Quhuo+ allows them to pinpoint workers on our platform to monitor their workload and performance, and dynamically manage staffing and maintain solution quality. With Quhuo+, team leaders are able to transcribe industry-specific KPIs obtained from industry customers into executable guidance for workers on our platform, and benchmark workforce performance across all workers and teams based on data-driven analytics to refine our solutions and optimize our operational efficiency. For rank-and-file workers, Quhuo+ allows them to review their workload, access on-the-job training and review their performance. As a result, we are able to cultivate a specialized yet flexible workforce and deploy the same workers across different industry settings based on their work schedules by, for example, allowing delivery riders on our platform to take part in our shared-bike maintenance solutions during their off-peak hours, which serves to optimize our operational cost and also diversify their earning opportunities. We have developed Quhuo+ into a scalable modular system with customizable parameters and settings to smoothly manage and transfer massive workers across different regions and industries we serve, which forms the bedrock of our highly scalable and replicable business model. As a result, we are able to scale our operations and replicate our success into greenfield regions or industries quickly and cost-effectively with minimal incremental costs on infrastructure.
Our principal executive offices are located at 3rd Floor, Block D, Tonghui Building, No. 1132 Huihe South Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is (+86-10) 5338 4963.
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Our Contractual Arrangements
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our wholly-foreign owned entity ( “WFOE”), our VIE and its shareholders.
Power of Attorney. Pursuant to the power of attorney dated as of August 23, 2019 executed and issued by our VIE’s shareholders, each of them irrevocably appointed and authorized WFOE or its designee(s) to act on their respective behalf as exclusive agent and attorney-in-fact, to the extent permitted by PRC law, with respect to all rights of shareholders concerning all the equity interest held by each of these shareholders in our VIE, including but not limited to the power to vote on its behalf on all matters of our VIE requiring shareholder approval under PRC laws and regulations and the articles of association of our VIE, rights to information relating to all business aspects of our VIE, proposing to convene or attend shareholder meetings, signing the resolutions and minutes of such meetings, exercising all the other rights as shareholders, such as nomination rights, appointment rights, the right to receive dividends and the right to sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of all the equity held in part or in whole.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Under each of the equity interest pledge agreements dated as of August 23, 2019 entered into by and among WFOE, our VIE and each of its shareholders, each of our VIE’s shareholders will pledge all of their equity interests in our VIE to WFOE as security and guarantee on performance of the respective obligations of our VIE and each of its shareholders under the exclusive call option agreement, the exclusive business cooperation agreement and the power of attorney. If any of our VIE or its shareholders breach their contractual obligations under those agreements, WFOE, as the pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including enforcing the pledge immediately. WFOE may transfer all or any of its rights and obligations under any of the equity interest pledge agreements to its designee(s) any time after notifying our VIE
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and the signing shareholder. This pledge has become effective since the date the pledged equity interests were registered with the competent administration for industry and commerce and will remain in effect until the fulfillment of all the obligations under the exclusive call option agreement, the exclusive business cooperation agreement and the power of attorney.
Letters of Shareholder Undertaking, Letters of Spousal Undertakings and Letter of Confirmation. Pursuant to each of the letters of shareholder undertaking dated as of August 23, 2019 executed and provided by each of the individual shareholders of our VIE, each of the letters of spousal undertakings dated as of as of August 23, 2019 executed and provided by each of the spouse of our VIE’s individual shareholders and a letter of confirmation dated as of August 23, 2019 executed and issued by Mr. Leslie Yu in favor of us, each of the individual shareholders and the spouse of such shareholders, among others, (1) confirmed the duly authorization and validity of and the arrangements under the exclusive call option agreement, the exclusive business cooperation agreement, the equity interest pledge agreements and the power of attorney, (2) unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the in the event of their deaths, incapacity or other circumstances under which they no longer have the ability to perform their obligations under the agreements described herein, their respective equity interests in our VIE together with all interests attached thereto will be transferred, free of charge and without any condition, to WFOE or its designee(s) to the extent permitted by PRC laws; and (3) confirmed that the respective equity interests of our VIE’s shareholders in our VIE are exclusive and personal assets of such shareholders, instead of common assets jointly owned with their respective spouse, and agreed to be subject to the obligations and arrangements under the agreements described herein in the event any equity interest in our VIE will be held by the respective spouse of such shareholders.
Agreements that allow us to receive economic benefits from our VIE
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive business cooperation agreement dated as of August 23, 2019 entered into by and between WFOE and our VIE, WFOE has the exclusive right, during the term of the exclusive business cooperation agreement to provide or designate any third-party to provide, among others, comprehensive business support, technological support, and relevant consulting services, the scope of which is to be determined by WFOE from time to time. WFOE owns the exclusive intellectual property rights created as a result of the performance of this agreement. In exchange, our VIE and its subsidiaries pay service fees to WFOE at the time and in an amount to be determined by WFOE in its sole discretion. This agreement shall remain effective for ten years from the execution date and may be extended by WFOE at its sole discretion.
Agreements that provide us with the call option to purchase the equity interests in our VIE
Exclusive Call Option Agreement. Under the exclusive call option agreement dated as of August 23, 2019 entered into by and between WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders, each of the shareholders of our VIE irrevocably granted WFOE or its designated representatives an exclusive right to purchase, to the extent permitted by the PRC laws and regulations and at the sole discretion of WFOE all or any part of their equity interests in our VIE at a purchase price equal to the lowest price permissible under the PRC laws and regulations. The shareholders of our VIE shall also promptly give all considerations they received from the exercise of the options to WFOE or its designee(s). WFOE or its designated representatives have sole discretion as to when to exercise such options, either in part or in full. Without prior written consent of WFOE, our VIE’s shareholders shall not, among others, sell, transfer, mortgage, create any pledge or encumbrance on or otherwise dispose their equity interests in our VIE. The term of this agreement is ten years and may be extended at WFOE’s sole discretion until the entire equity interests in our VIE transferred to WFOE or its designee(s).
Our PRC legal counsel advised us that the ownership structures of our VIE and WFOE currently do not result in any violation of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect; and the contractual arrangements between WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders governed by PRC law currently are valid and legally binding on each party thereto and enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof, subject as to enforceability to
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applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, the discretion of relevant governmental authorities in exercising their authority in connection with the interpretation and implementation thereof, and the application of relevant PRC laws and policies thereto, and to general equity principles.
However, our PRC legal counsel has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that is contrary to or otherwise different from the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If we or our VIE is found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion to take action in dealing with such violations or failures. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Substantial uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations could have a significant impact upon any business conducted in the PRC by us and accordingly on the results of our operations and financial condition,” “If the PRC government deems that the VIE Agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries or other laws or regulations of the PRC, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations, which could materially reduce the value of our Class A ordinary shares or cause them to become worthless,” and “Our current corporate structure and business operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares may be affected by the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law which does not explicitly classify whether VIEs that are operated through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign-invested enterprises if they are ultimately operated by foreign investors through such contractual arrangements.”
The VIE Agreements may not be effective as direct ownership in providing operational control. For instance, the VIE and its shareholders could breach their VIE Agreements with WFOE by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. The VIE shareholders may not act in the best interests of our Company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the VIE Agreements with the VIE. In the event that the VIE or its shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the VIE Agreements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. In addition, even if legal actions are taken to enforce such arrangements, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state. . See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Our contractual arrangements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. and its shareholders may not be effective in providing control over Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Our contractual agreements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. are governed by the laws of the PRC and we may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under these contractual arrangements.”
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Cash Transfer and Dividend Payment
Besides the financial support fee charged by our WOFE under the VIE agreements, our VIE and its subsidiaries have not issued any dividends or distributions to respective holding companies, to us or any investors as of the date of this prospectus. Our WOFE charged nil and RMB16.6 million in financial support fees during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, our WFOE received RMB14.1 million in financial support fees. Our VIE in the PRC generate and retain cash generated from operating activities and re-invest it in its business. In the future, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities may be transferred by us through our overseas holding company, Quhuo Limited to our WFOE via capital contribution and shareholder loans, as the case may be. Our WFOE will then transfer funds to our VIE and its subsidiaries to meet the capital needs of its business operations.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, there was no transfer of assets between us, our subsidiaries and our VIE in the PRC, except for cash received from the existing shareholders to complete our corporate restructuring (the “Restructuring”) in anticipation of our initial public offering (“IPO”). We had amounts due from one existing shareholder, of RMB18.4 million as of December 31, 2019 due to the Restructuring, which was settled in March 2020 when the Group completed the Restructuring.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, we transferred US$12 million from our IPO proceeds to our WFOE, which was then invested in the PRC VIE, Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.
Under PRC laws and regulations, there are restrictions on the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIE with respect to transferring certain of their net assets to the Company either in the form of dividends, loans, or advances. Amounts restricted include paid-in capital and statutory reserve of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the VIE, totaling approximately RMB382.7 million (US$58.7 million) as of December 31, 2020 and totaling approximately RMB361.1 million (US$56.0 million) as of September 30, 2021.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. The majority of our and the VIE’s and its subsidiaries’ income is received in RMB and shortages in foreign currencies may restrict our ability to pay dividends or other payments, or otherwise satisfy our foreign currency denominated obligations, if any. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from The State Administration of the Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) in the PRC as long as certain procedural requirements are met. Approval from appropriate government authorities is required if Renminbi is 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, at its discretion, impose restrictions on access to foreign currencies for current account transactions and if this occurs in the future, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
Cash dividends, if any, on our common stock will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not made any dividends nor distributions to any U.S. investors.
Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the PRC companies to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, the Company’s PRC subsidiary and the VIE can only distribute dividends upon approval of the shareholders after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to the statutory reserves. As a result of these and other restrictions under the PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary and the VIE are restricted to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company either in the form of dividends, loans or advances. Even though the Company currently does not require any such dividends, loans or advances from the PRC subsidiary and the VIE
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for working capital and other funding purposes, the Company may in the future require additional cash resources from its PRC subsidiary and the VIE due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and developments, or merely declare and pay dividends to or distributions to the Company’s shareholders.
Our Company’s ability to settle amounts owed under the VIE Agreements relies upon payments made from the VIE to our WFOE in accordance with the VIE Agreements. For services rendered to the VIE by WFOE under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, WFOE is entitled to collect a service fee from the VIE. Pursuant to the Exclusive Call Option Agreement, WFOE may at any time purchase all or part of the equity interests in the VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC laws. For restrictions and limitations on our ability to settle amounts owed under the VIE Agreements, in addition to those discussed above, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—If the PRC government deems that the VIE Agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries or other laws or regulations of the PRC, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations, which could materially reduce the value of our Class A ordinary shares or cause them to become worthless,” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Our contractual arrangements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. and its shareholders may not be effective in providing control over Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.” Our Company, our subsidiaries, and the VIE do not have any plan to distribute earnings or settle amounts owed under the VIE Agreements in the foreseeable future.
Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule
The following tables present selected condensed consolidated financial data of Quhuo, the VIE and subsidiaries of the VIE and WFOE for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, which have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for those respective years.
