Top Wealth Group Holding Ltd 20-F for FY2023
Top Wealth Group Holding Ltd (TWG)
About this 20-F
Top Wealth Group Holding Ltd filed this 20-F on May 29, 2024, covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (FY2023).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $16.94M
- up 99.0% from $8.51M a year earlier
- Net income
- $2.44M
- up 27.1% from net income of $1.92M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $0.09
- up 26.8% from $0.07 a year earlier
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
OR
For
the fiscal year ended
OR
OR
For the transition period from to
Commission
file number:
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Indicate
the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered
by the annual report:
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
☐ Yes ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
☐ Yes ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | |||
| 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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered
public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
| ☒ | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued | Other ☐ | ||
| by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
If securities are registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction
of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
☐ Yes
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
☐ Yes ☐ No
Table of Contents
i
INTRODUCTION
Except where the context otherwise requires and for purposes of this annual report only the term:
| ● | “China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purpose of this annual report only, Taiwan region, Hong Kong, and Macau; |
| ● | “Frost & Sullivan” refers to Frost & Sullivan Limited, an independent market research agency, which is an independent third party; |
| ● | “HK$” or “Hong Kong dollars” refers to the legal currency of Hong Kong; |
| ● | “Hong Kong” refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; |
| ● | “Industry Report” refers to the market research report commissioned by us and prepared by Frost & Sullivan on the overview of the industry in which we operate; |
| ● | “Ordinary Shares” refers to the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share; |
| ● | “our Group”, “the Group”, “the Company” “we,” “us,” “or “our” refers to Top Wealth Group Holding Limited and its subsidiaries; |
| ● | “SEC” refers to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| ● | “TW BVI” refers to Top Wealth (BVI) Holding Limited; |
| ● | “TW Cayman” refers to Top Wealth Group Holding Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company; |
| ● | “TW HK” or “Operating Subsidiary” refers to Top Wealth Group (International) Limited; |
| ● | “US$” or “U.S. dollars” refers to the legal currency of the United States; and |
| ● | “Winwin Development (BVI)” refers to Winwin Development Group Limited. |
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited is a holding company with operations conducted in Hong Kong through its Operating Subsidiary in Hong Kong, using Hong Kong dollars. The reporting currency is U.S. dollars. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at year-end exchange rates, income statement accounts are translated at average rates of exchange for the year and equity is translated at historical exchange rates. Any translation gains or losses are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in net income. The conversion of Hong Kong dollars into U.S. dollars are based on the exchange rates set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Hong Kong dollars to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Hong Kong dollars in this annual report were made at a year-end spot rate of HK$ 7.8 to US$1.00 or an average rate of HK$ 7.8 to US$1.00 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. On December 31, 2022, the year-end spot rate and average rate for Hong Kong dollars were, respectively, HK$7.8 to US$1.00 and HK$7.8 to US$1.00.
We obtained the industry and market data used in this annual report or any document incorporated by reference from industry publications, research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties and our own internal estimates based on our management’s knowledge and experience in the markets in which we operate. We did not, directly or indirectly, sponsor or participate in the publication of such materials, and these materials are not incorporated in this annual report other than to the extent specifically cited in this annual report. We have sought to provide current information in this annual report and believe that the statistics provided in this annual report remain up-to-date and reliable, and these materials are not incorporated in this annual report other than to the extent specifically cited in this annual report.
ii
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. You can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions in this annual report. These statements are likely to address our growth strategy, financial results and product and development programs. You must carefully consider any such statements and should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements. These factors may include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| ● | our goals and strategies; |
| ● | our future business development, financial condition and results of operations; |
| ● | prices and availability of raw materials for our products,; |
| ● | expected changes in our revenues, costs or expenditures; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the demand for and market acceptance of our products; |
| ● | changes in our relationships with significant customers, suppliers, and other business relationships; |
| ● | competition in our industry; |
| ● | uncertainties associated with our ability to implement our business strategy and to innovate successfully; |
| ● | any event that could have a material adverse effect on our brands or reputation, such as product contamination or quality control difficulties; |
| ● | government policies and regulations relating to our industry; |
| ● | our ability to obtain, maintain or procure all necessary certifications, approvals, and/or licenses to conduct our business, and in the relevant jurisdictions in which we operate; |
| ● | any recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and scope of related government orders and restrictions and the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy; |
| ● | other factors that may affect our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; and |
| ● | other risk factors discussed under “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors.” |
We base our forward-looking statements on our management’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available to our management at the time the statements are made. We caution you that actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecast by our forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should be careful about relying on any forward-looking statements. Except as required under the federal securities laws, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements after the distribution of this annual report, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, or otherwise.
iii
PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
Item 3. Key Information
3.A. [Reserved]
3.B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
3.C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
3.D. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this Annual Report. Investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this Annual Report before making an investment decision. The risks and uncertainties described below represent our known material risks to our business. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. In that case, you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Doing Business in the Jurisdictions in which We Operate
All of our operations are in Hong Kong. However, due to the long arm application of the current PRC laws and regulations, the PRC government may exercise significant direct oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene or influence our operations, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares. Our Operating Subsidiaries in Hong Kong may be subject to laws and regulations of the Mainland China, which may impair our ability to operate profitably and result in a material negative impact on our operations and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares. Furthermore, the changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC may also occur quickly with little advance notice and our assertions and beliefs of the risk imposed by the PRC legal and regulatory system cannot be certain.
Our operating subsidiary is located and operates its business in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of the PRC. The operating subsidiary, or TW HK does not have operation in Mainland China and is not regulated by any regulator in Mainland China. As a result, the laws and regulations of the Mainland China do not currently have any material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operation. Furthermore, except for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“Basic Law”), national laws of the Mainland China do not apply in Hong Kong unless they are listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and applied locally by promulgation or local legislation. National laws that may be listed in Annex III are currently limited under the Basic Law to those which fall within the scope of defense and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of Hong Kong. National laws and regulations relating to data protection, cybersecurity and the anti-monopoly have not been listed in Annex III and so do not apply directly to Hong Kong.
1
However, due to long arm provisions under the current Mainland China laws and regulations, there remain regulatory and legal uncertainty with respect to the implementation of laws and regulations of Mainland China to Hong Kong. As a result, there is no guarantee that the PRC government may not choose to implement the laws of the Mainland China to Hong Kong and exercise significant direct influence and discretion over the operation of our operating subsidiary in the future and, it will not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, due to changes in laws, political environment or other unforeseeable reasons.
In the event that we or our Hong Kong operating subsidiary were to become subject to laws and regulations of Mainland China, the legal and operational risks associated in Mainland China may also apply to our operations in Hong Kong, and we face the risks and uncertainties associated with the legal system in the Mainland China, complex and evolving Mainland China laws and regulations, and as to whether and how the recent PRC government statements and regulatory developments, such as those relating to data and cyberspace security and anti-monopoly concerns, would be applicable to companies like our operating subsidiary and us, given the substantial operations of our operating subsidiary in Hong Kong and the PRC government may exercise significant oversight over the conduct of business in Hong Kong.
The laws and regulations in the Mainland China are evolving, and their enactment timetable, interpretation, enforcement, and implementation involve significant uncertainties, and may change quickly with little advance notice, along with the risk that the PRC government may intervene or influence our operating subsidiary’s operations at any time could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities. Moreover, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of Mainland China laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations related to our business and the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and our business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a
manner different from our understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.
The laws, regulations, and other government directives in the Mainland China may also be costly to comply with, and such compliance or any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions may:
| ● | delay or impede our development; |
| ● | result in negative publicity or increase our operating costs; |
| ● | require significant management time and attention; |
| ● | cause devaluation of our securities or delisting; and, |
| ● | subject us to remedies, administrative penalties and even criminal liabilities that may harm our business, including fines assessed for our current or historical operations, or demands or orders that we modify or even cease our business operations. |
The PRC government may intervene or influence the Hong Kong operations of an offshore holding company, such as ours, at any time. The PRC government may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in Hong Kong-based issuers. If the PRC government exerts more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in Hong Kong-based issuers and we were to be subject to such oversight and control, it may result in a material adverse change to our subsidiaries’ business operations, including our subsidiaries’ operations in Hong Kong.
As a company mainly conducting business in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China and our subsidiaries’ clients include mainland China residents, our subsidiaries’ business and our prospects, financial condition, and results of operations may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic, and social conditions in China generally. The PRC government may intervene or influence the operations in mainland China of an offshore holding company at any time, which, if extended to our subsidiaries’ operations in Hong Kong, could result in a material adverse change to our subsidiaries’ operations. The PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over listings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in issuers based in mainland China. For instance, on July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC governmental authorities promulgated the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities, which emphasized the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by companies in mainland China. We cannot assure you that the oversight will not be extended to companies operating in Hong Kong like us and any such action may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors, result in a material adverse change to our subsidiaries’ business operations, including our subsidiaries’ Hong Kong operations, and damage our reputation.
2
Our subsidiaries’ business, our financial condition and results of operations, and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares or our ability
to offer or continue to offer securities to investors may be materially and adversely affected by existing or future PRC laws and regulations
which may become applicable to our subsidiaries.
We have no operations in Mainland China. However, our operating subsidiary, or TW HK is located and operate in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of the PRC, there is no guarantee that if certain existing or future PRC laws become applicable to our subsidiaries, it will not have a material adverse impact on our subsidiaries’ business, financial condition and results of operations and/or our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors.
Except for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Region of the People’s Republic of China (“Basic Law”), national laws of mainland China (“National Laws”) do not apply in Hong Kong unless they are listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and applied locally by promulgation or local legislation. National Laws that may be listed in Annex III are currently limited under the Basic Law to those which fall within the scope of defense and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of Hong Kong. PRC laws and regulations relating to data protection, cyber security and the anti-monopoly have not been listed in Annex III and thus they may not apply directly to Hong Kong.
The PRC laws and regulations are evolving, and their enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation involve significant uncertainties. To the extent any PRC laws and regulations become applicable to our subsidiaries, we may be subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with the legal system in mainland China, including with respect to the enforcement of laws and the possibility of changes of rules and regulations with little or no advance notice.
We may also become subject to the PRC laws and regulations to the extent our subsidiaries commence business and customer facing operations in mainland China as a result of any future acquisition, expansion or organic growth. There is no guarantee that this will continue to be the case in the future in relation to the continued listing of our securities on a securities exchange outside of the PRC, or even when such permission is obtained, it will not be subsequently denied or rescinded. It remains uncertain as to the enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulatory requirements related to overseas securities offering and other capital markets activities and due to the possibility that laws, regulations, or policies in the PRC could change rapidly in the future, it remains uncertain whether the PRC government will adopt additional requirements or extend the existing requirements to apply to our operating subsidiary located in Hong Kong. It is also uncertain whether the Hong Kong government will be mandated by the PRC government, despite the constitutional constraints of the Basic Law, to control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment of entities in Hong Kong, including our operating subsidiary. Any actions by the PRC government to exert more oversight and control over offerings (including businesses whose primary operations are in Hong Kong) that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investments in Hong Kong-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The PRC government may exert substantial influence and discretion over mainland China residents and the manner in which companies incorporated under the PRC laws must conduct their business activities. Through our subsidiaries, we are a Hong Kong-based company with no operations in mainland China, and mainland China residents may purchase our subsidiaries’ product in Hong Kong. If we were to become subject to such direct influence or discretion, it may result in a material change in our subsidiaries’ operations.
We currently have no operations in mainland China. Our principal executive offices are located, and our subsidiaries operate, in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China. In addition, we do not solicit any client or collect, store or process in mainland China any personal data of any client. As of the date of this Annual Report, the PRC government has not exerted direct influence and discretion over the manner in which our subsidiaries conduct their business activities outside of mainland China. However, there is no guarantee that we will not be subject to such direct influence or discretion in the future due to changes in laws or other unforeseeable reasons or as a result of our expansion or acquisition of operations in mainland China, considering our subsidiaries’ clients include residents of mainland China.
3
The legal system of mainland China is evolving rapidly and the PRC laws, regulations, and rules may change quickly with little advance notice. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited number of published decisions and the non-precedential nature of these decisions, the interpretation of these laws, rules and regulations may contain inconsistences, the enforcement of which involves uncertainties. The PRC government may exercise substantial control over many sectors of the economy in mainland China through regulation and/or state ownership. Government actions have had, and may continue to have, a significant effect on economic conditions in mainland China and businesses which are subject to such government actions.
If we or our subsidiaries to become subject to the direct intervention or influence of the PRC government at any time due to changes in laws or other unforeseeable reasons or as a result of our development, expansion or acquisition of operations in mainland China, it may require a material change in our subsidiaries’ operations and/or result in increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us.
The HK subsidiary was formed under and are governed by the laws of the HK, however, we may be subject to the uncertainties of PRC legal system. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference, but have limited precedential value. In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general, such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. As a significant part of our business is conducted in HK, our operations may be governed by PRC laws and regulations. However, since the PRC legal system continues to evolve rapidly, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to us. In addition, some regulatory requirements issued by certain PRC government authorities may not be consistently applied by other PRC government authorities (including local government authorities), thus making strict compliance with all regulatory requirements impractical, or in some circumstances impossible. For example, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we enjoy either by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to predict the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
Furthermore, if China adopts more stringent standards with respect to environmental protection or corporate social responsibilities, we may incur increased compliance costs or become subject to additional restrictions in our operations. Intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may also not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. In addition, we cannot predict the effects of future developments in the PRC legal system on our business operations, including the promulgation of new laws, or changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and our investors, including you. Moreover, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and management attention.
4
If we and/or our subsidiaries were to be required to comply with cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, or any other PRC laws and regulations related to data and we and/or our subsidiaries cannot comply with such PRC laws and regulations, our subsidiaries’ business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We may be subject to a variety of cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, and other PRC laws and regulations related to data, including those relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, disclosure, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws and regulations apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information within our organization. These laws and regulations may restrict our subsidiaries’ business activities and require us and/or our subsidiaries to incur increased costs and efforts to comply, and any breach or noncompliance may subject us and/or our subsidiaries to proceedings against such entity(ies), damage our reputation, or result in penalties and other significant legal liabilities, and thus may materially and adversely affect our subsidiaries’ business and our financial condition and results of operations.
As the laws and regulations related to cybersecurity, data privacy, and data protection in mainland China where our subsidiaries do not have operations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and application may be uncertain, it is still unclear if we and/or our subsidiaries may become subject to such new laws and regulations.
The PRC Data Security Law, or the Data Security Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on June 10, 2021 and took effect on September 1, 2021, requires data collection to be conducted in a legitimate and proper manner, and stipulates that, for the purpose of data protection, data processing activities must be conducted based on data classification and hierarchical protection system for data security. According to Article 2 of the Data Security Law, it applies to data processing activities within the territory of mainland China as well as data processing activities conducted outside the territory of mainland China which jeopardize the national interest or the public interest of China or the rights and interest of any PRC organization and citizens. Any entity failing to perform the obligations provided in the Data Security Law may be subject to orders to correct, warnings and penalties including ban or suspension of business, revocation of business licenses or other penalties. As of the date of this Annual Report, we do not have any operation or maintain any office or personnel in mainland China, and we have not conducted any data processing activities which may endanger the national interest or the public interest of China or the rights and interest of any Chinese organization and citizens. Therefore, we do not believe that the Data Security Law is applicable to us.
On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law, which integrates the scattered rules with respect to personal information rights and privacy protection and took effect on November 1, 2021. According to Article 3 of the Personal Information Protection Law, it is applied not only to personal information processing activities carried out in the territory of mainland China but also to personal information processing activities outside the mainland China for the purpose of offering products or services to domestic natural persons in the territory of mainland China. The offending entities could be ordered to correct, or to suspend or terminate the provision of services, and face confiscation of illegal income, fines or other penalties. As our subsidiaries’ services are provided in Hong Kong, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and the U.S. rather than in the mainland China to clients worldwide, including but not limited to clients of mainland China who visit our offices in these locations, we take the view that we and our subsidiaries are not subject to the Personal Information Protection Law.
On July 7, 2022, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) issued the Measures for Security Assessment of Outbound Data Transfer, or the Measures, which took effect on September 1, 2022. According to the Measures, in addition to the self-risk assessment requirement for provision of any data outside mainland China, a data processor shall apply to the competent cyberspace department for data security assessment and clearance of outbound data transfer in any of the following events: (i) outbound transfer of important data by a data processor; (ii) outbound transfer of personal information by an operator of critical information infrastructure or a data processor which has processed more than one million users’ personal data; (iii) outbound transfer of personal information by a data processor which has made outbound transfers of more than one hundred thousand users’ personal information or more than ten thousand users’ sensitive personal information cumulatively since January 1 of the previous year; (iv) such other circumstances where ex-ante security assessment and evaluation of cross-border data transfer is required by the CAC. As of the date of this Annual Report, we and our subsidiaries have not collected, stored, or managed any personal information in mainland China. therefore, we believe that the Measures is not applicable to us.
5
However, given the recency of the issuance of the above PRC laws and regulations related to cybersecurity and data privacy, we and our subsidiaries still face uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations and we could not rule out the possibility that any PRC governmental authorities may subject us and/or our subsidiaries to such laws and regulations in the future. If they are deemed to be applicable to us and/or our subsidiaries, we cannot assure you that we and our subsidiaries will be compliant with such new regulations in all respects, and we and/or our subsidiaries may be ordered to rectify and terminate any actions that are deemed illegal by the PRC governmental authorities and become subject to fines and other government sanctions, which may materially and adversely affect our subsidiaries’ business and our financial condition and results of operations.
If we and/or our subsidiaries were to be required to obtain any permission or approval from or complete any filing procedure with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”), the CAC, or other PRC governmental authorities in connection with the initial public offering (“IPO”) or future follow-on offerings under PRC laws, we and/or our subsidiaries may be fined or subject to other sanctions, and our subsidiaries’ business and our reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
The Cybersecurity Review Measures jointly promulgated by the CAC and other relevant PRC governmental authorities on December 28, 2021 required that, among others, “critical information infrastructure” or network platform operators holding over one million users’ personal information to apply for a cybersecurity review before any public offering on a foreign stock exchange. However, this regulation is recently issued and there remain substantial uncertainties about its interpretation and implementation.
As of the date of this Annual Report, we and our subsidiaries do not have any business operation or maintain any office or personnel in mainland China. We and our subsidiaries have not collected, stored, or managed any personal information in mainland China. Based on our inquiry with the China Cybersecurity Review Technology and Certification Center (the “CCRC”) and the assessment conducted by the management, we believe that we and our subsidiaries are not currently required to proactively apply to a cybersecurity review for our IPO or follow-on offerings overseas, on the basis that (i) our subsidiaries are incorporated in Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands, and other jurisdictions outside of mainland China and operate in Hong Kong without any subsidiary or variable interest entities (“VIE”) structure in mainland China, and we do not maintain any office or personnel in mainland China; (ii) except for the Basic Law, the National Laws do not apply in Hong Kong unless they are listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and applied locally by promulgation or local legislation, and National Laws that may be listed in Annex III are currently limited under the Basic Law to those which fall within the scope of defense and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of Hong Kong, and PRC laws and regulations relating to data protection and cyber security have not been listed in Annex III as the date of this Annual Report; (iii) our data processing activities are solely carried out by our overseas entities outside of mainland China for the purpose of offering products or services in Hong Kong and other jurisdictions outside of mainland China; (iv) we and our subsidiaries do not control more than one millions users’ personal information as of the date of this Annual Report; (v) as of the date of this Annual Report, we and our subsidiaries have not received any notice of identifying us as critical information infrastructure from any relevant PRC governmental authorities; (vi) as of the date of this Annual Report, none of us or our subsidiaries have been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement for a cybersecurity review; and (vii) based on our inquiry with the CCRC, the officer who provides cybersecurity review consultation service under CCRC believes that we are currently not required to apply to a cybersecurity review for our public offerings on a foreign stock exchange with the CAC because we neither currently have any operation in mainland China nor control more than one millions users’ personal information as of the date of this Annual Report. Additionally, we believe that we and our subsidiaries are compliant with the regulations and policies that have been issued by the CAC to date and there was no material change to these regulations and policies since our IPO. However, regulatory requirements on cybersecurity and data security in the mainland China are constantly evolving and can be subject to varying interpretations or significant changes, which may result in uncertainties about the scope of our responsibilities in that regard, and there can be no assurance that the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including the CAC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel. We will closely monitor and assess the implementation and enforcement of the Cybersecurity Review Measures. If the Cybersecurity Review Measures mandates clearance of cybersecurity and/or data security regulators and other specific actions to be completed by companies like us, we may face uncertainties as to whether we can meet such requirements timely, or at all.
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On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”) and five supporting guidelines, which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures requires companies in mainland China that seek to offer and list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, to fulfill the filing procedures with the CSRC. According to the Trial Measures, the determination of the “indirect overseas offering and listing by companies in mainland China” shall comply with the principle of “substance over form” and particularly, an issuer will be required to go through the filing procedures under the Trial Measures if the following criteria are met at the same time: (i) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profits, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year are accounted for by companies in mainland China; and (ii) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China. On the same day, the CSRC held a press conference for the release of the Trial Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which clarifies that (i) on or prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, companies in mainland China that have already submitted valid applications for overseas offering and listing but have not obtained approval from overseas regulatory authorities or stock exchanges shall complete the filing before the completion of their overseas offering and listing; and (ii) companies in mainland China which, prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, have already obtained the approval from overseas regulatory authorities or stock exchanges and are not required to re-perform the regulatory procedures with the relevant overseas regulatory authority or stock exchange, but have not completed the indirect overseas listing, shall complete the overseas offering and listing before September 30,2023, and failure to complete the overseas listing within such six-month period will subject such companies to the filing requirements with the CSRC.
Based on the assessment conducted by the management, we are not subject to the Trial Measures, because we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands and our subsidiaries are incorporated in Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands and other regions outside of mainland China and operate in Hong Kong without any subsidiary or VIE structure in mainland China, and we do not have any business operations or maintain any office or personnel in mainland China. However, as the Trial Measures and the supporting guidelines are newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the implementation and interpretation of the principle of “substance over form”. As of the date of this Annual Report, there was no material change to these regulations and policies since our IPO If our offering, including the IPO and future follow-on offerings, and listing were later deemed as “indirect overseas offering and listing by companies in mainland China” under the Trial Measures, we may need to complete the filing procedures for our offering, including the IPO and future follow-on offerings, and listing. If we are subject to the filing requirements, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete such filings in a timely manner or even at all.
Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is also highly uncertain in the interpretation and the enforcement of the above cybersecurity and overseas listing laws and regulation. There is no assurance that the relevant PRC governmental authorities would reach the same conclusion as us. If we and/or our subsidiaries are required to obtain approval or fillings from any governmental authorities, including the CAC and/or the CSRC, in connection with the listing or continued listing of our securities on a stock exchange outside of Hong Kong or mainland China, it is uncertain how long it will take for us and/or our subsidiaries to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and, even if we and our subsidiaries obtain such approval or complete such filing, the approval or filing could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or a delay in obtaining the necessary permissions from or complete the necessary filing procedure with the PRC governmental authorities to conduct offerings or list outside of Hong Kong or mainland China may subject us and/or our subsidiaries to sanctions imposed by the PRC governmental authorities, which could include fines and penalties, suspension of business, proceedings against us and/or our subsidiaries, and even fines on the controlling shareholder and other responsible persons, and our subsidiaries’ ability to conduct our business, our ability to invest into mainland China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, or our ability to list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted, and our subsidiaries’ business, and our reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
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Our Hong Kong subsidiaries may be subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may restrict their ability to satisfy liquidity requirements, conduct business and pay dividends to holders of our ordinary shares.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with the majority of our operations in Hong Kong. Accordingly, most of our cash is maintained in Hong Kong dollars. We rely in part on dividends from our Hong Kong subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements, such as the funds necessary to service any debt we may incur.
There is currently no restriction or limitation under the laws of Hong Kong on the conversion of Hong Kong dollars into foreign currencies and the transfer of currencies out of Hong Kong and the foreign currency regulations of mainland China do not currently have any material impact on the transfer of cash between us and our Hong Kong subsidiaries. However, there is a possibility that certain PRC laws and regulations, including existing laws and regulations and those enacted or promulgated in the future were to become applicable to our Hong Kong subsidiaries in the future and the PRC government may prevent our cash maintained in Hong Kong from leaving or restrict the deployment of the cash into our business or for the payment of dividends in the future. Any such controls or restrictions, if imposed in the future and to the extent cash is generated in our Hong Kong subsidiaries and to the extent assets (other than cash) in our business are located in Hong Kong or held by a Hong Kong entity and may need to be used to fund operations outside of Hong Kong, may adversely affect our ability to finance our cash requirements, service debt or make dividend or other distributions to our shareholders. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not intervene or impose restrictions on our ability to transfer or distribute cash within our organization, which could result in an inability or prohibition on making transfers or distributions to entities outside of Hong Kong and adversely affect our business.
The Chinese government may intervene or influence our Chinese supplier and its exclusive overseas agent’s operations at any time, or may exert more control over how our PRC-based supplier operate their business or cooperate with us. This could result in a material change in our PRC-based supplier’s operations and indirectly the value of our Ordinary Shares.
We rely on one PRC-based sturgeon farm for our supply of caviar, with which we entered into supplier agreement through its exclusive overseas agent. The PRC government may choose to exercise significant oversight and discretion, and the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the Chinese government to which our PRC-based supplier and its exclusive overseas agent is subject to may change rapidly and with little advance notice. As a result, the application, interpretation, and enforcement of new and existing laws and regulations in the PRC are often uncertain. In addition, these laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied inconsistently by different agencies or authorities, and may be inconsistent with our supplier or its exclusive overseas agent’s current policies and practices. New laws, regulations, and other government directives in the PRC may also be costly to comply with, and such compliance or any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions may:
| ● | Delay or impede our supplier’s development; |
| ● | result in negative publicity or increase our supplier’s operating costs; |
| ● | require significant management time and attention; and/or |
| ● | subject us to remedies, administrative penalties and even criminal liabilities that may harm our supplier’s business, including fines assessed for our supplier’s current or historical operations, or demands or orders that our supplier modifies or even ceases their business practices. |
The PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in certain areas 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 a variable interest entity (“VIE”) structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. These regulatory actions and statements emphasize the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision of China-based companies seeking overseas listings. Additionally, companies are required to undergo a cybersecurity review if they hold large amounts of data related to issues of national security, economic development or public interest before carrying our mergers, restructuring or splits that affect or may affect national security. These statements were recently issued and their official guidance and interpretation remain unclear at this time.
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The Chinese government may intervene or influence our PRC-based supplier’s operations at any time and may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based companies, which may result in a material change in our PRC-based operations. Any legal or regulatory changes that restrict or otherwise unfavorably impact our PRC-based supplier’s ability to conduct their business could decrease demand for their services, reduce revenues, increase costs, require them to obtain more licenses, permits, approvals or certificates, or subject them to additional liabilities. To the extent any new or more stringent measures are implemented, our supplier’s and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected, and the value of our Ordinary Shares could decrease or become worthless.
The Hong Kong legal system embodies uncertainties which could limit the legal protections available to the Operating Subsidiaries.
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the PRC. Following British colonial rule from 1842 to 1997, China assumed sovereignty under the “one country, two systems” principle. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s constitutional document, the Basic Law, ensures that the current principles and policies regarding Hong Kong will remain unchanged for 50 years. Hong Kong has enjoyed the freedom to function with a high degree of autonomy for its affairs, including currencies, immigration and customs operations, and its independent judiciary system.
On July 14, 2020, the former President of the U.S., Mr. Donald Trump, signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and an executive order to remove the preferential trade status of Hong Kong, pursuant to § 202 of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. The U.S. government has determined that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify preferential treatment in relation to the PRC, especially with the issuance of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the “Hong Kong National Security Law”) on July 1, 2020. Hong Kong will now be treated as Mainland China, in terms of visa application, academic exchange, tariffs and trading, etc. According to § 3(c) of the executive order issued on July 14, 2020, the license exception for exports and re-exports to Hong Kong and transfer within the PRC is revoked, while exports of defense items are banned. On the other hand, the existing punitive tariffs the U.S. imposed on the Mainland China will also be applied to Hong Kong exports. Losing its special status, Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a food trading hub may deteriorate in the future as its tax benefits as a result of preferential situation no longer exists and companies might prefer exporting through other cities. The level of activities of domestic exports and re-exports and other trading activities in Hong Kong may decline owing to the tariff being imposed on Hong Kong exports and the export restriction. In the event that Hong Kong loses its position as a food trading hub in Asia, the demand for food export or re-export from Hong Kong and thus our business, financial conditions and results of operations, may be adversely affected. According to the Hong Kong Policy Act Report issued by the Department of State in 2021, 2022 and 2023, since July 2020, the suspension of an agreement concerning surrender of fugitive offenders and the terminations of an agreement concerning transfer of sentenced persons and an agreement concerning certain reciprocal tax exemptions, there were no terminations pursuant to § 202(d) of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 or determinations under § 201(b) up to the date of this annual report. The executive order to remove the preferential trade status of Hong Kong remains in effect. Since July 2020 and as of the date of this annual report, the removal of the preferential trade status of Hong Kong did not have a material impact on our business and operations.
The enactment of Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the “Hong Kong National Security Law”) could impact our Hong Kong subsidiaries.
On June 30, 2020, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress adopted the Hong Kong National Security Law. This law defines the duties and government bodies of the Hong Kong National Security Law for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences - secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security - and their corresponding penalties. On July 14, 2020, the former U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, or HKAA, into law, authorizing the U.S. administration to impose blocking sanctions against individuals and entities who are determined to have materially contributed to the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy. On August 7, 2020 the U.S. government imposed HKAA-authorized sanctions on eleven individuals, including former HKSAR chief executive Carrie Lam. On October14, 2020, the U.S. State Department submitted to relevant committees of Congress the report required under HKAA, identifying persons materially contributing to “the failure of the Government of China to meet its obligations under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law.” The HKAA further authorizes secondary sanctions, including the imposition of blocking sanctions, against foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct a significant transaction with foreign persons sanctioned under this authority. The imposition of sanctions may directly affect the foreign financial institutions as well as any third parties or customers dealing with any foreign financial institution that is targeted.
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On March 19, 2024, the Legislative Council of Hong Kong passed the Safeguarding National Security bill. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (effective on March 23, 2024) was enacted according to the Article 23 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which stipulates that Hong Kong shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the central people’s government, or theft of state secrets. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance mainly covers five types of offences: treason, insurrection, offences in connection with state secrets and espionage, sabotage endangering national security and related activities, and external interference and organizations engaging in activities endangering national security. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law and HKAA and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on Hong Kong and companies located in Hong Kong. If our Hong Kong subsidiaries are determined to be in violation of the Hong Kong National Security Law or the HKAA or the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, by competent authorities, our business operations, financial position and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Changes and the downturn in the economic, political, or social conditions of Hong Kong, Mainland China and other countries or changes to the government policies of Hong Kong and Mainland China could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Our
operations are located in Hong Kong. Accordingly, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be
influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in Hong Kong and Mainland China generally. Economic
conditions in Hong Kong are sensitive to Mainland China and the global economic conditions. Any major changes to Hong Kong’s
social and political landscape will have a material impact on our business.
Economic conditions in Hong Kong and China are sensitive to global economic conditions. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese
economy may affect potential clients’ spending power on luxury products as a whole and have a negative impact on our business,
results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our
ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.
The Mainland China economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the economy in the Mainland China has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy but may have a negative effect on Hong Kong and us.
Additionally, the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022 has already affected global economic markets, and the uncertain resolution of this conflict could result in protracted and/or severe damage to the global economy. Russia’s recent military interventions in Ukraine have led to, and may lead to, additional sanctions being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions caused by Russian military action or resulting sanctions may magnify the impact of other risks described in this section. We cannot predict the progress or outcome of the situation in Ukraine, as the conflict and governmental reactions are rapidly developing and beyond their control. Prolonged unrest, intensified military activities, or more extensive sanctions impacting the region could have a material adverse effect on the global economy, and such effect could in turn have a material adverse effect on the operations, results of operations, financial conditions, liquidity and business outlook of our business.
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Risks Related to our Business and Industry
We have a short operating history and are subject to risks and uncertainties associated with operating in a rapidly developing and evolving industry. Our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our business and prospects.
We established our caviar business in Hong Kong in August 2021 and have subsequently experienced rapid growth. We expect we will continue to expand as global market presence, broaden our product portfolio, enlarge our customer bases and explore new market opportunities. However, due to our limited operating history, our historical growth rate may not be indicative of our future performance. Our future performance may be more susceptible to certain risks than a company with a longer operating history in a different industry. Many of the factors discussed below could adversely affect our business and prospects and future performance, including:
| ● | our ability to maintain, expand and further develop our relationships with customers; |
| ● | our ability to introduce and manage new caviar products in response to changes in customer demographics and consumer tastes and preferences; |
| ● | the continued growth and development of the caviar industry; |
| ● | our ability to maintain the quality of our caviar products; |
| ● | our ability to effectively manage our growth; |
| ● | our ability to compete effectively with our competitors in the caviar industry; and |
| ● | our ability to attract and retain qualified and skilled employees. |
You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties we face as a fast growing company operating in a rapidly developing and evolving market. We may not be successful in addressing the risks and uncertainties listed above, among others, which may materially and adversely affect our business and prospects and future performance.
We solely and materially rely on Fujian Aoxuanlaisi Biotechnology Co., Ltd (“Fujian Aoxuanlaisi”), the exclusive distributor of a PRC sturgeon farm, as our sole supplier for the supply of caviar raw product. Such arrangement materially and adversely exposes us to unique risk. Any disruption in the supplier’s relationships, either between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and the PRC sturgeon farm, or between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and us, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any disruption in the provision of caviar from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi or PRC sturgeon farm and our inability to identify alternative caviar supplier may materially and adversely affect our business operations and financial results.
We solely and materially rely on Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, the agent and sole distributor of a PRC sturgeon farm, as our supplier for caviar raw product. For years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, our procurement from the PRC sturgeon farm, through Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, amounted to approximately US$6.2 million, US$5.3 million, and US$0.3million respectively, representing approximately 64.3%, 90% and 100% of our total purchases for the corresponding year. Before April 2022, we obtain all of the caviar raw product supply from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi on an as-demand per order basis, without any long-term agreement. In April 2022, our Operating Subsidiary, Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, has entered into the Caviar Sales Agreement with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, the agent and the sole distributor of Fujian Longhuang Biotech Co., Limited (“Fujian Longhuang”), a PRC sturgeon farm. Pursuant to the Caviar Sales Agreement between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, by way of Power of Attorney, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi appointed Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, our Operating Subsidiary, as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau for conducting overseas distribution and granted us the rights to procure caviar directly from it for a term of 10 years, from 30 April 2022 to 30 April 2032.