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RMB In thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
— | 16,579 | 2,580,810 | (16,579 | ) | 2,580,810 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue |
(2,175 | ) | — | (2,386,124 | ) | — | (2,388,299 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Operating and other expenses |
(51,907 | ) | (15,705 | ) | (128,643 | ) | (1,860 | ) | (198,115 | ) | ||||||||||
| Gain from VIE and its subsidiaries |
57,512 | — | — | (57,512 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Net (loss)/income |
3,430 | 874 | 66,043 | (75,951 | ) | (5,604 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
— | — | 2,055,789 | — | 2,055,789 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue |
— | — | (1,893,513 | ) | — | (1,893,513 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Operating and other expenses |
(7,150 | ) | — | (174,268 | ) | 5,693 | (175,725 | ) | ||||||||||||
| (Loss)/gain from VIE and its subsidiaries |
(4,615 | ) | 1 | — | 4,614 | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Net (loss)/income |
(11,765 | ) | 1 | (11,992 | ) | 10,307 | (13,449 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
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| For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
— | — | 1,474,475 | — | 1,474,475 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue |
— | — | (1,357,837 | ) | — | (1,357,837 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Operating and other expenses |
— | — | (160,933 | ) | — | (160,933 | ) | |||||||||||||
| (Loss) from VIE and its subsidiaries |
(42,614 | ) | — | — | 42,614 | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Net (loss)/income |
(42,614 | ) | — | (44,295 | ) | 42,614 | (44,295 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RMB In thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash |
4,294 | 506 | 93,007 | — | 97,807 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Inter-group balance due from VIE, WFOE and subsidiaries |
78,007 | 90,168 | 3,975 | (172,150 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other current assets |
170,927 | 2,811 | 463,885 | (447 | ) | 637,176 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total current assets |
253,228 | 93,485 | 560,867 | (172,597 | ) | 734,983 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Investment in subsidiaries |
303,061 | — | — | (303,061 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other non-current assets |
— | 80 | 395,494 | — | 395,574 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total non-current assets |
303,061 | 80 | 395,494 | (303,061 | ) | 395,574 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total assets |
556,289 | 93,565 | 956,361 | (475,658 | ) | 1,130,557 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Inter-group balance due to Parent, VIE, WFOE and subsidiaries |
— | 89,164 | 90,168 | (179,332 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other liabilities |
— | 3,466 | 524,035 | 225 | 527,726 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total liabilities |
— | 92,630 | 614,203 | (179,107 | ) | 527,726 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity |
556,289 | 935 | 342,158 | (296,551 | ) | 602,831 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
556,289 | 93,565 | 956,361 | (475,658 | ) | 1,130,557 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
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| As of December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash |
101 | 1 | 126,677 | — | 126,779 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other current assets |
— | — | 394,691 | — | 394,691 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total current assets |
101 | 1 | 521,368 | — | 521,470 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Investment in subsidiaries |
253,189 | — | — | (253,189 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other non-current assets |
18,392 | — | 222,426 | (18,392 | ) | 222,426 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total non-current assets |
271,581 | — | 222,426 | (271,581 | ) | 222,426 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total assets |
271,682 | 1 | 743,794 | (271,581 | ) | 743,896 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Inter-group balance due to Parent, VIE, WFOE and subsidiaries |
20,001 | — | — | (20,001 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other liabilities |
— | — | 489,276 | 68 | 489,344 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total liabilities |
20,001 | — | 489,276 | (19,933 | ) | 489,344 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total mezzanine equity |
1,031,001 | — | — | — | 1,031,001 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ (deficit)/equity |
(779,320 | ) | 1 | 254,518 | (251,648 | ) | (776,449 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ (deficit)/equity |
271,682 | 1 | 743,794 | (271,581 | ) | 743,896 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows Information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RMB In thousand | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities |
(4,233 | ) | 2,009 | 30,389 | (17,055 | ) | 11,110 | |||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities |
(129,854 | ) | (89,197 | ) | (56,535 | ) | 88,503 | (187,083 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities |
143,972 | 87,688 | (7,119 | ) | (71,448 | ) | 153,093 | |||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
(146 | ) | 6 | (4 | ) | — | (144 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
9,739 | 506 | (33,269 | ) | — | (23,024 | ) | |||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities |
(1,452 | ) | — | 17,521 | 1,555 | 17,624 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities |
— | — | 12,484 | (1 | ) | 12,483 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities |
— | — | 80,550 | — | 80,550 | |||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
1,553 | 1 | (1,221 | ) | (1,554 | ) | (1,221 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
101 | 1 | 109,334 | — | 109,436 | |||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quhuo | WOFE | VIE and its subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities |
— | — | 19,807 | — | 19,807 | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities |
— | — | (94,281 | ) | — | (94,281 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities |
— | — | 82,495 | — | 82,495 | |||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
— | — | 179 | — | 179 | |||||||||||||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
— | — | 8,200 | — | 8,200 | |||||||||||||||
12
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Summary of Risk Factors
Variable Interest Entity Structure
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 in China through our variable interest entity, or VIE. This is an offering of securities of the holding company. You are not investing in Chinese operating companies. Neither we nor our subsidiaries own any share in the VIE. Instead, we receive the economic benefits of the VIE’s business operation through a series of contractual agreements, or the VIE Agreements. We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with being based in China and having a majority of our operations in through the contractual arrangements with the VIE. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material change in our operations, significant depreciation of the value of our common stock, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. The VIE Agreements are designed to provide WFOE, with the power, rights and obligations set forth in the VIE Agreements. As a result of our indirect ownership in the WFOE and the VIE Agreements, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The VIE structure is used to allow foreign companies to consolidate China-based companies where Chinese law prohibits or restricts direct foreign ownership in the operating companies.
Because of our corporate structure, we are subject to risks due to uncertainty of the interpretation and the application of the PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to limitation on foreign ownership of internet technology companies, and regulatory review of oversea listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the VIE Agreements. We are also subject to the risks of uncertainty about any future actions of the PRC government in this regard. Our VIE Agreements may not effectively provide control over the VIE. We may also be subject to sanctions imposed by PRC regulatory agencies including Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission if we fail to comply with their rules and regulations. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) released, on December 24, 2021, the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Domestic Companies Offering Securities for Overseas Listing (Revision Draft for Comments) (the “Provisions”) and the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Domestic Companies Seeking Overseas Securities Offering and Listing (the “Measures”) for public comment. According to the Provisions and Measures, “Domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the securities regulatory agency under the State Council and report relevant information;” and “An overseas offering and listing is prohibited under any of the following circumstances: (1) if the intended securities offering and listing falls under specific clauses in national laws and regulations and relevant provisions prohibiting such financing activities.” Furthermore, the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021) was officially released to the public on December 28, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), “To go public abroad, an online platform operator who possesses the personal information of more than 1 million users shall declare to the Office of Cybersecurity Review for cybersecurity review.” On December 27, 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) and Chinese Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”), jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures for Entry of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Version), or the Negative List, which became effective and replaced the previous version on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to the Negative List, if a PRC company, which engages in any business where foreign investment is prohibited under the Negative List, or prohibited businesses, seeks an overseas offering or listing, it must obtain the approval from competent governmental authorities. Based on a set of Q&A published on the NDRC’s official website, a NDRC official indicated that after a PRC company submits its application for overseas listing to the CSRC and where matters relating to prohibited businesses under the Negative List are implicated, the CSRC will consult the regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the relevant industries and fields. Because the overseas listing rules are currently in draft form and given the novelty of the Negative List, there remain substantial uncertainties as to whether and what requirements, including filing requirements, will be imposed on a PRC company with respect to its listing and offerings overseas as well as with the interpretation and implementation of existing and future regulations in this regard. If the Chinese regulatory authorities has more stringent requirements for the VIE
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structure or disallow this VIE structure in the future, it will likely result in a material change in our financial performance and our results of operations and/or the value of our common stock, which could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Additionally, as more stringent criteria have been imposed by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board recently, our securities may be prohibited from trading if our auditor cannot be fully inspected.
Additionally, we are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with the VIE’s operations in China. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material change in the VIE’s operations, significant depreciation of the value of our common stock, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.. As of the date of this prospectus, we, our subsidiaries, and the VIE and its subsidiaries have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any PRC regulatory authority, nor has any of them received any inquiry, notice, or sanction. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not believe that our potential offerings under this shelf registration are subject to cybersecurity review with the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the draft Measures for Cybersecurity Censorship. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Compliance with China’s new Data Security Law, Measures on Cybersecurity Review, Personal Information Protection Law (second draft for consultation), regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations may entail significant expenses and could materially affect our business.” As of the date of this prospectus, we do not believe the Company’s business is prohibited under the Negative List. We are also not aware that there are relevant laws or regulations in the PRC explicitly requiring us to seek approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for our overseas listing. As of the date of this prospectus, we, our subsidiaries, and the VIE and its subsidiaries have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions regarding our overseas listing from the China Securities Regulatory Commission or any other PRC governmental authorities. Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, 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 and VIE, our ability to accept foreign investments, and our listing on a U.S. exchange. The PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations, or implementing rules that require us, our subsidiaries, or the VIE to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities for listing in the U.S. If we do not receive or maintain the approval, or inadvertently conclude that such approval is not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval 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 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. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC—Our current corporate structure and business operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares may be affected by the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law which does not explicitly classify whether VIEs that are operated through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign-invested enterprises if they are ultimately operated by foreign investors through such contractual arrangements.”
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Doing Business in China
The VIE and its subsidiaries are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with being based in China. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and as a result these risks may result in material changes in the operations of the VIE and its subsidiaries, completely hinder of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Recently, 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. The PRC government also initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, 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 our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. exchange. On July 10, 2021, the State Internet Information Office issued the Measures of Cybersecurity Review (Revised Draft for Comments, not yet effective), which requires operators with personal information of more than 1 million users who want to list abroad to file a cybersecurity review with the Office of Cybersecurity Review. As of the date of this prospectus, our Company, the VIE and its subsidiaries have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any PRC regulatory authority, nor has any of them received any inquiry, notice or sanction. We do not believe that our existing business will require such regulatory review. As of the date of this prospectus, our Company, the VIE and its subsidiaries have not received any inquiry, notice, warning or sanctions regarding our planned overseas listing from the China Securities Regulatory Commission or any other PRC governmental authorities. However, all of the statements and regulatory actions referenced are newly published, 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 our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. exchange. PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations or implementing rules that require us, our subsidiaries, the VIE or its subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before listing in the U.S.
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which, if enacted, would amend the HFCAA and require 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, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading.
Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included in our annual report filed with the SEC, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Because we have substantial operations within the PRC and the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct full inspections of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm as it relates to those operations without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our independent registered public accounting firm is not currently inspected thoroughly by the PCAOB. This lack of
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PCAOB inspections in the PRC prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our independent registered public accounting firm’s audits and its quality control procedures, and our independent registered public accounting firm is therefore subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections. Further, trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA and AHFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or investigate completely independent registered public accounting firm for a period of three or two consecutive years, and as a result an exchange may determine to delist our securities.
The recent developments would add uncertainties to our offering, and we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or 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 the SEC’s implementation process related to the December 2021 final amendments will entail or 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, the December 2021 final amendments and any additional actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our common stock 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. See “Risk Factors—Proceedings instituted by the SEC against Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.” starting on page 18.
Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and uncertainties described herein, and those under the heading “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our most recently filed annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before investing in any of the securities that may be offered or sold pursuant to this prospectus. These risks and uncertainties and other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial, could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and cause the value of our securities to decline or become worthless.
Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Doing Business in the PRC
Substantial uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations could have a significant impact upon any business conducted in the PRC by us and accordingly on the results of our operations and financial condition.