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Such arrangement materially and adversely exposes us to unique risk. Our business relies solely and heavily on a stable and adequate supply of caviar from the Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, which ultimately depends on the stable and adequate supply of caviar from Fujian Longhuang, the PRC sturgeon farm, to Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, the PRC sturgeon farm’s distributor. If our business relationships with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi is interrupted or terminated, or if for any reason Fujian Aoxuanlaisi became unable or unwilling to continue to provide raw product caviar to us, these would likely lead to a material interruption of our operation or suspension in our ability to obtain caviar supply or fulfilling customer order, until we found another supplier that could supply our product. Furthermore, if the business relationships between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Fujian Longhuang are interrupted or terminated, it would also likely lead to a material interruption of our operation or suspension of our ability to obtain caviar supply or fulfilling customer order. Although Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Fujian Longhuang maintain a long-term exclusive sales agreement for 15 years, from December 2020 to December 2035, whether their relationship may be interrupted or terminated is beyond our control. There are no also assurances that our Caviar Sales Agreement with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi renewed on commercially favorable terms upon its expiration.
Any disruption in our supplier relationships, either between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Fujian Longhuang, or between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and us, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Events that adversely affect our suppliers could impair our ability to obtain caviar inventory in the quantities that we desire. Such events include problems with our suppliers’ businesses, finances, labor relations, ability to obtain caviar, costs, production, quality control, insurance and reputation, as well as natural disasters, pandemics, or other catastrophic occurrences. A failure by any current or future supplier to comply with food safety, environmental or other laws and regulations, meet required timelines, and hire and retain qualified employees may disrupt our supply of products.
In the event of any early termination or non-renewal of the Caviar Sales Agreement with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi or any early termination or non-renewal of long-term exclusive sales agreement between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Fujian Longhuang, or in the event of any disruption, delay or inability on the part of with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi in making sufficient and quality supply to us, we cannot assure you that we would be able to identify alternative suppliers on commercially acceptable terms which may thereby result in material and adverse effects on our business, financial conditions and operating results. Failure to find a suitable replacement, even on a temporary basis, would have an adverse effect on our brand image, financial conditions, and the result of operations. Further, should there be any changes in the commercial terms of the Caviar Sales Agreement, especially to the effect that we could no longer act as the exclusive distributor of Fujian Aoxuanlaisi in Hong Kong and Macau, we may face an increase in competition, and we may not be able to continue to procure caviar from the PRC sturgeon farm on commercially acceptable terms.
If Fujian Aoxuanlaisi fails to deliver the caviar raw product we need on the terms we have agreed, we may be challenged to secure alternative sources at commercially acceptable prices or on other satisfactory terms, in a timely manner. Any extended delays in securing an alternative source could result in production delays and late shipments of our products to distributors and end-customers, which could materially and adversely affect our customer relationships, profitability, results of operations, and financial condition. If we experience significant increased demand for our products, there can be no assurance that additional supplies of caviar raw product will be available for us when required on acceptable terms, or at all, or that Fujian Aoxuanlaisi or any supplier would allocate sufficient capacity to us in order to meet our requirements, fill our orders in a timely manner or meet our strict quality standards. Even if our existing supplier is able to meet our needs or we are able to find new sources of caviar supply, we may encounter delays in production, inconsistencies in quality, and added costs. We are not likely to be able to pass increased costs to the customer immediately, if at all, which may decrease or eliminate our profitability in any period. Any delays or interruption in or increased costs of our supply of caviar could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to meet consumer demand for our products and result in lower net sales and profitability both in the short and long term.
Adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, disease, pests and other natural conditions, or shutdown, interruption, and damage to the PRC sturgeon farm, or lack of availability of power, fuel, oxygen, eggs, water, or other key components needed for the operations of the PRC sturgeon farm, could result a loss of a material percentage of our caviar raw product supply and a material adverse effect on our operations, business results, reputation, and the value of our brands.
Our ability to ensure a continuing supply of caviar raw product from our suppliers depends on many factors beyond our control. An interruption in the power, fuel, oxygen supply, water quality systems, or other critical infrastructure of an aquaculture facility for more than a short period of time could lead to the loss of a large number of sturgeon, hence the caviar supply. A shutdown of or damage to PRC sturgeon farm due to natural disaster, reduction in water supply, deterioration of water quality, contamination of aquifers, interruption in services, or human interference could result in a loss of supply of caviar for production. Sturgeon farming of the PRC sturgeon farm is vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, including severe rains, drought and temperature extremes, typhoon, floods and windstorms, which are quite common but difficult to predict. Sturgeon farms are vulnerable to disease and pests, which may vary in severity and effect, depending on the stage of production at the time of infection or infestation, the type of treatment applied and climatic conditions. Unfavorable growing conditions caused by these factors can reduce both sturgeon populations of our supplier and the quality of the sturgeon, and, in extreme cases, entire harvests may be lost. Additionally, adverse weather or natural disasters, including earthquakes, winter storms, droughts, or fires, could impact the manufacturing and business facilities of our supplier, which could result in significant costs and meaningfully reduce our capacity to fulfill orders and maintain normal business operations. These factors may result in lower sales volume and increased costs due increased costs of products. Incremental costs, including transportation, may also be incurred if we need to find alternate short-term supplies of products from alternative areas. These factors can increase costs, decrease revenues and lead to additional charges to earnings, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Climate change may have a long-term adverse impact on our business and operations.
Climate change may have an adverse impact on global temperatures, weather patterns, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters. In the event that climate change may a negative effect on sturgeon or caviar productivity of our supplier, we may be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for caviar raw product or other commodities that are necessary for our products. Extreme weather conditions may adversely impact the sturgeon farm or facilities of our supplier, lead to the disruption of distribution networks or the availability and cost of key raw materials used by us in production, or the demand for our products. As a result of climate change, our caviar suppliers or their suppliers are highly rely on the availability and quality of water, and could be materially and adversely impacted by to decreased availability of water, deteriorated quality of water or less favorable pricing for water, which could adversely impact their production and thus our operations and sales, profitability, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business is affected by the quality and quantity of the caviar that is harvested by the PRC sturgeon farm.
Our ability to successfully sell our product and the price therefor, is highly dependent on the quality of the caviar supplied by the PRC sturgeon farm operated by Fujian Longhuang. A number of factors can negatively affect the quality of the caviar sold, including the quality of the broodstock, water conditions in the farm, the food and additives consumed by the fish, population levels in the farm, and the amount of time that it takes to bring a sturgeon to harvest, including transportation and processing, all of which are beyond our control. Optimal growing conditions cannot always be assured. Furthermore, if our caviar product supplied by the PRC sturgeon farm is perceived by the market to be of lower quality than other available sources, we may experience reduced demand for our product and may not be able to sell our products at the prices that we expect or at all. As we continue to expand our operations and to establish relationship with new sturgeon farms, we potentially may face additional challenges with maintaining the quality of our products. We cannot guarantee that we will not face quality issues in the future, any of which could cause damage to our reputation, and a loss of consumer confidence in our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business results and the value of our brands.
Caviar as the luxury food items, any real or perceived quality or food safety concerns or failures to comply with applicable food regulations and requirements, whether or not ultimately based on fact and whether or not involving us (such as incidents involving our competitors), could cause negative publicity and reduced confidence in our company, brand or products, which could in turn harm our reputation and sales, and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although we believe we have a rigorous quality control process, there can be no assurance that our products will always comply with the standards set for our products.
Additionally, we have no control over our products once purchased by consumers. Accordingly, consumers may store our products improperly or for long periods of time, which may adversely affect the quality and safety of our products. While we have procedures in place to handle consumer questions and complaints, there can be no assurance that our responses will be satisfactory to consumers, which could harm our reputation. If consumers do not perceive our products to be safe or of high quality as a result of such actions outside our control or if they believe that we did not respond to a complaint in a satisfactory manner, then the value of our brand would be diminished, and our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected. Any loss of confidence on the part of consumers in our products or in the safety and quality of our products would be difficult and costly to overcome. Any such adverse effect c may significantly reduce our brand value. Issues regarding the safety of any of our products, regardless of the cause, may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We operate in a highly regulated industry.
Wild sturgeon is one the most critically endangered species worldwide. Since 1998, international trade in all species of sturgeons has been regulated under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”) owing to concerns over the impact of unsustainable harvesting of and illegal trade in sturgeon populations in the wild. The CITES listing of all species of sturgeon means that caviar, the unfertilized sturgeon roe, from wild-caught sturgeon can no longer be traded, but caviar from captive bred sturgeon is exempt.
As a supplier of captive bred caviar, which is not only a food product intended for human consumption, but also a product that is regulated worldwide under the CITES, we are therefore subject to extensive governmental regulation. We must comply with various laws and regulations in Hong Kong as well as laws and regulations administered by government entities and agencies outside Hong Kong. Both the PRC and Hong Kong are parties to CITES. Pursuant to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “PESO”), the importation, introduction from the sea, exportation, re-exportation and possession or control of specified endangered species of animals and plants, along with parts and derivatives of those species, are regulated under the PESO. Schedule 1 to the PESO sets out a list of species and categorizes them into different appendices which are regulated with varying degrees of control under the PESO. Sturgeons are included as regulated species under the PESO. For further details on the regulations applicable to us and our business, please refer to the section titled “Regulations”.
With respect to our importation of caviar from the PRC sturgeon farm into Hong Kong, the PRC sturgeon farm is responsible for applying for and obtaining CITES permit from the relevant regulatory authority in the PRC; whereas the supply chain management company is responsible for applying for and obtaining import license from the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong on our behalf. The CITES permit needs to be submitted to the customs of HK before the caviar is accepted to HK territories. As of the date of this annual report, the PRC sturgeon farm, through its sole appointed distributor for overseas market, possesses the requisite import and export qualification and permit in the PRC. We have obtained all required CITES permits as well as the export and re-export license in respect of each batch of caviar exported to Hong Kong. With respect to our exportation of caviar from Hong Kong to foreign countries, we have engaged the supply chain management company to apply for and obtain re-export license from the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong on our behalf.
In the event that the PRC sturgeon farm or we were found to be in violation of the relevant laws and regulations in respect of CITES, and such violations materially impacted the ability of the PRC sturgeon farm or us to continue to export caviar, our business operation will be significantly disturbed, and our business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
We confirm that all the required CITES permits and export and re-export licenses required for our business operation have been received. To ensure third party compliance with the applicable permitting and licensing requirements, we have employed the following control measures:
| ● | We require the PRC sturgeon farm or its agent to provide the requisite import and export qualification and permit in the PRC for our confirmation each year; |
| ● | We examine the required CITES permit in respect of each batch of caviar exported by the PRC sturgeon farm or its agent passed through its distributor to us. If we discover that the distributor has failed to obtain the required CITES permit, we reject the respective batch of caviar exported to us; and |
| ● | We examine the re-export license obtained by the supply chain management company on our behalf and ensure the supply chain management company obtain all the required licenses. |
In the event that that the PRC sturgeon farm fails to obtain the required CITES permits, the shipment may experience delay in clearance, seized by authorities or returned. In the event that the supply chain management company fails to obtain the required re-export license on our behalf, we may face prosecution, fine and forfeiture of our products. In such events our business, financial conditions, our results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected by the disruption of supply and the failure to export. Furthermore, the relevant laws, regulations and rules are subject to modification and change. We cannot predict the impact that any such change would have on the caviar industry generally or on our business in particular. Any legislative or regulatory change that imposes further restriction on, among other things, the production, processing, import or export of caviar, could disrupt our supply of caviar or increase our compliance costs, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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In addition to PESO and CITES, as a food supplier, we are also subject to law and regulations regarding product manufacturing, food safety, required testing, and appropriate labeling and marketing of our products in Hong Kong or overseas. It is possible that such laws and regulations the governing bodies or the interpretation thereof may change over time. As such, there is a risk that our products could become non-compliant with the relevant governing bodies laws or regulations and any such non-compliance could harm our business. The failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in, among other things, administrative, civil, or criminal penalties or fines, mandatory or voluntary product recalls, warning, cease orders against operations, closure of facilities or operations, the loss, revocation, or modification of any existing licenses, permits, registrations, or approvals or the failure to obtain additional licenses, permits, registrations, or approvals in new jurisdictions where we intend to do business, any of which could negatively affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are subject to the risks associated with sourcing and manufacturing products from, and selling our product outside of Hong Kong, which could adversely affect our business.
Our direct purchases from non-Hong Kong suppliers represented substantially all of our raw material purchases in the fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, and we expect we will continue to do so. Furthermore, although substantially all of our distributors are in Hong Kong, from our understanding, significant portion of our product are sold overseas by our distributors. We may also in the future enter into agreements with distributors in foreign countries to sell our products. All of these activities are subject to the uncertainties associated with international sales and distribution, including:
| ● | difficulties with foreign and geographically dispersed operations; |
| ● | having to comply with various Hong Kong and international laws; |
| ● | changes and uncertainties relating to foreign rules and regulations; |
| ● | tariffs, export or import restrictions, restrictions on remittances abroad, imposition of duties or taxes that limit our ability to import necessary materials; |
| ● | limitations on our ability to enter into cost-effective arrangements with distributors overseas, or at all; |
| ● | fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; |
| ● | imposition of limitations on production, sale, or export in foreign countries, including due to COVID-19 or other epidemics, pandemics, outbreaks and quarantines; |
| ● | imposition of limitations on or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by foreign processors or joint ventures; |
| ● | economic, political, environmental, health-related or social instability in foreign countries and regions; |
| ● | an inability, or reduced ability, to protect our intellectual property; |
| ● | availability of government subsidies or other incentives that benefit competitors in their local markets that are not available to us; |
| ● | difficulties in recruiting and retaining personnel, and managing international operations; |
| ● | difficulties in enforcing contracts and legal decisions; and |
| ● | less developed infrastructure. |
We expect each market to have particular regulatory and funding hurdles to overcome, and future developments in these markets, including the uncertainty relating to governmental policies and regulations, could harm our business. If we expend significant time and resources on expansion plans that fail or are delayed, our reputation, business and financial condition may be adversely affected.
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Our operations, revenue and profitability could be adversely affected if we fail to adhere to Hong Kong and international regulations to which we are subject to, or due to the changes in laws and regulations in the countries where we do business.
We source the caviar from the sturgeon farm in the PRC. Furthermore, we substantially rely on the third-party distributors to place and export our products into the overseas market from Hong Kong. Therefore, we along with our suppliers and distributors may be subject to a variety of Hong Kong and foreign laws and government regulations applicable to food products and caviar trade, including numerous licensing requirements, trade and pricing practices, tax, environmental matters, food safety and other laws and regulations relating to the sourcing, manufacturing, storing, labeling, marketing, advertising, selling, displaying, transporting, distributing and usage of our products in in Hong Kong and outside the Hong Kong in markets in which we source caviar or which our products may be stored, distributed, marketed, transported or sold.
The governments of countries into which we source raw product or our distributors sell our caviar products, from time to time, may consider regulatory proposals relating to raw materials, tax, food safety and quality, markets, and environmental regulations, which, if adopted, could lead to disruptions in distribution of our products, which, in turn, could affect our profitability. Furthermore, we are not able to control or monitor the markets or jurisdictions where our distributors place or sell our products, and we do not have any agreements or understandings with our distributors regarding the distribution of our product in the foreign market. Therefore, there are significant uncertainty as to the foreign laws and regulations in markets or jurisdictions where we, or our product, may be subject to. The compliance with these highly uncertain, new, evolving, or revised tax, environmental, food quality and safety, labeling or other laws or regulations, or new, evolving, or changed interpretations or enforcement of existing laws or regulations, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.
Changes in legal or regulatory requirements, such as new food safety requirements and revised labeling regulations, or evolving interpretations, of existing legal or regulatory requirements, may result in increased compliance costs, capital expenditures, and other financial obligations that could adversely affect our business or financial results. If we are found in violation of the applicable laws and regulations in markets where our distributors sell our product, we could be subject to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, termination of necessary licenses or permits, or recalls, as well as potential criminal sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if regulatory agency review does not result in these types of determinations, it could potentially create negative publicity or perceptions which could harm our business or reputation. Further, modifications to international trade policy, including the imposition of increased or new tariffs, quotas, or trade barriers, could have a negative impact on us or the industries we serve, including as a result of related uncertainty, and could materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows.
In addition, our international sales could be adversely affected by violations of the anti-money laundering and trade sanction laws and similar anti-corruption and international trade laws. Misconducts, including illegal, fraudulent or collusive activities, by our distributors, suppliers, business partners, or our agent may harm our brand and reputation and adversely affect our business and results of operations. It is not always possible to identify and deter such misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent these activities may not be effective. Violations of laws or allegations of such violations, regardless in Hong Kong or in foreign countries where our suppliers are located or our distributors operate, could materially and adversely affect our reputation, disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to expand our operations globally. Competition in various markets is increasing as our competitors grow their global operations and low-cost local manufacturers expand and improve their production capacities. However, certain markets may have greater political, economic, and currency volatility and greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions than more established markets. If we cannot successfully manage associated political, economic, and regulatory risks, our product sales, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
There is no assurance that our customers will continue to place purchase orders with us.
All of our customers place purchase orders with us on an as-needed basis. We normally enter into distributorship agreement with our F&B related distributor customers for a term of one year. During the contract term, our F&B related distributor customers are entitled to place purchase orders with us for each of our products at the unit price, which is typically agreed at a fixed price per kilogram, set forth in the distributorship agreement. There is no assurance that our F&B related distributor customers will renew the framework sales agreement with us with similar terms and conditions.
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Further, all of our customers place purchase orders with us on an as-needed basis. There is no assurance that our major customers will continue to place purchase orders with us in the future. In the event that any of our major customers ceases to place purchase orders with us, reduces the amount of their purchase orders with us, or requests for more favorable terms and conditions, our business, results of operations, financial conditions and future prospects may be adversely affected.
Our four and three largest customers accounted for a significant portion of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenue from a limited number of major customers, all of which are our distributors. For the year ended December 31, 2022, there were four customers each generated over 10% of our total revenue for the year, and they in aggregate accounted for approximately 82.6% of our total revenue for the year. One of these four customers is our related party and all of our transactions with such related party have been ceased after December 31, 2022. Our top five customers are Sunfun (China) Limited, accounting for 37.4% of our sales volume, Channel Power Limited, accounting for 17.7% of sales volume, Beauty and Health International Company Limited, accounting for 15% of sales volume, Beauty and Health International E-Commerce Limited, accounting for 12.5% of our sales volume, and Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited, accounting for 9.4% of our sales volume. For the year ended December 31, 2023, there were three customers each generating over 10% of our total revenue for the period, and they in aggregate accounted for approximately 75.5% of our sales volume. Our top three customers for the year ended December 31, 2023 are, Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited, accounting for 34.5 % of our sales volume in the period, Sunfun (China) Limited, accounting for 25.0% of our sales volume, A One Marketing Limited accounting for 16.5% of our sales volume.
There is no assurance that any of our major customers will continue to place purchase orders with us in the future. These distributors or any other large customers in the future, may take actions that affect us for reasons it cannot anticipate or control, such as their financial condition, changes in their business strategy or operations, the perceived quality of our products and the availability of competing products. There can be no assurance our customers will continue to purchase its products in the same quantities or on the same terms as in the past. Our major customers rarely provide us with firm, long- or short-term volume purchase commitments. As a result, our customers could significantly decrease or cease their business with us with limited or no notice, and we could have periods with limited orders for our products while still incurring costs related to workforce maintenance, marketing general corporate expenses and other overheads. We may not find new customers to supplement its revenue in periods when it experiences reduced purchase orders, or recover fixed costs incurred during those periods, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In the event that any of these major customers ceases to place purchase orders with us or reduces the amount of their purchase orders with us, our business, results of operations, financial condition and future prospects may be adversely affected.
Any inability to resolve a significant dispute with any of our key customers, a change in the business condition (financial or otherwise) of any of our key customers, even if unrelated to us, or the loss of or a reduction in sales or anticipated sales to one or more of our most significant distributors may negatively affect us. These major customers may seek to leverage their positions to improve their profitability by demanding improved efficiency, lower pricing, more favorable terms, increased promotional spend, or specifically tailored product or promotional offerings, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. A reduction in sales to one or more major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We rely on third-party distributors to place our products into the market and we may not be able to control our distributors.
Our customers primarily and substantially consist of the distributors in food and beverage industry, where their end customers are luxurious hotels and restaurants. As we substantially sell and distribute our products through distributors, any one of the following events could result in fluctuation or decline in our revenue and could result in material adverse impact on our financial conditions and results of operations:
| ● | reduction, delay or cancelation of orders from one or more of our distributors; |
| ● | failure to renew distributorship agreements and maintain relationships with our existing distributors; |
| ● | failure to establish relationships with new distributors on favorable terms; and |
| ● | inability to timely identify additional or replacement distributors upon the loss of one or more of our distributors. |
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We may not be able to successfully manage our distributors. If the sales volume of our caviar products to consumers are not maintained at a satisfactory level, our distributors may not place or lower their purchase orders placed with us. For international markets, we depend exclusively on third-parties distributor to reach the end-customers. Our success in these markets depends almost entirely upon the efforts of our distributors and logistics and fulfillment partners, over whom we have little or no control. If a distributor or logistics or fulfillment partner, fails to fulfill its contracted services, for any reason, we could lose sales and our ability to compete in that market may be adversely affected. The occurrence of any of these factors could result in a significant decrease in the sales volume of our products and therefore adversely affect our financial conditions and results of operations.
Product contamination and the failure to maintain food safety and consistent quality could have a material and adverse effect on our brand, business and financial performance.
Food safety and quality control are of paramount importance to our reputation and business, and we face an inherent risk of food contamination and liability claims. To ensure food safety and quality, we have established a comprehensive set of standards and requirements covering each facet of our supply chain, ranging from procurement, logistics, warehousing to packaging as detailed in the section titled “Business — Quality Control.” However, due to the rapid growth in scale of our operations, there is no assurance that our quality control systems will prove to be effective at all times, or that we can identify any defects in our quality control systems in a timely manner. The sale of products for human use and consumption involves the risk of injury or illness to the end-consumers. Such injuries may result from inadvertent mislabeling, tampering by unauthorized third parties, product contamination or spoilage, the presence of foreign objects, substances, chemicals, or residues introduced during the packing, storage, handling or transportation phases. Any food contamination that we fail to detect or prevent could adversely affect the quality of our caviar products, which could lead to liability claims, and the imposition of penalties or fines by relevant authorities.
Furthermore, any instances of food contamination or regulatory noncompliance, whether or not caused by our actions, could compel us, our suppliers, our distributor or our other customers, depending on the circumstances, to recall or withdraw products, suspend production of our products, or cease operations. in accordance with the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate our business or distribute our products. Food recalls could result in significant losses due to their associated costs, the destruction of product inventory, lost sales due to the unavailability of the product for a period of time and potential loss of existing distributors or customers and a potential negative impact on our ability to attract new customers and maintain our current customer base due to negative consumer experiences or because of an adverse impact on our brand and reputation. In addition, as a caviar supplier, our product may be subject to targeted, large-scale tampering as well as to opportunistic, individual product tampering. Forms of tampering could include the introduction of foreign material, chemical contaminants and pathological organisms into consumer products as well as product substitution. Food business operators like us, or our distributors, must at all stages of production, sales and distribution within the businesses under their control ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food related laws and regulations, in particular as to food safety. If we or our distributors do not adequately address the possibility, or any actual instance, of product tampering, we could face possible seizure or recall of our products and the imposition of civil or criminal sanctions, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Even if a situation does not necessitate a recall or market withdrawal, product liability claims might be asserted against us. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities and those of our suppliers, supply-chain management company, logistic service providers, and the distributors will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that our caviar supplier, logistic service provider, and distributors will always be able to adopt appropriate quality control systems and meet our quality control requirements in respect of the products or services they provide. Any failure of our caviar supplier, logistic service provider, or distributor to provide satisfactory products or services could harm our reputation and adversely impact our operations. If the consumption of any of our products causes, or is alleged to have caused, a health-related illness or death to a consumer, we may become subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or physical harm could cause consumers to lose confidence in the safety and quality of our products.
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Furthermore, we currently do not maintain any product liability insurance and may not have adequate resources to satisfy a judgment in the event of a successful product liability claim against us. The successful assertion of product liability claims against us could result in potentially significant monetary damages and require us to make significant payments.
Our business depends to a significant extent upon general economic conditions, consumer demand, preferences and discretionary spending patterns.
Our success is, and will continue to be, dependent on our ability to select, source and sell quality caviar products. However, there is no assurance that we will always succeed in selecting and sourcing quality caviar supplies that cater to the preferences and needs of consumers or achieve anticipated sales at competitive prices.
As our caviar products are served at places such as menu-driven high-end restaurants, fine dining establishments, private clubs, hotels, caterers and specialty food stores, our business is significant exposed to the volatility of the general economic conditions and reductions in disposable income levels and discretionary consumer spending. Consumers’ willingness to purchase our caviar products may fluctuate as a result of changes in national, regional or global economic conditions, disposable income, discretionary spending, lifestyle choices, public perception of caviar, publicity of our caviar products or our competitors. Future economic conditions such as employment levels, business conditions, housing, interest rates, inflation rates, energy and fuel costs and tax rates could reduce consumer spending or change consumer purchasing habits. The demand for our caviar products may be adversely affected from time to time by economic downturns.
If the weak economy continues for a prolonged period of time or worsens, the consumers may choose to spend discretionary money less frequently which could result in a decline in consumers’ purchases of luxury food items, particularly in more expensive restaurants or more expensive food items, and, consequently, the businesses of our target customers by, among other things, reducing the frequency with which our customers’ customers choose to order luxury food items or the amount they spend on meals while dining out. If our customers’ sales decrease, our profitability could decline. Moreover, if the negative economic conditions persist for an extended period of time, consumers might ultimately make long-lasting changes to their discretionary spending behavior, including dining out less frequently on a permanent basis. Accordingly, adverse changes to consumer preferences or consumer discretionary spending, each of which could be affected by many different factors which are out of our control, could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our continued success will depend in part upon our ability to anticipate, identify and respond to changing economic and other conditions and the impact that they may have on discretionary consumer spending. If we fail to successfully adapt our business strategy, brand image and product portfolio to changes in market trends or shifts in consumer preferences and spending patterns, our business, financial conditions and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Failure to compete effectively may adversely affect our market share and profitability.
The industry we operate in is competitive with respect to, among other things, brand recognition, consistent quality, services and prices. Our competitors include a variety of regional, national and international caviar suppliers. Furthermore, new competitors may emerge from time to time, which may further intensify the competition. Increased competition may reduce our margins and market share and impact brand recognition, or result in significant losses. When we set prices, we have to consider how competitors have set prices for the same or similar products. When they cut prices or offer additional benefits to compete with us, we may have to lower our own prices or offer additional benefits or risk losing market share, either of which could harm our financial conditions and results of operations.
Some of our current or future competitors may have longer operating histories, greater brand recognition, better supplier relationships, larger customer bases, more comprehensive distribution network, better access to consumers, higher penetration in certain regions or greater financial, technical or marketing resources than we do. In addition, some of our competitors may be able to secure more favorable terms from suppliers, devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies and devote substantially more resources to secure more caviar supplies or to their digitalized supply chain management system. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors, and competitive pressures may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
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Our ability to effectively compete will depend on various factors, including expansion of our global market presence, enhancement of our sales and marketing activities, expansion of product portfolio and customer base. Failure to successfully compete may prevent us from increasing or sustaining our revenue and profitability and potentially lead to a loss of market share, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Our business depends significantly on the market recognition of our trademarks and brand names. Any damage to our trademarks, brand names or reputation, or any failure to effectively promote our brands, could materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations.
We believe that the market recognition of our trademarks and brand names among our customers have contributed significantly to the growth and success of our business. Therefore, maintaining and enhancing the recognition and image of our brands is critical to our ability to differentiate our caviar products and to compete effectively. Nevertheless, whether we are able to maintain and enhance the recognition and image of our brands is subject to our ability in:
| ● | maintaining the popularity, attractiveness, diversity and quality of our caviar products; |
| ● | maintaining or improving customers’ satisfaction with the quality of our caviar products; |
| ● | offering and maintaining a wide selection of high-quality caviar products; |
| ● | increasing brand awareness through marketing and brand promotion activities; and |
| ● | preserving our reputation and goodwill in the event of any negative publicity, internet and data security, product quality, price authenticity, or other issues affecting us or the caviar industry. |
In the event consumers perceive or experience a reduction in the quality of our products or service, or consider in any way that we fail to deliver quality products consistently, our brand value could suffer, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business.
Furthermore, our established brand recognition may attract imitators who intentionally use highly similar trademarks, trade names and/or logos with ours to mislead potential consumers, which may significantly harm our reputation and brand image, thereby causing a decline in our financial performance, reduction in our market share, as well as an increase in the amount of resources for our anti-counterfeiting efforts. We cannot assure you that our measures will provide effective prevention and any infringement act could adversely affect our reputation, results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual properties, or we may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims or other allegations by third parties, either of which could adversely affect our business and operations.
We rely on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property laws to protect our trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights. As at the date of this annual report, we have registered trademarks in Hong Kong, Macau and the PRC, respectively.
We cannot ensure that third parties will not infringe our intellectual property rights. We may, from time to time, have to initiate litigation, arbitration or other legal proceedings to protect our intellectual property rights. Regardless of the judgment, such process would be lengthy and costly as well as divert management’s time and attention, thereby resulting in material and adverse impacts on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Conversely, there is also a risk that third parties may bring a claim against us for infringing their intellectual property rights, thereby requiring us to defend or settle any related intellectual property infringement allegations or disputes. Defending against such claims could be costly, and if we are unsuccessful in defending such claims, we may be prohibited from continuing to use such proprietary information in the future, or may be compelled to pay damages, royalties or other expenses for the use of such proprietary information. Any of the above could negatively affect our sales, profitability, business operations and prospects.
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Failure by our supply chain service or transportation providers or distributors to deliver our raw materials to us or our products to customers on time or at all could result in lost sales.
Historically and as of the date of annual report, we have engaged Sunfun (China) Limited (“Sunfun China”), a supply chain management company in Hong Kong as the principal transportation provider for the delivery of finished products to our distributors and the shipment of caviar to our food processing factory through cold-chain. Our utilization of the third-party supply chain and transportation services is subject to risks, including the effects of health epidemics or pandemics or other contagious outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, any shortage of drivers and workers, increases in fuel prices, which would increase our shipping costs, employee strikes, labor shortages, failure to meet customer standards, and severe weather conditions and natural disasters such as fires, floods, typhoon, storms, or earthquakes. These risks may impact the ability of Sunfun China or other supply chain and transportation services providers to provide logistics and transportation services that adequately meet our shipping needs. If Sunfun China or other supply chain and transportation services providers were to fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, or fail to deliver our products to our customers in a timely manner, we might be unable to meet customer and consumer demands for our products.
Furthermore, notwithstanding we have implemented comprehensive set of operation manual and technical protocols with respect to temperature, hygiene and physical conditions for caviar in transit, we cannot assure you that Sunfun China or any other supply chain management company we may engage would follow strictly, and the services provided by the supply chain management company may be interrupted, suspended or cancelled due to unforeseen events, which could cause the rotting of our caviar products and increase our loss rate.
Although we do not rely on Sunfun China for transportation services, and Sunfun China’s transportation and supply chain services is provided on an as-needed basis, Sunfun has been historically and currently responsible for a significant portion of our shipping needs. Any disruption in our relationship with Sunfun China or the ability of Sunfun China to fulfill its services could affect our business. We may change to other third-party transportation providers at any time, but we could incur costs and expend resources in connection with such change, and we may not be able to obtain terms as favorable as those we receive from Sunfun China, which in turn would increase our costs and adversely affect our business. Any failure of Sunfun China or other third-party transportation provider to deliver raw materials or finished products in a timely manner could harm our reputation, negatively impact our customer relationships, and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
For our international markets, we depend exclusively on the distributors to reach our customers. Our success in these markets depends entirely upon the efforts of our distributors and their logistics and fulfillment services supplier, over whom we have no control. If a distributor or logistics or fulfillment service provider, fails to fulfill its contracted services, for any reason, we could lose sales and our ability to compete in that market may be adversely affected.
Our caviar products are processed in our single food processing facility and any damage to or disruption at this facility would materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.
We process substantially all of our products at a single food processing factory leased from and operated by Sunfun China, the supply chain management service provider we have engaged since 2021. Any facility disruption, equipment failures, natural disaster, fire, power interruption, pandemic, work stoppage (such as due to a COVID-19 outbreak or otherwise), regulatory or food safety issue or other problem at this facility would significantly disrupt our ability to process and deliver our products and operate its business. The facility and equipment is costly and may require substantial time to replace or repair if necessary. During such time, we may not be able to find suitable factory to replace the output from our facility on a timely basis or at a reasonable cost, if at all. We may also experience facility shutdowns or periods of reduced production because of regulatory issues, equipment failure or delays in deliveries. Any such disruption or unanticipated event may cause significant interruptions or delays in our business. Any disruption in the operation of our facility, or damage to a material amount of our equipment or inventory, would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We do not own any real properties. The lease agreement for our food processing factory has a term of 18 months and may be renewed upon mutual agreement. The current lease with Sunfun China commenced from February 11, 2023 and until September 10, 2024. There is no assurance that such tenancy agreement will not be terminated before its expiration or will be renewed on commercially favorable terms. In the event that the tenancy agreement is terminated or not renewed, our business and operation may be interrupted and adversely affected as we will have to relocate our food processing factory to other premises. In the event that we fail to relocate our food processing factory to suitable alternative premises in a timely manner or at all, our business operations, financial position, results of operations and reputation would be adversely affected. Even if we are able to relocate our food processing factory to an alternative premises, such relocation will incur relocation costs, which may be substantial and in turn adversely affect our financial conditions. Besides, in the event that our rental expenses for the food processing factory increase, our operating expenses will increase which will in turn materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and prospects.
We currently rely on third-party supply chain management company to operate the food processing factory and provision of labor for product packaging. Any failure to adequately store, maintain and deliver our products could materially adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and operating results.
Our ability to adequately process, store, maintain, and deliver our caviar products is critical to our business. We contract with third-party supply chain management company, to operate of our food processing factory and to provide labor for packaging and delivery services for our products. As of the date of Annual Report, we have contracted Sunfun China to operate the aforesaid activities on our behalf. In order to maintain the quality, safety and freshness of our caviar products, the food processing factory is equipped with temperature control system that mandates a prescribed temperature range. Any unexpected and adverse changes in the optimal storage conditions of our food processing factory may expedite the deterioration of such products and in turn heighten the risk of inventory obsolescence or exposure to litigation matters. Any failure by Sunfun China or the third-party supply chain management business partner to adequately store, maintain, or transport our products could negatively impact the safety, quality and merchantability of our products and the experience of our customers. The occurrence of any of these risks could materially adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and operating results. In the event of extended power outages, labor disruptions, natural disasters or other catastrophic occurrences, failures of the temperature control system systems in the food processing factory, warehouses or delivery vehicles, or other circumstances, our inability to store inventory at the controlled temperatures could result in significant product inventory losses, as well as increased risk of food-borne illnesses and other food safety incidents.