Our business operations conducted through our PRC operating entities may be adversely affected by the current and future political environment in the PRC. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. The Chinese government exerts substantial influence and control over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. Our ability to operate in China may be adversely affected by changes in Chinese laws and regulations. Under the current government leadership, the government of the PRC has been pursuing reform policies which have adversely affected China-based operating companies whose securities are listed in the United States, with significant policy
changes being made from time to time without notice. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the
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interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements. Only after 1979 did the Chinese government begin to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws that regulate economic affairs in general, deal with economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade, and encourage foreign investment in China. Although the influence of the law has been increasing, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. Also, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published cases and their lack of force as precedents, interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involves significant uncertainties. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. In addition, there have been constant changes and amendments of laws and regulations over the past 30 years in order to keep up with the rapidly changing society and economy in China. Because government agencies and courts provide interpretations of laws and regulations and decide contractual disputes and issues, their inexperience in adjudicating new business polices or regulations in certain less-developed areas causes uncertainty and may affect our business. Consequently, we cannot predict the future direction of Chinese legislative activities with respect to businesses with foreign investment or the effectiveness of enforcement of laws and regulations in China. The uncertainties, including new laws and regulations and changes of existing laws, as well as judicial interpretation by inexperienced officials in the agencies and courts in certain areas, may create problems for foreign investors. Although the PRC government has been pursuing economic reform policies for more than two decades, the PRC government continues to exercise significant control over economic growth in the PRC through the allocation of resources, control of payments in foreign currencies, monetary policy and the imposition of policies that impact particular industries in different ways. We cannot assure you that the PRC government will continue to pursue policies favoring a market-oriented economy or that existing policies will not be significantly altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or political disruption or other circumstances affecting political, economic and social life in the PRC. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of the securities being offered. Any adverse changes in Chinese laws and regulations, the Chinese government’s significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business, and action 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 could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
If the PRC government deems that the VIE Agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries or other laws or regulations of the PRC, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations, which could materially reduce the value of our Class A ordinary shares or cause them to become worthless.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct a substantial majority of our operations through our VIE in the PRC, Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd., in which we have no equity ownership interest and must rely on contractual arrangements to operate the businesses thereof. These contractual arrangements are not as effective in providing control over the VIE as direct ownership. For example, the VIE may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations under our commercial agreements. Consequently, we would not be able to conduct our operations in the manner currently planned. In addition, the VIE may seek to renew its agreements on terms that are disadvantageous to us. Although we have entered into a series of agreements that attempt to provide us with the ability to control the VIE, we may not succeed in enforcing our rights under them insofar as our contractual rights and legal remedies under PRC law are inadequate. In addition, if we are unable to renew these agreements on favorable terms when these agreements expire or if we are unable to enter into similar agreements with other
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parties, our business may not be able to operate or expand, and our operating expenses may significantly increase.
Because Quhuo Limited is an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, it is classified as a foreign enterprise under PRC laws and regulations, and our wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC will be foreign-invested enterprises. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of the consolidated VIE and therefore consolidate its financial results as our consolidated VIE under U.S. GAAP.
We believe that our corporate structure and contractual arrangements comply with the current applicable PRC laws and regulations, and each of the contracts among our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, our consolidated VIE and its shareholders is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Thus, the PRC governmental authorities may take a view contrary to ours. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structure will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. PRC laws and regulations governing the validity of these contractual arrangements are uncertain and the relevant government authorities have broad discretion in interpreting these laws and regulations.
If our corporate structure and contractual arrangements are deemed by the relevant regulators that have competent authority, to be illegal, either in whole or in part, we may lose our ability to consolidate the VIE and may have to modify such structure to comply with regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that we would be able to achieve this without material disruption to our business. Further, if our corporate structure and contractual arrangements are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:
| • | revoking our business and operating licenses that are related to the VIE; |
| • | levying fines on us; |
| • | confiscating any of our income that they deem to be obtained through illegal operations; |
| • | shutting down our services that are related to the VIE; |
| • | discontinuing or restricting our operations in China that are related to the VIE; |
| • | imposing conditions or requirements with which we may not be able to comply; |
| • | requiring us to change our corporate structure and contractual arrangements; |
| • | restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds from overseas offerings to finance our consolidated VIE’s business and operations; and |
| • | taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. |
Furthermore, new PRC laws, rules and regulations may be introduced to impose additional requirements that may be applicable to our corporate structure and contractual arrangements. The occurrence of any of these events could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares. In addition, if the imposition of any of these penalties or the requirement to restructure our corporate structure causes us to lose our right to direct the activities of our consolidated VIE or our right to receive its economic benefits, we would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of such VIE in our consolidated financial statements, which may cause the value of our securities to materially decline or become worthless. Moreover, if the PRC government determines that the contractual arrangements constituting part of our VIE structure do not comply with PRC regulations, or if these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, our securities may decline in value or become worthless if we are unable to assert our contractual rights over the assets of our PRC subsidiary that conducts all or substantially all of our operations.
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Our current corporate structure and business operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares may be affected by the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law which does not explicitly classify whether VIEs that are operated through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign-invested enterprises if they are ultimately operated by foreign investors through such contractual arrangements.
The VIE structure has been adopted by many Chinese-based companies, including us, to obtain necessary licenses and permits in the industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China. On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress, China’s national legislative body approved the Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020. On December 26, 2019, the PRC State Council approved the Implementation Rules of the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. Since they are relatively new, uncertainties exist in relation to their interpretation. The Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly classify whether variable interest entities that are operated through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign-invested enterprises if they are ultimately operated by foreign investors through such contractual arrangements. However, it has a catch-all provision under the definition of “foreign investment” that includes investments made by foreign investors in China through other means as provided by laws, administrative regulations or the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves open the possibility of future laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the State Council providing for contractual arrangements being viewed as a form of foreign investment. Therefore, there can be no assurance that our relationship with our consolidated VIE through contractual arrangements will not be deemed as foreign investment in the future.
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, or the Negative List. The Foreign Investment Law grants national treatment to foreign-invested entities, except for those foreign-invested entities that operate in industries specified as either “restricted” or “prohibited” from foreign investment in the Negative List. The Foreign Investment Law provides that foreign-invested entities operating in “restricted” or “prohibited” industries will require market entry clearance and other approvals from relevant PRC government authorities. Pursuant to the Negative List, the Company’s business does not fall within the “prohibited” category. However, since the Negative List has been adjusted and updated on an almost-annual basis in the recent years, we cannot assure you that our business will remain off of the “prohibited” category.
On December 27, 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) and Chinese Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”), jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures for Entry of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Version), or the Negative List, which became effective and replaced the previous version on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to the Negative List, if a PRC company, which engages in any business where foreign investment is prohibited under the Negative List, or prohibited businesses, seeks an overseas offering or listing, it must obtain the approval from competent governmental authorities. Based on a set of Q&A published on the NDRC’s official website, a NDRC official indicated that after a PRC company submits its application for overseas listing to the CSRC and where matters relating to prohibited businesses under the Negative List are implicated, the CSRC will consult the regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the relevant industries and fields. Because the overseas listing rules are currently in draft form and given the novelty of the Negative List, there remain substantial uncertainties as to whether and what requirements, including filing requirements, will be imposed on a PRC company with respect to its listing and offerings overseas as well as with the interpretation and implementation of existing and future regulations in this regard. For example, it is unclear as to whether the approval requirement under the Negative List will apply to follow-on offerings by PRC companies engaged in prohibited businesses and whose offshore holding company is listed overseas. If such approval is in fact required and given the NDRC’s indication of CSRC’s involvement in the approval process, there is also a lack of clarity on the application procedure, requirement and timeline which may not be resolved until the Overseas Listing Rules, which provide for the filing procedures of the overseas offering and listing of a PRC company with the CSRC, is enacted. If the Overseas Listing Rules are enacted in the current form before the completion of any future offerings, we will be required to make a filing with the CSRC in connection with any future offerings within three business days after its completion. If the approval requirement under the Negative List applies to follow-on offerings by PRC companies whose offshore holding company is listed overseas, we may be required
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to obtain an approval for any future offerings or we may be required to relinquish our licenses pertaining to prohibited businesses. If we relinquish or are required to relinquish these licenses, while we do not expect our business operation to be materially adversely affected, we are uncertain whether or when the relevant procedures will be completed.
If our operation of our consolidated VIE through contractual arrangements is deemed as foreign investment in the future, and any business of our consolidated VIE is “restricted” or “prohibited” from foreign investment under the “Negative List” effective at the time, we may be deemed to be in violation of the Foreign Investment Law, the contractual arrangements with our consolidated VIE may be deemed as invalid and illegal, and we may be required to unwind such contractual arrangements and/or restructure our business operations, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business operation and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares and may cause our Class A ordinary shares to become worthless.
Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to address any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure and business operations and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares.
As of the date of this prospectus, we do not believe the Company’s business is prohibited under the Negative List. We are also not aware that there are relevant laws or regulations in the PRC explicitly requiring us to seek approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for our overseas listing. As of the date of this prospectus, we, our subsidiaries, and the VIE and its subsidiaries have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions regarding our overseas listing from the China Securities Regulatory Commission or any other PRC governmental authorities. Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, , 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 and VIE, our ability to accept foreign investments, and our listing on a U.S. exchange. The PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations, or implementing rules that require us, our subsidiaries, or the VIE to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities for listing in the U.S. If we do not receive or maintain the approval, or inadvertently conclude that such approval is not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval 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 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.
Adverse regulatory developments in China may subject us to additional regulatory review, and additional disclosure requirements and regulatory scrutiny to be adopted by the SEC in response to risks related to recent regulatory developments in China may impose additional compliance requirements for companies like us with China-based operations, all of which could increase our compliance costs and subject us to additional disclosure requirements.
The recent regulatory developments in China, particularly with respect to restrictions on China-based companies raising capital offshore, may lead to additional regulatory review in China of our financing and capital raising activities in the United States. In addition, we may be subject to industry-wide regulations that may be adopted by the relevant PRC authorities, which may have the effect of restricting the scope of our operations in China, or causing the suspension or termination of our business operations in China entirely, all of which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may have to adjust, modify or completely change our business operations in response to adverse regulatory changes or policy developments, and we cannot assure you that any remedial action adopted by us can be completed in a timely, cost-efficient, or liability-free manner or at all.
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On July 30, 2021, in response to the recent regulatory developments in China and actions adopted by the PRC government, the Chairman of the SEC issued a statement asking the SEC staff to seek additional disclosures from offshore issuers associated with China-based operating companies before their registration statements will be declared effective. On August 1, 2021, the China Securities Regulatory Commission stated in a statement that it had taken note of the new disclosure requirements announced by the SEC regarding the listings of Chinese companies and the recent regulatory development in China, and that both countries should strengthen communications on regulating China-related issuers. We cannot guarantee that we will not be subject to tightened regulatory review and we could be exposed to government interference in China.
Compliance with China’s new Data Security Law, Measures on Cybersecurity Review, Personal Information Protection Law (second draft for consultation), regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations may entail significant expenses and could materially affect our business.
China has implemented or will implement rules and is considering a number of additional proposals relating to data protection. China’s new Data Security Law took effect in September 2021. The Data Security Law provides that data processing activities must be conducted based on “data classification and hierarchical protection system” for the purpose of data protection and prohibits entities in China from transferring data stored in China to foreign law enforcement agencies or judicial authorities without prior approval by the Chinese government.
Additionally, China’s Cyber Security Law requires companies to take certain organizational, technical and administrative measures and other necessary measures to ensure the security of their networks and data stored on their networks. Specifically, the Cyber Security Law provides that China adopt a multi-level protection scheme (“MLPS”), under which network operators are required to take security protection measures to ensure that the network is free from interference, disruption or unauthorized access, and prevent network data from being disclosed, stolen or tampered with. Under the MLPS, entities’ operating information systems must conduct a thorough assessment of the risks and the conditions of their information and network systems to determine the level to which the entity’s information and network systems belong—from the lowest Level 1 to the highest Level 5—pursuant to a series of national standards on the grading and implementation of the classified protection of cyber security. The grading result will determine the set of security protection obligations that entities must comply with. Entities classified as Level 2 or above should report the grade to the relevant government authority for examination and approval.
Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China has taken action against several Chinese internet companies in connection with their initial public offerings on U.S. securities exchanges, for alleged national security risks and improper collection and use of the personal information of Chinese data subjects. According to the official announcement, the action was initiated based on the National Security Law, the Cyber Security Law and the Measures on Cybersecurity Review, which are aimed at “preventing national data security risks, maintaining national security and safeguarding public interests.” On December 28, 2021, the CAC and other 12 relevant PRC governmental authorities jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures provide that, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIOs”) that intend to purchase Internet products and services, net platform operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to cybersecurity review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The Cybersecurity Review Measures require that an online platform operator which possesses the personal information of at least one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review by the CAC if it intends to be listed in foreign countries. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future.
While we endeavor to comply with applicable laws and regulations that have been issued by Chinese regulators to date, continued compliance could increase our costs, the perception that we are not or may not be compliant in
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the future could have material and adverse effects on our reputation or our business, and there could be other adverse impacts of such laws and regulations and the perception of our compliance therewith, whether or not we remain incompliance.
Also, the National People’s Congress recently released the Personal Information Protection Law, which will become effective on November 1, 2021. The law creates a comprehensive set of data privacy and protection requirements that apply to the processing of personal information and expands data protection compliance obligations to cover the processing of personal information of persons by organizations and individuals in China, and the processing of personal information of persons outside of China if such processing is for purposes of providing products and services to, or analyzing and evaluating the behavior of, persons in China. The law also provides that critical information infrastructure operators and personal information processing entities who process personal information meeting a volume threshold to-be-set by Chinese cyberspace regulators are also required to store in China personal information generated or collected in China, and to pass a security assessment administered by Chinese cyberspace regulators for any export of such personal information. Lastly, the draft contains proposals for significant fines for serious violations of up to RMB 50 million or 5% of annual revenues from the prior year and may also be ordered to suspend any related activity by competent authorities.
Interpretation, application and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations evolve from time to time and their scope may continually change, through new legislation, amendments to existing legislation and changes in enforcement. Compliance with the Cyber Security Law and the Data Security Law could significantly increase the cost to us of providing our service offerings, require significant changes to our operations or even prevent us from providing certain service offerings in jurisdictions in which we currently operate or in which we may operate in the future. Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection and information security, it is possible that our practices, offerings or platform could fail to meet all of the requirements imposed on us by the Cyber Security Law, the Data Security Law and/ or related implementing regulations. Any failure on our part to comply with such law or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access, use or release of personally identifiable information or other data, or the perception or allegation that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, discourage new and existing counterparties from contracting with us or result in investigations, fines, suspension or other penalties by Chinese government authorities and private claims or litigation, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even if our practices are not subject to legal challenge, the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation and brand and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, the legal uncertainty created by the Data Security Law and the recent Chinese government actions could materially adversely affect our ability, on favorable terms, to raise capital, including engaging in follow-on offerings of our securities in the U.S. market.
Cayman Islands Data Protection—Privacy Notice
We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (as revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “DPA”), based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.
Scope
The legal basis for this notification is to meet the standards required in respect of, and ensure compliance with, the requirements of the DPA.
This privacy notice puts investors in the Company on notice that through your investment into the Company you may provide us with certain personal information which constitutes personal data within the meaning of the DPA (“personal data”). The Company collects, uses, discloses, retains and secures personal data to the extent reasonably required only and within the parameters that could be reasonably expected during the normal course
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of business. The Company will only process, disclose, transfer or retain personal data to the extent legitimately required to conduct the activities of the Company on an ongoing basis or to comply with legal and regulatory obligations to which the Company is subject. The Company will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data. In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a “data controller” for the purposes of the DPA, while our affiliates and service providers who may receive this personal data from us in the conduct of our activities may either act as our “data processors” for the purposes of the DPA or may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to the Company.
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into the Company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should inform such individuals of the content.
What rights do individuals have in respect of personal data?
Under the DPA, individuals must be informed of the purposes for which their personal data is processed and this privacy notice fulfils the Company’s obligation in this respect. Individuals have rights under the DPA in certain circumstances.
These may include the right to request access to their personal data, the right to request rectification or correction of personal data, the right to request that processing of personal data be stopped or restricted and the right to require that the Company cease processing personal data for direct marketing purposes.
If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with the Company’s responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by calling: +1 (345) 946-6283 or by email at info@ombudsman.ky.
Contacting the Company
For further information on the collection, use, disclosure, transfer or processing of your personal data or the exercise of any of the rights listed above, please contact us through the address and telephone number of our principal executive office. Our principal website is www.quhuo.cn. The information contained in, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
Cayman Islands Economic Substance
The Cayman Islands has enacted the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (as revised), or the Cayman Economic Substance Act. The Company is required to comply with the Cayman Economic Substance Act. As the Company is a Cayman Islands company, compliance obligations include filing annual notifications for the Company, which need to state whether the Company is carrying out any relevant activities and if so, whether the Company has satisfied economic substance tests to the extent required under the Cayman Economic Substance Act. As it is a relatively new regime, it is anticipated that the Cayman Economic Substance Act will evolve and be subject to further clarification and amendments. The Company may need to allocate additional resources to keep updated with these developments, and may have to make changes to our operations in order to comply with all requirements under the Cayman Economic Substance Act. Failure to satisfy these requirements may subject the Company to penalties under the Cayman Economic Substance Act.
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The Financial Action Task Force’s Increased Monitoring of the Cayman Islands
In February 2021, the Cayman Islands was added to the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) list of jurisdictions whose anti-money laundering practices are under increased monitoring, commonly referred to as the “FATF grey list.” When the FATF places a jurisdiction under increased monitoring, it means the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring during that timeframe. In its October 2021 plenary, the FATF recognised the progress made by the Cayman Islands to improve its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime. Despite this recognition, it is still unclear how long this designation will remain in place and what ramifications, if any, the designation will have for the Company.
Certain Anti-Money Laundering Matters
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, the Company 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, the Company may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
The Company reserves 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.
The Company also reserves the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if 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 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 Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (as revised), 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 revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (as revised), 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.
The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) may be required in connection with this offering under a PRC regulation adopted in August 2006, and, if required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. In September 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by a special purpose vehicle
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seeking CSRC approval of its overseas listings. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules to offshore special purpose vehicles. Currently, there is no consensus among leading PRC law firms regarding the scope and applicability of the CSRC approval requirement.
Based on our understanding of the Chinese laws and regulations in effect at the time of this prospectus, we will not be required to submit an application to the CSRC for its approval of this offering and the listing and trading of our Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq in the context of this offering. However, there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and our belief is subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules or overseas offering approval. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC governmental agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do.
The CSRC released, on December 24, 2021, the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Domestic Companies Offering Securities for Overseas Listing (Revision Draft for Comments) (the “Provisions”) and the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Domestic Companies Seeking Overseas Securities Offering and Listing (the “Measures”) for public comment. According to the Provisions and Measures, “Domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the securities regulatory agency under the State Council and report relevant information;” and “An overseas offering and listing is prohibited under any of the following circumstances: (1) if the intended securities offering and listing falls under specific clauses in national laws and regulations and relevant provisions prohibiting such financing activities.” Furthermore, the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021) was officially released to the public on December 28, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), “To go public abroad, an online platform operator who possesses the personal information of more than 1 million users shall declare to the Office of Cybersecurity Review for cybersecurity review.”
Because the Provisions are currently in draft form and given its novelty and the uncertainty as to whether and when it will become effective, there remain substantial uncertainties as to whether and what requirements, including filing requirements, will be imposed on a PRC company with respect to its listing and offerings overseas as well as with the interpretation and implementation of existing and future regulations in this regard. We may be unable to obtain applicable approvals if and when the Provisions become effective, which could significantly limit or completely eliminate our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors. For instance, in the event that CSRC approval or any regulatory approval is required for any offering under this shelf registration, or if the CSRC or any other PRC government authorities promulgate any new laws, rules or regulations or any interpretation or implements rules before our listing that would require us to obtain the CSRC or any other governmental approval for any offering under this shelf registration, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek the necessary CSRC approval. These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before the settlement and delivery of the securities that we are offering. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the securities we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the settlement and delivery may not occur. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirements could have a material adverse effect on our ability to complete this offering or any follow-on offering of our securities or the market for and market price of our Class A ordinary shares.
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It may be difficult for U.S. regulators, such as the Department of Justice, the SEC, and other authorities, to conduct investigations 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 litigations 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 regulatory authorities in the Unities States—including the SEC and the Department of Justice—may not be efficient in the absence of a mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the PRC territory. While detailed interpretation or implementation of 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 the difficulties you face in protecting your interests.
Our ADSs may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is unable to inspect auditors who are located in China. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections deprives our investors of the benefits of such inspections.
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States.
Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included in our annual report filed with the SEC, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Because we have substantial operations within the PRC and the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct full inspections of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm as it relates to those operations without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our independent registered public accounting firm is not currently inspected thoroughly by the PCAOB. This lack of PCAOB inspections in the PRC prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our independent registered public accounting firm’s audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections. Further, trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or investigate completely our independent registered public accounting firm for a period of three consecutive years, and as a result an exchange may determine to delist our securities.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA, which became effective on May 5, 2021. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The requirements of annual report for foreign issuers have been updated by the SEC to reflect the disclosure requirements, which require disclosure in a foreign issuer’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such foreign issuer. A foreign issuer will not be required to comply with such disclosure requirement until the SEC has identified it as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC with appropriate notice. Once identified, such foreign issuer will be required to comply with such disclosure requirement in its annual report for each fiscal year in which it is identified.
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On May 13, 2021, the PCAOB proposed a new rule for implementing the HFCAA. Among other things, the proposed rule provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, under the HFCAA, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. The proposed rule would also establish the manner of the PCAOB’s determinations; the factors the PCAOB will evaluate and the documents and information it will consider when assessing whether a determination is warranted; the form, public availability, effective date, and duration of such determinations; and the process by which the board of the PCAOB can modify or vacate its determinations. The proposed rule was adopted by the PCAOB on September 22, 2021 and approved by the SEC on November 5, 2021.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law, would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA from three years to two, which would reduce the time before our securities may be prohibited from trading or may be delisted. Further, pursuant to the HFCAA, the PCAOB issued a report on December 16, 2021 notifying the SEC of its determination that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or in Hong Kong.
The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCAA, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above. The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to the PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfill its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCAA. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCAA. For example, if a company was not subject to the PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize the interim final rules previously adopted in March 2021, and established procedures to identify issuers and prohibit the trading of the securities of certain registrants as required by the HFCAA. The implications of this regulation are uncertain. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of the ADSs to be materially and adversely affected, and our securities could be delisted or prohibited from being traded “over-the-counter” earlier than would be required by the HFCAA. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase the ADSs 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 the ADSs.
The PCAOB’s inability to conduct inspections in China prevents it from fully evaluating the audits and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm. As a result, we and investors in our ordinary shares are 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 our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
Proceedings instituted by the SEC against Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
In late 2012, the SEC commenced administrative proceedings against the mainland Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms (including our independent registered public accounting firm) under Rule 102(e) of its
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Rules of Practice and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. A first instance trial of the proceedings in July 2013 in the SEC’s internal administrative court resulted in an adverse judgment against the firms. The administrative law judge proposed penalties on the Chinese accounting firms including a temporary suspension of their right to practice before the SEC, although that proposed penalty did not take effect pending review by the Commissioners of the SEC. On February 6, 2015, before a review by the Commissioners had taken place, the Chinese accounting firms reached a settlement with the SEC whereby the proceedings were stayed. Under the settlement, the SEC accepted that future requests by the SEC for the production of documents would normally be made to the CSRC. The Chinese accounting firms would receive requests matching those under Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and would be required to abide by a detailed set of procedures with respect to such requests, which in substance require them to facilitate production via the CSRC. The CSRC for its part initiated a procedure whereby, under its supervision and subject to its approval, requested classes of documents held by the accounting firms could be sanitized of problematic and sensitive content so as to render them capable of being made available by the CSRC to U.S. regulators.
Under the terms of the settlement, the underlying proceeding against the four PRC-based accounting firms was deemed dismissed with prejudice at the end of four years starting from the settlement date, which was on February 6, 2019. We cannot predict whether, in cases where the CSRC does not authorize the production of requested documents to the SEC, the SEC will further challenge the four PRC-based accounting firms’ compliance with U.S. laws. If additional challenges are imposed on the Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms, we could be unable to timely file future financial statements in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
In the event that the SEC restarts the administrative proceedings, depending upon the outcome, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act and ultimately possible delisting. Moreover, any negative news about any such future proceedings against these accounting firms may cause investor uncertainty regarding China-based, United States-listed companies and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.
If the Chinese affiliate of our independent registered public accounting firm were denied, even temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC and we were unable to timely find another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined not to be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such a determination could ultimately lead to the delisting of the ADSs from NASDAQ or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ADSs in the United States.
Our contractual arrangements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. and its shareholders may not be effective in providing control over Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.
All of our current revenue and net income are derived from Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries. We do not have an equity ownership interest in Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. but rely on contractual arrangements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. to manage and operate its business and the business of its subsidiaries. However, these contractual arrangements may not be effective in providing us with the necessary control over Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. and its operations. Any deficiency in these contractual arrangements may result in our loss of control over the management and operations of Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd., which will result in a significant loss in the value of an investment in our company. We rely on contractual rights through our VIE structure to effect management of Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries, which exposes us to the risk of potential breach of contract by the shareholders of Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.
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Our contractual agreements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. are governed by the laws of the PRC and we may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under these contractual arrangements.
As all of our contractual arrangements with Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. are governed by the PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC, they would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. Disputes arising from these contractual arrangements between us and Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd. will be resolved through arbitration in China, although these disputes do not include claims arising under the United States federal securities law and thus do not prevent you from pursuing claims under the United States federal securities law. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could further limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements, through arbitration, litigation, and other legal proceedings remain in China, which could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements and exert effective control over Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd.. Furthermore, these contracts may not be enforceable in China if PRC government authorities or courts take a view that such contracts contravene PRC laws and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over Beijing Quhuo Technology Co., Ltd., and our ability to conduct our business may be materially and adversely affected.
We may from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus up to a total dollar amount of US$200,000,000 in one or more offerings. We will keep the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part effective until such time as all of the securities covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with this registration statement.
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities registered as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our capitalization will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a report on Form 6-K subsequently furnished to the SEC and specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
If required, we will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities in an offering under this prospectus:
| • | the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering; |
| • | the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and |
| • | the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers. |
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated and existing under the laws of 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 following:
| • | 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; and |
| • | Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our constitutional documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
All of our operations are conducted in China, and all of our assets are located in China. All of our directors and officers (including director appointees) are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East, 42th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168, as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.
Cayman Islands
We have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman LLP, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, that the United States and the Cayman Islands do not have a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters and that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (1) recognize and enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the civil liability provision of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States, or (2) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States.
We have also been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman LLP that, although there is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the U.S., 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 (1) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (2) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (3) is final and conclusive, (4) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty, and (5) 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.
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PRC
We understood that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would:
| • | recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or |
| • | entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
We further understood that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the jurisdiction where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against 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 us in the PRC for disputes relating to contracts or other property interests, the PRC court may accept a course of action based on the laws of the parties’ express mutual agreement in contracts choosing PRC courts for dispute resolution if (1) the contract is signed and/or performed within China, (2) the subject of the action is located within China, (3) the company (as defendant) has seizable properties within China, (4) the company has a representative organization within China, or (5) other circumstances prescribed under the PRC law. The action may be initiated by a shareholder through filing a complaint with the PRC court. The PRC court will determine whether to accept the complaint in accordance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law. The shareholder may participate in the action by itself or entrust any other person or PRC legal counsel to participate on behalf of such shareholder. Foreign citizens and companies will have the same rights as PRC citizens and companies in an action unless the home jurisdiction of such foreign citizens or companies restricts the rights of PRC citizens and companies.
In addition, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in China in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, to establish a connection to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.
Material income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering of those securities.
We may issue, offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:
| • | Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs; |
| • | preferred shares; |
| • | debt securities; and |
| • | warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares or ADSs. |
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The following is a description of the terms and provisions of our shares, preferred shares, debt securities and warrants to purchase shares, preferred shares or debt securities, which we may offer and sell using this prospectus. These summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the preferred shares, warrants, and, in certain cases, the Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs) that may be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us, as applicable, will be contained in the prospectus supplement and other offering material relating to such offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each security. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We were incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands, on June 13, 2019. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time and the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
As of December 20, 2021, the authorized share capital consisted of 500,000,000 shares, of which, 300,000,000 shares were designated as Class A ordinary shares, 6,296,630 shares as Class B ordinary shares, and 193,703,370 shares of such class (or classes) as the board of directors may determine. The rights of the Class A and Class B ordinary shares are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to 15 votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.
The following are summaries of material provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act as they relate to the material terms of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares.
Our Memorandum and Articles of Association
The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and of the Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
The following discussion primarily concerns ordinary shares and the rights of holders of ordinary shares. The holders of ADSs will not be treated as our shareholders and will be required to surrender their ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal from the depositary facility in which the ordinary shares are held in order to exercise shareholders’ rights in respect of the ordinary shares. The depositary will agree, so far as it is practical, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs in accordance with the non-discretionary written instructions of the holders of such ADSs. See “Description of American Depositary Shares—Voting Rights.”
Objects of our company. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, the objects of our company are unrestricted and we have the full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands.
Ordinary shares. Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of shareholders. We may not issue shares to bearer. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
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Conversion. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of Class B ordinary shares by a holder thereof to any person other than Mr. Leslie Yu or his affiliates, or upon a change of ultimate beneficial ownership of any Class B ordinary share to any person other than Mr. Leslie Yu or his affiliates, such Class B ordinary shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the same number of Class A ordinary shares.
Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors, subject to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. In addition, Quhuo2 may by an ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that our directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, in the absolute discretion of our directors, be applicable for meeting contingencies or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds may be properly applied. Under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our company may pay a dividend out of either our profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if, immediately after this payment, this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting rights. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote by our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law or provided for in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by show of hands unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any shareholder present in person or by proxy at the meeting. On a poll, each Class A ordinary share entitles the holder thereof to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share entitles the holder thereof to 15 votes.
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the outstanding ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present or by proxy at a general meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our company, as permitted by the Companies Act and our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. We may, among other things, subdivide or consolidate our shares by ordinary resolution.
General meetings of shareholders. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obligated to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.
Shareholders’ general meetings may be convened by the chairman of our board of directors or a majority of our board of directors. Advance notice of at least 10 calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting (if any) and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for any general meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholder present or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorized representative, representing not less than one-third of all votes attaching to the issued and outstanding shares in our company entitled to vote at general meetings.
| 2 | Conyers note: this sentence tracks article 125 which provides that the “Company” by ordinary resolution may declare… |
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The 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 post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that upon the requisition of shareholders representing in aggregate not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to the issued and outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general meetings as at the date of the deposit of the requisition, our board is obligated to convene an extraordinary general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. However, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
Transfer of ordinary shares. Subject to the restrictions in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as set out below, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any share unless:
| • | the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
| • | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; |
| • | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
| • | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and |
| • | a fee of such maximum sum as NASDAQ may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors may from time to time require is paid to us in respect thereof. |
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three calendar months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with us, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice requirement of NASDAQ, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 calendar days in any calendar year as our board may determine.
Liquidation. On a return of capital or the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution amongst our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
Calls on shares and forfeiture of shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 calendar days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
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Redemption, repurchase and surrender of shares. We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by our board of directors or by the shareholders by special resolution. Our company may also repurchase any of our shares (including any redeemable shares) on such terms and in such manner as have been approved by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Under the Companies Act, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if our company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding or (c) if our company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Variations 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 majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and our post-offering amended and restated articles of association, if at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be materially and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation or issue of further shares with preferred or other rights including without limitation the creation of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
Issuance of additional shares. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association authorizes our board of directors to issue additional Class A ordinary shares from time to time as our board of directors shall determine, to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.
Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association also authorizes our board of directors to issue from time to time out of the authorized share capital of the company (other than the authorized but unissued ordinary shares) series of preference shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares in their absolute discretion and without approval of the shareholders; provided, however, before any preferred shares of any such series are issued, the directors shall by resolution of directors determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including but not limited to:
| • | the designation of the series; |
| • | the number of shares to constitute the series; |
| • | the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and |
| • | the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences. |
Our board of directors may issue preferred shares without action by our shareholders to the extent authorized but unissued. Issuance of these shares may dilute the voting power of holders of ordinary shares.
Inspection of books and records. Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (other than our memorandum and articles of association). See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Anti-takeover provisions. Some provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:
| • | authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and |
| • | limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders. |
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Appointment and removal of directors. Unless otherwise determined by our company in general meeting, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that our board of directors will consist of not less than three directors, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by the board of directors. There are no provisions relating to retirement of directors upon reaching any age limit. The directors have the power to appoint any person as a director either to fill a casual vacancy on the board or as an addition to the existing board. Our shareholders may also appoint any person to be a director by way of ordinary resolution.
Subject to restrictions contained in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution of our company. In addition, the office of any director shall be vacated if the director (1) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors, (2) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind, (3) resigns his office by notice in writing to our company, (4) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from three consecutive board meetings and our board resolves that his office be vacated, or (5) is removed from office pursuant to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Proceedings of board of directors. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our board of directors. The quorum necessary for board meetings may be fixed by the board and, unless so fixed at another number, will be a majority of the directors. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the board may from exercise all the powers of our company to raise or borrow money, to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any party thereof of our company to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party.
Exempted company. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except that an exempted company:
| • | does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies; |
| • | is not required to open its register of members for inspection; |
| • | does not have to hold an annual general meeting; |
| • | may issue negotiable or bearer shares or shares with no par value; |
| • | may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance); |
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| • | may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
| • | may register as a limited duration company; and |
| • | may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of our company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Changes in capital. Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
| • | increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe; |
| • | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares; |
| • | sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount as fixed by the post-offering memorandum of association, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or |
| • | cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled. |
Our shareholders may by special resolution reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.
Register of members. Under Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
| • | the names and addresses of the members, together with a statement of the shares held by each member, and such statement shall confirm (1) the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member, (2) the number and category of shares held by each member, and (3) 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 member; and |
| • | the date on which any person ceased to be a member. |
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e., the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members should be deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members.
If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of our company, the person or member aggrieved (or any member of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
Differences in Corporate Law
The Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England, but does not follow recent English law statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the
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Companies Act and the current Companies Act of England. In addition, the 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 Companies Act applicable to us and the comparable provisions of the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware and their shareholders.