Further, we rely on the supply chain management company for the provision of labor for carrying out product packaging at our food processing factory. There is no guarantee that the supply chain management company will be able to supply stable labor force or continue to supply labor at fees acceptable to us or our relationship with them could be maintained in the future. Any disruption, delay or inability of the supply chain management company in supplying processing labor to us may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial conditions and prospects.
There is no assurance that the quality of works provided by the processing labor from the supply chain management company can fulfil the requirements of us or our customers. We may not be able to monitor the performance of the processing staff supplied by the supply chain management company as directly and efficiently as with our own labor, thereby exposing us to the risks associated with non-performance, late performance or sub-standard performance ofthe processing staff. Since we remain accountable to our customers for the performance of the processing staff, we may incur additional costs or be subject to liability under the relevant contracts between us and our customers for the processing staff’s unsatisfactory performance, thereby resulting in material adverse impacts on our reputation, business operation and financial position.
Failure to maintain and renew the food factory license for our food processing factory premises may materially and adversely our business and results of operations.
Pursuant to section 31(1) of the Food Business Regulation (Chapter 132X of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“FBR”), no person shall carry on or cause, permit or suffer to be carried on any food factory business except under and in accordance with a food factory license from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong (the “FEHD”), which is required for the food business involving the preparation of food for sale for human consumption off the premises.
The FEHD may grant a provisional food factory license to a new applicant who has fulfilled the basic requirements in accordance with the FBR pending fulfilment of all outstanding requirements for the issue of a full food factory license. A provisional food factory licenses is valid for a period of six months or lesser and a full food factory license is valid generally for a period of one year, both subject to payment of the prescribed license fees and continuous compliance with the requirements under the relevant legislation and regulations. A provisional food factory license is renewable once and a full food factory license is renewable annually.
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We have leased a food processing factory located in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong from the supply chain management company for carrying out the packaging and labelling of our caviar products. The food processing factory has obtained a full food factory license from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong which is essential for food business involving the preparation of food for sale for human consumption off the premises. The license is valid for one year from April 18, 2024 to April 17, 2025, subject to further renewal. In compliance with the FBR, we rely on the landlord of our food processing factory premises to apply for, maintain and renew the food factory license from the FEHD for the operation of our food processing factory premises. There is no assurance that our food processing factory premises will obtain the required food factory license. If we or the landlord fails to comply with the applicable requirements or any required conditions, the food factory license may be suspended, cancelled or denied renewal upon its expiry, which could result in disruption to our ongoing business and thereby materially and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations and prospects. We may also be liable to fines and/or other legal consequences for failure to obtain the necessary approvals, licenses and permits, which may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Failure to manage our inventory effectively could increase our loss rate, lower our profit margins, or cause us to lose sales, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Managing our inventory effectively is critical to the success of our business. Since caviar is perishable in nature, if we fail to manage our inventory effectively, we may be subject to a heightened risk of inventory obsolescence, a decline in inventory values, and significant inventory write-downs or write-offs. Moreover, we may be required to lower sale prices in order to reduce inventory level, which may lead to lower gross margins. These factors may materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial conditions. Further, we are exposed to inventory risks as a result of a variety of factors beyond our control, including changes in consumer preferences or economic conditions, uncertainty of market acceptance of new caviar products, etc. We cannot assure you that there will not be under-stocking or over-stocking of inventory.
We are subject to credit risk in relation to the collectability of our trade receivables from customers.
We generally grant a credit period of 30 to 60 days to our customers. We cannot assure you that our customers will make payment in full to us on a timely basis. Delays in receiving payments from or non-payment by our customers may result in pressure on our cash flow position and our ability to meet our working capital requirements. Our liquidity and cash flows from operations may be materially and adversely affected if our collection periods lengthen further or if we encounter any material defaults of payment, or provisions for impairment, of our trade receivables from customers. Should these events occur, we may be required to obtain working capital from other sources, such as from third-party financing, in order to maintain our daily operations, and such financing from outside sources may not be available at acceptable terms or at all.
We may not be able to maintain our historical growth rates or gross profit margins, and our operating results may fluctuate significantly. If our results fall below market expectations, the trading price of our Ordinary Shares may be affected.
We have experienced significant growth in our revenue and gross profit in the past years. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our revenue growth or gross profit margins at historical levels, or at all. Moreover, our operating results may fluctuate significantly as a result of numerous factors, many of which are outside of our control. These factors include, among others:
| ● | our ability to maintain and further promote our operating subsidiary as a world-renowned supplier of caviar products; |
| ● | our ability to attract new customers, maintain existing customers and expand our market share; |
| ● | the success of our marketing and brand building efforts; |
| ● | the timing and market acceptance of new products introduced by us or our competitors; |
| ● | our ability to broaden our product portfolio at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner; |
| ● | fluctuations in demand for our products as a result of changes in pricing policies by us or our competitors; |
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| ● | our ability to develop new products in response to changes in customer demographics and consumer tastes and preferences; and |
| ● | changes in global economic conditions. |
Any negative publicity regarding our Company, management team, employees or products, regardless of its veracity, could adversely affect our business.
As a fast-growing supplier of luxury caviar products, our image is highly relevant to the public’s perception of us as a business in entirety, which includes not only the quality, safety and competitiveness of our products, but also our corporate management and culture. We cannot guarantee that no one will, intentionally or incidentally, distribute information about us, especially regarding the quality and safety of our products or our internal management matters, which may result in negative perception of us by the public. Any negative publicity about us, management team, employees or products, regardless of veracity, could lead to potential loss of consumer confidence or difficulty in retaining or recruiting talent that is essential to our business operations. As a result, our business, financial conditions, results of operations, reputation and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We may incur higher costs in connection with our branding and marketing efforts, and some marketing campaigns may not be effective in attracting or retaining consumers.
We are dedicated to enhancing our brand awareness. As part of our sales and marketing efforts, we have proactively participated in food expo and set up pop-up stores across the world. We have also collaborated with famous food bloggers and used different online platforms and media coverage to promote and strengthen the publicity of our products. We regularly invite chefs of notable hotels and restaurants to our tasting events. However, we cannot guarantee that our marketing efforts will be well received by customers and result in higher sales. In addition, marketing trends and approaches in the caviar market are evolving, which requires us to enhance our marketing approaches and experiment with new marketing methods to keep pace with industry developments and consumer preferences. Failure to refine our marketing approaches or to adopt new, more cost-effective marketing techniques could negatively affect our business, growth prospects and results of operations.
We have limited insurance to cover our potential losses and claims.
We purchase and maintain insurance policies that we believe are customary with the standard commercial practice in our industry and as required under the relevant laws and regulations. However, we cannot guarantee that our insurance policies will provide adequate coverage for all the risks in connection with our business operations. Consistent with customary practice in the caviar industry, we do not carry any business interruption, product liability, or litigation insurance. If we were to incur substantial losses and liabilities that are not covered by our insurance policies, we could suffer significant costs and diversion of our resources, which could have a material and adverse effect on our financial conditions and results of operations. We may be required to bear our losses to the extent that our insurance coverage is insufficient.
We are subject to risks relating to litigation and disputes, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial conditions, and may face significant liabilities as a result.
We may be subject to litigation, disputes or claims of various types brought by our competitors, suppliers, customers, employees, business partners, lenders or other third parties. We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to disputes, complaints or legal proceedings in the future, which may damage our reputation, evolve into litigations or otherwise have a material adverse impact on our reputation and business.
Should any future claims against us fall outside the scope and/or limit of insurance coverage, our financial position may be adversely affected. Regardless of the merits, legal proceedings can be time-consuming and costly, and may divert our management’s attention away from our business operation, thereby adversely affecting our business operation and financial position. Legal proceedings which result in unfavorable judgment against us may cause financial losses and damages to our reputation, thereby materially and adversely affecting our business, financial position, results of operations and prospect.
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Our business and reputation may be affected by product liability claims, litigation, complaints or adverse publicity in relation to our products.
As the caviar products we sell are for human consumption, there is an inherent health risk which may result from tampering by unauthorized third parties, or product contamination or degeneration, including the presence of foreign contaminants, chemicals, substances or other agents or residues during the various stages of farming, processing and transportation.
Litigation and complaints from consumers or government authorities concerning product quality, health or other issues may affect our industry as a whole and may cause consumers to avoid consuming the caviar products that we sell. Any litigation or adverse publicity surrounding any of these allegations may negatively affect our businesses, regardless of whether the allegations are true, thereby discouraging consumers from buying our products. We may also become party to various other lawsuits, claims, and other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business, which may include lawsuits, claims, or other legal proceedings relating to the marketing and labeling of products or brand, intellectual property, contracts, product recalls or withdrawals, employment matters, environmental matters, or other aspects of our business. Even when lawsuits, claims, and other legal proceedings are not merited, the defense of lawsuits and claims divert the attention of management and other personnel and may result in adverse publicity about our products and brand, and we may incur significant expenses in defending these lawsuits and claims. In connection with claims, litigation or other legal proceedings, we may be required to pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows, or results of operations. Certain claims may not be covered by insurance or certain covered claims may exceed applicable coverage limits, or one or more of our insurance carriers could become insolvent. The outcome of litigation is often difficult to predict and the outcome of pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows, or results of operations. Adverse publicity about regulatory or legal action against us or adverse publicity about our products (including the resources needed to produce them) could damage our reputation and brand image, undermine consumer confidence, and reduce demand for our products, even if the regulatory or legal action is unfounded or not material to our operations or even if the adverse publicity regarding our products is unfounded.
Moreover, unfavorable studies or media reports (including those regarding the health impact of caviar) may have a negative impact on the public perception of caviar, whether or not the claims are accurate. We cannot guarantee that our products will not cause any health-related illnesses or injury in the future, or that we will not be subject to claims or litigation relating to such matters. If any of the above were to occur, our sales could be negatively impacted, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operation and prospects.
We may not be able to obtain finance from time to time to fund our operations and maintain growth.
In order to fund our operations and maintain our growth or expand our business, we may need to obtain future funding including equity financing or banking facilities from our banks from time to time. However, we may face the limitation of not having sufficient amount of security or pledge to secure additional debt financing. Further, there may be occasions where we are unable to obtain financing at commercial terms favorable or acceptable to us or at all. If these circumstances arise, our business, results of operations, and growth could be compromised.
Our growth prospects may be limited if we do not successfully implement our future plans and growth strategy.
Our growth is based on assumptions of future events which include (a) the continuous growth in the caviar industry; (b) our ability in further expanding our global market presence; (c) our ability in strengthening our sales and marketing activities; (d) expansion in our sources of caviar as well as product portfolio; and (e) expansion in our customer base. Furthermore, our future business plans may be hindered by other factors that are beyond our control, such as competition within the caviar industry and market conditions. Therefore, there is no assurance that any of our future business plans will materialize within the planned timeframe, or that our objectives will be fully or partially accomplished.
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Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks and challenges which we may encounter in various stages of the development of our business. If the assumptions which underpin our future plans prove to be incorrect, our future plans may not be effective in enhancing our growth, in which case our business, financial conditions and results of operations may be adversely affected.
We may grow, in part, through acquisitions, which involve various risks, and we may not be able to identify or acquire companies consistent with our growth strategy or successfully integrate acquired businesses into our operations.
We may intend to pursue opportunities to expand our business by acquiring other companies in the future. Acquisitions involve risks, including those relating to:
| ● | identification of appropriate acquisition candidates; |
| ● | negotiation of acquisitions on favorable terms and valuations; |
| ● | integration of acquired businesses and personnel; |
| ● | implementation of proper business and accounting controls; |
| ● | ability to obtain financing, at favorable terms or at all; |
| ● | diversion of management attention; |
| ● | retention of employees and customers; |
| ● | non-employee driver attrition; |
| ● | unexpected liabilities; and |
| ● | detrimental issues not discovered during due diligence. |
Acquisitions also may affect our short-term cash flow and net income as we expend funds, potentially increase indebtedness and incur additional expenses. If we are not able to identify or acquire companies consistent with our growth strategy, or if we fail to successfully integrate any acquired companies into our operations, we may not achieve anticipated increases in revenue, cost savings and economies of scale, our operating results may actually decline and acquired goodwill and intangibles may become impaired.
We are dependent on our senior management team and other key employees, and the loss of any such personnel could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial conditions.
We believe that our performance and success is, to a certain extent, attributable to the extensive industry knowledge and experience of our key executives and personnel. Our continued success is dependent, to a large extent, on the ability to attract and retain the services of the key management team. However, competition for key personnel in our industry is intense. We may not be able to retain the services of our directors or other key personnel, or attract and retain high-quality personnel in the future. If any of our key personnel departs from us, and we are not able to recruit a suitable replacement with comparable experience to join us on a timely basis, our business, operations and financial conditions may be materially and adversely affected.
Acts of God, acts of war, epidemics and other disasters could materially and adversely affect our business.
Our business is subject to the general and social conditions in Hong Kong, the PRC and other jurisdictions in or to which our caviar products are grown, produced, distributed or consumed. Natural disasters, epidemics, acts of God and other disasters that are beyond our control could adversely affect the economy, infrastructure and livelihood of the people of such jurisdictions. Our business, results of operations and financial conditions could be adversely affected if these natural disasters occur. Moreover, political unrest, wars and terrorist attacks may cause damage or disruption to us, our employees, suppliers or customers, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial conditions or share price. Potential war or threat of terrorist attacks may also cause uncertainty and cause our business to suffer in ways that we cannot currently predict. We cannot control the occurrence of these catastrophic events and our business operations will at the times be subject to the risks of these uncertainties.
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Any future occurrence of force majeure events, natural disasters or outbreaks of contagious diseases, including the COVID-19 outbreak, may materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Any future occurrence of force majeure events, natural disasters or outbreaks of epidemics and contagious diseases, including avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, H1N1 influenza, Ebola virus and the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong, the PRC and other jurisdictions in or to which our caviar products are grown, produced, distributed or consumed may materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations. An outbreak of an epidemic or contagious disease or other adverse public health developments in the world could result in a widespread health crisis and restrict the level of business activities in affected areas, which may, in turn, materially and adversely affect our business.
Since late 2019, the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus named COVID-19 has resulted in a high number of fatalities and materially and adversely affected the global economy. Widespread lockdowns, closure of work places, restrictions on mobility and travel were implemented by governments of different countries to contain the spread of the virus.
We cannot assure you that any future occurrence of natural disasters or outbreaks of epidemics and contagious diseases, or the measures taken by the government of different countries in response to such contagious diseases will not seriously disrupt our operations or those of our customers or suppliers, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Technology failures or security breaches could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business.
In the normal course of business, we rely on information technology systems to process, transmit, and store electronic information. For example, we utilize information technology to communicate with the supplier, logistic services provider, and distributors, and to manage our production and distribution facilities and inventory. Information technology systems are also integral to the reporting of our results of operations. Furthermore, a significant portion of the communications between, and storage of personal data of, our personnel, customers, and suppliers depend on information technology, including social media platforms.
Our information technology systems may be vulnerable to a variety of interruptions due to events beyond our control, including, but not limited to, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers, and other security issues. These events could compromise our confidential information, impede, or interrupt our business operations, and may result in other negative consequences, including remediation costs, loss of revenue, litigation and reputational damage. Furthermore, if a breach or other breakdown results in disclosure of confidential or personal information, we may suffer reputational, competitive and/or business harm. While we have implemented administrative and technical controls and taken other preventive actions to reduce the risk of cyber incidents and protect our information technology, they may be insufficient to prevent physical and electronic break-ins, cyber-attacks, or other security breaches to our computer systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Failure to comply with cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, or any other laws and regulations related to data may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We may be subject to a variety of cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, and other laws and regulations related to data, including those relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, disclosure, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws and regulations, such as the Data Protection Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information within our organization, which relates to our investors, employees, contractors and other counterparties. These laws and regulations may restrict our business activities and require us to incur increased costs and efforts to comply, and any breach or non-compliance may subject us to proceedings against us, damage our reputation, or result in penalties and other significant legal liabilities, and thus may materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions, and results of operations.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses, which may adversely affect our financial conditions, results of operations and cash flows.
We sourced our caviar from the PRC, hence a substantial portion of our purchases were denominated in RMB. Meanwhile, the sales to our customers were billed and settled in HKD. Therefore, we are exposed to foreign exchange risks. The value of HKD against RMB and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other factors, the policies of the PRC government and changes in the PRC’s and international political and economic conditions. As we did not enter into any formal hedging policy, foreign currency exchange contracts or derivative transactions, we are exposed to foreign currency fluctuations. Any appreciation or depreciation of RMB relative to HKD would affect our financial results.
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Further, it is difficult to predict how market forces or Hong Kong, Mainland China, the U.S. or other government policies may impact the exchange rate among HKD, RMB, USD and other currencies in the future. Moreover, fluctuation in the exchange rate will affect the relative value of earnings from and the value of any foreign currency-denominated investments we make in the future. Should we face significant volatility in these foreign exchange rates and we cannot procure any specific foreign exchange control measures to mitigate such risks, our results of operations and financial performance shall be adversely affected.
We may be affected by the currency peg system in Hong Kong.
Since 1983, Hong Kong dollars have been pegged to the US dollars at the rate of approximately HKD7.8 to USD1.0. We cannot assure you that this policy will not be changed in the future. If the pegging system collapses and HKD suffer devaluation, the HKD cost of our expenditures denominated in foreign currency may increase. This would in turn adversely affect the operations and profitability of our business.
Our internal controls over financial reporting may not be effective and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to certify as to their effectiveness, which could have a significant and adverse effect on our business and reputation.
Prior to our initial public offering, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources to address our internal controls and procedures. Accordingly, we will be in a continuing process of developing, establishing, and maintaining internal controls and procedures that will allow our management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, our internal controls over financial reporting if and when required to do so under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
As a company with less than US$1.235 billion in revenue for the fiscal year of 2023, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting.
This annual report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report by our independent registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly listed public companies.
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Risks Related to our Ordinary Shares
Our controlling shareholder has substantial influence over our company and his interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders.
As of the date of this Annual Report,, our largest shareholder, Winwin Development Group Limited, beneficially own approximately 69.52% of the aggregate voting power of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, or approximately 68.81% assuming full exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. Winwin Development Group Limited is in turn beneficially owned as to 90% and 10% by Mr. Kim Kwan Kings, WONG, our Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director, and Mr. Kin Fai, CHONG, respectively; and Mr. Kim Kwan Kings, WONG is also the sole director of Winwin Development Group Limited. As a result, Winwin Development Group Limited has the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to the shareholders for approval, including the election of directors and any merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
Because our controlling shareholder, Winwin Development Group Limited, has consideration influence over our corporate matters, his interests may differ from the interests of our company as a whole and may have potential conflicts of interest with us. Accordingly, our controlling shareholders could control the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matters submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations, election of directors and other significant corporate actions, including the power to prevent or cause a change in control. The interests of our largest shareholder may differ from the interests of our other shareholders. The controlling shareholder could, for example, appoint directors and management without the requisite experience, relations or knowledge to steer our company properly because of their affiliations or loyalty, and such actions may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition. Without the consent of our controlling shareholders, we may be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us or our other shareholders. The concentration in the ownership of our shares may cause a material decline in the value of our shares. Currently, we do not have any arrangements with our principal shareholder to address potential conflicts of interest. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and the controlling shareholder, we may have to resort to legal actions, which could disrupt our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
The PCAOB may be unable to inspect or fully investigate our auditors as required under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, as amended. If the PCAOB is unable to conduct such inspections for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit the trading of our shares. The delisting of our shares, 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 of our auditors would deprive our investors of the benefits of such inspections.
On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
On May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply a minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in a “Restrictive Market”, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or board of directors for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”), requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the HFCAA. On December 18, 2020, the HFCAA was signed into law.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the HFCAA. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which was signed into law on December 29, 2022, amending the HFCAA and requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchange if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years.
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On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether the PCAOB 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.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions, which determinations were vacated on December 15, 2022.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward and is making plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.
Our auditor, Onestop Assurance PAC, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 included in this annual report, is currently subject to PCAOB inspections and the PCAOB is able to inspect our auditor. Onestop Assurance PAC, headquartered in Singapore, has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis. Our auditor is not headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. Therefore, we believe that, as of the date of this annual report, our auditor is not subject to the PCAOB determinations.
Our ability to retain an auditor subject to PCAOB inspection and investigation, including but not limited to inspection of the audit working papers related to us, may depend on the relevant positions of U.S. and Chinese regulators. With respect to audits of companies with operations in China, such as the Company, there are uncertainties about the ability of our auditor to fully cooperate with a request by the PCAOB for audit working papers in China without the approval of Chinese authorities. Whether the PCAOB will be able to conduct inspections of our auditor, including but not limited to inspection of the audit working papers related to us, in the future is subject to substantial uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control. If our shares and shares are prohibited from trading in the United States, there is no certainty that we will be able to list on a non-U.S. exchange or that a market for our shares will develop outside of the United States. Such a prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our shares. Also, such a prohibition would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and prospects.
The trading price of our Ordinary Shares may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to you.
The trading price of our Ordinary Shares is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen due to broad market and industry factors, such as performance and fluctuation in the market prices or underperformance or deteriorating financial results of other listed companies based in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in the trading price of their securities. The trading performances of other Hong Kong and Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors towards Hong Kong-based, U.S.-listed companies, which consequently may affect the trading performance of our Ordinary Shares, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or matters of other Hong Kong and Chinese companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards Hong Kong and Chinese companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have conducted any inappropriate activities. Furthermore, securities markets may from time to time experience significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to our operating performance, which may have a material and adverse effect on the trading price of our Ordinary Shares.
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In addition to the above factors, the price and trading volume of our Ordinary Shares may be highly volatile due to multiple factors, including the following:
| ● | political, social and economic conditions in Mainland China and Hong Kong; |
| ● | variations in our revenue, profit, and cash flow; |
| ● | the operating and stock price performance of other companies, other industries and other events or factors beyond our control; |
| ● | fluctuations of exchange rates among HKD, RMB, and USD; |
| ● | general market conditions or other developments affecting us or the caviar industry in which we operate; |
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results; |
| ● | changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities research analysts; |
| ● | detrimental negative publicity about us, our services, our officers, directors, Controlling Shareholders, other beneficial owners, our business partners, or our industry; |
| ● | announcements by us or our competitors of new product offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures, capital raisings or capital commitments; |
| ● | additions to or departures of our senior management; |
| ● | litigation or regulatory proceedings involving us, our officers, Directors, or Controlling Shareholders; |
| ● | developments in information technology and our capability to catch up with the technology innovations in the industry; |
| ● | the realization of any of the other risk factors presented in this annual report; |
| ● | changes in investors’ perception of our Company and the investment environment generally; |
| ● | the liquidity of the market for our Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding Ordinary Shares; and |
| ● | sales or perceived potential sales of additional Ordinary Shares. |
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our Ordinary Shares will be traded.
Recently, there have been instances of extreme stock price run-ups followed by rapid price declines and strong stock price volatility with a number of recent initial public offerings, especially among companies with relatively smaller public floats. As a relatively small-capitalization company with relatively small public float, we may experience greater stock price volatility, extreme price run-ups, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies. In particular, our Ordinary Shares may be subject to rapid and substantial price volatility, low volumes of trades and large spreads in bid and ask prices. Such volatility, including any stock-run up, may be unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance, financial conditions or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Ordinary Shares.
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In addition, if the trading volumes of our Ordinary Shares are low, persons buying or selling in relatively small quantities may easily influence prices of our Ordinary Shares. This low volume of trades could also cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to fluctuate greatly, with large percentage changes in price occurring in any trading day session. Holders of our Ordinary Shares may also not be able to readily liquidate their investment or may be forced to sell at depressed prices due to low volume trading. Broad market fluctuations and general economic and political conditions may also adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. As a result of this volatility, investors may experience losses on their investment in our Ordinary Shares. A decline in the market price of our Ordinary Shares also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional shares of Ordinary Shares or other securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. No assurance can be given that an active market in our Ordinary Shares will develop or be sustained. If an active market does not develop, holders of our Ordinary Shares may be unable to readily sell the shares they hold or may not be able to sell their shares at all.
In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial conditions and results of operations.
Our Ordinary Shares may be thinly traded and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if you need to sell your shares to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.
When our Ordinary Shares are trading on Nasdaq, our Ordinary Shares may be “thinly-traded”, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our Ordinary Shares at or near bid prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation may be attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and might be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we become more seasoned. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. Broad or active public trading market for our Ordinary Shares may not develop or be sustained.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our Ordinary Shares, the market price for our Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our Ordinary Shares will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our Ordinary Shares or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our Ordinary Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of the Company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our Ordinary Shares to decline.
If we fail to meet applicable listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist our Ordinary Shares from trading, in which case the liquidity and market price of our Ordinary Shares could decline.
Assuming our Ordinary Shares are listed on Nasdaq, we cannot assure you that we will be able to meet the continued listing standards of Nasdaq in the future. If we fail to comply with the applicable listing standards and Nasdaq delists our Ordinary Shares, we and our Shareholders could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability of market quotations for our Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | reduced liquidity for our Ordinary Shares; |
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| ● | a determination that our Ordinary Shares are “penny stock”, which would require brokers trading in our Ordinary Shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | a limited amount of news about us and analyst coverage of us; and |
| ● | a decreased ability for us to issue additional equity securities or obtain additional equity or debt financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or pre-empts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because Ordinary Shares are listed on Nasdaq, such securities are covered securities. Although the states are pre-empted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulations in each state in which we offer our securities.
The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares in the public market could adversely affect their market price.
Sales of substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. The 2,000,000 Ordinary Shares sold in our initial public offering completed are freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and shares held by our existing shareholders may also be sold in the public market in the future, subject to the restrictions in Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act and the applicable lock-up agreements. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities held by our significant shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of our Ordinary Shares.
Because the amount, timing, and whether or not we distribute dividends at all is entirely at the discretion of our board of directors, you must rely on price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares for return on your investment.
Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. In either case, all dividends are subject to certain restrictions under the Cayman Islands law, namely that the Company may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium, and provided that under no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the Company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our Ordinary Shares will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares. We cannot assure you that our Ordinary Shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased the Ordinary Shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in our Ordinary Shares and you may even lose your entire investment in our Ordinary Shares.
Our board of directors may decline to register transfers of Ordinary Shares in certain circumstances.
Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any share unless (i) 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; (ii) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; (iii) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; (iv) 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; (v) the shares conceded are free of any lien in favor of us; or (vi) a fee of such maximum sum as Nasdaq may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as our board of directors may from time to time require, is paid to us in respect thereof.
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If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice requirement of the Nasdaq Stock Market, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year.
Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer.
The Nasdaq Listing Rules require listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of its board members be independent. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we may follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. The corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, does not require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors. In addition, the Nasdaq Listing Rules also require U.S. domestic issuers to have a compensation committee, a nominating/corporate governance committee and an audit committee. We, as a foreign private issuer, are not subject to these requirements. The Nasdaq Listing Rules may require shareholder approval for certain corporate matters, such as requiring that shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on all equity compensation plans and material revisions to those plans, certain ordinary share issuances. We intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. However, we may, in the future, consider following home country practice in lieu of the requirements under the Nasdaq Listing Rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards which may afford less protection to investors.
Although as a foreign private issuer we are exempt from certain corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, if we cannot satisfy, or continue to satisfy, the initial listing requirements and other rules of Nasdaq, our securities may be delisted, which could negatively impact the price of our securities and your ability to sell them.
In order to maintain our listing on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with certain rules of Nasdaq, including those regarding minimum stockholders’ equity, minimum share price, minimum market value of publicly held shares, and various additional requirements. Even if we initially meet the listing requirements and other applicable rules of Nasdaq, we may not be able to continue to satisfy these requirements and applicable rules. If we are unable to satisfy the criteria of Nasdaq for maintaining our listing, our securities could be subject to delisting, which would have a negative effect on the price of our Ordinary Shares and impair your ability to sell your shares.
If Nasdaq does not list our securities, or subsequently delists our securities from trading, we could face significant consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability for market quotations for our Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | reduced liquidity with respect to our Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | a determination that our Ordinary Shares are “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our Ordinary Shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| ● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
If we cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer, we would be required to comply fully with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, and we would incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we would not incur as a foreign private issuer.
We qualify as a foreign private issuer. As a foreign private issuer, we will be exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. domestic issuers, and we will not be required to disclose in our periodic reports all of the information that U.S. domestic issuers are required to disclose. We may cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer in the future, and consequently, we would be required to fully comply with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, and we would incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we would not incur as a foreign private issuer.
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The enforcement of foreign civil liabilities in the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong is subject to certain conditions. Therefore, certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may be difficult to enforce in such jurisdictions.
We are a company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We conduct our operations outside the United States and substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, substantially all of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States, and most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against them in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, or other relevant jurisdictions may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (1) recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States, or (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.
Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), a judgment in personam obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment (a) is given by a competent foreign court with jurisdiction to give the judgment, (b) imposes a specific positive obligation on the judgment debtor (such as an obligation to pay a liquidated sum or perform a specified obligation), (c) is final and conclusive, (d) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty) has not been obtained by fraud; and (f) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities law if such judgment is determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. Because such a determination has not yet been made by a court of the Cayman Islands, it is uncertain whether such civil liability judgments from U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
Judgment of United States courts will not be directly enforced in Hong Kong. There are currently no treaties or other arrangements providing for reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments between Hong Kong and the United States. However, the common law permits an action to be brought upon a foreign judgment. That is to say, a foreign judgment itself may form the basis of a cause of action since the judgment may be regarded as creating a debt between the parties to it. In a common law action for enforcement of a foreign judgment in Hong Kong, the enforcement is subject to various conditions, including but not limited to, that the foreign judgment is a final judgment conclusive upon the merits of the claim, the judgment is for a liquidated amount in a civil matter and not in respect of taxes, fines, penalties, or similar charges, the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice, and the enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy of Hong Kong. Such a judgment must be for a fixed sum and must also come from a “competent” court as determined by the private international law rules applied by the Hong Kong courts. The defenses that are available to a defendant in a common law action brought on the basis of a foreign judgment include lack of jurisdiction, breach of natural justice, fraud, and contrary to public policy. However, a separate legal action for debt must be commenced in Hong Kong in order to recover such debt from the judgment debtor.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.
We are a company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by our minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under the Cayman Islands laws are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under the Cayman Islands laws are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
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Shareholders of Cayman Islands companies like us have no general rights under the Cayman Islands laws to inspect corporate records, other than the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and any special resolutions passed by such companies, and the registers of mortgages and charges of such companies. Our directors have discretion under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, where our holding company was incorporated, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. Currently, we do not plan to rely on home country practice with respect to our corporate governance. However, if we choose to follow the Cayman Islands’ practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of our board of directors, or our Controlling Shareholder than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.
As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain Cayman Islands’ practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards.
As a Cayman Islands company to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards. However, the Nasdaq Capital Market rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards. Currently, we do not plan to rely on home country practices with respect to our corporate governance. However, if we choose to follow home country practices in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy under the Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, which could subject United States investors in our Ordinary Shares to significant adverse United States income tax consequences.
We will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year if either (i) 75% or more of our gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income, or (ii) 50% or more of the value of our assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). Based upon our current and expected income and assets, as well as projections as to the market price of our Ordinary Shares, we do not presently expect to be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future.
While we do not expect to be a PFIC, because the value of our assets, for purposes of the asset test, may be determined by reference to the market price of our Ordinary Shares, fluctuations in the market price of our Ordinary Shares may cause us to become a PFIC classification for the current or subsequent taxable years. The determination of whether we will be or become a PFIC will also depend, in part, on the composition and classification of our income, including the relative amounts of income generated by and the value of assets of our future strategic investment business as compared to our other businesses. Because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, it is possible that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, may challenge our classification of certain income and assets as non-passive which may result in our being or becoming a PFIC in the current or subsequent years. In addition, the composition of our income and assets will also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in the initial public offering. If we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of being a PFIC may substantially increase. Because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules and PFIC status is a factual determination made annually after the close of each taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year.
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If we are a PFIC in any taxable year, a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”) may incur significantly increased United States income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of our Ordinary Shares and on the receipt of distributions on our Ordinary Shares to the extent such gain or distribution is treated as an “excess distribution” under the United States federal income tax rules, and such holder may be subject to burdensome reporting requirements. Further, if we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary Shares, we will generally continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary Shares. For more information see “Item 10. Additional Information—10.E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised, and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.
As an “emerging growth company” under applicable law, we will be subject to lessened disclosure requirements. Such reduced disclosure may make our Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors.
For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, we will elect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies”, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Because of these lessened regulatory requirements, our shareholders would be left without information or rights available to shareholders of more mature companies. If some investors find our Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Ordinary Shares and our share price may be more volatile.
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an “emerging growth company.”
We will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses as a public company that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, Nasdaq Capital Market, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies.
Compliance with these rules and regulations increases our legal and financial compliance costs and makes some corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. After we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” or until five years following the completion of our initial public offering, whichever is earlier, we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. For example, as a public company, we have been required to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. We have incurred additional costs in obtaining director and officer liability insurance. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult or costly for us to find qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers as a public company. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
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Item 4. Information on the Company
4.A. History and Development of the Company
Corporate History
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company on February 1, 2023 under law of the Cayman Islands. It is a holding company and is not actively engaged in any business. Under its memorandum of association, Top Wealth Group Holding Limited is authorized to issue 500,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of which 27,000,000 Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding. The registered office of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited is at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands.
Top Wealth (BVI) Holding Limited was incorporated under the law of the British Virgin Islands as the intermediate holding company of Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, on January 18, 2023 as part of the reorganization. Top Wealth (BVI) Holding Limited is wholly-owned by Top Wealth Group Holding Limited.
Top Wealth Group (International) Limited was incorporated on September 22, 2009 under the laws of Hong Kong. Top Wealth Group (International) Limited is our operating entity and is indirectly wholly-owned by Top Wealth Group Holding Limited through Top Wealth (BVI) Holding Limited.
In March, 2023, we carried out a series of transactions to reorganize the legal structure of the Top Wealth group of companies. On March 21, 2023, the Top Wealth Group Holding Limited acquired 100% interest in Top Wealth (BVI) Group Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, at a nominal value of US$10 from the shareholders of Winwin Development Group Limited. On March 24, 2023, Top Wealth Group Holding Limited, through Top Wealth (BVI) Group Limited, acquired 100% interest in the Top Wealth Group (International) Limited (“Top Wealth International”), Hong Kong Operating Subsidiary, at a nominal consideration of US$10 from the shareholders of Winwin Development Group Limited.