Mergers and similar arrangements. The Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (1) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company and (2) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a 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 either (1) a special resolution of each constituent company or (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 together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures. Save in certain limited circumstances, a shareholder of a Cayman constituent company who dissents from the merger or consolidation is entitled to payment of the fair value of his shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) upon dissenting to the merger or consolidation, provide the dissenting shareholder complies strictly with the procedures set out in the Companies Act. The exercise of dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of holding shares, save for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful. Separate from the statutory provisions related to mergers and consolidation, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies by way of schemes of arrangement, provided that the arrangement in question is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must, in addition, represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
| • | the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met; |
| • | the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; |
| • | the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and |
| • | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act. |
The Companies Act also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissenting minority shareholder upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares affected within four months of the offer, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares to the offeror on the terms of the offer. An objection may be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, but 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.
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If the arrangement and reconstruction by way of scheme of arrangement are thus approved or of a tender offer is made and accepted in accordance with the foregoing statutory procedures, any dissenting shareholders would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholders’ suits. In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow English case law precedents and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against, or derivative actions in the name of, the company to challenge:
| • | an act which is ultra vires or illegal and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders, |
| • | an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company, and |
| • | an action which requires a resolution with a qualified (or special) majority which has not been obtained. |
Indemnification of directors and executive officers and limitation of liability. Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association provides that our directors and officers and the personal representatives of the same shall be indemnified against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained in or about the conduct of the company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment), provided that the indemnity shall not extend to any matter in respect of any willful default, fraud or dishonesty which may attach to any of said persons.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted for 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 as a matter of United States law.
Directors’ fiduciary duties. Under Cayman Islands law, at common law, members of a board of directors owe a fiduciary duty to the company to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of the company and exercise their powers and fulfill the duties of their office honestly. This duty has four essential elements:
| • | a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company; |
| • | a duty not to personally profit from opportunities that arise from the office of director (unless the company permits him to do so); |
| • | a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and |
| • | a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. |
In addition, a director also owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care and is required to exercise reasonable care when managing the affairs of the company. It was previously considered that a director need not
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exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved toward an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care, and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.
The fiduciary duties imposed on directors by Cayman Islands law are similar to the fiduciary duties imposed on directors by Delaware law. However, our shareholders may experience difficulties in protecting their interests due to either (1) the relatively less developed case law in the Cayman Islands with respect to the requirements for bringing shareholder suits in Cayman Island courts, or (2) the risk that Cayman Islands courts will not recognize or enforce judgments of courts in the United States based on the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the ADS and this Offering—You may face difficulties in protecting your interest, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.”
Shareholder action by written consent. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. The Companies Act and our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.
Shareholder proposals. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
The 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 post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general meetings to requisition a shareholder’s meeting, in which case our directors shall convene an extraordinary general meeting. Other than this right to requisition a shareholders’ meeting, our post-offering amended and restated articles of association do not provide our shareholders other right to put proposal before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obligated by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
Cumulative voting. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the Companies Act but our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Removal of directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, subject to certain restrictions as contained therein, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. An appointment of a director may be on terms that the director shall automatically retire from office (unless he has sooner vacated office) at the
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next or a subsequent annual general meeting or upon any specified event or after any specified period in a written agreement between the company and the director, if any; but no such term shall be implied in the absence of express provision. A director shall hold office until the expiration of his or her term or his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her office is otherwise vacated. In addition, a director’s office shall be vacated if the director (1) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (2) is found to be or becomes of unsound mind or dies; (3) resigns his office by notice in writing to the company; (4) without special leave of absence from our board of directors, is absent from three consecutive meetings of the board and the board resolves that his office be vacated; or (5) is removed from office pursuant to any other provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Transactions with interested shareholders. The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, the directors of the Company are required to comply with the fiduciary duties which they owe to the Company under Cayman Islands law, including the duty to ensure that, in their opinion, any such transactions entered into are bona fide in the best interests of the Company, and are entered into for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Corporate governance. Cayman Islands laws do not restrict transactions with directors, requiring only that directors exercise a duty of care and owe a fiduciary duty to the companies for which they serve. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, subject to any separate requirement for audit committee approval under the applicable rules of the stock exchange on which we list, or unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, so long as a director discloses the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement which he is interested in, such 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.
Dissolution; winding up. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.
Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.
Amendment of governing documents. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the
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certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.
Rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that require our company to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular ownership threshold.
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES
We may issue our ordinary shares either alone or underlying other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our ordinary shares.
Holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to certain rights and subject to certain conditions as set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act. See “Description of Share Capital.”
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Shares
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, will register and deliver the ADSs. Each ADS will represent ownership of one Class A ordinary share, deposited with Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also represent ownership of any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, USA. The principal executive office of the depositary is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, USA.
The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto.
We will not treat ADS holders as our shareholders and accordingly, you, as an ADS holder, will not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADS holder, and the beneficial owners of ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs. See “—Jurisdiction and Arbitration.”
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of American Depositary Receipt. For directions on how to obtain copies of those documents, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Holding the ADSs
How will you hold your ADSs?
You may hold ADSs either (1) directly (a) by having an American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (b) by holding ADSs in DRS, or
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(2) indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. ADSs will be issued through DRS, unless you specifically request certificated ADRs. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your ADSs represent as of the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for our ordinary shares) set by the depositary with respect to the ADSs.
| • | Cash. The depositary will convert or cause to be converted any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the ordinary shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any ordinary shares, rights, securities or other entitlements under the terms of the deposit agreement into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a practicable basis, and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States and will distribute promptly the amount thus received. If the depositary shall determine in its judgment that such conversions or transfers are not practical or lawful or if any government approval or license is needed and cannot be obtained at a reasonable cost within a reasonable period or otherwise sought, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold or cause the custodian to hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid and such funds will be held for the respective accounts of the ADS holders. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest for the respective accounts of the ADS holders. |
Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental charges, together with fees and expenses of the depositary, that must be paid, will be deducted. See “Taxation.” It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round down fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.
| • | Shares. For any ordinary shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution, either (1) the depositary will distribute additional ADSs representing such ordinary shares or (2) existing ADSs as of the applicable record date will represent rights and interests in the additional ordinary shares distributed, to the extent reasonably practicable and permissible under law, in either case, net of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will try to sell ordinary shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed ordinary shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental charges, in connection with that distribution. |
| • | Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our ordinary shares the option to receive dividends in either cash or shares, the depositary, after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such elective distribution by us, has discretion to determine to what extent such elective distribution will be made available to you as a holder of the ADSs. We must timely first instruct the depositary to make such elective distribution available to you and furnish it with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. The depositary could decide it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to you. In such case, the depositary shall, on the basis of the same determination as is made in respect of the ordinary shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the same way as it does in a cash distribution, or |
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| additional ADSs representing ordinary shares in the same way as it does in a share distribution. The depositary is not obligated to make available to you a method to receive the elective dividend in shares rather than in ADSs. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of ordinary shares. |
| • | Rights to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of our ordinary shares any rights to subscribe for additional shares, the depositary shall having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such distribution by us, consult with us, and we must determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make these rights available to you. We must first instruct the depositary to make such rights available to you and furnish the depositary with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. If the depositary decides it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make the rights available but that it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell the rights, the depositary will endeavor to sell the rights and in a riskless principal capacity or otherwise, at such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem proper distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. |
If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will establish procedures to distribute such rights and enable you to exercise the rights upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The Depositary shall not be obligated to make available to you a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for ordinary shares (rather than ADSs).
U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.
There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of ordinary shares or be able to exercise such rights.
| • | Other Distributions. Subject to receipt of timely notice, as described in the deposit agreement, from us with the request to make any such distribution available to you, and provided the depositary has determined such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable and feasible and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it may deem practicable, upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. If any of the conditions above are not met, the depositary will endeavor to sell, or cause to be sold, what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash; or, if it is unable to sell such property, the depositary may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances for nominal or no consideration, such that you may have no rights to or arising from such property. |
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if we and/or the depositary determines that it is illegal or not practicable for us or the depositary to make them available to you.
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Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How are ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or share transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.
Except for ordinary shares deposited by us in connection with this offering, no shares will be accepted for deposit during a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. The 180 day lock up period is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances as described in the section entitled “Shares Eligible for Future Sales—Lock-up Agreements.”
How do ADS holders cancel an American Depositary Share?
You may turn in your ADSs at the depositary’s corporate trust office or by providing appropriate instructions to your broker. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or share transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the ordinary shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to you or a person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its corporate trust office, to the extent permitted by law.
How do ADS holders interchange between Certificated ADSs and Uncertificated ADSs?
You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those ADSs.
Voting Rights
How do you vote?
You may instruct the depositary to vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities underlying your ADSs at any meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities. Otherwise, you could exercise your right to vote directly if you withdraw the ordinary shares. However, you may not know about the meeting sufficiently enough in advance to withdraw the ordinary shares.
If we ask for your instructions and upon timely notice from us by regular, ordinary mail delivery, or by electronic transmission, as described in the deposit agreement, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. The materials will include or reproduce (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies; (b) a statement that the ADS holders at the close of business on the ADS record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the ordinary shares or other deposited securities represented by such holder’s ADSs; and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the second to last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of ADSs
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representing an integral number of ordinary shares or other deposited securities. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in writing on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to applicable law and the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, to vote or to have its agents vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities (in person or by proxy) as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. If we timely requested the depositary to solicit your instructions but no instructions are received by the depositary from an owner with respect to any of the deposited securities represented by the ADSs of that owner on or before the date established by the depositary for such purpose, the depositary shall deem that owner to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us with respect to such deposited securities, and the depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote such deposited securities. However, no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter if we inform the depositary we do not wish such proxy given, substantial opposition exists or the matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares.
We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. In addition, there can be no assurance that ADS holders and beneficial owners generally, or any holder or beneficial owner in particular, will be given the opportunity to vote or cause the custodian to vote on the same terms and conditions as the holders of our ordinary shares.
The depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may have no recourse if the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.
In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted at least 30 business days in advance of the meeting date.
Compliance with Regulations
Information Requests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall (a) provide such information as we or the depositary may request pursuant to law, including, without limitation, relevant Cayman Islands law, any applicable law of the United States of America, our memorandum and articles of association, any resolutions of our Board of Directors adopted pursuant to such memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the ordinary shares, ADSs or ADRs are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs or ADRs may be transferred, regarding the capacity in which they own or owned ADRs, the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such ADRs and the nature of such interest, and any other applicable matters, and (b) be bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the Cayman Islands, our memorandum and articles of association, and the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the ADSs, ADRs or ordinary shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs, ADRs or ordinary shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such ADS holder or beneficial owner held ordinary shares directly, in each case irrespective of whether or not they are ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time such request is made.
Disclosure of Interests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall comply with our requests pursuant to Cayman Islands law, the rules and requirements of NASDAQ and any other stock exchange on which the ordinary shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed or our memorandum and articles of association, which requests are made to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in which such ADS holder or beneficial owner owns ADS and regarding the identity of any other person interested in such ADS and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time of such requests.
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Fees and Expenses
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs):
| Service |
Fees | |
| • To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions pursuant to share dividends or other free distributions of share, bonus distributions, share sub-divisions or other distributions (except where converted to cash) |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued | |
| • Cancellation of ADSs, including the case of termination of the deposit agreement |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled | |
| • Distribution of cash dividends |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights. |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Depositary services |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank | |
As an ADS holder, you will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs) such as:
| • | Fees for the transfer and registration of ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the ordinary shares in the Cayman Islands (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of ordinary shares). |
| • | Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars. |
| • | Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities. |
| • | Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities, including any applicable stamp duties, any share transfer charges or withholding taxes (i.e., when ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit). |
| • | Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of ordinary shares on deposit. |
| • | Fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, deposited securities, ADSs and ADRs. |
| • | Any applicable fees and penalties thereon. |
The depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.