On October 12, 2023, in contemplation of Company’s initial public offering, Top Wealth Group Holding Limited further issued 26,999,250 Ordinary Shares in aggregate to its shareholders at par value, on a pro rata basis proportional to the shareholders’ existing equity interests (collectively refers as the “Pro Rata Share Issuance”), which has been treated as a share split. After the Pro Rata Share Issuance, 27,000,000 Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding. The following table sets forth the breakdown of the Pro Rata Share Issuance to each shareholder:
| Shareholders | Number of Ordinary Shares Issued | |||
| Winwin Development Group Limited | 20,159,440 | |||
| Beyond Glory Worldwide Limited | 1,727,952 | |||
| Keen Sky Global Limited | 1,763,951 | |||
| State Wisdom Holdings Limited | 1,763,951 | |||
| Snow Bear Capital Limited | 899,975 | |||
| Mercury Universal Investment Limited | 683,981 | |||
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On October 16, 2023, State Wisdom Holdings Limited and Keen Sky Global Limited transferred 432,000 and 432,000 Ordinary Shares to Greet Harmony Global Limited at the consideration of HK$314,685 (approximately US$40,344) and HK$314,685 (approximately US$40,344), respectively. On the same day, Beyond Global Worldwide Limited transferred 540,000 Ordinary Shares to Mercury Universal Investment Limited at the consideration of HK$393,356 (approximately US$50,430).
Corporate Structure
The following diagram illustrates the corporate structure of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited and its subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report:
Holding Company Structure
TW Cayman is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily in Hong Kong through our Operating Subsidiary, TW HK, in Hong Kong. Investors in our Ordinary Shares are purchasing equity securities of TW Cayman, the Cayman Islands holding company, instead of shares of our Operating Subsidiary in Hong Kong. Investors in our Ordinary Shares should be aware that they may never directly hold equity interests in our Operating Subsidiary.
As a holding company, TW Cayman may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by its subsidiaries for its cash and financing requirements. If our existing Operating Subsidiary or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us.
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Transfers of Cash between Our Company and Our Subsidiaries
Our management monitors the cash position of each entity within our organization regularly and prepare budgets on a monthly basis to ensure each entity has the necessary funds to fulfill its obligation for the foreseeable future and to ensure adequate liquidity. In the event that there is a need for cash or a potential liquidity issue, it will be reported to our Chief Financial Officer and subject to approval by our board of directors, we will enter into an intercompany loan for the subsidiary.
For TW Cayman to transfer cash to its subsidiaries, TW Cayman is permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands and its memorandum and articles of association to provide funding to our subsidiaries incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. TW Cayman’s subsidiary, TW BVI, formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands is permitted under the laws of the British Virgin Islands to provide funding to its Operating Subsidiary, TW HK, formed in Hong Kong through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. For the subsidiaries to transfer cash to TW Cayman, according to the BVI Business Companies Act 2004 (as amended), a British Virgin Islands company may make dividends distribution to the extent that immediately after the distribution, such company’s assets do not exceed its liabilities and that such company is able to pay its debts as they fall due. According to the Companies Ordinance of Hong Kong, a Hong Kong company may only make a distribution out of profits available for distribution. Other than the above, we did not adopt or maintain any cash management policies and procedures as of the date of this annual report.
TW Cayman has not made any dividends or distributions to U.S. investors as of the date of this annual report. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, no dividends or distribution have been made to date by our subsidiaries.
Under the current practice of the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong, no tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends paid by us. The laws and regulations of the PRC on currency conversion control do not currently have any material impact on the transfer of cash from TW Cayman to TW HK from TW HK to TW Cayman. There are no restrictions or limitations under the laws of Hong Kong imposed on the conversion of HK dollar into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of Hong Kong, nor is there any restriction on any foreign exchange to transfer cash between TW Cayman and its subsidiaries, across borders and to U.S. investors, nor there is any restrictions and limitations to distribute earnings from the subsidiaries, to TW Cayman and U.S. investors and amounts owed.
For TW Cayman to make dividends to its shareholders, subject to the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands , which we refer to as the Companies Act below, and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, our board of directors may authorize and declare a dividend to shareholders from time to time out of the profits from the Company, realized or unrealized, or out of the share premium account, provided that the Company will remain solvent, meaning the Company is able to pay its debts as they come due in the ordinary course of business. There is no further Cayman Islands statutory restriction on the amount of funds which may be distributed by us in the form of dividends.
We do not have any present plan to declare or pay any dividends on our Ordinary Shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and future earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business. Any future determination related to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors after considering our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, contractual requirements, business prospects and other factors the board of directors deems relevant, and subject to the restrictions contained in any future financing instruments, in our Memorandum and Articles of Association and in the Companies Act.
The Initial Public Offering
On April 18, 2024, the Company completed its initial public offering on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“Nasdaq”). In this offering, 2,000,000 Ordinary Shares were issued at a price of US$4.00 per share. The gross proceeds received from the initial public offering totaled US$8 million. The Offering closed on April 18, 2024 and the Ordinary Shares began trading on April 16, 2024 on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “TWG.”
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Emerging Growth Company Status
As a company with less than US$1.235 billion in revenue for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements compared to those that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting. The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. Pursuant to the JOBS Act, we have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our operating results and financial statements may not be comparable to the operating results and financial statements of other companies who have adopted the new or revised accounting standards.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.235 billion; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO; (iii) the date on which we have, during the preceding three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our Ordinary Shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Once we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above.
Foreign Private Issuer Status
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and more than 50 percent of our outstanding voting securities are not directly or indirectly held by residents of the United States. Therefore, we are a “foreign private issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and Rule 3b-4(c) under the Exchange Act. As a result, we are not subject to the same requirements as U.S. domestic issuers. Under the Exchange Act, we will be subject to reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, we will not be required to issue quarterly reports or proxy statements. We will not be required to disclose detailed individual executive compensation information. Furthermore, our directors and executive officers will not be required to report equity holdings under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and will not be subject to the insider short-swing profit disclosure and recovery regime. In addition, as a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq Stock Market corporate governance requirements. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq Stock Market corporate governance requirements.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at Units 714 & 715, 7F, Hong Kong Plaza, 188 Connaught Road West, Hong Kong. Our telephone number at this address is +852 36158567. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc. located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168.
Investors should contact us for any inquiries through the address and telephone number of our principal executive offices. Our website is https://www.imperialcristalcaviar.com/ and https://ir.imperialcristalcaviar.com. The information contained on our website is not a part of this annual report.
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Implication of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”)
The HFCAA was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states if the SEC determines that a company has 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 the company’s shares from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the United States.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the HFCAA. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which was signed into law on December 29, 2022, amending the HFCAA and requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchange if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years.
On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether the PCAOB 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.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act, which took effect on January 10, 2022. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 16, 2021, PCAOB announced the PCAOB HFCA Act determinations (the “PCAOB determinations”) relating to the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China of the PRC or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward and is making plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.
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Our auditor, Onestop Assurance PAC, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 included in this annual report, is currently subject to PCAOB inspections and the PCAOB is able to inspect our auditor. Onestop Assurance PAC, headquartered in Singapore, has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis. Our auditor is not headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. Therefore, we believe that, as of the date of this annual report, our auditor is not subject to the PCAOB determinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the future, if there is any regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit Onestop Assurance PAC to provide audit documentations located in China or Hong Kong to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, or the PACOB expands the scope of the Determination so that we are subject to the HFCAA, as the same may be amended, you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection which could result in limitation or restriction to our access to the U.S. capital markets and trading of our securities, including trading on the national exchange. See “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares— The PCAOB may be unable to inspect or fully investigate our auditors as required under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, as amended. If the PCAOB is unable to conduct such inspections for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit the trading of our shares. The delisting of our shares, 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 of our auditors would deprive our investors of the benefits of such inspections.” We cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or other regulatory authorities will apply additional or more stringent criteria to us. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of our Ordinary Shares to be materially and adversely affected.
B. Business Overview
Overview
Our mission is to become a world-renowned supplier of the finest selection of caviar and offer caviar-based gourmet products around the globe with unparalleled gastronomical experience.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, we are a fast-growing supplier of caviar products. We are currently specialized in supplying high-quality sturgeons caviar. Our caviar is endorsed with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”) permits, which certifies that our caviar is legally traded. We are one of the major suppliers of caviar in Hong Kong. We have secured a long-term and exclusive supply of caviar raw products from a PRC sturgeon farm.
Since we established our caviar business in August 2021, we had supplied caviar to our customers under their brand labels (i.e. private labeling) or without brand labels. Subsequently in November 2021, we established our own caviar brand, “Imperial Cristal Caviar”, and started selling caviar under our own brand as well. With its exquisite package design, our branded caviar is ideal to be presented as both culinary delights and festive gifts. Imperial Cristal Caviar has continuously achieved tremendous sales growth since its launch in the market.
In March 2023, as the addition to the gastronomical experience of our caviar, we have commenced our wine trading business line, to complement our caviar business. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, our wine trading business line contributed revenue of US$4,460,092, compared to Nil for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The fine wine we distribute include white wine, red wine, and Champagne, from various countries including France, Greek, and Spain, etc. Our wine trading business only involves the distribution of fine wine within Hong Kong on business-to-business (B2B) sales, primarily to our F&B related distributor customers, in particular, the F&B related distributor customers who we supply our caviar product. We do not import or manufacture the wine we distribute, instead, we source the wines from our wine suppliers in Hong Kong on an as-demand per order basis. Therefore, we are not subject to the relevant licensing requirements that apply to sale of alcoholic beverages in Hong Kong.
We take pride in our well-tested, reliable caviar supply chain management module, which helps ensure the palatability and freshness of our products when they reach our customers. We are among one of the few Hong Kong caviar suppliers being able to secure a long-term and exclusive supply of caviar raw products from a PRC sturgeon farm. In April 2022, we entered into an exclusive supply agreement with the agent and sole distributor of a well-established sturgeon farm in Fujian, the PRC, which appointed us as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau for conducting overseas distribution and granted us the rights to procure caviar directly from it for a term of 10 years. This sturgeon farm is one of the six existing PRC sturgeon farms which are officially permitted to export locally-bred roe. We have engaged a Hong Kong-based supply chain management company to handle the logistics, warehousing and packaging workflows in our supply chain, so we can strategically focus on brand-building and product quality assurance.
We are dedicated to enhancing our brand awareness. As part of our sales and marketing efforts, we have proactively participated in food expo and set up pop-up stores across the world. We have also collaborated with famous food bloggers and used different online platforms and media coverage to promote and strengthen the publicity of our products. We regularly invite chefs of notable hotels and restaurants to our tasting events. Currently, our caviar are served on the menus of various 5-star and Michelin-star restaurants in Hong Kong.
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We generate all of our revenues, through our Operating Subsidiary, from trading of caviar products and wine. Our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were US$16.9 million, US$8.5 million and US$19,615, respectively. We have turned around from a loss before tax of approximately US$16,888 for the year ended December 31, 2021 to a profit before tax of approximately US$2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and we have maintained a profit before tax of approximately US$3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Our top five customers accounted for 92.0% and 91.1% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Our customers, including our top five customers, primarily include food and beverage (“F&B”) related distributors. We have strategically focused on business-to-business sales (B2B) which would allow us access to our customers’ sales network and consumer base that helps us maximize the reach of our products swiftly and effectively. As our caviar products gain popularity worldwide, our customer base has continuously expanded as a result of customers’ referral and our marketing efforts. Our caviar products are mainly sold to customers based in Hong Kong and a substantial portion are exported overseas by our customers. As our products gradually become more well-known in the international market, we aspire to expand our sales channels from only selling through distributors to selling our products directly to overseas customers.
Our major suppliers include (i) a sole distributor and agent of a sturgeon farm in the PRC, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi Biotechnology Co., Ltd (“Fujian Aoxuanlaisi”), which supplies caviar raw product to us; (ii) a Hong Kong supply chain management company, Sunfun (China) Limited (“Sunfun China”), which handles the logistics, warehousing and packaging workflows in our supply chain; (iii) a Hong Kong wine distributor, which supplies fine wine to us; and (iv) other suppliers which supply packaging materials and printing services to us. We solely and materially rely on Fujian Aoxuanlaisi as our supplier for caviar raw product. Fujian Aoxuanlaisi is the agent and sole appointed distributor of a well-established PRC sturgeon farm, operated by Fujian Longhuang Biotech Co. Limited (“Fujian Longhuang”). Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Fujian Longhuang currently maintain a long-term exclusive sales agreement for 15 years, from December 2020 to December 2035. Historically, before April 2022, we obtained the supply of caviar raw product from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi on an as-demand per order basis, without any long-term agreements. In April 2022, our Operating Subsidiary, Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, has entered into the Caviar Sales Agreement with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, appointed us as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau. We do not have any direct supply agreement with Fujian Longhuang, the PRC sturgeon farm.
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, our procurement from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi amounted to approximately US$6.2 million, US$5.3 million, and US$0.3 million respectively, representing approximately 64.3%, 90% and 100% of our total purchases for the corresponding year. Our material reliance on Fujian Aoxuanlaisi as the sole supplier of our caviar raw product exposes us to unique and significant risk, for detailed discussion, please see “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks related to our Business and Industry — We solely and materially rely on Fujian Aoxuanlaisi Biotechnology Co., Ltd (“Fujian Aoxuanlaisi”), the exclusive distributor of a PRC sturgeon farm, as our sole supplier for the supply of caviar raw product. Such arrangement materially and adversely exposes us to unique risk. Any disruption in the supplier’s relationships, either between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and the PRC sturgeon farm, or between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and us, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any disruption in the provision of caviar from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi or PRC sturgeon farm and our inability to identify alternative caviar supplier may materially and adversely affect our business operations and financial results.”
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Competitive Strengths
A fast-growing luxury caviar products supplier with a premier brand image
We position ourselves as a luxury caviar products supplier aiming to supply the finest selection of luxury caviar products and offer gourmet products around the globe with unparalleled gastronomical experience. We are currently specialized in supplying high quality sturgeons caviar. In November 2021, we established our own caviar brand, “Imperial Cristal Caviar”. Imperial Cristal Caviar is highly recognized by consumers in terms of its tastiness, texture, palatability, appearance and packaging. Our packaging carries a delicate design that conveys elegance and exclusivity and is ideal to be presented as both culinary delights and festive gifts. Our house caviar products are also well-received by chefs of 5-star and Michelin-star restaurants who serve our caviar products on their menus.
An extensive distribution network which allows us to stay abreast of the latest trend and development of consumers’ taste
We have access to an extensive distribution network which allows us to connect with a broad range of consumers around the world and to stay abreast of the latest trend and development of consumers’ taste. Our caviar products are mainly sold to F&B related distributors in Hong Kong, which then export and resell such goods to downstream customers such as supermarket, retail stores, F&B chain and consumers across the world. Leveraging the sales network and consumer base of our distributors, our caviar products have been exported overseas to different countries. Through sales channels that cover extensive points of sale across countries and regions, we serve a variety of consumer groups with diversified demands, which deepens our market penetration and extends our geographical coverage.
A strict and comprehensive quality control system to effectively control our product safety and quality
Food safety and quality control are of paramount importance to our reputation and business. To ensure food safety and quality, we have established a comprehensive set of standards and requirements covering each facet of our supply chain, ranging from procurement, logistics, warehousing to packaging.
We carefully select the source of caviar supplies. We have reviewed all certifications required from our caviar supplier in the PRC for, among other things, the operation of sturgeon farm in the PRC and exporting caviar products overseas. Our caviar products are endorsed with the CITES permits, which certifies that our caviar is legally traded. We conduct sample inspection on each incoming batch of caviar.
Our food processing factory is operated by the supply chain management company and we require its staff to follow a comprehensive set of operation manual and technical protocols prescribed by us. We provide instruction and regular on-the-job training to the processing staff to ensure their work standard and efficiency. In order to maintain the quality and freshness of our caviar, our food processing factory is equipped with temperature control system that mandates a prescribed temperature range. We implement strict and comprehensive measures in our food processing factory to ensure sanitation and hygiene at the premises, such as mandating the processing staff to wear standardized clothing, conducting regular inspection on the packaging equipment and performing routine maintenance and cleaning.
The supply chain management company has designated a quality control staff at our food processing factory to inspect and monitor the processing procedures. The quality control staff will conduct quality control testing and inspection throughout the packaging process and ensure the taste, size, quality and packaging of our caviar products conform with our quality standards and requirements.
Since the establishment of our caviar business and up to the date of this annual report, we did not encounter any material food safety incidents and we had not experienced any product liability claims.
A stable and exclusive procurement source of caviar
We take pride in our well-tested, reliable caviar supply chain management module, which helps ensure the palatability and freshness of our products when they reach our customers. We are among one of the few Hong Kong caviar suppliers being able to secure long-term and exclusive supply of caviar from sturgeon farm. We have entered into an exclusive supply agreement with the sole distributor of a well-established sturgeon farm in the PRC in April 2022, which appointed us as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau for conducting overseas distribution and granted us the rights to procure caviar directly from it for a term of 10 years. This sturgeon farm is one of the six existing PRC sturgeon farms which are officially permitted to export locally-bred roe. Our end-to-end supply chain business model not only improves cost efficiency, it also promotes consumers’ confidence in our caviar products as well as facilitate our sales and marketing plans.
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Growth Strategies
Expand our global market presence
We strive to strengthen our global market presence in developed markets with a strong consumer base, such as Europe, the United States, Japan, Dubai, Australia and Southeast Asia (collectively, the “Target Regions”). We intend to establish representative offices at each of the Target Regions to access the local consumers. We currently plan to recruit local sales and marketing staff to conduct marketing activities in such regions, ranging from (i) conducting product promotion; (ii) brand building; (iii) maintaining regular communication with local customers; (iv) collecting feedbacks from local consumers on our products; and (v) maintaining regular communication and interaction with different industry players, so we can stay abreast of the latest trend and development of local consumers’ tastes.
As our products gradually become more well-known in the international market, we aspire to expand our sales channels from only selling through distributors to selling our products directly to overseas customers. Material obstacles that we have to overcome include (i) the competition for high-quality sales and distribution partners is intense and we may not be able to offer more favorable arrangement than our competitors; (ii) there may not be suitable distribution channels or overseas customers in the markets that we planned to expand; (iii) we may not be able to hire, train and retain skilled local sales and marketing staffs; and (iv) we may encounter difficulties in adapting our logistics and management systems to an expanded distribution network. However, leveraging our competitive strengths described in the paragraph headed “Competitive Strengths” above, we are confident that we will be able to expand our sales channels to overseas customers three years after the Offering.
Strengthen our sales and marketing activities
We plan to strengthen our sales and marketing activities and increase our market exposure and brand awareness by participating in food-expo and collaborating with luxurious restaurants, hotels and private clubs to host tasting events in different countries and regions. Further, we plan to invite the media and chefs from notable restaurants and hotels to visit the sturgeon farm which supplies caviar raw products to us. We believe we can provide the participants with a better understanding of our procurement source and give them stronger assurance with respect to our product safety, quality and hygienic conditions, thereby enhancing the brand image of our products.
Expand our procurement source and broaden our product portfolio
We are committed to sourcing top-quality caviar from the best sturgeon farms around the world. We currently plan to expand our procurement source and broaden our product portfolio by exploring potential co-operations with sturgeon farms located in Europe and/or the United States. In identifying suitable caviar suppliers, we will conduct on-site inspection at the selected sturgeon farms and conduct legal and business due diligence on their background and operations. We would also verify that the caviar supplied by the selected sturgeon farms complies with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. We believe that expansion in our product portfolio will provide a wider selection of caviar for our customers in terms of places of origin, as well as species and ages of sturgeon.
Depending on the availability of potential acquisition targets, we also plan to carry out vertical expansion by acquiring non-controlling stakes in suitable sturgeon farms in Europe and/or the United States. We believe that through integration with upstream sturgeon farms, we can guarantee a stable supply of caviar with consistent high quality.
Our Caviar Products and Our Own Brand
Headquartered in Hong Kong, we are a fast-growing supplier of luxury caviar products. We are currently specialized in supplying premium class sturgeons caviar. Our caviar is endorsed with the CITES permits, which certifies that our caviar is legally traded. We are one of the major suppliers of caviar in Hong Kong being able to secure a long-term and exclusive supply of caviar raw products from sturgeon farm.
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Since we established our caviar business in August 2021, we had supplied caviar to our customers under their brand labels (i.e. private labelling) or without brand labels. Subsequently in November 2021, we established our own caviar brand, “Imperial Cristal Caviar”, and started selling caviar under our own brand as well. With its exquisite package design, our branded caviar is ideal to be presented as both culinary delights and festive gifts. Imperial Cristal Caviar has continuously achieved tremendous sales growth since its launch in the market.
The table below sets forth details of our own brand caviar products:
| Product Line | : | Imperial | |||
| Sturgeon Species | : | Huso Dauricus |  | ||
| Roe Size | : | 3.2mm – 3.4mm | |||
| Packaging Size | : | 10/30/50/100/250 gram |
| Product Line | : | Osietra | |||
| Sturgeon Species | : | Acipenser Schrenckii and Huso Dauricus |  | ||
| Roe Size | : | 2.9mm – 3.1mm | |||
| Packaging Size | : | 10/30/50/100/250 gram |
Operation Flow
The diagram below illustrates the operation flow of our product supply chain:
(a) Receipt of purchase order from customer
Our customers place orders with us on an as-needed basis and their purchase orders generally set forth the key terms including species of sturgeon, roe size, quantity and unit price per kilogram.
(b) Procurement of caviar from sturgeon farm
Depending on our inventory level and customers’ orders on hand, our sales and marketing staff will place purchase orders with the agent and sole distributor of a sturgeon farm in the PRC. The quantity that we order from the supplier is typically slightly in excess of the quantity ordered by our customers such that we could maintain certain inventory to meet any ad-hoc orders from our customers.
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(c) Importation from the PRC
Our supplier will arrange for the transportation of caviar from the PRC to Hong Kong by air cargo. Our supplier is responsible for obtaining CITES permit in the PRC and handling the required documentation for the export of goods to Hong Kong. The supply chain management company engaged by us will handle the customs clearance procedures in Hong Kong and collect our goods at the designated port.
(d) Packaging at the Hong Kong food processing factory
We engage a Hong Kong-based supply chain management company to handle the processing of our products. The supply chain management company deploys labor to perform food packaging and labelling at our food processing factory located in Hong Kong. Depending on the purchase order and requirements of our customers, our caviar products are packaged in different sizes of containers and labelled with our own brand or our customers’ brands (i.e. private labelling) or without brand labels. We provide instruction and regular on-the-job training to the processing staff to ensure their work standard and efficiency. In order to maintain the quality and freshness of our caviar, our food processing factory is equipped with temperature control system that mandates a prescribed temperature range.
(e) Quality inspection
The supply chain management company has designated a quality control staff at our food processing factory to inspect and monitor the processing procedures. The quality control staff will conduct quality control testing and inspection throughout the packaging process and ensure the taste, size, quality and packaging of our caviar products conform with our quality standards and requirements.
(f) Local delivery/Exportation to foreign countries
The supply chain management company engaged by us will also provide logistics, transportation and customs clearance services for delivering our caviar products to the destination specified by our customers on or before our prescribed time. Our products are mainly sold free on board (“FOB”) in Hong Kong. Depending on our customers’ requirements, our caviar products are either delivered to specified locations in Hong Kong or exported overseas. The supply chain management company is responsible for applying for re-export license for the re-exportation of our caviar products to foreign countries on our behalf.
Our Customers
Our customers primarily and substantially include F&B-related distributors. We have strategically focused on business-to-business sales (B2B) which would allow us access to our customers’ sales network and consumer base that helps us maximize the reach of our products swiftly and effectively. As our caviar products gain popularity worldwide, our customer base has continuously expanded as a result of customers’ referral and our marketing efforts.
Furthermore, to complement our caviar business, in March 2023, we have commenced our wine trading business line.
Our wine trading business only involves the distribution of fine wine within Hong Kong on business-to-business (B2B) sales, primarily to our F&B related distributor customers, in particular, the F&B related distributor customers who we supply our caviar product.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, there were four customers each generated over 10% of our total revenue for the year, and they in aggregate accounted for approximately 82.6% of our total revenue for the year. One of these four customers is our related party and all of our transactions with such related party have been ceased after December 31, 2022. Our top five customers are Sunfun (China) Limited, accounting for 37.4% of our sales volume, Channel Power Limited, accounting for 17.7% of sales volume, Beauty and Health International Company Limited, accounting for 15% of sales volume, Beauty and Health International E-Commerce Limited, accounting for 12.5% of our sales volume, and Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited, accounting for 9.4% of our sales volume. For the year ended December 31, 2023, there were three customers each generated over 10% of our total revenue for the period, and they in aggregate accounted for approximately 75.5% of our sales volume. Our top 3 customers for the year ended December 31, 2023 are, Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited, accounting for 34.5 % of our sales volume in the period, Sunfun (China) Limited, accounting for 25.0% of our sales volume, A One Marketing Limited accounting for 16.5% of our sales volume.
Geographical coverage
Our caviar products are mainly sold to customers based in Hong Kong and a substantial portion are exported overseas by our customers. As our caviar products gradually become more well-known in the international market, we aspire to expand our sales channels from only selling through distributors to selling our products directly to overseas customers.
Substantially all of the fine wine we distributed are sold to customers based in Hong Kong.
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General terms with customers
Our customers place purchase orders for our caviar products and wine with us on an as-needed basis. For our caviar product, we entered into distributorship agreements with our F&B related distributor customers.
The material terms of our distributorship agreements for our caviar product with our F&B related distributor customers are summarized as follows:
| Principal term | Description | ||||
| Product description | : | The distributorship agreements set out the type of caviar products to be supplied by us and other product specifications such as sturgeon species, place of origin, roe size, quality standards, shelf life and annual procurement amount. | |||
| Pricing | : | The distributorship agreements set out the unit price for each of our products to be supplied, which is typically agreed at a fixed price per kilogram. | |||
| Term | : | Generally one year and may be renewed upon mutual agreement and negotiation. | |||
| Delivery arrangements | : | We are responsible for the transportation of products to the destination specified by our customers on or before the date as stipulated in the purchase orders. The transportation costs and other related expenses are borne by us. | |||
| Rights and responsibilities of us | : | Our rights and responsibilities under the distributorship agreements mainly include the following: | |||
| (i) | to be informed and supervise the sales and marketing activities conducted by our F&B related distributor customers in relation to our products; | ||||
| (ii) | review the sales and marketing materials prepared by our F&B related distributor customers in relation to our products; | ||||
| (iii) | provide copies of quality inspection report, production approvals, corporate licences and other relevant documentation in relation to our products to our F&B related distributor customers; | ||||
| (iv) | products supplied by us shall comply with applicable quality standards; and | ||||
| (v) | any increase in price of our products shall not exceed a certain prescribed percentage upon renewal of the distributorship agreement. | ||||
| Rights and responsibilities of our F&B related distributor customers | : | The rights and responsibilities of our F&B related distributor customers under the distributorship agreements mainly include the following: | |||
| (i) | achieve a certain percentage of annual sales growth, which shall be a condition for the renewal of the distributorship agreement; | ||||
| (ii) | refrain from engaging in any activities which result in damages to our brand image; | ||||
| (iii) | only engage in sales and marketing activities of our products within designated region(s) or territory(ies) and prescribed sales channel; | ||||
| (iv) | keep our products, business, sales strategies and other information confidential; and | ||||
| (v) | provide all sales and marketing materials in relation to our products to us for approval. | ||||
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Product return
Due to the perishable nature of caviar, we generally do not accept any product return from our customers except under certain limited circumstances, such as when products are defective, poorly packaged or damaged or the quantity delivered was inconsistent with the purchase order. Our customers are normally required to report any quality issue to us within three business days upon their receipt of our products. We have not experienced any material product return so far.
Credit and payment terms
We generally grant our customers a credit period ranging from 30 to 60 days from the invoice date. Our customers generally settle their payments in Hong Kong dollars by telegraphic transfer.
Seasonality
Up to the date of this annual report, we have not experienced any pronounced seasonality, but such fluctuations may have been masked by our rapid growth.
Pricing Strategies
The selling prices of our caviar products are determined on a cost-plus pricing approach with reference to, among other things, cost of sales which mainly represents procurement costs and costs incurred in relation to our supply chain management and a percentage of mark-up over our estimated cost of sales. The percentage of mark-up may vary based on factors such as (i) prevailing market prices for different caviar products; (ii) size of purchase order; (iii) type of customer; (iv) length of relationship with the customer; (v) supply and demand mechanism in our target markets; (vi) consumer preference; and (vii) any positive impact on our brand reputation.
Sales and Marketing
We have strategically focused on business-to-business sales (B2B) which would allow us access to our customers’ sales network and consumer base that helps us maximize the reach of our products swiftly and effectively. As our caviar products gain popularity worldwide, our customer base has gradually expanded as a result of customers’ referral and our marketing efforts.
We are dedicated to enhancing our brand awareness. Our sales and marketing representatives are primarily responsible for conducting business development and marketing activities. They are responsible for (i) enhancing our promotion and sales efforts; (ii) actively approaching and liaising with our existing and potential customers; and (iii) collecting feedbacks and handling any queries on our products from customers.
As part of our sales and marketing efforts, we have proactively participated in food expo and set up pop-up stores across the world. We have also collaborated with famous food bloggers and used different online platforms and media coverage to promote and strengthen the publicity of our products. We regularly invite chefs of notable hotels and restaurants to our tasting events. Currently our caviar products are served on the menus of various 5-star as well as Michelin-star restaurants in Hong Kong.
Our Suppliers
Our major suppliers include (i) a sole distributor and agent of a sturgeon farm in the PRC, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi Biotechnology Co., Ltd (“Fujian Aoxuanlaisi”), which supplies caviar raw product to us; (ii) a Hong Kong supply chain management company, Sunfun (China) Limited (“Sunfun China”), which handles the logistics, warehousing and packaging workflows in our supply chain; (iii) a Hong Kong wine distributor, which supplies fine wine to us; and (iv) other suppliers which supply packaging materials and printing services to us.
We solely and materially rely on Fujian Aoxuanlaisi as our supplier for caviar raw product. Fujian Aoxuanlaisi is the agent and sole appointed distributor of a well-established PRC sturgeon farm, operated by Fujian Longhuang Biotech Co. Limited (“Fujian Longhuang”). Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Fujian Longhuang currently maintain a long-term exclusive sales agreement for 15 years, from December 2020 to December 2035. Historically, before April 2022, we obtained the supply of caviar raw product from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi on an as-demand per order basis, without any long-term agreements. In April 2022, our Operating Subsidiary, Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, has entered into the Caviar Sales Agreement with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, appointed us as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau. We do not have any direct supply agreement with Fujian Longhuang, the PRC sturgeon farm.
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, our procurement from Fujian Aoxuanlaisi amounted to approximately US$6.2 million, US$5.3 million, and US$0.3 million respectively, representing approximately 64.3%, 90% and 100% of our total purchases for the corresponding year.
For fiscal ended December 31, 2023, Hong Kong wine distributor and importer, Silver Fame International (HK) Limited, supplies fine wine to us. We have not entered any agreement with Silver Fame International (HK) Limited, we obtain the supply of the fine wine from which on an as-demand per order basis. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, our procurement from Silver Fame International (HK) Limited amounted to approximately US$3.4 million, US$0.6 million, and nil respectively, representing approximately 35.6%, 10% and 0% of our total purchases for the corresponding year.
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Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, the sole distributor of the PRC sturgeon farm
In April 2022, our Operating Subsidiary, Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, has entered into the Caviar Sales Agreement with Fujian Aoxuanlaisi, the agent and the sole distributor of Fujian Longhuang, a PRC sturgeon farm. Pursuant to the Caviar Sales Agreement between Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, by way of Power of Attorney, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi appointed Top Wealth Group (International) Limited as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau for conducting overseas distribution and granted Top Wealth Group (International) Limited the rights to procure caviar directly for a term of 10 years, from 30 April 2022 to 30 April 2032. The Caviar Sales Agreement between our Operating Subsidiary and Fujian Aoxuanlaisi and the Power of Attorney granted by Fujian Aoxuanlaisi are collectively referred as the “Exclusive Supply Agreement.”
The principal terms of the Exclusive Supply Agreement are summarized as follows:
| Principal term | Description | ||||
| Product description | : | The agreement sets out the type of caviar to be supplied and other product specifications such as roe size and quality standards. | |||
| Pricing | : | The unit price for each type of caviar is typically agreed at a fixed price per kilogram, which is set out in the purchase orders. The unit pricing of caviar shall be determined based on the prevailing market price at the time when we place purchase orders, provided that the average unit price of caviar in any year shall not fluctuate by more than a certain percentage compared to the previous year. | |||
| Term | : | 10 years; from 30 April 2022 to 30 April 2032 | |||
| Minimum annual procurement/supply commitment | : | We and the Fujian Aoxuanlaisi are committed to minimum annual procurement/supply commitment, which is subject to pre-agreed increase in quantity from year to year. | |||
| Failure to fulfil the minimum annual procurement/supply commitment | : | In the event the Fujian Aoxuanlaisi fails to adhere to the minimum annual supply commitment in any year during the term of the exclusive supply agreement, the Fujian Aoxuanlaisi shall make up the shortfall by increasing the volume of supply in the following year and the unit price attributable to such volume shall be reduced by a certain percentage.
In the event we fail to adhere to the minimum annual procurement commitment in any year during the term of the exclusive supply agreement, we shall make up the shortfall by increasing the volume of procurement in the following year and the unit price attributable to such volume shall increase by a certain percentage. | |||
| Exclusivity | : | Fujian Aoxuanlaisi appointed Top Wealth Group (International) Limited as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong and Macau for conducting overseas distribution. | |||
| Warranty | : | The caviar supplied shall have a shell life of 12 months provided that it remains unopened and is maintained at a temperature of -20°C. | |||
| Credit and payment terms | : | Fujian Aoxuanlaisi grants us certain credit period after shipment. We generally settle payments in HKD by telegraphic transfer | |||
| Delivery arrangements | : | Fujian Aoxuanlaisi is responsible for arranging the transportation of caviar from the PRC to Hong Kong by air cargo as well as obtaining CITES permit in the PRC and handling the required documentation for the exportation of caviar from the PRC to Hong Kong. | |||
| Amendment and termination | : | No amendment or termination of the exclusive supply agreement shall be effective unless agreed in writing. | |||
| Rights and responsibilities of the supplier | : | The rights and responsibilities of the Fujian Aoxuanlaisi under the exclusive supply agreement mainly include the following: | |||
| (i) | provide inspection reports, production reports, business licenses and other information relevant to their caviar products; | ||||
| (ii) | maintain long-term stable supply of caviar to us; and | ||||
| (iii) | in the event the caviar products supplied by Fujian Aoxuanlaisi fails to fulfil the quality tests conducted by a third party inspection agency, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi shall arrange for a refund or replacement of the defected products for us and shall bear all the direct costs incurred by us as a result. | ||||
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There are no limitations on our business or ability to enter contracts with other caviar producers. There are no obligations for us to distribute caviar in Macau and we currently do not have plans to expand our business to Macau. To the best of our management’s understanding, the Fujian Aoxuanlaisi also supplies its caviar to other distributors in the PRC, Japan and various European countries. According to the exclusive supply agreement, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi has obligation to maintain long-term stable supply of caviar to us, even in the event of limited supply. According to the exclusive supply agreement, in the event Fujian Aoxuanlaisi fails to adhere to the minimum annual supply commitment in any year during the term of the exclusive supply agreement, Fujian Aoxuanlaisi shall make up the shortfall by increasing the volume of supply in the following year and the unit price attributable to such volume shall be reduced by a certain percentage. There are no provisions regarding modification, renewal and/or early termination of the agreement.
Supply chain management company
Historically and as of the date of the annual report, we have engaged a Hong Kong-based supply chain management company, Sunfun China Limited (“Sunfun China”), to handle the logistics, warehousing and packaging workflows in our supply chain, so we can strategically focus on brand-building and product quality assurance. On July 31, 2021, our Operating Subsidiary, Top Wealth Group (International) Limited has entered into a Food Processing Factory Leasing and Service Project Agreement (“Leasing and Service Agreement”) with Sunfun China, and such agreement is subsequently renewed on the same terms and conditions on February 11, 2023, until September 10, 2024.
Pursuant to Leasing and Service Agreement, in respect of logistics services, Sunfun China is responsible for handling the customs clearance procedures and applying for import license in Hong Kong and collecting our goods at the designated delivery port. The supply chain management company is also responsible for the transportation of our caviar through cold-chain to the places designated by our customers and handling the application procedures for re-export license for delivery to foreign countries. Furthermore, Sunfun China has also leased a food processing factory located in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, to Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, for carrying out the packaging and labelling of our caviar products. The food processing factory has obtained a food factory license from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong which is essential for food business involving the preparation of food for sale for human consumption off the premises. The license is valid for one year from April 18, 2023 to April 17, 2024. To safeguard the palatability and freshness of our caviar products, the food processing factory is equipped with temperature control system that mandates a prescribed temperature range. Upon our requests, the Sunfun China will deploy labor for food packaging and labelling at our food processing factory located in Hong Kong.
The principal terms of Leasing and Service Agreement are summarized as follows:
| Principal term | Description | |||||
| Term | : | 18 months | ||||
| (A) | Leasing of food processing factory premises | |||||
| License | : | Food factory license | ||||
| Facility and storage capacity | : | The premises shall have the capacity to store a specified volume of caviar and be equipped with cold storage facility which is maintained at the temperature between -18°C to -5°C | ||||
| Rental | : | Fixed monthly rental | ||||
| (B) | Packaging services | |||||
| Pricing | : | Subject to quotation based on packaging size and quantity | ||||
| (C) | Logistics services | |||||
| Local delivery | : | Fixed price which varies by delivery location | ||||
| National delivery | : | Subject to separate quotation | ||||
As of the date of this annual report, we have not experienced any material dispute with our suppliers and we do not foresee any material circumstances which would result in early termination of the supply agreement with our suppliers.
Quality Control
Food safety and quality control are of paramount importance to our reputation and business. To ensure food safety and quality, we have established a comprehensive set of standards and requirements covering each facet of our supply chain, ranging from procurement, logistics, warehousing to packaging.
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We have adopted a stringent policy and procedure on selecting the source of caviar supply. Due to the perishable nature of caviar, we strictly require the caviar processing procedures which involve over 10 works steps covering roe removal from sturgeons, washing and salting of caviar, to be completed over a timeframe of 15 minutes. We have reviewed all certifications required from our caviar supplier in the PRC for, among other things, the operation of sturgeon farm in the PRC and exporting caviar products overseas. Our caviar products are endorsed with the CITES permits, which certifies that our caviar is legally traded. We conduct sample inspection on each incoming batch of caviar.
The supply chain management company has designated a quality control staff at our food processing factory to inspect and monitor the processing procedures. The quality control staff will conduct quality control testing and inspection throughout the packaging process and ensure the taste, size, quality and packaging of our caviar products conform with our quality standards and requirements.
Our caviar products are transported through cold-chain from the PRC sturgeon farm to the places designated by our customers in order to ensure their palatability and freshness.
Since the establishment of our caviar business and up to the date of this annual report, we have not encountered any material food safety incidents and we had not experienced any product liability claims.
Insurance
We maintain employees’ compensation insurance for our directors and employees at our office with AXA General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, which covers the liability to make payment in the case of death, injury or disability of all our employees under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Chapter 282 of the Laws of Hong Kong) and at common law for injuries sustained at work. We believe that our current insurance policies are sufficient for our operations.
Licenses and Permits
Both the PRC and Hong Kong are parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”). Pursuant to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “PESO”), the importation, introduction from the sea, exportation, re-exportation and possession or control of specified endangered species of animals and plants, along with parts and derivatives of those species, are regulated under the PESO. Schedule 1 to the PESO sets out a list of species and categorizes them into different appendices which are regulated with varying degrees of control under the PESO. Sturgeons are included as regulated species under the PESO. In compliance with the PESO, our caviar is endorsed with the CITES permits, which certifies that our caviar is legally traded.
We do not import or manufacture the wine we distribute, instead, we source the wines from our wine suppliers who are the wine importers in Hong Kong on an as-demand per order basis. Therefore, we are not subject to the relevant licensing requirements that apply to the sale of alcoholic beverages in Hong Kong.
CITES permits
Pursuant to the PESO, the importation, introduction from the sea, exportation, re-exportation and possession or control of specified endangered species of animals and plants, along with parts and derivatives of those species, are regulated under the PESO. Schedule 1 to the PESO sets out a list of species and categorizes them into different appendices which are regulated with varying degrees of control under the PESO. Sturgeons are included as regulated species under the PESO.
Importation from the PRC to Hong Kong
Under the PESO, an importer may import caviar into Hong Kong from any other jurisdiction (including the PRC) only if the importer (i) obtains an import license issued by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong and produces such import license to an authorized officer of the Customs and Excise Department; and (ii) produces and surrenders the CITES permit issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting country to the authorized officer, for retention and cancellation.
In compliance with the PESO, the sturgeon farm or its agent is responsible for applying for CITES permit from the relevant regulatory authority in the PRC, while the supply chain management company is responsible for applying for import license from the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong on behalf of us.
Exportation from Hong Kong to foreign countries
Pursuant to the PESO, prior to the re-exportation of caviar out of Hong Kong, the re-exporter shall, pursuant to the PESO, apply for a re-export license from the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, which may be issued with or without conditions as the director considers appropriate. Any such re-export license obtained by the re-exporter shall be produced to an authorized officer of the Customs and Excise Department before the caviar is re-exported from Hong Kong.
In compliance with the PESO, we have engaged the supply chain management company to apply for re-export license from the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong on behalf of us when our caviar products are to be exported to foreign countries.
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Food factory license
Pursuant to section 31(1) of the Food Business Regulation (Chapter 132X of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“FBR”), no person shall carry on or cause, permit or suffer to be carried on any food factory business except under and in accordance with a food factory license from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong (the “FEHD”), which is required for the food business involving the preparation of food for sale for human consumption off the premises.
The FEHD may grant a provisional food factory license to a new applicant who has fulfilled the basic requirements in accordance with the FBR pending fulfilment of all outstanding requirements for the issue of a full food factory license. A provisional food factory licenses is valid for a period of six months or lesser and a full food factory license is valid generally for a period of one year, both subject to payment of the prescribed license fees and continuous compliance with the requirements under the relevant legislation and regulations. A provisional food factory license is renewable once and a full food factory license is renewable annually.
In compliance with the FBR, the supply chain management company, being the landlord of our food processing factory premises, has obtained a food factory license from the FEHD for the operation of our food processing factory, which is valid for one year from April 18, 2023 to April 17, 2024, subject to further renewal.
Environmental Protection
Both the PRC and Hong Kong are parties to the CITES. Pursuant to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “PESO”), the importation, introduction from the sea, exportation, re-exportation and possession or control of specified endangered species of animals and plants, along with parts and derivatives of those species, are regulated under the PESO. Schedule 1 to the PESO sets out a list of species and categorizes them into different appendices which are regulated with varying degrees of control under the PESO. Sturgeons are included as regulated species under the PESO. In compliance with the PESO, our caviar is endorsed with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”) permits, which certifies that our caviar is legally traded. For further details, please refer to the paragraph headed “Licenses and Permits” in this section below.
Due to the nature of our business, our operational activities do not directly generate industrial pollutants. As such, we have not directly incurred any cost of compliance with applicable environmental protection rules and regulations as of the date of this annual report and do not expect that we will directly incur significant costs for such compliance in the future.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not come across any material non-compliance issues in respect of any applicable laws and regulations on environmental protection. We have not been subject to any administrative sanctions or penalties that have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition or business operation.
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Regulations
Our business operations are conducted in Hong Kong and are subject to Hong Kong laws and regulations. Below summarize the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in Hong Kong.
Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance
The legal framework for food safety control in Hong Kong is set out in Part V of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Public Health Ordinance”) and the relevant sub-legislations thereunder. The Public Health Ordinance requires the manufacturers and sellers of food to ensure that their products are fit for human consumption and comply with the requirements in respect of food safety, food standards and labeling.
As the business of our Group principally involves retail of natural and organic foods in Hong Kong, our Group is subject to the Public Health Ordinance.
Section 50 of the Public Health Ordinance prohibits the manufacturing, advertising and sale in Hong Kong of food or drugs that are injurious to health. Anyone who fails to comply with this section commits an offence which carries a maximum penalty of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
Section 52 of the Public Health Ordinance provides that, subject to a number of defenses in section 53 of the same ordinance, if a seller sells to the prejudice of a purchaser any food or drug which is not of the nature, substance or quality of the food or drug demanded by the purchaser, the seller shall be guilty of an offence which carries a maximum penalty of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
According to section 54 of the Public Health Ordinance, any person who sells or offers or exposes for sale or has in his possession for the purpose of sale or preparation for sale or deposits with, or consigns to, any person for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, any food intended for, but unfit for, human consumption, or any drug intended for use by human but unfit for that purpose, shall be guilty of an offence. The maximum penalty for contravention of section 54 is a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Section 61 of the Public Health Ordinance provides that it shall be an offense for any person to give with any food or drug sold by him/her, or to display with any food or drug offered for sale by him/her, any label which falsely describes the food or drug or which is calculated to mislead as to its nature, substance or quality. Further, it shall also be an offense if any person publishes, or is a party to the publication of, an advertisement falsely describing any food or drug or that is likely to mislead as to the nature, substance or quality of any food or drug. However, the offender can rely on warranty as a defense.
Section 71(2) of the Public Health Ordinance specifies that if a warranty is given by a person resident outside Hong Kong, it shall only be a defense if the company (i) has, not later than three clear days before the date of the hearing, sent to the prosecutor a copy of the warranty with a notice stating that he/she intends to rely on it and specifying the name and address of the person from whom he/she received it; and (ii) has also sent a like notice to that person. In addition, the company has to prove that it had taken reasonable steps to ascertain, and did in fact believe in, the accuracy of the statement contained therein.
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Import and Export Ordinance
The Import and Export Ordinance (Chapter 60 of the Laws of Hong Kong) provides for the regulation and control of, amongst other things, the import and export of articles into or out of Hong Kong. According to the Import and Export (Registration) Regulations (Chapter 60E of the Laws of Hong Kong), a subsidiary legislation of the Import and Export Ordinance, an importer is under an obligation to lodge with the Customs and Excise Department an accurate and complete import declaration through a specified “Government Electronic Trading Services” provider. Further, a similar obligation is imposed on an exporter by the same Regulations.
Food Safety Ordinance
Food Safety Ordinance (Chapter 612 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Food Safety Ordinance”) establishes a registration scheme for food importers and food distributors to require the keeping of records by persons who acquire, capture, import or supply food and to enable food import controls to be imposed.
Registration as food importer or distributor
Sections 4 and 5 of the Food Safety Ordinance require any person who carries on a food importation business or food distribution business to register with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as a food importer or food distributor.
Any person who does not register but carries on a food importation or distribution business, without reasonable excuse, commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Record-keeping requirement relating to movement of food
Section 22 of the Food Safety Ordinance provides that a person who, in the course of business, imports food must record the following information about the acquisition of the food:
| ● | the date the food was acquired; |
| ● | the name and contact details of the person from whom the food was acquired; |
| ● | the place from where the food was imported; |
| ● | the total quantity of the food; and |
| ● | a description of the food. |
A record must be made under this section at or before the time the food is imported. Any person who fails to comply with the record-keeping requirement, without reasonable excuse, commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
Section 24 of the Food Safety Ordinance provides that a person who, in the course of business, supplies food in Hong Kong by wholesale must record the following information about the supply:
| ● | the date the food was supplied; |
| ● | the name and contact details of the person to whom the food was supplied; |
| ● | the total quantity of the food; and |
| ● | a description of the food. |
A record must be made under this section within 72 hours after the time the supply took place. Any person who fails to comply with the record-keeping requirement, without reasonable excuse, commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
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Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance
Both China and Hong Kong are parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”). The Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “PESO”) came into effect on 1 December 2006 to give effect to the CITES in Hong Kong. The importation, introduction from the sea, exportation, re-exportation and possession or control of specified endangered species of animals and plants, along with parts and derivatives of those species, are thus regulated under the PESO. Schedule 1 to the PESO sets out a list of species and categorizes them into different appendices which are regulated with varying degrees of control under the PESO. Sturgeons (except the species included in Appendix I) are included as an “Appendix II species”.
Under the PESO, an importer may import into Hong Kong from any other jurisdiction (including the PRC) caviar if (i) the importer produces the CITES permit issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting country to an authorized officer of the Customs and Excise Department; (ii) an authorized officer has inspected the caviar to compare it with the particulars on the CITES permit and is satisfied that the particulars tally; and (iii) the importer surrenders to the authorized officer the CITES permit for retention and cancellation.
Prior to the re-exportation of caviar out of Hong Kong, the re-exporter shall, pursuant to the PESO, apply for a re-export license from the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, which may be issued with or without conditions as the director considers appropriate. Any such re-export license obtained by the re-exporter shall be produced to an authorized officer of the Customs and Excise Department before the caviar is re-exported from Hong Kong.
As stipulated in the PESO, a person commits an offence if he or she imports caviar without an import license or re-exports caviar without a re-export license. A person guilty of an offence above is liable on conviction to a fine and imprisonment. Higher penalties can be imposed by the court if the offence is committed for commercial purposes.
Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance
The Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (Chapter 456 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance”) imposes a duty on manufacturers, importers and suppliers of certain consumer goods to ensure that the consumer goods they supply are safe and for incidental purposes.
Our products, other than food (which are specifically excluded under the schedule of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance), are regulated by the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance and the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (Chapter 456A of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Consumer Goods Safety Regulation”).
Section 4(1) of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance requires consumer goods to be reasonably safe having regard to all of the circumstances including (a) the manner in which, and the purpose for which the products are presented, promoted or marketed; (b) the use of any mark in relation to the consumer goods, instructions or warnings given for the keeping, use or consumption of the consumer goods; (c) reasonable safety standards published by a standards institute or similar bodies for consumer goods of the description which applies to the consumer goods or for matters relating to consumer goods of that description; and (d) the existence of any reasonable means to make the consumer goods safer.
According to section 2(1) of the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation, where consumer goods on their packages are marked with, or where any labels affixed to or any documents enclosed in their packages contain, any warning or caution regarding the safe keeping, use, consumption or disposal, such warning or caution shall be in both the English and the Chinese languages. Such warnings and cautions, as required by section 2(2) of the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation, shall be legible and be placed in a conspicuous position on (a) the consumer goods; (b) any package of the consumer goods; (c) a label securely affixed to the package; or (d) a document enclosed in the package.
Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations
Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Chapter 132W of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Food and Drugs Regulations”), which are under the Public Health Ordinance, contains provisions governing the advertising and labeling of food.
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Regulation 3 of the Food and Drugs Regulations provides that the composition of foods and drugs specified in Schedule 1 shall be up to the standards as specified in that schedule. The applicability of individual standards specified thereunder depends on whether the individual product in question is considered “drug” as defined in the Public Health Ordinance.
Pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Food and Drugs Regulations, any person who advertises for sale, sells or manufactures for sale any food or drug which does not conform to the relevant requirements as to the composition prescribed in Schedule 1 to the Food and Drugs Regulations commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Regulation 4A of the Food and Drugs Regulations requires all pre-packaged food and products sold by our Group (except for those listed in Schedule 4 thereto) to be marked and labeled in the manner prescribed in Schedule 3 to the Food and Drugs Regulations. Schedule 3 contains labeling requirements in respect of stating the product’s name or designation, ingredients, “best before” or “use by” date, special conditions for storage or instructions for use, manufacturer’s or packer’s name and address and count, weight or volume. Additionally, Schedule 3 also includes requirements on the appropriate language or languages for marking or labelling pre-packaged food. Contravention of those requirements may result in a conviction carrying a maximum penalty of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
In accordance with Regulation 4B of the Food and Drugs Regulations, generally pre-packaged food sold by our Group should be marked or labeled with its energy value and nutrient content in the manner prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 5, and nutrition claims, if any, made on the label of the product or in any advertisement for the product should comply with Part 2 of Schedule 5. Contravention of those requirements may result in a conviction carrying a maximum penalty of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Food Business Regulation
Regulation 31 of the Food Business Regulation (Chapter 132X of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Food Business Regulation”) provides that, except under and in accordance with a license granted under the Food Business Regulation, no person shall carry on or cause or permit or suffer to be carried on any food business including a food factory. “Food factory” is defined as any food business which involves the preparation of food for sale for human consumption off the premises.
Trade Descriptions Ordinance
The Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Chapter 362 of the Laws of Hong Kong) makes it an offence for any person, in the course of trade or business, to (i) apply for a false trade description to any goods; (ii) supply or offer to supply any goods to which a false trade description is applied; or (iii) has in his possession for sale or for any purpose of trade or manufacture any goods to which a false trade description is applied. Furthermore, pursuant to the same legislation, it is an offence for a person to import or export any goods to which a false trade description is applied.
Employment Ordinance
The Employment Ordinance (Chapter 57 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “EO”) provides for the protection of the wages of employees and regulates the general conditions of employment and employment agencies. Under the EO, an employee is generally entitled to, amongst other things, notice of termination of his or her employment contract; payment in lieu of notice; maternity protection in the case of a pregnant employee; not less than one rest day in every period of seven days; severance payments or long service payments; sickness allowance; statutory holidays or alternative holidays; and paid annual leave of up to 14 days depending on the period of employment.
Employees’ Compensation Ordinance
The Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Chapter 282 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “ECO”) is provides for the payment of compensation to employees injured in the course of employment. As stipulated by the ECO, an employer is required to take out an insurance policy to insure against the injury risk of his or her employees. Any employer who contravenes this requirement commits a criminal offence and is liable on conviction to a fine and imprisonment. An employer who has taken out an insurance policy under the ECO is required to display a prescribed notice of insurance in a conspicuous place on each of its premises where any employee is employed.
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Minimum Wage Ordinance (Chapter 608 of the Laws of Hong Kong)
The Minimum Wage Ordinance provides for a prescribed minimum hourly wage rate (set at HK$40 per hour as at the date of this annual report) during the wage period for every employee engaged under a contract of employment under the Employment Ordinance. Any provision of the employment contract which purports to extinguish or reduce the right, benefit or protection conferred on the employee by the Minimum Wage Ordinance is void.
Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Chapter 485 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“MPF Schemes Ordinance”)
Employers are required to enroll their regular employees (except for certain exempt persons) aged between at least 18 but under 65 years of age and employed for 60 days or more in a Mandatory Provident Fund (“MPF”) scheme within the first 60 days of employment.
For both employees and employers, it is mandatory to make regular contributions into a MPF scheme. For an employee, subject to the maximum and minimum levels of income (set at HK$30,000 and HK$7,100 per month, respectively, as at the date of this annual report), an employer will deduct 5% of the relevant income on behalf of an employee as mandatory contributions to a registered MPF scheme with a ceiling (set at HK$1,500 as at the date of this annual report). Employer will also be required to contribute an amount equivalent to 5% of an employee’s relevant income to the MPF scheme, subject only to the maximum level of income (set at HK$30,000 as at the date of this annual report).
C. Organizational structure.
The following is a list of our subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report.
| Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization | |
| Top Wealth (BVI) Holding Limited | British Virgin Islands | |
| Top Wealth Group (International) Limited | Hong Kong |
The following diagram illustrates the corporate structure of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited and its subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report:
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D. Property, Plant and Equipment
Facilities
As of the date of this annual report. we entered into the following lease agreements:
| Location | Term of Lease | Usage | ||
| Units 714 &
715, 7/F Hong Kong Plaza 188 Connaught Road West Sai Wan, Hong Kong |
May 10, 2024 to May 9, 2026 | Principal executive office | ||
| Flat
E, 8/F Golden Bear Industrial Centre 66 Chai Wan Kok Street Tsuen Wan, New Territories Hong Kong |
February 11, 2023 to September 10, 2024 | Food processing factory and transportation supplier |
We believe that we will be able to obtain adequate facilities on reasonable terms principally through leasing, to accommodate our future expansion plans.
Intellectual Property
As of the date of this annual report, we have registered the following trademarks:
| Place of registration | Trademark | Status | Trademark Number | Classes | Expiry Date | |||||
| Hong Kong |  |
Registered, August 24, 2022 | 306044355 | 29, 35 | August 23, 2032 | |||||
| The PRC |  |
Registered, October 7, 2022 | 59662676 | 29 | October 6, 2032 | |||||
| Macau |  |
Registered, August 10, 2022 | N/194408 | 29 | August 10, 2029 |
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report.
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Key Factors Affecting Our Business
We believe that our performance is principally affected by the following key factors:
| ● | Demographic and macroeconomic trends. Ever-growing numbers of global high-net-worth individuals and increasing demands for quality lifestyles: The substantial rise in the global economy over the years resulted in an apparent increase in the growth of ultra-high-net-worth individuals worldwide, with the number hitting record highs annually. As caviar turns to be synonymous with luxury in Western culture, it has long been favored by the ultra-wealthy class, which ensures the stability of the demand side. Besides, driven by the popularization of quality lifestyle, the growing number of high-net-worth individuals, who have cultivated full awareness of caviar’s health benefits and skincare functions, are projected to generate more demands for caviar products in the foreseeable future. |
Downstream consumption demands to be extensive and diversified: As caviar is proven to be an excellent source of omega-3 and six fatty acids, and other vitamins and minerals, the nutrition benefits of caviar got highly recognized by the market worldwide. The diversification of downstream consumption demands is expanding the caviar’s application in the nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
Currently, except for food garnish and other edible uses, caviar is gradually applied for skin moisturizing, skin texture improvement and obesity treatment, etc. This wide range of benefits for caviar in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors is projected to continue to boost demand in the future years.
| ● | Expansion into major consumer market in Europe and United States. Our ability to expand our global market presence in developed markets with a strong consumer base, such as Europe, the United States, Japan, Dubai, Australia and Southeast Asia (collectively, the “Target Regions”). We intend to establish representative offices at each of the Target Regions to access the local consumers. We currently plan to recruit local sales and marketing staff to conduct marketing activities in such regions, ranging from (i) conducting product promotion; (ii) brand building; (iii) maintaining regular communication with local customers; (iv) collecting feedbacks from local consumers on our products; and (v) maintaining regular communication and interaction with different industry players, so we can stay abreast of the latest trend and development of local consumers’ tastes. |
| ● | Our ability to successfully execute our strategies and implement our initiatives. Our performance will continue to depend on our ability to successfully execute our strategies and to implement our current and future initiatives. The key strategies include pursuing new customers in major markets in Europe and the United States including: |
| ● | maintaining the popularity, attractiveness, diversity and quality of our caviar products; |
| ● | maintaining or improving customers’ satisfaction with the quality of our caviar products; |
| ● | offering and maintaining a wide selection of high-quality caviar products; |
| ● | increasing brand awareness through marketing and brand promotion activities; |
| ● | preserving our reputation and goodwill in the event of any negative publicity, internet and data security, product quality, price authenticity, or other issues affecting us or the caviar industry; |
| ● | our ability to enter into sales distribution agreements in the jurisdictions we planned to expand to and distribute our products to our end-users and strategic partners overseas through a third party logistics company; |
| ● | our ability to launch successful marketing and sales activities to sell our products; |
| ● | our ability to enter into supply agreements with new potential suppliers and maintain relationship with our existing suppliers at competitive prices; |
| ● | our ability to raise additional funds for operations; and |
| ● | our ability to enhance our operational efficiency. |
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
The following financial data are derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidate financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
A summary of the Company’s operating results for the year ended December 31 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
| Year ended Dec 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| USD | USD | USD | % | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | 16,943,287 | 8,512,929 | 8,430,358 | 99.0 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales | (11,556,006 | ) | (4,309,747 | ) | (7,246,259 | ) | 168.1 | |||||||||
| Gross Profit | 5,387,281 | 4,203,182 | 1,184,099 | 28.2 | ||||||||||||
| Other income | 2 | — | 2 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||
| Administrative Expenses | (1,846,759 | ) | (466,477 | ) | (1,170,282 | ) | 250.9 | |||||||||
| Selling Expenses | (495,276 | ) | (1,456,347 | ) | 961,071 | (66.0 | ) | |||||||||
| Profit/(loss) before tax | 3,045,248 | 2,280,358 | 974,890 | 42.75 | ||||||||||||
Our revenue increased by USD8,430,358, or 99%, from USD8,512,929 for the year ended December 31 2022 to USD16,943,287 for the year ended December 31 2023, primarily due to the addition of new customers and also increased orders from some existing customers based on the increased popularity of caviar consumption in the fine dining industry. Also, we started trading of fine wine in 2023, which contributed revenue of US$4,460,092, compared to Nil in 2022. An analysis is set out below:
| Year ended Dec 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| USD | USD | USD | % | |||||||||||||
| Revenue from caviar | 12,483,195 | 8,512,929 | 3,970,266 | 46.64 | ||||||||||||
| Revenue from wine | 4,460,092 | - | 4,460,092 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||
| 16,943,287 | 8,512,929 | 8,430,358 | 99.0 | |||||||||||||
Cost of sales
Our cost of sales mainly comprised of purchase costs for caviar and wine. For the year ended December 31 2023, our cost of sales amounted to USD11,556,006, an increase of USD7,246,259, or 168%, from USD4,309,747 for the year ended December 31 2022. This increase was in line with the significant increase in revenue.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
| For the Year Ended 31 December | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Year on year change | ||||||||||||||
| USD | USD | USD | % | |||||||||||||
| Gross profit of caviar | 4,957,157 | 4,203,182 | 753,975 | 17.9 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit of wine | 430,124 | - | 430,124 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | 5,387,281 | 4,203,182 | 1,184,099 | 28.2 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit of caviar | 39.7 | % | 49.4 | % | - | 9.7 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit of wine | 9.64 | % | - | |||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 31.8 | % | 49.4 | % | (17.6 | )% | ||||||||||
Our gross profit margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 31.8% as compared to 49.4% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The reduction in our gross profit margin primarily stems from an increase in volume purchases made by certain customers, which enabled them to secure more favorable discounts for those orders.
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Administrative and Selling Expenses
Our Company’s administrative expenses came in at USD1,846,759 and USD466,477 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively, representing approximately 10.90% and 5.48% of our total revenue for the corresponding period.
Our administrative expenses for the year ended 30 June 2023 primarily consist of (i) professional fee; (ii) staff cost; (iii) depreciation; (iv) rental fee; (v) travelling and entertainment; (vi) office supplies and upkeep and (vii) miscellaneous expenses. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| USD | % | USD’ | % | |||||||||||||
| Staff cost | 444,388 | 24.1 | 110,024 | 23.6 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 233,659 | 12.7 | 173,215 | 37.1 | ||||||||||||
| Operating lease payment | 86,038 | 4.7 | 53,282 | 11.4 | ||||||||||||
| Office supplies and upkeep expenses | 9,793 | 0.5 | 29,997 | 6.4 | ||||||||||||
| Professional fees | 921,110 | 49.9 | 35,322 | 7.6 | ||||||||||||
| Entertainment | 76,342 | 4.1 | 20,072 | 4.3 | ||||||||||||
| Travelling expense | 36,545 | 1.9 | 18,142 | 3.9 | ||||||||||||
| Sample and scrap inventory | 14,977 | 0.8 | 11,440 | 2.5 | ||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | 23,907 | 1.3 | 14,983 | 3.2 | ||||||||||||
| 1,846,759 | 100.0 | 466,477 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||
The increase in administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to increased IPO related professional fees, including legal, audit, and consulting fees of approximately USD921,110. The increase in staff cost for the year ended December 31 2023 compared to December 31 2022 was mainly due to the increase in headcount and workforce as our Company pushed for higher sales orders and acquisition of new customers. The higher depreciation expense was due to the completion of the renovation of our office which was only completed in the first half of 2023.
Our selling expense in 2022 primarily consist of marketing campaign paid to a marketing agency as follows:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| USD | % | USD’ | % | |||||||||||||
| Marketing expense | 495,276 | 100 | 1,456,347 | 100 | ||||||||||||
The reduction in selling expenses for the year ended December 31 2023 compared to the corresponding period in 2022 can be primarily attributed to the absence of expenditure related to engaging a marketing agency for promotional campaigns. Our own in-house marketing team had developed a better understanding of our industry, target audience and product offerings since our early days. This decision to forego the engagement of a marketing agency has proven to be cost efficient and allowed us to allocate resources more efficiently, reducing cost associated with marketing and agency fee.
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Comparison of Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021
The following financial data are derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.
A summary of the Company’s operating results for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2021 are as follows:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Year on year change | ||||||||||||||
| USD | USD | USD | % | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | 8,512,929 | 19,615 | 8,493,314 | 43,300.1 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales | (4,309,747 | ) | (4,313 | ) | (4,305,434 | ) | 99,824.6 | |||||||||
| Gross Profit | 4,203,182 | 15,302 | 4,187,880 | 27,368.2 | ||||||||||||
| Administrative Expenses | (466,477 | ) | (21,004 | ) | (445,473 | ) | 2,120.9 | |||||||||
| Selling Expenses | (1,456,347 | ) | (11,186 | ) | (1,445,161 | ) | 12,919.4 | |||||||||
| Profit/(loss) before tax | 2,280,358 | (16,888 | ) | 2,297,246 | (13,602.8 | ) | ||||||||||
The Company began the caviar business in 2021. In the first year the Company recorded minor losses due to administrative and set up costs. In 2022, revenue increased by 433 times to USD8,512,929 from USD19,615 in 2021. This is attributable to the marketing efforts of the Company and selling of products under our own brand which was launched in November 2021. The gross profit margin is approximately 50% for 2022. Administrative expenses increased in 2022 due to increased headcount and manpower , deprecation and operating lease payments.
Moving forward the Company is optimistic and expects the results to improve further as more and more people are aware of our brand.
Cost of revenues
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, our Group’s cost of revenues was mainly comprised of purchase costs. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, our cost of revenues amounted to USD 4,313 and USD 4,309,747, respectively as our revenue increased significantly. The higher gross margin of 78% in 2021 is because all the sales in 2021 were retail sales that the price was higher than that of those wholesale in 2022.
Administrative and Selling Expenses
Our administrative expenses primarily consist of (i) staff cost; (ii) depreciation; (iii) operating lease payments; (iv) office supplies and upkeep expenses; (v) travelling and entertainment; (vi) legal and professional fees and (vii) miscellaneous expenses. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| USD | % | USD’ | % | |||||||||||||
| Staff Cost | 110,024 | 23.6 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 173,215 | 37.1 | 2,484 | 11.8 | ||||||||||||
| Operating lease payment | 53,282 | 11.4 | 7,077 | 33.7 | ||||||||||||
| Office supplies and upkeep expenses | 29,997 | 6.4 | 6,061 | 28.9 | ||||||||||||
| Professional fees | 35,322 | 7.6 | 385 | 1.8 | ||||||||||||
| Entertainment | 20,072 | 4.3 | 732 | 3.5 | ||||||||||||
| Travelling expense | 18,142 | 3.9 | 721 | 3.4 | ||||||||||||
| Sample and scrap inventory | 11,440 | 2.5 | 2,771 | 13.2 | ||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | 14,983 | 3.2 | 773 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||
| 466,477 | 100.0 | 21,004 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||
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Our selling expense primarily consist of marketing campaign paid to a marketing company as follows:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| USD | % | USD’ | % | |||||||||||||
| Marketing expense | 1,444,352 | 99.2 | 11,186 | 100 | ||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | 11,995 | 0.8 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 1,456,347 | 100.0 | 11,186 | 100 | |||||||||||||
Our Group’s administrative and selling expenses came in at USD 1,922,824 and USD 32,190 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively, representing approximately 22.6% and 164.1% of our total revenue for the corresponding years.
Staff costs mainly represented the salaries, employee benefits and retirement benefit costs to our employees. The staff costs of our Group were USD110,024 or the year ended December 31, 2022.
Depreciation expense is charged on our property, plant and equipment which included (i) office equipment and (ii) furniture and fittings.
Office supplies and upkeep expenses mainly represented office supplies, cleaning cost and the relevant utilities expenses such as electricity and water.
Travelling and entertainment mainly represented expenditure for business travel and cost incurred for social gathering and refreshment for our staff.
Legal and professional fees mainly represented auditor’s remuneration and other professional fees for training and development and staff recruitment services.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity and working capital requirements primarily related to our operating expenses. Historically, we have met our working capital and other liquidity requirements primarily through cash generated from our operations. Going forward, we expect to fund our working capital and other liquidity requirements from various sources, including but not limited to cash generated from our operations, loans from banking facilities, the net proceeds from the securities offering from the listing and other equity and debt financings as and when appropriate.
Cash flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| USD | USD | USD | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year | 217,384 | 1,385 | 581 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (863,616 | ) | 120,260 | 63,515 | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | — | (481,173 | ) | (62,723 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 780,582 | 576,912 | 12 | |||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (83,034 | ) | 215,999 | 804 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents as at end of the year | 134,350 | 217,384 | 1,385 | |||||||||
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For the year ended December 31, 2023, our net cash used in operating activities was USD863,616 and is mainly comprised of increase in accounts receivable as there were promotional sales for the Christmas of 2023. For the years ended December 31 2022 and 2021, our net cash of USD 215,999 and USD804 provided by operating activities primarily reflected our net income, as adjusted for non-operating items, such as depreciation of right of use assets, plant and equipment, deferred tax credit and effects of changes in working capital such as increase or decrease in inventories, accounts receivable, accounts and other payables, deposits and accruals.
For the year ended December 31 2023, there was no cash outflow from investing activities while for the years ended December 31 2022 and 2021, the cash outflows from our investing activities were primarily attributable to acquisition of office equipment and leasehold improvement of our office.