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The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., share dividends, rights), the depositary bank charges the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary bank sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.
The depositary may make payments to us or reimburse us for certain costs and expenses, by making available a portion of the ADS fees collected in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary bank agree from time to time.
Payment of Taxes
You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, or which become payable, on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register or transfer your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to you any net proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes. You agree to indemnify us, the depositary, the custodian and each of our and their respective agents, directors, employees and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained for you. Your obligations under this paragraph shall survive any transfer of ADRs, any surrender of ADRs and withdrawal of deposited securities or the termination of the deposit agreement.
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
| If we: |
Then: | |
| Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares | The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. | |
| Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities | Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. | |
| Distribute securities on the ordinary shares that are not distributed to you, or recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action | The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. | |
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of ADR without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental
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charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, including expenses incurred in connection with foreign exchange control regulations and other charges specifically payable by ADS holders under the deposit agreement, or materially prejudices a substantial existing right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended. If any new laws are adopted which would require the deposit agreement to be amended in order to comply therewith, we and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement in accordance with such laws and such amendment may become effective before notice thereof is given to ADS holders.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so, in which case the depositary will give notice to you at least 90 days prior to termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us that it would like to resign, or if we have removed the depositary, and in either case we have not appointed a new depositary within 90 days. In either such case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.
After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property and deliver ordinary shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs after payment of any fees, charges, taxes or other governmental charges. Six months or more after the date of termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. After such sale, the depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination, we shall be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement except for our obligations to the depositary thereunder.
Books of Depositary
The depositary will maintain ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the Company, the ADRs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary will maintain facilities in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADRs.
These facilities may be closed at any time or from time to time when such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement or at our reasonable written request.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary and the Custodian; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary and the custodian. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. The depositary and the custodian:
| • | are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without gross negligence or willful misconduct; |
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| • | are not liable if any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents are prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement and any ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Cayman Islands or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of our memorandum and articles of association or any provision of or governing any deposited securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure); |
| • | are not liable by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in our memorandum and articles of association or provisions of or governing deposited securities; |
| • | are not liable for any action or inaction of the depositary, the custodian or us or their or our respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; |
| • | are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement; |
| • | are not liable for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement, or otherwise; |
| • | may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party; |
| • | disclaim any liability for any action or inaction or inaction of any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit, holders and beneficial owners (or authorized representatives) of ADSs, or any person believed in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; and |
| • | disclaim any liability for inability of any holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit made available to holders of deposited securities but not made available to holders of ADS. |
The depositary and any of its agents also disclaim any liability (i) for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote or failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable or for allowing any rights to lapse in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, (ii) the failure or timeliness of any notice from us, the content of any information submitted to it by us for distribution to you or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, (iii) any investment risk associated with the acquisition of an interest in the deposited securities, the validity or worth of the deposited securities, the credit-worthiness of any third party, (iv) for any tax consequences that may result from ownership of ADSs, ordinary shares or deposited securities, or (v) for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the depositary performed its obligations without gross negligence or willful misconduct while it acted as depositary.
In the deposit agreement, we agree to indemnify the depositary under certain circumstances.
Jurisdiction and Arbitration
The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs and we have agreed with the depositary that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and
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determine any dispute arising from or in connection with the deposit agreement which may include claims arising under the U.S. federal securities laws, and that the depositary may in its sole direction, require that any claim or dispute arising from the relationship created by the deposit agreement be referred to and finally settled by an arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Although ADS holders, including holders that acquired ADSs in a secondary transaction, are subject to the arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement, the arbitration provisions do not preclude ADS holders from pursuing claims under the U.S. federal securities laws in federal courts. The arbitration provision of the deposit agreement is not intended to be deemed a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs or by us or the depositary of compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial owner and holder of interests in the ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any lawsuit or proceeding against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable law. No condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs or by us or the depositary of compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will issue, deliver or register a transfer of an ADS, split-up, subdivide or combine ADSs, make a distribution on an ADS, or permit withdrawal of ordinary shares, the depositary may require:
| • | payment of share transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any ordinary shares or other deposited securities and payment of the applicable fees, expenses and charges of the depositary; |
| • | satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated in the deposit agreement; and |
| • | compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal or delivery of deposited securities and (B) such reasonable regulations and procedures as the depositary may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement and applicable laws, including presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to issue and deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the register of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we determine that it is necessary or advisable to do so.
Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs
You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares at any time except:
| • | when temporary delays arise because: (1) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (2) the transfer of ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (3) we are paying a dividend on our ordinary shares; |
| • | when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; |
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| • | when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of ordinary shares or other deposited securities, or |
| • | other circumstances specifically contemplated by Section I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time); or |
| • | for any other reason if the depositary or we determine, in good faith, that it is necessary or advisable to prohibit withdrawals. |
The depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the deposit agreement any ordinary shares or other deposited securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such ordinary shares.
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System, or Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an ADS holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register such transfer.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES
Our board of directors has the authority, without action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series out of our authorized share capital. Our board of directors may establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and may set the designations, preferences, powers and other rights of the shares of a series of preferred shares. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred shares with dividend, liquidation, conversion, redemption voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of Class A ordinary shares. The preferred shares could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our Company. Although we do not currently intend to issue any preferred shares, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
As of the date of this document, there are no issued and outstanding preferred shares in the capital of the company. The material terms of any series of preferred shares that we offer, together with any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to such preferred shares, will be described in a prospectus supplement.
Holders of our preferred shares are entitled to certain rights and subject to certain conditions as set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act. See “Description of Share Capital.”
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares or preferred shares. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a supplement to this prospectus. The following description of debt
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securities will apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities may specify different or additional terms.
The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be secured or unsecured, and may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee under the indenture. The indenture may be qualified under, subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have summarized selected portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form F-3, of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you.
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of directors’ resolution, an officers’ certificate and by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.
We may issue any amount of debt securities under the indenture, which may be in one or more series with the same or different maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any related pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the initial offering price, the aggregate principal amount offered and the terms of the debt securities, including, among other things, the following:
| • | the title of the debt securities; |
| • | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which we will repay the principal on the debt securities and the right, if any, to extend the maturity of the debt securities; |
| • | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will be payable and any regular record date for any interest payment date; |
| • | the place or places where the principal of, premium, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and where the debt securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; |
| • | any obligation or right we have to redeem the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of holders of the debt securities or at our option, and the terms and conditions upon which we are obligated to or may redeem the debt securities; |
| • | any obligation we have to repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities, the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
| • | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| • | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
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| • | the currency of denomination of the debt securities; |
| • | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| • | if payments of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| • | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| • | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| • | any addition to or change in the events of default described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | any addition to or change in the covenants described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated and any applicable subordination provisions; |
| • | a discussion of material income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; |
| • | any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify any provisions of the indenture as it applies to that series; and |
| • | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities. |
We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for and/or convertible into Class A ordinary shares or preferred shares. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchanged and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for exchange or conversion, which can be mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and the manner in which the number of Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the U.S. federal income tax considerations, and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue and offer warrants under the material terms and conditions described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.
General
We may issue warrants to purchase our Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares or debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
Equity Warrants
Each equity warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the equity securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.
The equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.
The particular terms of the equity warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the equity warrants and the equity warrant certificates representing the equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| • | the title of the equity warrants; |
| • | the initial offering price; |
| • | the aggregate amount of equity warrants and the aggregate amount of equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants are issued, and the amount of equity warrants issued with each equity security; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will be separately transferable; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the equity warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the equity warrants; |
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| • | anti-dilution provisions of the equity warrants, if any; |
| • | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and |
| • | any additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants. |
Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the appointment of directors or any other matters, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants.
Debt Warrants
Each debt warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the debt securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or together with debt securities.
The debt warrants are to be issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into between us, and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.
The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| • | the title of the debt warrants; |
| • | the initial offering price; |
| • | the title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | the title and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and the amount of the debt warrants issued with each debt security; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable; |
| • | the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the debt warrants; |
| • | whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered; |
| • | anti-dilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any; |
| • | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; and |
| • | any additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the debt warrants. |
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Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be presented for registration of transfer, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent or any other office indicated in the related prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not be entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, or to enforce any of the covenants in the indentures governing such debt securities.
We may sell or distribute the securities offered by this prospectus, from time to time, in one or more offerings, as follows:
| • | through agents; |
| • | to dealers or underwriters for resale; |
| • | directly to purchasers; |
| • | in “at-the-market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; or |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities may state or supplement the terms of the offering of the securities.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting for us or on our behalf may also repurchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our securities distributed by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or more transactions, either:
| • | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| • | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| • | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
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If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its commonly reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those shares. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Offered securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the supplement relating to that offering. Unless otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of securities, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
As one of the means of direct issuance of offered securities, we may utilize the services of an entity through which it may conduct an electronic “dutch auction” or similar offering of the offered securities among potential purchasers who are eligible to participate in the auction or offering of such offered securities, if so described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each series of offered securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.
Any underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate
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short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.
Derivative Transactions and Hedging
We and the underwriters may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters. The underwriters may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.
Loans of Securities
We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third parties that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.
General Information
Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates, in the ordinary course of business for which they may receive customary compensation.
Conflicts of Interest
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements with us, to indemnification by us relating to material misstatements and omissions in our offering documents. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in their ordinary course of business.
Except for securities issued upon a reopening of a previous series, each series of offered securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such offered securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The offered securities may or may not be listed on a securities exchange. No assurance can be given that there will be a market for the offered securities.
The following table sets forth the aggregate expenses to be paid by us in connection with this offering. All amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.
| SEC Registration Fee |
US$ | 18,540 | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses |
US$ | * | ||
| Accounting Fees and Expenses |
US$ | * | ||
| Miscellaneous |
US$ | * | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
US$ | * | ||
|
|
|
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| * | To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. Estimated solely for this item. Actual expenses may vary. |
The validity of the debt securities and warrants offered by this prospectus, to the extent governed by the laws of the State of New York, will be passed upon for us by Pryor Cashman LLP, our special United States counsel. The validity of the shares and preferred shares, to the extent governed by Cayman Islands law, will be passed upon for us by Conyers Dill & Pearman LLP, our special legal counsel as to Cayman Islands law. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.