For the year ended December 31 2023, the cash provided by financing activities were attributable to standby bridging loan facilities provided by a third party and also minority shareholder, while for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the cash provided by financing activities were attributable to the issue of capital and funds provided by our director.
Working Capital
We believe that our Company has sufficient working capital for our requirements for at least the next 12 months from the date of this annual report, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, taking into account the financial resources presently available to us, including cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash flows from our operations and the estimated net proceeds from the IPO offering.
Capital Expenditures
Historical capital expenditures
Our capital expenditures for the years ended December 31 2023 and 2022 were nil and USD 481,173 respectively. The capital expenditures incurred in the year ended December 31 2022 are related to purchase of office equipment and leasehold improvement. We principally funded our capital expenditures through cash flows from operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
As of December 31, 2023, we have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to our stockholders.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements and accompanying notes requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgments about the carrying values of assets
and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We have identified certain accounting policies that are significant to the preparation of our financial statements. These accounting policies are important for an understanding of our financial condition and results of operation. Critical accounting policies are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial conditions and results of operations and require management’s difficult, subjective, or complex judgment, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting the estimate may differ significantly from management’s current judgments.
The following critical accounting policies rely upon assumptions and estimates and were used in the preparation of our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements:
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Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts of assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity, revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements.
On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates and if deemed appropriate, those estimates are adjusted. The most significant estimates include allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory valuation, useful lives and impairment for property and equipment, valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, accruals for potential liabilities and contingencies. Actual results could vary from the estimates and assumptions that were used.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with customers,” (Topic 606). Revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The amount of revenue that is recorded reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company applies the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (i) identification of the promised goods in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. The Company’s main revenue stream is from sales of products. The Company recognizes as revenues the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when the performance obligation is satisfied or as it is satisfied. Generally, the Company’s performance obligations are transferred to customers at a point in time, typically upon delivery.
The Company has one major stream of revenue, that is, the sale of caviar products in Hong Kong.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company’s principal country of operations is Hong Kong. The financial position and results of its operation are determined using Hong Kong Dollars (“HK$”), the local currency, as the functional currency. The Company’s consolidated financial statements are reported using U.S. Dollar (“US$” or “$”).
The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements:
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| USD to HK$ /Year End | 7.8 | 7.8 | ||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| USD to HK$ Average Rate | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | |||||||||
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Fair Value Measurements — Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs used to measure fair value are classified using the following hierarchy:
| ● | Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
| ● | Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data. |
| ● | Level 3. Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and include situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The inputs used in the determination of fair value are based on the best information available under the circumstances and may require significant management judgment or estimation. |
The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses reflected as current assets and current liabilities. Due to the short-term nature of these instruments, management considers their carrying value to approximate their fair value.
New accounting standards
Financial Instruments — Credit Losses
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-13 (Topic 326), Financial Instruments — Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected credit loss model and requires an asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The guidance became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2023. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Accounts receivables are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis and are presented net of an allowance for expected credit losses. The allowance for expected credit losses is estimated based on the Company’s analysis of amounts due, historical delinquencies and write-offs, and current economic conditions, together with reasonable and supportable forecasts of short-term economic conditions. The allowance for expected credit losses is recognized in net income (loss) and any adjustment to the allowance for expected credit losses is recognized in the period in which it is determined. Write-offs of accounts receivable, together with associated allowances for expected credit losses, are recognized in the period in which balances are deemed uncollectible. The Company does not have a history of significant write-offs. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2021, the total allowance for expected credit losses on the Company’s accounts receivable were Nil and Nil.
On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments require that public business entities on an annual basis (1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and (2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (if the effect of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than 5 percent of the amount computed by multiplying pre-tax income or loss by the applicable statutory income tax rate). In addition, public business entities are required to provide certain qualitative disclosures about the rate reconciliation and the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated (1) by federal (national), state, and foreign taxes and (2) by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid (net of refunds received) is equal to or greater than 5 percent of total income taxes paid (net of refunds received). For public business entities, the standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The amendments in this ASU require a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings (or other appropriate components of equity or net assets) as of the beginning of the annual reporting period in which an entity adopts the amendments. The Company is evaluating the impact of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
We have evaluated all the recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standards-setting bodies through the date of this report and do not believe the future adoption of any such standards will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
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Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
6.A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and directors as of the date hereof:
| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||
| Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | 53 | Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the board, and Director | ||
| Hung, CHEUNG | 55 | Director | ||
| Kwok Kuen, YUEN | 39 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Feiyong, LI | 41 | Director | ||
| Phei Suan, HO | 44 | Director | ||
| Wai Chun, CHIK | 39 | Director |
| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||
| Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | 53 | Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the board, and Director | ||
| Hung, CHEUNG | 55 | Director | ||
| Kwok Kuen, YUEN | 39 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Feiyong, LI | 41 | Independent Director | ||
| Phei Suan, HO | 44 | Independent Director | ||
| Wai Chun, CHIK | 39 | Independent Director |
Kim Kwan Kings, WONG is the chief executive officer, Director, and the Chairman of the board of the Company, overseeing the general corporate strategy and brand promotion management and business expansion. Mr. Wong is one of the founders of the Company, and has committed to expanding and promoting the Company’s business and international market for caviar products. Mr. Wong has extensive experience in market promotion, brand promotion, sales channel expansion, business planning in industries including new retail, health supplement, biotechnology, artificial intelligence. In the past five years, Mr. Wong has been the chief executive officer of TW HK.
Hung, CHEUNG is the Director of the Company. Mr. Cheung is responsible for our Group’s overall management, merger and acquisition and corporate/commercial transaction matters. Mr. Cheung has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, business and administrative management. Since January 2023, Mr. Cheung has served as an executive director of Great Wall Terroir Holdings Limited (HKEx: 524), a company listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. From 2015 to 2023, Mr. Cheung was a partner of DM Capital Limited, an asset management company based in the PRC. From January 2010 to October 2016, Mr. Cheung served as chairman of the board of China Biotech Services Holdings Limited (HKEx: 8037), a company listed on the GEM of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Cheung served as a non-executive director of Capital VC Limited (HKEx: 2324), a company listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Mr. Cheung obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2001.
Kwok Kuen, YUEN has served as our chief financial officer since December 1, 2022. Mr. Yuen has more than 20 years of experience of handling financial and audit operation in companies. From February 2004 to January 2008, Mr. Yuen worked in PricewaterhouseCoopers, with his last position as manager of the assurance department and from February 2008 to March 2015, he worked at PKF Hong Kong Limited with his last position as senior audit manager. Mr. Yuen has extensive experience in providing consulting services to reverse acquisition projects, merger and acquisition, due diligence, corporate reorganization, internal control and system inspection. Mr. Yuen is familiar with Hong Kong audit principals, corporation laws, listing rules, corporate audit, public offering and private placement. Mr. Yuen received a Bachelor degree of business from Monash University in September 1998. He is also member of CPA Australia and Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Since August 2016, Mr. Yuen has been an independent non-executive director of China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group Limited (HKEx: 557), a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Feiyong, LI is our director and the chairman of the nominating committee and the member of the compensation committee and audit committee. Mr. Li has served as an independent director and the chairman of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Jayud Global Logistics Limited (NASDAQ: JYD) since March 31, 2023. Mr. Li has extensive experience in advising equity investment projects in the Hong Kong and U.S. market and served a number of licensed corporations under the Securities and Futures Ordinance of Hong Kong. Mr. Li has been serving as the investment manager at Koala Securities Limited since 2019. Mr. Li previously served as the general manager of Zen Corporate Consulting Limited from 2012 to 2021, where he focused on providing public relations processing services, listing consulting services, and corporate investment and financing services. From 2013 to 2020, Mr. Li also served as the chief investment officer of CNI Securities Group Limited, where he was responsible for project investment and financing. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Li consecutively served as the investment consultant of Kingston Securities Limited and Guoyuan Securities Brokerage (Hong Kong) Limited. Mr. Li received an advanced diploma in business studies from the Windsor Management College of Singapore in 2021.
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Phei Suan, HO is our director and the chairwoman of the audit committee and the member of the nominating committee and the compensation committee. Ms. Ho has over 20 years’ experience in accounting, audit and corporate financing experience. Since October 2017, Ms. Ho served as the chief financial officer of Furniweb Holdings Limited (HKEx: 8480), a company listed on GEM of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. From May 2014 to September 2017, Ms. Ho served as the group financial controller of PRG Holdings Berhad, a company listed on the main market of Busa Malaysia Securities Berhad. From April 2012 to April 2014, Ms. Ho served as the head of corporate finance of Encorp Berhad, a company listed on the main market of Busa Malaysia Securities Berhad. From April 2011 to March 2012, Ms. Ho served as the financial business consultant of Hewlett-Packard (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. From March 2008 to October 2010, Ms. Ho served as an audit manager of KPMG China. From August 2002 to February 2008, Ms. Ho served as an audit manager of Ernst & Young in Malaysia. Ms. Ho obtained a bachelor degree of Accountancy from the University of Malaya in Malaysia in 2002. She has been a Chartered Accountant under the Malaysian Institute of Accountants since 2006 and a Certified Public Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 2007.
Wai Chun, CHIK is our director and the chair of our compensation committee and the member of the nominating committee and audit committee. Ms. Chik has over 15 years of experience in the auditing, accounting, corporate governance and company secretarial matters. She currently serves as the company secretary of P.B. Group Limited, a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx: 8331) since August 2019, and FingerTango Inc., a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx: 6860) since July 2023. She also currently serves as the independent non-executive director at Boltek Holdings Limited, a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx: 8601), since September 2021. Furthermore, Ms. Chik is currently the head of company secretarial department of P.B. Advisory Limited. Ms. Chik obtained the master of corporate governance degree from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2015. She was admitted as a member of CPA Australia in June 2011. Ms. Chik was also certified as a certified public accountant by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants in September 2011, and was admitted as an associate of both the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute (formerly known as the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries) and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly known as the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) in March 2016.
Family Relationships
None of the directors or executive officers has a family relationship as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
6.B. Compensation
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with our senior executive officers and/or Directors.
Mr. Kim Kwan Kings, WONG and Mr. Hung, CHEUNG
TW Cayman entered into separate employment agreements with: (a) Mr. Kim Kwan Kings, WONG, the Director, Chief Executive Officer, and the Chairman of the Board, on May 16, 2023; and (b) Mr. Mr. Hung, CHEUNG, the Director, on October 27, 2023, respectively (collectively, the Directors Employment Agreements).
The initial term of employment under the Directors Employment Agreements is for a term of one year unless terminated earlier. Upon expiration of the initial-year term, the Employment Agreements shall be automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless a three-months prior written notice to terminate the Directors Employment Agreement or unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the Directors Employment Agreements.
Pursuant to the Directors Employment Agreements, Mr. Wong and Mr. Cheung will receive a nominal cash compensation of salary US$ 1 annually, each, for their capacities with TW Cayman. TW Cayman is entitled to terminate their agreement for cause at any time without remuneration for certain acts of Mr. Wong and Mr. Cheung, as being convicted of any criminal conduct, any act of gross or willful misconduct, or any severe, willful, grossly negligent, or persistent breach of any employment agreement provision, or engaging in any conduct which may make the continued employment of such officer detrimental to our company. Mr. Wong and Mr. Cheung have agreed to hold, both during and after the terms of his or her agreement, in confidence and not to use for the officer’s benefit or the benefit of any third party, any trade secrets, other information of a confidential nature or non-public information of or relating to us in respect of which we owe a duty of confidentiality to a third party. In addition, each Mr. Wong and Mr. Cheung has agreed not to, for a period of one year following the termination of his employment, carry on any business in direct competition with the business of the Top Wealth group of companies, solicit or seek or endeavor to entice away any customers, clients, representative, or agent of the Top Wealth group of companies or in the habit of dealing with the Top Wealth group of companies who is or shall at any time within two years prior to such cessation have been a customer, client, representative, or agent of the Top Wealth group of companies, and use a name including the words used by the Top Wealth group of companies in its name or in the name of any of its products, services or their derivative terms, or Chinese or English equivalent in such a way as to be capable of or likely to be confused with the name of the Top Wealth group of companies.
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Furthermore, TW HK, our Operating Subsidiary, has entered letter of employment with Mr. Hung, CHEUNG on June 25, 2022. Pursuant to the letter of employment, commenced on July 1, 2022, Mr. Cheung have been employed as the Manager of TW HK, for a base monthly salary of HK$ 20,000 (approximately US$2,650) and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) pension contribution. As provided by the letter of employment, Mr. Cheung is required to refrain from servicing other company or business which will conflict with TW HK’s interest and from infringing the confidentiality principal of TW HK. Either Mr. Cheung or TW HK may terminate employment of Mr. Cheung with TW HK, by giving one month notice in writing.
Mr. Cheung will continue to receive compensation, in the form of salary and pension, from the Operating Subsidiary.
Mr. Kwok Kuen, YUEN
On May 16, 2023, TW Cayman entered into employment agreement with Mr. Mr. Kwok Kuen, YUEN, the Chief Financial Officer. This employment agreement shall continue to be effect until or unless terminated by either Mr. Yuen or TW Cayman by giving not less than three (3) months’ notice in writing or payment in lieu, or terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement. TW Cayman may terminate the Mr. Yuen’s employment immediately without notice or payment in lieu if Mr. Yuen: willfully disobeys a lawful and reasonable order, misconducts himself such conduct being inconsistent with the due and faithful discharge of his duties, commits a fraudulent or dishonest acts, is habitually neglectful in his duties; or on any other ground on which the TW Cayman would be entitled to terminate Mr. Yuen’s employment without notice at common law.
Pursuant to his employment agreements, Mr. Yuen receive cash compensation of salary HK$35,000 (approximately US$4,490) monthly.
Mr. Yuen further undertook to maintain in strict confidence any and all information of Top Wealth group of companies or of any other third parties to which he may have access. During and for a period of two (2) years after Mr. Yuen’s employment, Mr. Yuen will not use for his own account or divulge or disclose to any person, firm or company any trade secret, intellectual property or any other confidential information of the Top Wealth group of companies, include but shall not be limited to all information not in the public domain concerning the business, products, customer and client lists and contact details, procedures, processes and management strategies know-how, technology, accounts, finances, business and marketing plans, contracts, suppliers and business affairs of Top Wealth group of companies.
Both during and after a further period of six (6) months following the termination of his employment, Mr. Yuen has agreed not to, approach, canvass, solicit or otherwise endeavor to entice away from any person who at any time during the twelve (12) months preceding the termination of Mr. Yuen’s employment that has been a customer or supplier of the Top Wealth group of companies and during such period he shall not use his knowledge of or influence over any such customer or supplier to or for his own benefit or the benefit of any other person carrying on business in competition with the Company or otherwise use his knowledge of or influence over any such customer or supplier to the detriment of the Company, and not to solicit or entice or endeavor to solicit or entice away from Top Wealth group of companies any person who at the date of termination is employed or engaged by the Top Wealth group of companies in a managerial, executive or sales capacity and with whom Mr. Yuen has had material dealings or was directly managed by or reported to Mr. Yuen within the period of twelve (12) months immediately prior to the date of termination.
Furthermore, TW HK, our Operating Subsidiary, has entered letter of employment with Mr. Yuen on November 20, 2022. Pursuant to the letter of employment, commenced on December 1, 2022, Mr. Yuen have been employed as the Chief Financial Officer of TW HK, for a base monthly salary of HK$ 35,000 (approximately US$4,490) and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) pension contribution.
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Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, we paid an aggregate of HK$ 876,000 (US$ 112,308) as compensation to our directors and executive officers as well as an aggregate of HK$36,000 (US$4,615) contributions to the Mandatory Provident Fund (“MPF”), a statutory retirement scheme introduced after the enactment of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance in Hong Kong.
For the fiscal year ended December 31,2022 we paid an aggregate of HK$153,000 (US$19,615) as compensation to our directors and executive officers as well as an aggregate of HK$6,000 (US$769) contributions to the MPF.
As the appointments of our independent directors was effective on March 29, 2023, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not have any non-executive directors and therefore have not paid any compensation to any non-executive directors.
Except our contribution to the MPF, we have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement, or other similar benefits to our directors and executive officers. We do not have any equity incentive plan in place as of the date of this annual report.
6.C. Board Practices
Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of five directors. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company to qualify to serve as a director. Subject to the rules of the relevant stock exchange and disqualification by the chairman of the board of directors, a director may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract, or arrangement in which he or she is materially interested. A director may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, mortgage its business, property and uncalled capital and issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any obligation of the company or of any third party. There are no directors’ service contracts with the Company or its subsidiaries providing for benefits upon termination of employment.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating committee under the board of directors, and an investment committee under the management. Our board of directors has adopted a charter for the audit committee, the compensation committee, and the nominating committee. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Feiyong, LI, Phei Suan, HO, Wai Chun, CHIK. Ms. Phei Suan, HO is the chair of our audit committee. The audit committee will oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| ● | appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; |
| ● | reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response; |
| ● | discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; |
| ● | reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to monitor and control major financial risk exposures; |
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| ● | reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions; |
| ● | meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and |
| ● | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Feiyong, LI, Phei Suan, HO, Wai Chun, CHIK. Ms. Wai Chun, CHIK is the chair of our compensation committee. The compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| ● | reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board for its approval, the compensation for our chief executive officer and other executive officers; |
| ● | reviewing and recommending to the shareholders for determination with respect to the compensation of our directors; |
| ● | reviewing periodically and approving any incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements; and |
| ● | selecting compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that person’s independence from management. |
Nominating Committee. Our nominating committee consists of Feiyong, LI, Phei Suan, HO, Wai Chun. CHIK Mr. Feiyong, LI is the chair of our nominating committee. We have determined that Feiyong, LI, Phei Suan, HO, and Wai Chun, CHIK satisfy the “independence” requirements under NASDAQ Rule 5605. The nominating committee will assist the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The nominating committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| ● | selecting and recommending to the board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board; |
| ● | reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills, experience and diversity; |
| ● | making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees of the board; and |
| ● | advising the board periodically with regards to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of corporate governance and on any remedial action to be taken. |
Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to us, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly, in good faith and with a view to our best interests. Our directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Our directors also owe to our company a duty to act with skill and care. English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association (as may be amended from time to time) and the class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. Our company has a right to seek damages against any director who breaches a duty owed to us. A shareholder may in certain limited exceptional circumstances have the right to seek damages in our name if a duty owed by our directors is breached.
Our board of directors has all the powers necessary for managing, and for directing and supervising, our business affairs. The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
| ● | convening shareholders’ annual general meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at such meetings; |
| ● | declaring dividends and distributions; |
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| ● | appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; |
| ● | exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and |
| ● | approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registration of such shares in our share register. |
Terms of Directors and Officers
Our officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors. Our directors are not subject to a term of office and hold office until their resignation, death or incapacity, or until their respective successors have been elected and qualified or until his or her office is otherwise vacated in accordance with our articles of association as may be amended from time to time.
A director will also be removed from office automatically if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors, (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind, (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing, (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from meetings of our board for a continuous period of six months, or (v) is removed from office pursuant to any other provisions of our memorandum and articles of association (as may be amended from time to time).
Limitation on Liability and Other Indemnification Matters
Cayman Islands law allows us to indemnify our directors, officers and auditors acting in relation to any of our affairs against actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses incurred by reason of any act done or omitted in the execution of their duties as our directors, officers and auditors.
Under our memorandum and articles of association, we may indemnify our directors and officers, among other persons, from and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them may incur or sustain by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty or supposed duty in their respective offices or trusts, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain through their own fraud or dishonesty.
Board Diversity
| Board Diversity Matrix (As of the date of this annual report) | ||||||||
| Country of Principal Executive Offices: | Hong Kong | |||||||
| Foreign Private Issuer | Yes | |||||||
| Disclosure Prohibited Under Home Country Law | No | |||||||
| Total Number of Directors | 5 | |||||||
| Female | Male | Non-Binary | Did Not Disclose Gender | |||||
| Part I: Gender Identity | ||||||||
| Directors | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Part II: Demographic Background | ||||||||
| Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction | — | |||||||
| LGBTQ+ | — | |||||||
6.D. Employees
We had 12 employees as of December 31, 2023. We enter into individual employment contracts with selected employees to cover matters including non-competition and confidentiality arrangements. We generally formulate our employees’ remuneration package to include salary and benefits. We provide our employees with social security benefits in accordance with all applicable regulations and internal policies. None of our employees are represented by labor unions. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes.
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6.E. Share Ownership
Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares as of the date of this annual report by:
| ● | each of our directors and executive officers; and |
| ● | each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Ordinary Shares on an as-converted basis. |
The calculations in the table below are based on 29,000,000 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of the date of this annual report. All of our shareholders who own our Ordinary Shares have the same voting rights.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person.
| Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned | ||||||||
| Number of Ordinary Shares | % | |||||||
| Directors and Executive Officers: | ||||||||
| Kim Kwan Kings, WONG(1) | 20,160,000 | 69.52 | % | |||||
| Hung, CHEUNG | — | — | ||||||
| Kwok Kuen, YUEN | — | — | ||||||
| Feiyong, LI | — | — | ||||||
| Phei Suan, HO | — | — | ||||||
| Wai Chun, CHIK | — | — | ||||||
| All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group | 20,160,000 | 69.52 | % | |||||
| Principal Shareholders holding 5% or more: | ||||||||
| Winwin Development Group Limited(1) | 20,160,000 | 69.52 | % | |||||
| (1) | Kim Kwan Kings, WONG beneficially owns 20,160,000 Ordinary Shares through Winwin Development Group Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, which is owned as to 90% by Mr. Kim Kwan Kings, WONG and 10% by Mr. Kin Fai, CHONG. Mr. Kim Kwan Kings, WONG is the sole director of Winwin Development Group Limited. Mr. Wong may be deemed the beneficial owners of the Ordinary Shares held by Winwin Development Group Limited, and Mr. Wong holds the voting and dispositive power over the Ordinary Shares held by Winwin Development Group Limited. The registered address of Winwin Development Group Limited is Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands. |
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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
7.A. Major Shareholders
Please refer to “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — 6.E. Share Ownership.”
7.B. Related Party Transactions
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had the following balances due with related parties:
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | $ | 160,089 | Director and controlling shareholder of the Company | Unsecured interest free loan payable, repayable on demand | ||||
| Snow Bear Capital Limited | $ | 429,065 | Shareholder of the Company | Unsecured interest free loan payable, repayable within one year from draw down | ||||
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had the following balances due with related parties:
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited | $ | 5,436 | The former director of Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, the Operating Subsidiary, and the former director of the related company, Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited. | Account receivable | ||||
| Kin Fai, CHONG | $ | 63,735 | A former director and the former principal owner of Top Wealth Group (International) Limited. The current shareholder of Winwin Development Group Limited, the Company’s controlling shareholder | Amount receivable for common stock issued in Top Wealth Group (International) Limited | ||||
| Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | $ | (217,779 | ) | Director and controlling shareholder of the Company | Unsecured interest free loan payable, repayable on demand | |||
Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited has ceased to be a related party after December 31, 2022. On August 9, 2022, Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited entered into the trade transaction with the Operating Subsidiary, Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, from which the account receivables of the amount of $5,436 was incurred. The $5,436 account receivable have been fully paid by Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited as of the date of this report.
Kin Fai, CHONG, the former director and the former principal owner of Top Wealth Group (International) Limited prior to the reorganization of the group, currently a 10% shareholder of Winwin Development Group Limited, the Company’s controlling shareholder, received from the Company cash advance in the form of interest-free loans, which was to pay for his expenses generated from his business trip on July 14, 2021. The advance has been fully repaid as of the date of the this report.
Kim Kwan Kings, WONG is a director and CEO of the Company. On July 14, 2022 and December 31, 2021, Mr. Wong has lent cash to the Top Wealth Group (International) Limited, the Operating Subsidiary, in the form of interest-free loan, with the purpose of solidifying the its work capital. The outstanding amount due to Mr. Wong as of the date of this report is $160,089.
Terms of Directors and Officers
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—6.C. Board Practices—Terms of Directors and Officers.”
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Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—6.B. Compensation—Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.”
Other Related Party Transactions
Item 8. Financial Information
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Please refer to “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
Legal and Administrative Proceedings
We may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are currently not a party to any pending any material legal or administrative proceedings and are not aware of any events that are likely to lead to any such proceedings.
As of the date of this annual report, we are not a party to, and we are not aware of any threat of, any legal proceeding that, in the opinion of our management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operations, nor have we experienced any incident of non-compliance which, in the opinion of our directors, is likely to materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operations.
Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention. For potential impact of legal or administrative proceedings on us, see “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry— We are subject to risks relating to litigation and disputes, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial conditions, and may face significant liabilities as a result. ” and “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry— We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual properties, or we may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims or other allegations by third parties, either of which could adversely affect our business and operations.”.
Dividend Policy
TW Cayman has not made any dividends or distributions to U.S. investors as of the date of this annual report.During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, no dividends or distribution have been made to date by our subsidiaries. We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Therefore, we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to applicable laws. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend either out of profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if the dividend payment would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency, and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions, and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
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The laws and regulations of the PRC on currency conversion control do not currently have any material impact on the transfer of cash from TW Cayman to TW HK from TW HK to TW Cayman. There are no restrictions or limitations under the laws of Hong Kong imposed on the conversion of HK dollar into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of Hong Kong, nor is there any restriction on any foreign exchange to transfer cash between TW Cayman and its subsidiaries, across borders and to U.S. investors, nor there is any restrictions and limitations to distribute earnings from the subsidiaries, to TW Cayman and U.S. investors and amounts owed.
8.B. Significant Changes
Except as otherwise disclosed in this report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included herein.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
9.A. Offer and listing details
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
9.B. Plan of distribution
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
9.C. Markets
Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “TWG.”
9.D. Selling shareholders
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
9.E. Dilution
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
9.F. Expenses of the issue
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
Item 10. Additional Information
10.A. Share capital
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
10.B. Memorandum and articles of association
The following are summaries of the material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our Ordinary Shares. They do not purport to be complete. Reference is made to our memorandum and articles of association, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the annual report (and which is referred to in this section as, respectively, the “memorandum” and the “articles”).
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Meetings of Shareholders
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings; accordingly, we may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting. Any annual general meeting held shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our board of directors. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
The directors may convene a meeting of shareholders whenever they think necessary or desirable. At least 5 clear days’ notice of a general meeting shall be given to shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of that business. In addition, if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution shall be given to all shareholders. Notice of every general meeting shall also be given to the directors. Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and with the consent of the shareholders who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90 percent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened on shorter notice.
Our board of directors must convene a general meeting upon the written requisition of one or more shareholders entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company holding not less than 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting in respect to the matter for which the meeting is requested, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting within 21 clear days’ from the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting or any of them may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us.
No business may be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business. A quorum shall consist of the presence (whether in person or represented by proxy) of one shareholder if the Company has one shareholder and two shareholders if the Company has more than one shareholder. If, within fifteen minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors, and if, at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, the shareholders present in person or by proxy at the meeting shall be a quorum. Subject to the articles, at every meeting, the shareholders present in person or by proxy may choose someone of their number to be the chairman.
A corporation that is a shareholder shall be deemed for the purpose of our memorandum and articles of association to be present at a general meeting in person if represented by its duly authorized representative. Where a duly authorized representative is present at a meeting that shareholder who is a corporate is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorized representative are personal acts of that shareholder.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by one or more shareholders present who together hold not less than ten percent of the voting rights of all those who are entitled to vote on the resolution. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of, or against, that resolution.
If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, may if he wishes cast a second or casting vote.
Meetings of Directors
The business of our company is managed by the directors. Our directors are free to meet at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the Cayman Islands as the directors determine to be necessary or desirable. The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number. An action that may be taken by the directors at a meeting may also be taken by a resolution of directors consented to in writing by all of the directors.
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Winding Up
If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
| ● | to divide in specie among the shareholders the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and |
| ● | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of shareholders and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
Calls on Ordinary Shares and forfeiture of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares including any premium and each shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made), pay to us the amount called on his shares. Shareholders registered as the joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or if no rate is fixed, at the rate of ten percent per annum. The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
We have a first and paramount lien on all shares (whether fully paid up or not) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to us by the shareholder or the shareholder’s estate:
| ● | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a shareholder; and |
| ● | whether or not those monies are presently payable. |
At any time the directors may declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from the lien on shares provisions of the articles.
We may sell, in such manner as the directors may determine, any share on which the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, if due notice that such sum is payable has been given (as prescribed by the articles) and, within 14 clear days of the date on which the notice is deemed to be given under the articles, such notice has not been complied with.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares
We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders.
The Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association permits us to purchase our own shares, subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Subject to the Companies Act and any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may by action of our directors:
| ● | issue shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at our option or the shareholder holding those redeemable shares, on the terms and in the manner our directors determine before the issue of those shares; |
| ● | with the consent by special resolution of the shareholders holding shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of shares so as to provide that those shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at our option on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
| ● | purchase all or any of our own shares of any class including any redeemable shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
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Under the Companies Act, the repurchase of any share may be paid out of our Company’s profits, or out of the share premium account, or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such repurchase, or out of capital. If the repurchase proceeds are paid out of our Company’s capital, our Company must, immediately following such payment, be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act, no such share may be repurchased (1) unless it is fully paid up, and (2) if such repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding other than shares held as treasury shares. The repurchase of shares may be effected in such manner and upon such terms as may be authorized by or pursuant to the articles. If the articles do not authorize the manner and terms of the purchase, a company shall not repurchase any of its own shares unless the manner and terms of purchase have first been authorized by a resolution of the company. In addition, under the Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association, our Company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration unless, as a result of the surrender, the surrender would result in there being no shares outstanding (other than shares held as treasury shares).
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class of our shares may (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of holders of shares of that class as may be present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
Unless the terms on which a class of shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the shareholder holding shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with the existing shares of that class.
Changes in Capital
We may from time to time by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders:
| ● | increase our share capital by new shares of the amount fixed by that ordinary resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that ordinary resolution; |
| ● | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares; |
| ● | convert all or any of our paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination; |
| ● | subdivide our existing shares, or any of them, into shares of a smaller amount than that fixed by the memorandum, 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; and |
| ● | cancel any shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled, or, in the case of shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of shares into which our capital is divided. |
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by our company for an order confirming such reduction, reduce its share capital in any manner authorized by the Companies Act.
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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. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements.
Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no limitations imposed by our 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 memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
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); | |
| ● | may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; | |
| ● | may register as a limited duration company; and | |
| ● | may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company.
10.C. Material contracts
Effective on August 1, 2022, Top Wealth (International) Limited (“TW HK”), the Operating Subsidiary, entered into a Corporate Development Consultant Appointment Agreement with Mr. Haitong, CHEN (the “Consultancy Agreement”), in which TW HK appointed Mr. Chen for a term of 10 months commencing from August 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, subject to extension or early termination, to provide corporate development, project management, and capital financing consultancy services in connection to the Company’s initial public offering.
Pursuant to the Consultancy Agreement, in addition to a fixed cash remuneration to Mr. Chen, TW HK will also cause TW Cayman to grant stock options to Mr. Chen to acquire an aggregate of 1,080,000 Ordinary Shares of TW Cayman after the Company’s IPO, representing 4% of the Ordinary Shares of TW Cayman issued and outstanding prior to the Company’s initial public offering (the “Consultancy Stock Option”). The options granted to Mr. Chen will vest and become exercisable over a period of three years in three equal tranches, on the first, second, and third anniversary of the date of Company’s listing on Nasdaq capital market. All options shall be exercised after three anniversaries and within 60 months of Company’s initial public offering, otherwise the unexercised options will be null and void. The applicable exercise price for the Consultancy Stock Option that to be granted to Mr. Chen is fifty percent (50%) of the offering price per Ordinary Shares offered by the Company in Company’s initial public offering.
Upon the expiration of the term of the Consultancy Agreement, Mr. Chen and the Company mutually agreed not to extend Consultancy Agreement.
Other than those described in this annual report, we have not entered into any material agreements other than in the ordinary course of business.
10.D. Exchange controls
The Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong currently have no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions.
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10.E. Taxation
Cayman Islands Taxation
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is a party to a double tax treaty entered with the United Kingdom in 2010 but is otherwise not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of the shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Ordinary Shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
The Cayman Islands enacted the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (2021 Revision) together with the Guidance Notes published by the Cayman Islands Tax Information Authority from time to time. The Company is required to comply with the economic substance requirements from July 1, 2019 and make an annual report in the Cayman Islands as to whether or not it is carrying on any relevant activities and if it is, it must satisfy an economic substance test.
Hong Kong Taxation
The following summary of certain relevant taxation provisions under the laws of Hong Kong is based on current law and practice and is subject to changes therein. This summary does not purport to address all possible tax consequences relating to purchasing, holding or selling our Ordinary Shares, and does not take into account the specific circumstances of any particular investors, some of whom may be subject to special rules. Accordingly, holders or prospective purchasers (particularly those subject to special tax rules, such as banks, dealers, insurance companies and tax-exempt entities) should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of purchasing, holding or selling our Ordinary Shares. Under the current laws of Hong Kong:
| ● | No profit tax is imposed in Hong Kong in respect of capital gains from the sale of the Ordinary Shares. |
| ● | Revenues gains from the sale of our Ordinary Shares by persons carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong where the gains are derived from or arise in Hong Kong from the trade, profession or business will be chargeable to Hong Kong profits tax, which is currently imposed at the rate of 16.5% on corporations and at a maximum rate of 15% on individuals and unincorporated businesses. |
| ● | Gains arising from the sale of Ordinary Shares, where the purchases and sales of the Ordinary Shares are effected outside of Hong Kong such as, for example, on Cayman Islands, should not be subject to Hong Kong profits tax. |
According to the current tax practice of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, dividends paid on the Ordinary Shares would not be subject to any Hong Kong tax.
No Hong Kong stamp duty is payable on the purchase and sale of the Ordinary Shares.
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United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) that acquires our Ordinary Shares and holds our Ordinary Shares as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. This discussion is based upon existing U.S. federal tax law, which is subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been sought from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to any U.S. federal income tax considerations described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion, moreover, does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, and alternative minimum tax considerations, the Medicare tax on certain net investment income, information reporting or backup withholding or any state, local, and non-U.S. tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of our Ordinary Shares. The following summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances or to persons in special tax situations such as:
| ● | banks and other financial institutions; |
| ● | insurance companies; |
| ● | pension plans; |
| ● | cooperatives; |
| ● | regulated investment companies; |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; |
| ● | broker-dealers; |
| ● | traders that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting; |
| ● | certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents; |
| ● | tax-exempt entities (including private foundations); |
| ● | individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts; |
| ● | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; |
| ● | persons who acquire their Ordinary Shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; |
| ● | investors that will hold their Ordinary Shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| ● | investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our Ordinary Shares (by vote or value); or |
| ● | partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding the Ordinary Shares through such entities, |
all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those discussed below.
Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal taxation to its particular circumstances, and the state, local, non-U.S., and other tax considerations of the ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares.
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General
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our Ordinary Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| ● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| ● | a trust (i) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code. |
| ● | If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our Ordinary Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding our Ordinary Shares and their partners are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our Ordinary Shares. |
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income, or the asset test. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. Passive assets are those which give rise to passive income, and include assets held for investment, as well as cash, assets readily convertible into cash, and working capital. The company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are taken into account and may be classified as active or passive depending upon the relative amounts of income generated by the company in each category. We will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Based upon our current and projected income and assets and projections as to the market price of our Ordinary Shares, we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we are or will become a PFIC is a factual determination made annually that will depend, in part, upon the composition and classification of our income and assets, including the relative amounts of income generated by our potential strategic investment business as compared to our other businesses, and the value of the assets held by our potential strategic investment business as compared to our other businesses. Because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, it is possible that the IRS may challenge our classification of certain income and assets as non-passive, which may result in our being or becoming classified as a PFIC in the current or subsequent years. Furthermore fluctuations in the market price of our Ordinary Shares may cause us to be a PFIC for the current or future taxable years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market price of our Ordinary Shares from time to time (which may be volatile). In estimating the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, we have taken into account our market capitalization. Among other matters, if our market capitalization is less than anticipated or subsequently declines, we may be or become a PFIC for the current or future taxable years. The composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in the initial public offering. Under circumstances where our revenues from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to our revenues from activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of becoming a PFIC may substantially increase.
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If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary Shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary Shares unless, in such case, we cease to be treated as a PFIC and such U.S. Holder makes a deemed sole election.
The discussion below under “—Dividends” and “—Sale or Other Disposition” is written on the basis that we will not be or become classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply generally if we are treated as a PFIC are discussed below under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Dividends
Any cash distributions paid on our Ordinary Shares out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, any distribution we pay will generally be treated as a “dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received on our Ordinary Shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends-received from U.S. corporations.
Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to tax on any such dividends at the lower capital gain tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income,” provided that certain conditions are satisfied, including that (i) our Ordinary Shares on which the dividends are paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, (ii) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid and the preceding taxable year, and (iii) certain holding period requirements are met. We intend to list the Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq Capital Market. Provided that this listing is approved, we believe that the ordinary should generally be considered to be readily tradeable on an established securities market in the United States. There can be no assurance that the Ordinary Shares will continue to be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in later years. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to the Ordinary Shares.
For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, dividends paid on our Ordinary Shares will generally be treated as income from foreign sources and will generally constitute passive category income. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex and U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale or Other Disposition
A U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of Ordinary Shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Ordinary Shares. Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Any such capital gain or loss will be long term if the Ordinary Shares have been held for more than one year. Non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on long-term capital gain at preferential rates. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that the U.S. Holder recognizes will generally be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, which could limit the availability of foreign tax credits. Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is imposed on a disposition of our Ordinary Shares, including the applicability of any tax treaty and the availability of the foreign tax credit under its particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary Shares, and unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules on (i) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125 percent of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition, including, under certain circumstances, a pledge, Ordinary Shares. Under the PFIC rules:
| ● | the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares; |
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| ● | the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC (each, a “pre-PFIC year”), will be taxable as ordinary income; and |
| ● | the amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that year, increased by an additional tax equal to the interest on the resulting tax deemed deferred with respect to each such taxable year. |
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to- market election with respect to such stock. If a U.S. Holder makes this election with respect to our Ordinary Shares, the holder will generally(i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such Ordinary Shares and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the Ordinary Shares over the fair market value of such Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year, but such deduction will only be allowed to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to- market election in respect of our Ordinary Shares and we cease to be classified as a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above during any period that we are not classified as a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of our Ordinary Shares in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will only be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter, or regularly traded, on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable United States Treasury regulations. Our Ordinary Shares will be treated as marketable stock upon their listing on Nasdaq Capital Market. We anticipate that our Ordinary Shares should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot technically be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make qualified electing fund elections which, if available, would result in tax treatment different from (and generally less adverse than) the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
If a U.S. Holder owns our Ordinary Shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, the holder must generally file an annual IRS Form 8621. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of our Ordinary Shares if we are or become a PFIC.
10.F. Dividends and paying agents
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
10.G. Statement by experts
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
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10.H. Documents on display
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act. In accordance with these requirements, the Company files reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.
10.I. Subsidiary Information
Not applicable.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Credit risk
Assets that potentially subject the Company to a significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of accounts receivable.
We have designed our credit policies with an objective to minimize their exposure to credit risk. Our Company’s “receivables” are generally short term in nature and the associated risk is minimal. We conduct credit evaluations on its customers and generally does not require collateral or other security from such customers. We extended a one-off credit term to 90 days as a 2023 Christmas promotion to our creditworthy customers. We periodically evaluate the creditworthiness of the existing customers in determining an allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based upon the age of the receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers.
Interest rate risk
We have no signification exposure to interest rate risk.
Foreign currency risk
Our functional currency is Hong Kong dollars that trade primarily in Hong Kong dollar (“HK$”). Our presentation currency is United Sates dollar (“US$”). HK$ is currently pegged to US$, our exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations is minimal.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that we will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. Our approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to our reputation.
Typically, we ensure that it has sufficient cash on demand to meet expected operational expenses for a period of 90 days, including the servicing of financial obligations; this excludes the potential impact of extreme circumstances that cannot reasonably be predicted, such as natural disasters.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
12.A. Debt Securities
Not applicable.
12.B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable.
12.C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
12.D. American Depositary Shares
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
We do not have any material defaults in the payment of principal, interest, or any installments under a sinking or purchase fund.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Securities Holders and Use of Proceeds
14.A. – 14.D. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders
See “Item 10. Additional Information” for a description of the rights of shareholders, which remain unchanged.
14.E. Use of Proceeds
The following “Use of Proceeds” information relates to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-275684), as amended, including the annual report contained therein, which registered 2,000,000 Ordinary Shares and was declared effective by the SEC on March 29, 2024, for our initial public offering, which completed on April 18, 2024, at an initial offering price of US$4.00 per Ordinary Share. Revere Securities LLC acted as the sole underwriter.
In connection with the issuance and distribution of the Ordinary Shares in our initial public offering, our expenses incurred and paid to others totaled approximately US$ 1.55 million, which included US$0.56 million for underwriting discounts and commissions. None of the transaction expenses included direct or indirect payments to directors or officers of our company or their associates, persons owning more than 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates or others. We received an aggregate net proceeds of approximately US$7.16 million from our initial public offering.
As of the date of this annual report, we used US$4.4 million of the net proceeds received from our initial public offering for general corporate purposes. We still intend to use the remainder of the proceeds from our initial public offering as disclosed in our registration statements on Form F-1.
None of these net proceeds from our initial public offering and the optional offering was paid, directly or indirectly, to any of our directors or officers or their associates, persons owning 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates or others.
89
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
| (a) | Internal Control Over Financial Reporting |
In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, our independent registered public accounting firm identified one material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. As defined in the standards established by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
The material weakness that has been identified relates to our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective that there were insufficient written policies and procedures for accounting and financial reporting with respect to the requirements and application of both US GAAP and SEC guidelines.
The Company has compensation control that the CFO actively research the latest development of US GAAP by reference to other SEC registrants’ filings, Big 4 accounting firms and other professional parties discussion paper. The CFO would also seek for second opinion and advice from external US GAAP professional for complicated financial reporting issue.
As a company with less than US$1.235 billion in revenue for the fiscal year of 2023, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting.
| (b) | Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
This annual report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report by our independent registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly listed public companies.
| (c) | Changes in internal control over financial reporting. |
There has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting other than the remediation of the material weakness relates to lack of sufficient skilled staff with U.S. GAAP knowledge for the purpose of financial reporting as described above.
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our audit committee consists of Feiyong, LI, Phei Suan, HO, and Wai Chun, CHIK,and is chaired by Phei Suan, HO. Feiyong, LI, Phei Suan, HO, and Wai Chun, CHIK each satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605 of the Corporate Governance Rules of Nasdaq Stock Market and meets the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We have determined that Phei Suan, HO qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.”
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and advisors. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is attached as an exhibit to this annual report. Copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is also available on our website at https://ir.imperialcristalcaviar.com.
90
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Onestop Assurance PAC, was appointed by the Company to serve as its independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021. Audit services provided by Onestop Assurance PAC for fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 included the examination of the consolidated financial statements of the Company; and services related to periodic filings made with the SEC.
Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Auditor Fees
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Onestop Assurance PAC, our independent registered public accounting firm, for the periods indicated.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| Services | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||||
| US$ | US$ | US$ | ||||||||||
| Audit Fees(1) - Onestop Assurance PAC | 60,000 | 130,000 | 210,000 | |||||||||
| Total | 60,000 | 130,000 | 210,000 | |||||||||
Note 1: Audit fees include the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the interim financial statements and for the audits of our financial statements in connection with our initial public offering, and comfort letter in connection with the underwritten public offering.
The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including audit services and audit-related services as described above, other than those for de minimus services which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable.
Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
Not applicable.
Item 16G. Corporate Governance
As a company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
Currently, we do not plan to rely on home country practice with respect to our corporate governance. However, to the extent we choose to follow home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. See “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors —Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares— Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer.”
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
Item 16I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
91
PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements
See “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
Item 18. Financial Statements
Our consolidated financial statements are included at the end of this annual report, beginning with page F-1.
Item 19. Exhibits
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93
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
| Top Wealth Group Holding Limited | |||
| By: | /s/ Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | ||
| Name: | Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | ||
| Title: | Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | ||
Date: May 29, 2024
94
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Reports and Financial Statements
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Reports and Index to Consolidated Financial Information
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited together with its subsidiaries (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income(loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial positions of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Emphasis of Matter
The Company has significant transactions with related parties, which are described in Note 10 to the financial statements. Transactions involving related party cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s length basis, as the requisite conditions of competitive, free market dealings may not exist.
/s/
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.
May 29, 2024
F-2
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Consolidated balance sheets
(Amounts expressed in US dollars (“$”) except for numbers of shares and par value)
| As of December 31 | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable from related parties | ||||||||
| Inventories | ||||||||
| Prepayments | ||||||||
| Deposits paid | ||||||||
| Amount due from a related party | ||||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Right-of-use assets – operating lease | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | ||||||||
| Total non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other payables | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities - current | ||||||||
| Amount due to a related party | ||||||||
| Borrowings | ||||||||
| Current income tax payable | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities – non-current | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Common stock, $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Retained earnings | ||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | ||||||
| * |
The accompany notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Consolidated statements of operation and other comprehensive income/(loss)
(Amounts expressed in US dollars (“$”) except for numbers of shares and par value)
| For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Sales (including sales to related parties of for 2023, $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of sales | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||
| Other income | ||||||||||||
| Selling expenses (including marketing expenses to a related party of for 2023, $ | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Administrative expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Profit (loss) before income tax | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) credit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Profit and total comprehensive income for the year | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Earnings per share: | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share | ||||||||||||
| * |
The accompany notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Consolidated statements of changes in equity
(Amounts expressed in US dollars (“$”) except for numbers of shares and par value)
| Common stock outstanding* | Amount | Additional paid-in capital | (Accumulated losses) retained earnings | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of January 1, 2021 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock of Top Wealth International | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock of Top Wealth International | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Profit and total comprehensive income for the year | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Pro Rata Share Issuance deemed as share split | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Deemed capital reduction in reorganisation | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Profit and total comprehensive income for the year | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| * |
The accompany notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Consolidated statements of cash flows
(Amounts expressed in US dollars (“$”) except for numbers of shares and par value)
| For the years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net profit (loss) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Adjustments for:- | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | ||||||||||||
| Deferred tax credit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Inventories | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Prepayments | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Deposits paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other payables | ||||||||||||
| Amounts due with related parties | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Current income tax payable | ||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition of property, plant and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings | ||||||||||||
| Deemed capital reduction on reorganization | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from Pro Rata Share Issuance deemed as share split | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of shares of Top Wealth International | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||||||
| (Decease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Analysis of the balance of cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||||||
| Bank balances | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompany notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
| 1. | General information and basis of operation |
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited is
a limited liability company incorporated in incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Top Wealth Group Holding Limited together with its subsidiaries
are defined as the “Company”. As of the date of this report, the Company immediate and ultimate parent company is Winwin Development
Group Limited (“Winwin”). As of the date of this report, Winwin is
| Name of entity | Date of incorporation | Holding company | Nature of business | |||
| Top Wealth Group Holding Limited | ||||||
| Top Wealth (BVI) Group Limited | ||||||
| Top Wealth Group (International) Limited |
On March 21, 2023, the Company acquired
On April 28, 2023,
On October 12, 2023, in contemplation
of Company’s initial public offering, the Company further issued
| Name of shareholder | Percentage of interest | |||
| Winwin Development Group Limited | ||||
| Beyond Glory Worldwide Limited | ||||
| Keen Sky Global Limited | ||||
| State Wisdom Holdings Limited | ||||
| Snow Bear Capital Limited | ||||
| Mercury Universal Investment Limited | ||||
| Greet Harmony Global Limited | ||||
Top Wealth International have been trading Caviar. During the periods covered in these consolidated financial statements, the control of the entities has remained consistent, with Top Wealth Group Holding Limited always exercising control. Consequently, the combination has been considered as a corporate restructuring (“Reorganization”) of entities under common control. In compliance with ASC 805-50-45-5, the entities under common control are presented on a combined basis for all periods during which they were under common control. The current capital structure is retroactively reflected in prior periods as if it had existed at that time.
The consolidation of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited and its subsidiaries has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared as if the aforementioned transactions had been effective from the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
F-7
| 2. | Significant accounting policies |
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation —The consolidated financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated and wholly owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements reflect the elimination of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions.
Use of Estimates—The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts of assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity, revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements.
On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates and if deemed appropriate, those estimates are adjusted. The most significant estimates include allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory valuation, useful lives and impairment for property and equipment, valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, accruals for potential liabilities and contingencies. Actual results could vary from the estimates and assumptions that were used.
Cash and Cash Equivalents—
Cash and cash equivalents consist of the Company’s demand deposit placed with financial institutions, which have original maturities
of less than three months and unrestricted as to withdrawal and use. The Hong Kong government provides a guarantee for deposits held in
each bank up to HK$
Property and Equipment—
Property and equipment included equipment and leasehold improvement and are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.
| Equipment | |
| Leasehold improvement |
Cost and accumulated depreciation for property retired or disposed of are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in earnings. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets— We evaluate our long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets – operating lease with finite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances, such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets, indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. When these events occur, we evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, we recognize an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their fair value. There were no impairment recognised for the years ended December 2023 and 2022.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts— Accounts receivable are carried at the original invoiced amount. Accounts receivable are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis and are presented net of an allowance for expected credit losses. The allowance for expected credit losses is estimated based on the Company’s analysis of amounts due, historical delinquencies and write-offs, and current economic conditions, together with reasonable and supportable forecasts of short-term economic conditions. The allowance for expected credit losses is recognized in net income (loss) and any adjustment to the allowance for expected credit losses is recognized in the period in which it is determined. Write-offs of accounts receivable, together with associated allowances for expected credit losses, are recognized in the period in which balances are deemed uncollectible. The Company does not have a history of significant write-offs. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the total allowance for expected credit losses on the Company’s accounts receivable were and .
Income Taxes— Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
F-8
The Company recognizes the effect of
income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured
at the largest amount that is greater than
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
Revenue Recognition—The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with customers,” (Topic 606). Revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The amount of revenue that is recorded reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company applies the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (i) identification of the promised goods in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. The Company’s revenue is from sales of products. The Company recognizes as revenues the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when the performance obligation is satisfied. Generally, the Company’s performance obligations are transfer of products title to customers at a point in time, typically upon delivery.
The Company has two streams of revenue:
1. the sale of caviar products in Hong Kong.
2. the sale of wine in Hong Kong
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Sale of caviar products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Sale of wine | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Inventories - The cost of inventories is computed according to the weighted average method. Cost includes the costs of purchases and materials. Inventories are evaluated based on individual inventory items. Reserves are established to reduce the value of inventories to the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Excess inventories are quantities of items that exceed anticipated sales or usage for a reasonable period. The Company calculates provisions based on the expiry date. Management provides full provision of for those inventories that would expire within 6 months. There can be no assurance that the amount ultimately realized for inventories will not be materially different than that assumed in the calculation of the provisions. There were no provision recognised for the years ended December 2023 and 2022.
Leases— Under ASC Top 842, “Leases”, the Company determines if an agreement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease – right to use, current portion of operating lease liability, and operating lease liability, less current portion in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
As permitted under ASU Topic 842, the Company has made an accounting policy election not to apply the recognition provisions of ASU 2016-02 to short term leases (leases with a lease term of 12 months or less that do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise); instead, the Company will recognize the lease payments for short term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Foreign Currency Translation - The Company’s principal country of operations is Hong Kong. The financial position and results of its operation are determined using Hong Kong Dollars (“HK$”), the local currency, as the functional currency. The Company’s consolidated financial statements are reported using U.S. Dollar (“US$” or “$”).
The consolidated statements of income and the consolidated statements of cash flows denominated in foreign currency are translated at the average rate of exchange during the reporting period. Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the reporting currency are translated into the reporting currency at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. The equity denominated in the functional currency is translated at the historical rate of exchange at the time of capital contribution. As the cash flows are translated based on the average translation rate, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheets.
F-9
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| USD to HK$ Year End | ||||||||||||
| USD to HK$ Average Rate | ||||||||||||
Pension Obligations - The Company provides for defined contribution plan in accordance with the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance in Hong Kong. A defined contribution plan generally specifies the periodic amount that the employer must contribute to the plan and how that amount will be allocated to the eligible employees who perform services during the same period.
Segment Reporting and Reporting Units - As of December 31, 2023, the Company operated in Hong Kong through its subsidiaries, which primarily engaged in trading of caviars.
Management determined that the Company functions as a single operating segment, and thus reports as a single reportable segment. This determination is based on rules prescribed by GAAP applied to the manner in which management operates the Company. The chief operating decision maker is responsible for allocating resources to its operations and assessing performance and obtains financial information, being the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, and consolidated statements of cash flows, about the Company as a whole.
Fair Value Measurements - Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs used to measure fair value are classified using the following hierarchy:
| ● | Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
| ● | Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data. |
| ● | Level 3. Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and include situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The inputs used in the determination of fair value are based on the best information available under the circumstances and may require significant management judgment or estimation. |
The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses reflected as current assets and current liabilities. Due to the short-term nature of these instruments, management considers their carrying value to approximate their fair value.
Related parties – We adopted ASC 850, Related Party Disclosures, for the identification of related parties and disclosure of related party transactions.
A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of their immediate families and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.
New accounting standards
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-13 (Topic 326), Financial Instruments — Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected credit loss model and requires an asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The guidance became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2023. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
F-10
On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued
ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness
of income tax disclosures. The amendments require that public business entities on an annual basis (1) disclose specific categories in
the rate reconciliation and (2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (if the effect
of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than
We have evaluated all the recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standards-setting bodies through the date of this report and do not believe the future adoption of any such standards will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
| 3. | Accounts receivable |
| At December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable from third parties | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts receivable from related parties | ||||||||
| Total accounts receivable | ||||||||
| Allowance | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
Accounts receivable increase significantly
as there was $
| 4. | Inventories |
| At December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Finished products | $ | $ | ||||||
| Allowance | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
| 5. | Deposits paid |
The deposits mainly related to refundable security deposit to supplier of sturgeon farm and lease agreement of officers and processing factory in Hong Kong. Deposits are to be recovered when the Company terminated the supplier agreement and upon the expiry of the leases respectively.
| 6. | Property, plant and equipment |
| At December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Equipment | $ | $ | ||||||
| Leasehold improvement | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | ||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
F-11
Depreciation included in:
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Administrative expense | $ | $ | ||||||
| 7. | Accrued expenses and other payables |
Accrued expenses and other payables mainly represents accrued salaries and other payables for professional fees.
| 8. | Borrowings |
During the year ended December 31,
2023, the Company has established two unsecured, interest-free standby bridging loan facilities. One, obtained from a minority shareholder,
has a facility limit of US$
| 6. | Leases |
The Company has operating leases for office and warehouse storage. The Company’s leases have remaining lease terms of
As of December 31, 2022, the Company has no additional material operating leases that have not yet commenced.
| As of December 31, | ||||||||
| Right-of-use asset – operating lease | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Cost | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accumulated amortisation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total lease cost | $ | $ | ||||||
| Other information | Years ended December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| New right-of-uses asset – operating lease and lease liabilities recognized | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases | ||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases | % | % | ||||||
| Maturities | ||||
| 2024 | $ | |||
| Total operating lease payments | ||||
| Less imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | |||
F-12
| 7. | Income tax |
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes on an entity basis on income derived from the location in which each entity is domiciled.
The Company and its subsidiary, Top Wealth BVI, are domiciled in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands respectively. Both companies currently enjoy permanent income tax holidays; accordingly, both companies do not accrue for income taxes.
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income tax | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| Current | ||||||||||||
| Hong Kong | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Over provision in previous years | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Deferred | ||||||||||||
| Hong Kong | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Under provision in previous years | ||||||||||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Profit (loss) before income tax | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Tax effect at the Hong Kong profits tax rate of | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Tax effect of preferential tax rate | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Tax effect of tax loss not previously recognized | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Non-deductible expenditure | ||||||||||||
| Over provision in previous years | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Tax effect of tax reduction | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Effective income tax rate – Hong Kong | % | % | % | |||||||||
There were no material unrecognised temporary differences.
F-13
| Tax losses | Depreciation allowance | Total | ||||||||||
| Balance as of January 1, 2022 | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| Charged (credited) to statement of operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| Credited to statement of operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| 8. | Commitments and contingencies |
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings regarding contractual and employment relationships and a variety of other matters. The Company records contingent liabilities resulting from such claims, when a loss is assessed to be probable, and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable.
The Company entered into a
10-month consultant agreement with a third party on August 1, 2022 to assist the Company in planning, coordination and
implementation of corporate development as well as capital financing strategies. There are two components of this service agreement,
first component is fixed fee amounted HKD
As the compensation cost is contingent upon the occurrence of a performance condition (i.e., the successful initial public offering), the compensation cost shall not be recognized until the performance condition becomes probable in accordance with ASC 718-10-30-28.
Upon the initial public offering completed
on April 18, 2024, the Company paid up the fixed fee of US$
In the opinion of management, there were no pending or threatened claims and litigation as of December 31, 2023 and through the issuance date of these consolidated financial statements.
| 9. | Supplemental Cash Flow Information |
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Interest | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Income taxes | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| 10. | Related party transactions |
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Chong Kin Fai | ||||||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | ||||||||
| Snow Bear Capital Limited | ||||||||
F-14
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Beauty & Health International Company Limited (Customer B) (note a) | $ | |||||||
| Beauty & Health International E-Commerce Limited (Customer C) (note b) | ||||||||
| Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited (Customer E) (note b) | ||||||||
| Sky Channel Management Limited (note d) | ||||||||
| Chong Kin Fai | ( | ) | ||||||
| Chong Kin Fai | ||||||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | ( | ) | ||||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | ||||||||
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Chong Kin Fai | ||||||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | ( | ) | ||||||
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | $ | |||||||
| Snow Bear Capital Limited | $ | |||||||
F-15
| Name | Amount | Relationship | Note | |||||
| Mother Nature Health (HK) Limited (Customer E) (note c) | $ | |||||||
| Chong Kin Fai | $ | |||||||
| Wong Kim Kwan Kings | $ | ( | ) | |||||
Note:
| (a) |
| (b) | The transaction with this related party started on September 3, 2022. The controlling shareholder disposed all of his interest in this related party on 28 August 2022. These transactions were not considered as related party transactions in the year ended December 31, 2023 |
| (c) | The transaction with this related party started on January 27, 2022. The former director of the Company resigned on February 10, 2022. These transactions were not considered as related party transactions in the year ended December 31, 2023. |
| (d) | The transaction with this related party was ceased after December 31, 2022. |
| 11. | Concentration and risks |
The Company is not exposed to significant financial risks other than the concentration risk, which is analysed as follows:
Customers
| Revenue
for years ended December 31, | Balance
as of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Customer A | % | % | % | - | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Customer B | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer C | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer D | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer E | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer F | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer G | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer H | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer I | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer J | ||||||||||||||||||||
| % | % | % | - | % | % | |||||||||||||||
F-16
Major suppliers
| Purchase for years ended December 31, | Balance as of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Supplier A | % | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||
| Supplier B | ||||||||||||||||||||
| % | % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||
The Company has an exclusive supply agreement with a sturgeon farm and all purchases of caviar were made from the this supplier.
The Company recognizes that its dependence on a single supplier for caviar represents a significant business risk. The Company closely monitors its relationship with the exclusive supplier to ensure that the quality of products received remains high and that the risk of supply disruptions is minimized.
The Company has significant trading in wine, which is currently sourced from a single supplier. However, wine could be sourced from many channels. Also, the trading of wine is not our major business. The management believe the risk to the Company is not significant.
| 12. | Equity |
Ordinary Shares
The Company is authorized to issue
one class of ordinary share. The Company was established under the laws of Cayman Islands (the Cayman law) on February 1, 2023 with authorized
share of
Upon incorporation,
On March 1, 2023,
On April 28, 2023,
On October 12, 2023, in contemplation
of Company’s initial public offering, the Company further issued
As of the December 31, 2023,
F-17
The Company is authorized to issue one class of ordinary share.
The holders of the Company’s ordinary share are entitled to the following rights:
Voting Rights: Each share of the Company’s ordinary share entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters to be voted or consented upon by the stockholders. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares are not entitled to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors.
Dividend Right: Subject to limitations under the Cayman law and preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock that the Company may decide to issue in the future, holders of the Company’s ordinary share are entitled to receive rateably such dividends or other distributions, if any, as may be declared by the Board of the Company out of funds legally available therefor.
Liquidation Right: In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of the Company’s ordinary share are entitled to share rateably in the assets available for distribution after the payment of all of the debts and other liabilities of the Company, subject to the prior rights of the holders of the Company’s preferred stock.
Other Matters: The holders of the Company’s ordinary share have no subscription, redemption or conversion privileges. The Company’s ordinary share does not entitle its holders to pre-emptive rights. All of the outstanding shares of the Company’s ordinary share are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Company’s ordinary share are subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which the Company may issue in the future.
| 13. | Subsequent event |
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date that these consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, there was no other subsequent event that required recognition or disclosure.
F-18
Exhibit 1.1
Dated 01 February 2023
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
Auth Code: C42242105227
www.verify.gov.ky
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Memorandum of Association
of
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
| 1 | The name of the Company is Top Wealth Group Holding Limited. |
| 2 | The Company’s registered office will be situated at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide. |
| 3 | The Company’s objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law of the Cayman Islands. |
| 4 | The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by section 27 (2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit. |
| 5 | Nothing in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses without being duly licensed, namely: |
| (a) | the business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or |
| (b) | insurance business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed in that behalf under the Insurance Act (Revised);or |
| (c) | the business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies Management Act (Revised). |
| 6 | Unless licensed to do so, the Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 7 | The Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member’s shares. |
Auth Code: C42242105227
www.verify.gov.ky
2
| 8 | The share capital of the Company is USD50,000 divided into 500,000,000 Ordinary shares of par value USD0.0001 each. However, subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and |
| (b) | to increase or reduce its capital; and |
| (c) | to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
| (i) | with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
| (ii) | subject to any limitations or restrictions |
and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or
| (d) | to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
| 9 | The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
Auth Code: C42242105227
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3
We, the subscriber to this memorandum of association, wish to be formed into a company pursuant to this memorandum; and we agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the Company shown opposite our name in the table below.
Dated 01 February 2023
| Name and address of Subscriber | Number of shares taken | Signature |
|
Ogier Global Subscriber (Cayman) Limited 89 Nexus Way Camana Bay Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 Cayman Islands |
1 |
per: /s/ Daisy Valdez Name: Daisy Valdez Authorised Signatory |
| Witness to above signature |
/s/ Yanique Arthurs Name: Yanique Arthurs
Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited 89 Nexus Way Camana Bay Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 Cayman Islands
Occupation: Administrator | |
Auth Code: C42242105227
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4
Dated 01 February 2023
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Auth Code: H91851603245
www.verify.gov.ky
CONTENTS
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A | 1 |
| Definitions | 1 | |
| Interpretation | 3 | |
| Exclusion of Table A Articles | 4 | |
| 2 | Shares | 4 |
| Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights | 4 | |
| Power to issue fractions of a Share | 4 | |
| Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees | 4 | |
| Trusts not recognised | 5 | |
| Power to vary class rights | 5 | |
| Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights | 5 | |
| Capital contributions without issue of further Shares | 6 | |
| No bearer Shares or warrants | 6 | |
| Treasury Shares | 6 | |
| Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters | 6 | |
| 3 | Share certificates | 7 |
| Issue of share certificates | 7 | |
| Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates | 7 | |
| 4 | Lien on Shares | 8 |
| Nature and scope of lien | 8 | |
| Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien | 8 | |
| Authority to execute instrument of transfer | 8 | |
| Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien | 9 | |
| Application of proceeds of sale | 9 | |
| 5 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture | 9 |
| Power to make calls and effect of calls | 9 | |
| Time when call made | 10 | |
| Liability of joint holders | 10 | |
| Interest on unpaid calls | 10 | |
| Deemed calls | 10 | |
| Power to accept early payment | 10 | |
| Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares | 11 | |
| Notice of default | 11 | |
| Forfeiture or surrender of Shares | 11 | |
| Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender | 11 | |
| Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member | 12 | |
| Evidence of forfeiture or surrender | 12 | |
| Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares | 12 | |
Auth Code: H91851603245
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i
| 6 | Transfer of Shares | 13 |
| Form of transfer | 13 | |
| Power to refuse registration | 13 | |
| Notice of refusal to register | 13 | |
| Power to suspend registration | 13 | |
| Fee, if any, payable for registration | 13 | |
| Company may retain instrument of transfer | 13 | |
| 7 | Transmission of Shares | 14 |
| Persons entitled on death of a Member | 14 | |
| Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy | 14 | |
| Indemnity | 14 | |
| Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy | 14 | |
| 8 | Alteration of capital | 15 |
| Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital | 15 | |
| Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares | 15 | |
| Reducing share capital | 16 | |
| 9 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares | 16 |
| Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares | 16 | |
| Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie | 16 | |
| Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share | 17 | |
| 10 | Meetings of Members | 17 |
| Power to call meetings | 17 | |
| Content of notice | 18 | |
| Period of notice | 18 | |
| Persons entitled to receive notice | 18 | |
| Publication of notice on a website | 19 | |
| Time a website notice is deemed to be given | 19 | |
| Required duration of publication on a website | 19 | |
| Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice | 19 | |
| 11 | Proceedings at meetings of Members | 20 |
| Quorum | 20 | |
| Lack of quorum | 20 | |
| Use of technology | 20 | |
| Chairman | 20 | |
| Right of a director to attend and speak | 21 | |
| Adjournment | 21 | |
| Method of voting | 21 | |
| Outcome of vote by show of hands | 21 | |
| Withdrawal of demand for a poll | 21 | |
| Taking of a poll | 22 | |
| Chairman’s casting vote | 22 | |
| Amendments to resolutions | 22 | |
| Written resolutions | 23 | |
| Sole-member company | 23 | |
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| 12 | Voting rights of Members | 24 |
| Right to vote | 24 | |
| Rights of joint holders | 24 | |
| Representation of corporate Members | 24 | |
| Member with mental disorder | 25 | |
| Objections to admissibility of votes | 25 | |
| Form of proxy | 25 | |
| How and when proxy is to be delivered | 26 | |
| Voting by proxy | 27 | |
| 13 | Number of directors | 27 |
| 14 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors | 27 |
| First directors | 27 | |
| No age limit | 27 | |
| Corporate directors | 27 | |
| No shareholding qualification | 27 | |
| Appointment of directors | 28 | |
| Removal of directors | 28 | |
| Resignation of directors | 28 | |
| Termination of the office of director | 29 | |
| 15 | Alternate directors | 29 |
| Appointment and removal | 29 | |
| Notices | 30 | |
| Rights of alternate director | 30 | |
| Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director | 31 | |
| Status of alternate director | 31 | |
| Status of the director making the appointment | 31 | |
| 16 | Powers of directors | 31 |
| Powers of directors | 31 | |
| Appointments to office | 31 | |
| Remuneration | 32 | |
| Disclosure of information | 33 | |
| 17 | Delegation of powers | 33 |
| Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee | 33 | |
| Power to appoint an agent of the Company | 33 | |
| Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company | 34 | |
| Power to appoint a proxy | 34 | |
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| 18 | Meetings of directors | 34 |
| Regulation of directors’ meetings | 34 | |
| Calling meetings | 35 | |
| Notice of meetings | 35 | |
| Period of notice | 35 | |
| Use of technology | 35 | |
| Place of meetings | 35 | |
| Quorum | 35 | |
| Voting | 35 | |
| Validity | 35 | |
| Recording of dissent | 36 | |
| Written resolutions | 36 | |
| Sole director’s minute | 36 | |
| 19 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure | 36 |
| Permissible interests subject to disclosure | 36 | |
| Notification of interests | 37 | |
| Voting where a director is interested in a matter | 37 | |
| 20 | Minutes | 38 |
| 21 | Accounts and audit | 38 |
| Accounting and other records | 38 | |
| No automatic right of inspection | 38 | |
| Sending of accounts and reports | 38 | |
| Time of receipt if documents are published on a website | 39 | |
| Validity despite accidental error in publication on website | 39 | |
| When accounts are to be audited | 39 | |
| 22 | Financial year | 39 |
| 23 | Record dates | 40 |
| 24 | Dividends | 40 |
| Declaration of dividends by Members | 40 | |
| Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors | 40 | |
| Apportionment of dividends | 41 | |
| Right of set off | 41 | |
| Power to pay other than in cash | 41 | |
| How payments may be made | 41 | |
| Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights | 42 | |
| Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed | 42 | |
| 25 | Capitalisation of profits | 42 |
| Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve | 42 | |
| Applying an amount for the benefit of members | 43 | |
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| 26 | Share premium account | 43 |
| Directors to maintain share premium account | 43 | |
| Debits to share premium account | 43 | |
| 27 | Seal | 44 |
| Company seal | 44 | |
| Duplicate seal | 44 | |
| When and how seal is to be used | 44 | |
| If no seal is adopted or used | 44 | |
| Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal | 44 | |
| Validity of execution | 45 | |
| 28 | Indemnity | 45 |
| Indemnity | 45 | |
| Release | 46 | |
| Insurance | 46 | |
| 29 | Notices | 46 |
| Form of notices | 46 | |
| Electronic communications | 47 | |
| Persons authorised to give notices | 47 | |
| Delivery of written notices | 47 | |
| Joint holders | 47 | |
| Signatures | 47 | |
| Evidence of transmission | 48 | |
| Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member | 48 | |
| Date of giving notices | 48 | |
| Saving provision | 49 | |
| 30 | Authentication of Electronic Records | 49 |
| Application of Articles | 49 | |
| Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means | 49 | |
| Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means | 50 | |
| Manner of signing | 50 | |
| Saving provision | 50 | |
| 31 | Transfer by way of continuation | 51 |
| 32 | Winding up | 51 |
| Distribution of assets in specie | 51 | |
| No obligation to accept liability | 52 | |
| The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition | 52 | |
| 33 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles | 52 |
| Power to change name or amend Memorandum | 52 | |
| Power to amend these Articles | 52 | |
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Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Articles of Association
of
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A |
Definitions
| 1.1 | In these Articles, the following definitions apply: |
Act means the Companies Act (Revised).