The consolidated financial statements of Quhuo Limited appearing in Quhuo Limited’s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2020, have been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The office of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP is located at 50/F, Shanghai World Financial Center, 100 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 8. | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that our company shall indemnify our directors (including alternate directors) and officers and their personal representatives against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such persons, other than by reason of any such person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such persons in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or our affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an offering of securities will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors in certain cases.
| ITEM 9. | EXHIBITS |
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed on the Index to Exhibits to this registration statement, which Index to Exhibits is hereby incorporated by reference.
| ITEM 10. | UNDERTAKINGS |
(A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or any decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
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offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Exchange Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Exchange Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-K if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Form F-3.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(B) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(C) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(D) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Act, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| * | To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference. |
| ** | Filed herewith. |
| + | Filed previously. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Beijing, China, on February 22, 2022.
| Quhuo Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Leslie Yu | |
| Name: | Leslie Yu | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on February 22, 2022.
| Signature |
Title | |
| /s/ Leslie Yu |
Director and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| Name: Leslie Yu | ||
| /s/ Wenting Ji |
Director and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| Name: Wenting Ji | ||
| /s/ * |
Director and Vice President | |
| Name: Zhen Ba | ||
| /s/ * |
Director | |
| Name: Chenxi Zhao | ||
| /s/ * |
Director | |
| Name: Fan Yang | ||
| /s/ * |
Director | |
| Name: Jingchuan Li | ||
| /s/ * |
Director | |
| Name: Jing Zhou | ||
| /s/ * |
Director | |
| Name: Jie Jiao | ||
| *By: /s/ Wenting Ji |
| Wenting Ji |
| Attorney-in-fact |
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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Quhuo Limited, has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in New York, New York on February 22, 2022.
| Cogency Global Inc. Authorized U.S. Representative | ||
| By: | /s/ Colleen A. De Vries | |
| Name: | Colleen A. De Vries | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc. | |
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Exhibit 5.1
|
CONYERS DILL & PEARMAN LLP
SIX, 2nd Floor, Cricket Square PO Box 2681, Grand Cayman KY1-1111 Cayman Islands
T +1 345 945 3901
conyers.com |
22 February 2022
714786.20562688
+1 345 814 7786
Cora.Miller@conyers.com
Quhuo Limited
Dear Mesdames and Sirs:
Re: Quhuo Limited (the “Company”)
We have acted as special Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Company in connection with the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”, which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto) to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) relating to the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of a prospectus (the “Prospectus”) of an offering by the Company of up to US$200,000,000 of any combination of (i) ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 each of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”), (ii) preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 each of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”), (iii) debt securities (”Debt Securities”) entitling the holder to purchase, in exchange for extinguishment of debt, an amount of Equity Securities (as defined below) at a price that will be stated in the agreement creating the Debt Securities, (iv) warrants (“Warrants”) entitling the holder to purchase an amount of Equity Securities (as defined below) at a price that will be stated in the agreement creating the Warrants, (v) subscription rights (“Rights”) entitling the holder to purchase an amount of Equity Securities (as defined below) at a price that will be stated in the agreement creating the Rights, and (vi) units (“Units” and together with the Ordinary Shares, the Preferred Shares, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Rights, the “Equity Securities”) consisting of any combination of Equity Securities (the “Offering”).
| 1. | DOCUMENTS REVIEWED |
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the following documents:
| 1.1. | the Registration Statement; |
| 1.2. | the Prospectus; |
Conyers Dill & Pearman LLP has been registered, and operating, as a Cayman Islands limited liability partnership since 1 June 2021 following the conversion of the Cayman Islands firm of Conyers Dill & Pearman to a limited liability partnership on that date.
| 1.3. | a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company adopted by special resolution dated June 4, 2020 (the “Memorandum and Articles”); |
| 1.4. | a copy of the unanimous written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 21 December, 2021 (the “Resolutions”); |
| 1.5. | a copy of a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Registrar of Companies in relation to the Company on 22 February 2022 (the “Certificate Date”); and |
| 1.6. | such other documents and made such enquiries as to questions of law as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinion set forth below. |
| 2. | ASSUMPTIONS |
We have assumed:
| 2.1. | the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the conformity to the originals of all copies (whether or not certified) examined by us and the authenticity and completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken; |
| 2.2. | that where a document has been examined by us in draft form, it will be or has been executed and/or filed in the form of that draft, and where a number of drafts of a document have been examined by us all changes thereto have been marked or otherwise drawn to our attention; |
| 2.3. | the accuracy and completeness of all factual representations made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the other documents reviewed by us; |
| 2.4. | that the Resolutions were passed at one or more duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings or by unanimous written resolutions, remain in full force and effect and have not been rescinded or amended; |
| 2.5. | that the Company will issue the Equity Securities in furtherance of its objects as set out in its Memorandum and Articles; |
| 2.6. | that the Memorandum and Articles will not be amended in any manner that would affect the opinions set forth herein; |
| 2.7. | that, upon the issue of any Equity Securities to be sold by the Company, the Company will receive consideration for the full issue price thereof which shall not be less than the par value thereof; |
| 2.8. | that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission prior to, or concurrent with, the sale of the Equity Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement; |
| 2.9. | the Offering and the transactions contemplated thereunder comply with the requirements of the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market; |
| 2.10. | the Company will have sufficient authorized capital to effect the issue of each of the Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares at the time of issuance, whether as a principal issue or on the conversion, exchange, exercise of a Warrant or a Debt Security; |
| 2.11. | that the form and terms of any and all Equity Securities (including, without limitation, the designation, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of Preferred Shares) or other securities (or other obligations, rights, currencies, commodities or other subject matter) comprising the same or subject thereto (in the case of the Warrants and Rights), the issuance and sale thereof by the Company, and the Company’s incurrence and performance of its obligations thereunder or in respect thereof (including, without limitation, its obligations under any related agreement, indenture or supplement thereto) in accordance with the terms thereof, will not violate the Memorandum and Articles nor any applicable law, regulation, order or decree in the Cayman Islands; |
| 2.12. | that all necessary corporate action will be taken to authorise and approve any issuance of Equity Securities (including, if Preferred Shares are to be issued, all necessary corporate action to establish one or more series of Preferred Shares and fix the designation, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof), the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and that the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and, if Debt Securities are to be issued, the applicable indenture and any applicable supplements thereto, will be duly approved, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company and all other parties thereto; and |
| 2.13. | that there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other than the Cayman Islands, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein; |
| 2.14. | no invitation has been or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of the Shares; |
| 2.15. | prior to, at the time of, and immediately following the approval of the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Company was, or will be, able to pay its debts as they fell, or fall, due and has entered, or will enter, into the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement for proper value and not with an intention to defraud or willfully defeat an obligation owed to any creditor or with a view to giving a creditor a preference. |
| 3. | QUALIFICATIONS |
| 3.1 | We have made no investigation of and express no opinion in relation to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands and is limited to and is given on the basis of the current law and practice in the Cayman Islands. |
| 3.2 | This opinion is issued solely for your benefit and use in connection with the matter described herein and is not to be relied upon by any other person, firm or entity or in respect of any other matter. |
| 3.3 | Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members (shareholders) is prima facie evidence of title to shares and this register would not record a third party interest in such shares. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. As far as we are aware, such applications are rarely made in the Cayman Islands and there are no circumstances or matters of fact known to us on the date of this opinion letter which would properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company, but if such an application were made in respect of the Shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court. |
| 4. | OPINION |
On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
| 4.1 | The Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and, based on the Certificate of Good Standing, is in good standing as at the Certificate Date. Pursuant to the Companies Act (“Act”), a company is deemed to be in good standing if all fees and penalties under the Act have been paid and the Registrar of Companies has no knowledge that the Company is in default under the Act. |
| 4.2 | When issued and recorded in the register of members of the Company in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (which term means when used herein that no further sums are required to be paid by the holders thereof in connection with the issue of such shares). |
| 4.3 | Upon the due issuance by the Company of the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Rights and/or the Units, and payment of the consideration therefor pursuant to the Registration Statement and Prospectus, such Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights and Units will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with the terms thereof. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the captions “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Yours faithfully
Conyers Dill & Pearman LLP
Exhibit 5.2
February 22, 2022
Quhuo Limited
3rd Floor, Block D, Tonghui Building No. 1132
Huihe South Street Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100020
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form F-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as United States securities counsel for Quhuo Limited, a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form F-3 (including the Offering Prospectus constituting part thereof (the “Prospectus”)) to which this opinion letter has been filed as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of (i) ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), (ii) preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”, and together with the Ordinary Shares, “Equity Securities”) (ii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), in one or more series and (iii) warrants to purchase Equity Securities or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”). The Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, and Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities being registered for sale by the Company are for a maximum aggregate offering price of $200,000,000. Such Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at which time it is contemplated that the Offering Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be supplemented by one or more supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”).
In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have reviewed such corporate documents and records of the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion letter. As to facts material to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral and written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company. We also have assumed (a) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the genuineness of all signatures; (d) the legal capacity of natural persons; (e) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, factual matters, representations and warranties contained in all of such documents, (f) the Company’s due organization and valid existence, in good standing, under the laws of the Cayman Islands; and (g) the Company’s legal power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under the Securities.
Based upon such examination, and subject to the further assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained herein, it is our opinion that:
1. The Debt Securities, upon issuance and delivery of certificates of indebtedness or notes (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) evidencing such Debt Securities, against payment therefor of such lawful consideration as the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
2. The Warrants, upon their issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Warrants, against payment therefor of such lawful consideration as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder; (ii) a Prospectus Supplement describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and relevant rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class or series of Securities shall have been established in accordance with resolutions duly adopted by the Board (or an authorized committee thereof) (each, a “Board Action”), the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Articles”) and applicable law; (iv) the Company will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any applicable underwriting agreement; (v) the total number of shares of Ordinary Shares issuable (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security) will not exceed the total number of shares of Ordinary Shares that the Company is then authorized to issue under its Articles; (vi) the Board Action authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by the Board (or an authorized committee thereof) and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by the Company; and (vii) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
February 22, 2022
Page 2
With respect to any Securities consisting of Debt Securities, we have further assumed that: (i) such Debt Securities shall have been issued pursuant to an indenture (individually, and as supplemented from time to time, an “Indenture”) between the Company and a trustee to be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the “Trustee”); (ii) such Indenture shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Company; (iii) all terms of such Debt Securities not provided for in such Indenture shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee; (iv) such Debt Securities shall have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Indenture; (v) such Debt Securities, as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; (vi) such Debt Securities, as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) such Debt Securities and the related indenture, if any, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that (i) such Warrants shall have been issued pursuant to a warrant agreement (individually, a “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and a warrant agent to be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the “Warrant Agent”), if applicable; (ii) such Warrant Agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Company; (iii) all terms of such Warrants shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of such Warrant Agreement(s); (iv) such Warrants shall have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Warrant Agreement(s); (v) such Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; (vi) such Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, in any case whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) such Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement, if any, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company under an Indenture may be dependent on such matters, we further have assumed for purposes of this opinion letter that the Trustee under each Indenture (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) is duly qualified to engage in activities contemplated by such Indenture; (iii) has duly authorized, executed and delivered such Indenture, and such Indenture constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Trustee enforceable against such Trustee in accordance with its terms; (iv) is in compliance, with respect to acting as a trustee under such Indenture, with all applicable laws and regulations; and (v) has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such Indenture.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company under any Warrant or Warrant Agreement may be dependent on such matters, we further have assumed for purposes of this opinion letter that the Warrant Agent under each Warrant Agreement (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such Warrant Agreement; (iii) has duly authorized, executed and delivered such Warrant Agreement, and such Warrant Agreement constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Warrant Agent enforceable against such Warrant Agent in accordance with its terms; (iv) is in compliance, with respect to acting as a Warrant Agent under such Warrant Agreement, with all applicable laws and regulations; and (v) has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such Warrant Agreement.
February 22, 2022
Page 3
We express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of: (i) provisions relating to choice of law, choice of venue, jurisdiction or waivers of jury trial, or (ii) any waiver of any usury defense. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law that may come to our attention, and we have assumed that no change in the facts stated or assumed herein or in applicable law after the date hereof will affect adversely our ability to render an opinion letter after the date hereof (i) containing the same legal conclusions set forth herein and (ii) subject only to such (or fewer) assumptions, limitations and qualifications as are contained herein.
The foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the State of New York and applicable federal laws of the United States of America, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state antifraud law, rule, or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the reference to our firm therein and in the Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that this firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Pryor Cashman LLP |
| Pryor Cashman LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of Quhuo Limited for the registration of Class A ordinary shares and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated May 17, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Quhuo Limited, included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP
Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China
February 22, 2022