Articles means, as appropriate:
| (a) | these Articles of Association as amended from time to time: or |
| (b) | two or more particular Articles of these Articles; |
and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles.
Business Day means a day other than a public holiday in the place where the Company’s registered office is located, a Saturday or a Sunday.
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
| (a) | the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and |
| (b) | the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. |
Company means the above-named company.
Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).
Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).
#VPF:FRQ45297#
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Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).
Fully Paid and Paid Up:
| (a) | in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; |
| (b) | in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth. |
Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.
Member means any person or persons entered on the register of members from time to time as the holder of a Share.
Memorandum means the Memorandum of Association of the Company as amended from time to time.
Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator, but does not include the Secretary.
Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of a duly constituted general meeting of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Members entitled to vote. The expression also includes a unanimous written resolution.
Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.
Share means a share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:
| (a) | includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and |
| (b) | where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share. |
Special Resolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act; and the expression includes a unanimous written resolution.
Treasury Shares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 2.12.
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Interpretation
| 1.2 | In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires: |
| (a) | A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Islands as known by its short title, and includes: |
| (i) | any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and |
| (ii) | any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute. |
Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Act of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Act in force from time to time as amended from time to time.
| (b) | Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity. |
| (c) | If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day. |
| (d) | A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders. |
| (e) | A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency. |
| (f) | Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
| (g) | All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located. |
| (h) | The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied. |
| (i) | The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation. |
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Exclusion of Table A Articles
| 1.3 | The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company. |
| 2 | Shares |
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
| 2.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Articles about the redemption and purchase of the Company’s own Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Act. |
| 2.2 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company: |
| (a) | either at a premium or at par; |
| (b) | with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise. |
Power to issue fractions of a Share
| 2.3 | Subject to the Act, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares. |
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
| 2.4 | The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person: |
| (a) | subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or |
| (b) | procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional |
for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
| 2.5 | The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage. |
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Trusts not recognised
| 2.6 | Except as required by law: |
| (a) | no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and |
| (b) | no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share. |
Power to vary class rights
| 2.7 | If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies: |
| (a) | the Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or |
| (b) | the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class. |
| 2.8 | For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that: |
| (a) | the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and |
| (b) | any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll. |
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
| 2.9 | Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class. |
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Capital contributions without issue of further Shares
| 2.10 | With the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner: |
| (a) | It shall be treated as if it were a share premium. |
| (b) | Unless the Member agrees otherwise: |
| (i) | if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares - it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares; |
| (ii) | if the Member holds Shares of more than one class - it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds). |
| (c) | It shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums. |
No bearer Shares or warrants
| 2.11 | The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers. |
Treasury Shares
| 2.12 | Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if: |
| (a) | the directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and |
| (b) | the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with. |
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
| 2.13 | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share. |
| 2.14 | The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However: |
| (a) | the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; |
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| (b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act. |
| 2.15 | Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
| 2.16 | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the directors determine. |
| 3 | Share certificates |
Issue of share certificates
| 3.1 | Upon being entered in the register of members as the holder of a Share, a Member shall be entitled: |
| (a) | without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
| (b) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares. |
| 3.2 | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine. |
| 3.3 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
| 3.4 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
| (a) | evidence; |
| (b) | indemnity; |
| (c) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
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| (d) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate |
as the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
| 4 | Lien on Shares Nature and scope of lien |
| 4.1 | The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate: |
| (a) | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and |
| (b) | whether or not those moneys are presently payable. |
| 4.2 | At any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article. |
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
| 4.3 | The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable; |
| (b) | the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and |
| (c) | that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles. |
| 4.4 | The Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine. |
| 4.5 | To the maximum extent permitted by law, the directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale. |
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
| 4.6 | To give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
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Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
| 4.7 | On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of members as the holder of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate for those Shares. |
Despite this, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.
Application of proceeds of sale
| 4.8 | The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold: |
| (a) | if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or |
| (b) | if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation |
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.
| 5 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
Power to make calls and effect of calls
| 5.1 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice. |
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| 5.2 | Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part. |
| 5.3 | A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. He shall not be liable for calls made after he is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares. |
Time when call made
| 5.4 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed. |
Liability of joint holders
| 5.5 | Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share. |
Interest on unpaid calls
| 5.6 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid: |
| (a) | at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or |
| (b) | if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate. |
The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemed calls
| 5.7 | Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
Power to accept early payment
| 5.8 | The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up. |
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Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
| 5.9 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares. |
Notice of default
| 5.10 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of: |
| (a) | the amount unpaid; |
| (b) | any interest which may have accrued; |
| (c) | any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default. |
| 5.11 | The notice shall state the following: |
| (a) | the place where payment is to be made; and |
| (b) | a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited. |
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
| 5.12 | If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture. |
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
| 5.13 | A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee. |
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Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
| 5.14 | On forfeiture or surrender: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares. |
| 5.15 | Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with: |
| (a) | all expenses; and |
| (b) | interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment: |
| (i) | at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or |
| (ii) | if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate. |
The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
| 5.16 | A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares: |
| (a) | that the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and |
| (b) | that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date. |
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
| 5.17 | Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares. |
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| 6 | Transfer of Shares |
Form of transfer
| 6.1 | Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer, in a common form or in a form approved by the directors, executed: |
| (a) | where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and |
| (b) | where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee. |
Power to refuse registration
| 6.2 | The directors may refuse to register the transfer of a Share to any person. They may do so in their absolute discretion, without giving any reason for their refusal, and irrespective of whether the Share is Fully Paid or the Company has no lien over it. |
Notice of refusal to register
| 6.3 | If the directors refuse to register a transfer of a Share, they must send notice of their refusal to the existing Member within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company. |
Power to suspend registration
| 6.4 | The directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine. |
Fee, if any, payable for registration
| 6.5 | If the directors so decide, the Company may charge a reasonable fee for the registration of any instrument of transfer or other document relating to the title to a Share. |
Company may retain instrument of transfer
| 6.6 | The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
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| 7 | Transmission of Shares |
Persons entitled on death of a Member
| 7.1 | If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following: |
| (a) | where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and |
| (b) | where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives. |
| 7.2 | Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder. |
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 7.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following: |
| (a) | to become the holder of the Share; or |
| (b) | to transfer the Share to another person. |
| 7.4 | That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require. |
| 7.5 | If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer. |
| 7.6 | If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then: |
| (a) | if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and |
| (b) | if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer. |
| 7.7 | All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer. |
Indemnity
| 7.8 | A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the directors as a result of that registration. |
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 7.9 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. But, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company. |
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| 8 | Alteration of capital |
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
| 8.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution; |
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination; |
| (d) | sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, 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; and |
| (e) | cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided. |
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
| 8.2 | Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members: |
| (a) | sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and |
| (b) | distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members. |
For that purpose, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.
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Reducing share capital
| 8.3 | Subject to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way. |
| 9 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares |
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
| 9.1 | Subject to the Act, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may by its directors: |
| (a) | issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors determine before the issue of those Shares; |
| (b) | with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
| (c) | purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Act, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
| 9.2 | When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 9.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares. |
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Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
| 9.3 | Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share: |
| (a) | the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive: |
| (i) | the price for the Share; and |
| (ii) | any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase; |
| (b) | the Member’s name shall be removed from the register of members with respect to the Share; and |
| (c) | the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Shares, as the directors may determine. |
For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the redemption or purchase falls due.
| 10 | Meetings of Members |
Power to call meetings
| 10.1 | The directors may call a general meeting at any time. |
| 10.2 | If there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional directors. |
| 10.3 | The directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles. |
| 10.4 | The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting. |
| 10.5 | The requisition must also: |
| (a) | specify the purpose of the meeting. |
| (b) | be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners. |
| (c) | be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions. |
| 10.6 | Should the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period. |
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| 10.7 | Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional directors. |
| 10.8 | If the Members call a meeting under the above provisions, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses. |
Content of notice
| 10.9 | Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following: |
| (a) | the place, the date and the hour of the meeting; |
| (b) | if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting; |
| (c) | subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and |
| (d) | if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution. |
| 10.10 | In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements: |
| (a) | that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and |
| (b) | that a proxyholder need not be a Member. |
Period of notice
| 10.11 | At least five Clear Days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting. |
Persons entitled to receive notice
| 10.12 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people: |
| (a) | the Members; |
| (b) | persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and |
| (c) | the directors. |
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Publication of notice on a website
| 10.13 | Subject to the Act, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of: |
| (a) | the publication of the notice on the website; |
| (b) | the place on the website where the notice may be accessed; |
| (c) | how it may be accessed; and |
| (d) | the place, date and time of the general meeting. |
| 10.14 | If a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. But this will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting. |
Time a website notice is deemed to be given
| 10.15 | A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication. |
Required duration of publication on a website
| 10.16 | Where the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
| 10.17 | Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following: |
| (a) | an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or |
| (b) | non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice. |
| 10.18 | In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published: |
| (a) | in a different place on the website; or |
| (b) | for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
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| 11 | Proceedings at meetings of Members |
Quorum
| 11.1 | Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. A quorum is as follows: |
| (a) | if the Company has only one Member: that Member; |
| (b) | if the Company has more than one Member: two Members. |
Lack of quorum
| 11.2 | If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply: |
| (a) | If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled. |
| (b) | In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the Members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum. |
Use of technology
| 11.3 | A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Chairman
| 11.4 | The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting. |
| 11.5 | If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. |
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Right of a director to attend and speak
| 11.6 | Even if a director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares in the Company. |
Adjournment
| 11.7 | The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting. |
| 11.8 | Should a meeting be adjourned for more than seven Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least seven Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment. |
Method of voting
| 11.9 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. A poll may be demanded: |
| (a) | by the chairman; or |
| (b) | by any Member or Members present who, individually or collectively, hold at least 10% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote on the resolution. |
Outcome of vote by show of hands
| 11.10 | Unless a poll is duly demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution. |
Withdrawal of demand for a poll
| 11.11 | The demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The chairman shall announce any such withdrawal to the meeting and, unless another person forthwith demands a poll, any earlier show of hands on that resolution shall be treated as the vote on that resolution; if there has been no earlier show of hands, then the resolution shall be put to the vote of the meeting. |
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Taking of a poll
| 11.12 | A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. |
| 11.13 | A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded. |
| 11.14 | The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. |
| 11.15 | A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur. |
Chairman’s casting vote
| 11.16 | If the votes on a resolution, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, are equal the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote. |
Amendments to resolutions
| 11.17 | An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if: |
| (a) | not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment is given to the Company in writing by a Member entitled to vote at that meeting; and |
| (b) | the proposed amendment does not, in the reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution. |
| 11.18 | A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if: |
| (a) | the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and |
| (b) | the amendment does not go beyond what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution. |
| 11.19 | If the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution. |
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Written resolutions
| 11.20 | Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; |
| (b) | all Members entitled so to vote : |
| (i) | sign a document; or |
| (ii) | sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (c) | the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. |
Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.
| 11.21 | If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly. |
| 11.22 | The directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll. |
Sole-member company
| 11.23 | If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it. |
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| 12 | Voting rights of Members |
Right to vote
| 12.1 | Unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
| 12.2 | Members may vote in person or by proxy. |
| 12.3 | On a show of hands, every Member shall have one vote. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual who represents two or more Members, including a Member in that individual’s own right, that individual shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Member. |
| 12.4 | On a poll a Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights. |
| 12.5 | A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote. |
| 12.6 | No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way. |
Rights of joint holders
| 12.7 | If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the register of members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder. |
Representation of corporate Members
| 12.8 | Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative. |
| 12.9 | A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing. |
| 12.10 | The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used. |
| 12.11 | The directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice. |
| 12.12 | Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member. |
| 12.13 | A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
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Member with mental disorder
| 12.14 | A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court. |
| 12.15 | For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable. |
Objections to admissibility of votes
| 12.16 | An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
Form of proxy
| 12.17 | An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors. |
| 12.18 | The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by the Member; or |
| (b) | by the Member’s authorised attorney; or |
| (c) | if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney. |
If the directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
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| 12.19 | The directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy. |
| 12.20 | A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
How and when proxy is to be delivered
| 12.21 | Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company at any time before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways: |
| (a) | In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post: |
| (i) | to the registered office of the Company; or |
| (ii) | to such other place within the Islands specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| (b) | If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified: |
| (i) | in the notice convening the meeting; or |
| (ii) | in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
| (iii) | in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| 12.22 | Where a poll is taken: |
| (a) | if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; |
| (b) | but if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. |
| 12.23 | If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid. |
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Voting by proxy
| 12.24 | A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid. |
| 13 | Number of directors |
Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and the maximum number shall be ten. There shall be no directors, however, until the first director is or the first directors are appointed by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum.
| 14 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors |
First directors
| 14.1 | The first directors shall be appointed in writing by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum. |
No age limit
| 14.2 | There is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years. |
Corporate directors
| 14.3 | Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about directors’ meetings. |
No shareholding qualification
| 14.4 | Unless a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment. |
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Appointment of directors
| 14.5 | A director may be appointed by Ordinary Resolution or by the directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director. |
| 14.6 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person to be a director. For the purpose of this Article: |
| (a) | where two or more shareholders die in circumstances rendering it uncertain who was the last to die, a younger shareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder; |
| (b) | if the last shareholder died leaving a will which disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or otherwise): |
| (i) | the expression personal representatives of the last shareholder means: |
| (A) | until a grant of probate in respect of that will has been obtained from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, all of the executors named in that will who are living at the time the power of appointment under this Article is exercised; and |
| (B) | after such grant of probate has been obtained, only such of those executors who have proved that will; |
| (ii) | without derogating from section 3(1) of the Succession Act (Revised), the executors named in that will may exercise the power of appointment under this Article without first obtaining a grant of probate. |
| 14.7 | A remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors. |
| 14.8 | No appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid. |
Removal of directors
| 14.9 | A director may be removed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Resignation of directors
| 14.10 | A director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions. |
| 14.11 | Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company. |
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Termination of the office of director
| 14.12 | A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if: |
| (a) | he is prohibited by the law of the Islands from acting as a director; or |
| (b) | he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (c) | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or |
| (d) | he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or |
| (e) | without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months. |
| 15 | Alternate directors |
Appointment and removal
| 15.1 | Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 15.4(c)). |
| 15.2 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 15.4. |
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| 15.3 | A director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 15.1. |
| 15.4 | A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine; |
| (c) | if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or |
| (d) | if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing. |
Notices
| 15.5 | All notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate. |
Rights of alternate director
| 15.6 | An alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing director in his absence. |
| 15.7 | For the avoidance of doubt: |
| (a) | if another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been appointed an alternate; and |
| (b) | if a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one director, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate. |
| 15.8 | An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director. |
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Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director
| 15.9 | An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director. |
Status of alternate director
| 15.10 | An alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment. |
| 15.11 | Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles. |
| 15.12 | An alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him. |
| 15.13 | An alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director. |
Status of the director making the appointment
| 15.14 | A director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company. |
| 16 | Powers of directors |
Powers of directors
| 16.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company. |
| 16.2 | No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Act, Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties. |
Appointments to office
| 16.3 | The directors may appoint a director: |
| (a) | as chairman of the board of directors; |
| (b) | as managing director; |
| (c) | to any other executive office |
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for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.
| 16.4 | The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 16.5 | Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors. |
| 16.6 | If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available. |
| 16.7 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director: |
| (a) | as Secretary; and |
| (b) | to any office that may be required |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the directors decide.
| 16.8 | The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 16.9 | A director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not the hold the office, or perform the services, of auditor. |
Remuneration
| 16.10 | Every director may be remunerated by the Company for the services he provides for the benefit of the Company, whether as director, employee or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid for the expenses incurred in the Company’s business including attendance at directors’ meetings. |
| 16.11 | A director’s remuneration shall be fixed by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. Unless that resolution provides otherwise, the remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. |
| 16.12 | Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him. |
| 16.13 | Unless his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings. |
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Disclosure of information
| 16.14 | The directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the register of members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if: |
| (a) | the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or |
| (b) | such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or |
| (c) | such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or |
| (d) | the directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations. |
| 17 | Delegation of powers |
Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee
| 17.1 | The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors. |
| 17.2 | The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers. |
| 17.3 | The delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the directors at will. |
| 17.4 | Unless otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by directors. |
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
| 17.5 | The directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The directors may make that appointment: |
| (a) | by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or |
| (b) | in any other manner they determine. |
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Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
| 17.6 | The directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be: |
| (a) | for any purpose; |
| (b) | with the powers, authorities and discretions; |
| (c) | for the period; and |
| (d) | subject to such conditions |
as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under these Articles. The directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.
| 17.7 | Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person. |
Power to appoint a proxy
| 17.8 | Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing director. |
| 17.9 | Articles 15.1 to 15.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by directors. |
| 17.10 | A proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an officer of the Company. |
| 18 | Meetings of directors |
Regulation of directors’ meetings
| 18.1 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. |
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Calling meetings
| 18.2 | Any director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to do so by a director. |
Notice of meetings
| 18.3 | Every director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral. |
Period of notice
| 18.4 | At least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all directors. |
Use of technology
| 18.5 | A director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. |
| 18.6 | A director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Place of meetings
| 18.7 | If all the directors participating in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the meeting is to be treated as taking place wherever any of them is. |
Quorum
| 18.8 | The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one director. |
Voting
| 18.9 | A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote. |
Validity
| 18.10 | Anything done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote. |
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Recording of dissent
| 18.11 | A director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless: |
| (a) | his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or |
| (b) | he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or |
| (c) | he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent. |
A director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.
Written resolutions
| 18.12 | The directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors. |
| 18.13 | Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing director. But if a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy. |
| 18.14 | Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director signs. |
Sole director’s minute
| 18.15 | Where a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution in those terms. |
| 19 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure |
Permissible interests subject to disclosure
| 19.1 | Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company. |
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| 19.2 | If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may: |
| (a) | be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested; |
| (b) | be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate. |
| 19.3 | Such disclosure may be made at a meeting at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest. |
| 19.4 | If a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not, by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit. |
Notification of interests
| 19.5 | For the purposes of the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | a general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and |
| (b) | an interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his. |
| 19.6 | A director shall not be treated as having an interest in a transaction or arrangement if he has no knowledge of that interest and it is unreasonable to expect the director to have that knowledge. |
Voting where a director is interested in a matter
| 19.7 | A director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes on the resolution, his vote shall be counted. |
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| 19.8 | Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment. |
| 20 | Minutes |
The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.
| 21 | Accounts and audit |
Accounting and other records
| 21.1 | The directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Act. |
No automatic right of inspection
| 21.2 | Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Sending of accounts and reports
| 21.3 | The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if: |
| (a) | they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or |
| (b) | they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of: |
| (i) | the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website; |
| (ii) | the address of the website; and |
| (iii) | the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and |
| (iv) | how they may be accessed. |
| 21.4 | If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article. |
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Time of receipt if documents are published on a website
| 21.5 | Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if: |
| (a) | the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and |
| (b) | the person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing. |
Validity despite accidental error in publication on website
| 21.6 | If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because: |
| (a) | those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or |
| (b) | they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting. |
When accounts are to be audited
| 21.7 | Unless the directors or the Members, by Ordinary Resolution, so resolve or unless the Act so requires, the Company’s accounts will not be audited. If the Members so resolve, the Company’s accounts shall be audited in the manner determined by Ordinary Resolution. Alternatively, if the directors so resolve, they shall be audited in the manner they determine. |
| 22 | Financial year |
Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company:
| (a) | shall end on 31st December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and |
| (b) | shall begin when it was incorporated and on 1st January each following year. |
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| 23 | Record dates |
Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the directors may fix any time and date as the record date for declaring or paying a dividend or making or issuing an allotment of Shares. The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made.
| 24 | Dividends |
Declaration of dividends by Members
| 24.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. |
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors
| 24.2 | The directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid. |
| 24.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: |
| (a) | Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made. |
| (b) | Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution. |
If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.
| 24.4 | In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies: |
| (a) | If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears. |
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| (b) | The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment. |
| (c) | If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non- preferred rights. |
Apportionment of dividends
| 24.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. |
Right of set off
| 24.6 | The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share. |
Power to pay other than in cash
| 24.7 | If the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | issue fractional Shares; |
| (b) | fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and |
| (c) | vest some assets in trustees. |
How payments may be made
| 24.8 | A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways: |
| (a) | if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or |
| (b) | by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share. |
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| 24.9 | For the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
| 24.10 | If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows: |
| (a) | to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the register of members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or |
| (b) | to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record. |
| 24.11 | Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share. |
Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights
| 24.12 | Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest. |
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
| 24.13 | If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member. |
| 24.14 | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
| 25 | Capitalisation of profits |
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve
| 25.1 | The directors may resolve to capitalise: |
| (a) | any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or |
| (b) | any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any. |
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The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways:
| (a) | by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares; |
| (b) | by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid. |
Applying an amount for the benefit of members
| 25.2 | The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend. |
| 25.3 | Subject to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction. |
| 26 | Share premium account |
Directors to maintain share premium account
| 26.1 | The directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act. |
Debits to share premium account
| 26.2 | The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account: |
| (a) | on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and |
| (b) | any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act. |
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| 26.3 | Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Act, out of capital. |
| 27 | Seal |
Company seal
| 27.1 | The Company may have a seal if the directors so determine. |
Duplicate seal
| 27.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used. |
When and how seal is to be used
| 27.3 | A seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single director (or his alternate). |
If no seal is adopted or used
| 27.4 | If the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner: |
| (a) | by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single director (or his alternate); or |
| (c) | in any other manner permitted by the Act. |
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
| 27.5 | The directors may determine that either or both of the following applies: |
| (a) | that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction; |
| (b) | that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature. |
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Validity of execution
| 27.6 | If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company. |
| 28 | Indemnity |
Indemnity
| 28.1 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: |
| (a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
| (b) | without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Islands or elsewhere. |
No such existing or former Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
| 28.2 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs. |
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Release
| 28.3 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own dishonesty. |
Insurance
| 28.4 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty: |
| (a) | an existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of: |
| (i) | the Company; |
| (ii) | a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company; |
| (iii) | a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and |
| (b) | a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested. |
| 29 | Notices |
Form of notices
| 29.1 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be: |
| (a) | in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or |
| (b) | subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or |
| (c) | where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website. |
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Electronic communications
| 29.2 | Without limitation to Articles 15.1 to 15.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 17.8 to 17.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if: |
| (a) | the directors so resolve; |
| (b) | the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and |
| (c) | the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed. |
If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.
| 29.3 | A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent. |
Persons authorised to give notices
| 29.4 | A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member. |
Delivery of written notices
| 29.5 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office. |
Joint holders
| 29.6 | Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the register of members. |
Signatures
| 29.7 | A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver. |
| 29.8 | An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature. |
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Evidence of transmission
| 29.9 | A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver. |
| 29.10 | A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient. |
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
| 29.11 | A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled. |
| 29.12 | Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
Date of giving notices
| 29.13 | A notice is given on the date identified in the following table. |
|
Method for giving notices |
When taken to be given |
| Personally | At the time and date of delivery |
| By leaving it at the member’s registered address | At the time and date it was left |
| If the recipient has an address within the Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient | 48 hours after it was posted |
| If the recipient has an address outside the Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient | 7 Clear Days after posting |
| By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address | Within 24 hours after it was sent |
| By publication on a website | See the Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website |
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Saving provision
| 29.14 | None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of directors and written resolutions of Members. |
| 30 | Authentication of Electronic Records |
Application of Articles
| 30.1 | Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 30.2 or Article 30.4 applies. |
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
| 30.2 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 30.7 does not apply. |
| 30.3 | For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 30.7 applies. |
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Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
| 30.4 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 30.7 does not apply. |
This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.
| 30.5 | For example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article 30.7 applies. |
Manner of signing
| 30.6 | For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles. |
Saving provision
| 30.7 | A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably: |
| (a) | believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or |
| (b) | believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or |
| (c) | otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document |
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
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| 31 | Transfer by way of continuation |
| 31.1 | The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside: |
| (a) | the Islands; or |
| (b) | such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing. |
| 31.2 | To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following: |
| (a) | an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and |
| (b) | all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
| 32 | Winding up |
Distribution of assets in specie
| 32.1 | If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: |
| (a) | to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; |
| (b) | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
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No obligation to accept liability
| 32.2 | No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition
| 32.3 | The directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting. |
| 33 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
| 33.1 | Subject to the Act, the Company may, by Special Resolution: |
| (a) | change its name; or |
| (b) | change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum. |
Power to amend these Articles
| 33.2 | Subject to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part. |
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Dated 01 February 2023
| Name and address of Subscriber | Number of shares taken |
Signature |
|
Ogier Global Subscriber (Cayman) Limited
89 Nexus Way Camana Bay Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 Cayman Islands |
1 |
per: /s/ Daisy Valdez Name: Daisy Valdez Authorised Signatory |
| Witness to above signature |
/s/ Yanique Arthurs Name: Yanique Arthurs
Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited 89 Nexus Way Camana Bay Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 Cayman Islands
Occupation: Administrator | |
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Exhibit 2.1
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (the “Exchange Act”)
As of the date of the Annual Report on Form 20-F (the “Form 20-F”) of which this Exhibit 2.1 is a part, Top Wealth Group Holding Limited (the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) has only one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: the Company’s ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”).
Description of Ordinary Shares
The following is a summary of material provisions of our currently effective memorandum and articles of association (our “Memorandum and Articles of Association”), as well as the Companies Law (2020 Revision) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”) insofar as they relate to the material terms of our Ordinary Shares. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Memorandum and Articles, which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 20-F of which this Exhibit 2.1 is a part.
Type and Class of Securities (Item 9.A.5 of Form 20-F)
Each Ordinary Share has US$0.0001 par value. The number of our Ordinary Share that have been issued as of the last day of the financial year ended December 31, 2023 is provided on the cover of the Form 20-F filed on May 28, 2024.
Preemptive Rights (Item 9.A.3 of Form 20-F)
Our shareholders do not have preemptive rights.
Limitations or Qualifications (Item 9.A.6 of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Rights of Other Types of Securities (Item 9.A.7 of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Rights of Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.3 of Form 20-F)
Class of Ordinary Shares
As of the date of this annual report, our authorized share capital is US$50,000, divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. All of our shares to be issued in the offering will be issued as fully paid.
Dividends
The holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors, subject to the Companies Act. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and any rights attaching to any class or classes of shares under and in accordance with the articles, our articles provide that the directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on shares of the Company in issue and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. Our shareholders may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. No dividend shall be paid otherwise than out of profits or, subject to the restrictions of the Companies Act regarding the application of a company’s share premium account and with the sanction of an ordinary resolution, the share premium account. The directors when paying dividends to shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.
Unless provided by the rights attached to a share, no dividend shall bear interest.
Voting Rights
Subject to any rights or restrictions as to voting attached to any shares, unless any share carries special voting rights, at each general meeting, on a show of hands each shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) will have one (1) vote. On a poll, each shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) shall have one (1) vote for each Ordinary Share.
An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote in person (or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorized representatives) or by proxy at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of not less than two-thirds of shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote in person (or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorized representatives) or by proxy at a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares. 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 memorandum and articles. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our memorandum and articles.
Cumulative Voting
Delaware law permits cumulative voting for the election of directors only if expressly authorized in the certificate of incorporation. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands but our memorandum and articles do not provide for cumulative voting.
Pre-emptive Rights
There are no pre-emptive rights applicable to the issue by us of Ordinary Shares under our memorandum and articles of association.
Meetings of Shareholders
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings; accordingly, we may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting. Any annual general meeting held shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our board of directors. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
The directors may convene a meeting of shareholders whenever they think necessary or desirable. At least 5 clear days’ notice of a general meeting shall be given to shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of that business. In addition, if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution shall be given to all shareholders. Notice of every general meeting shall also be given to the directors. Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and with the consent of the shareholders who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90 percent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened on shorter notice.
Our board of directors must convene a general meeting upon the written requisition of one or more shareholders entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company holding not less than 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting in respect to the matter for which the meeting is requested, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting within 21 clear days’ from the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting or any of them may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us.
2
No business may be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business. A quorum shall consist of the presence (whether in person or represented by proxy) of one shareholder if the Company has one shareholder and two shareholders if the Company has more than one shareholder. If, within fifteen minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors, and if, at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, the shareholders present in person or by proxy at the meeting shall be a quorum. Subject to the articles, at every meeting, the shareholders present in person or by proxy may choose someone of their number to be the chairman.
A corporation that is a shareholder shall be deemed for the purpose of our memorandum and articles of association to be present at a general meeting in person if represented by its duly authorized representative. Where a duly authorized representative is present at a meeting that shareholder who is a corporate is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorized representative are personal acts of that shareholder.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by one or more shareholders present who together hold not less than ten percent of the voting rights of all those who are entitled to vote on the resolution. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of, or against, that resolution.
If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, may if he wishes cast a second or casting vote.
Meetings of Directors
The business of our company is managed by the directors. Our directors are free to meet at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the Cayman Islands as the directors determine to be necessary or desirable. The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number. An action that may be taken by the directors at a meeting may also be taken by a resolution of directors consented to in writing by all of the directors.
Winding Up
If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
| ● | to divide in specie among the shareholders the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and |
| ● | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of shareholders and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
Calls on Ordinary Shares and forfeiture of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares including any premium and each shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made), pay to us the amount called on his shares. Shareholders registered as the joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or if no rate is fixed, at the rate of ten percent per annum. The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
3
We have a first and paramount lien on all shares (whether fully paid up or not) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to us by the shareholder or the shareholder’s estate:
| ● | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a shareholder; and |
| ● | whether or not those monies are presently payable. |
At any time the directors may declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from the lien on shares provisions of the articles.
We may sell, in such manner as the directors may determine, any share on which the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, if due notice that such sum is payable has been given (as prescribed by the articles) and, within 14 clear days of the date on which the notice is deemed to be given under the articles, such notice has not been complied with.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares
We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders.
The Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association permits us to purchase our own shares, subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Subject to the Companies Act and any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may by action of our directors:
| ● | issue shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at our option or the shareholder holding those redeemable shares, on the terms and in the manner our directors determine before the issue of those shares; |
| ● | with the consent by special resolution of the shareholders holding shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of shares so as to provide that those shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at our option on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
| ● | purchase all or any of our own shares of any class including any redeemable shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
Under the Companies Act, the repurchase of any share may be paid out of our Company’s profits, or out of the share premium account, or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such repurchase, or out of capital. If the repurchase proceeds are paid out of our Company’s capital, our Company must, immediately following such payment, be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act, no such share may be repurchased (1) unless it is fully paid up, and (2) if such repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding other than shares held as treasury shares. The repurchase of shares may be effected in such manner and upon such terms as may be authorized by or pursuant to the articles. If the articles do not authorize the manner and terms of the purchase, a company shall not repurchase any of its own shares unless the manner and terms of purchase have first been authorized by a resolution of the company. In addition, under the Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association, our Company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration unless, as a result of the surrender, the surrender would result in there being no shares outstanding (other than shares held as treasury 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. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements
Requirements to Change the Rights of Holders of Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F)
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class of our shares may (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of holders of shares of that class as may be present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
Unless the terms on which a class of shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the shareholder holding shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with the existing shares of that class.
4
Limitations on the Rights to Own Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.6 of Form 20-F)
Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no limitations imposed by our 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 memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Ownership Threshold (Item 10.B.8 of Form 20-F)
There are no provisions under the laws of the Cayman Islands which are applicable to our company or under our Memorandum and Articles of Association that require our company to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular ownership threshold.
Differences Between the Law of Different Jurisdictions (Item 10.B.9 of Form 20-F)
The Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England and Wales but does not follow recent United Kingdom statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the 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 laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States.
| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
| Title of Organizational Documents | Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws | Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles of Association
| ||
| Duties of Directors | Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a fiduciary duty of care to protect the interests of the corporation and a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of its shareholders. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberative manner and inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of the corporation’s employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the shareholders. | As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director owes three types of duties to the company: (i) statutory duties, (ii) fiduciary duties, and (iii) common law duties. The Companies Act imposes a number of statutory duties on a director. A Cayman Islands director’s fiduciary duties are not codified, however the courts of the Cayman Islands have held that a director owes the following fiduciary duties (a) a duty to act in what the director bona fide considers to be in the best interests of the company, (b) a duty to exercise their powers for the purposes they were conferred, (c) a duty to avoid fettering his or her discretion in the future and (d) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest and of duty. The common law duties owed by a director are those to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director without those skills. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.’ |
5
| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
| Limitations on Personal Liability of Directors | Subject to the limitations described below, a certificate of incorporation may provide for the elimination or limitation of the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Such provision cannot limit liability for breach of loyalty, bad faith, intentional misconduct, unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful share purchase or redemption. In addition, the certificate of incorporation cannot limit liability for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective.
|
The Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. | ||
| Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Agents, and Others | A corporation has the power to indemnify any director, officer, employee, or agent of corporation who was, is, or is threatened to be made a party who acted in good faith and in a manner he believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and if with respect to a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct would be unlawful, against amounts actually and reasonably incurred. |
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of directors and officers, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against the consequences of committing a crime, or against the indemnified person’s own fraud or dishonesty.
Our articles of association provide to the extent permitted by law, we shall indemnify each existing or former secretary, director (including alternate director), and any of our other officers (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: (a) all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer in or about the conduct of our business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary’s or officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and (b) without limitation to paragraph (a) above, all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning us or our affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
6
| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
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No such existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
To the extent permitted by law, we may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or any of our officers in respect of any matter identified in above on condition that the director (including alternate director), secretary or officer must repay the amount paid by us to the extent that we are ultimately found not liable to indemnify the director (including alternate director), the secretary or that officer for those legal costs.
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| Interested Directors | Under Delaware law, a transaction in which a director who has an interest in such transaction would not be voidable if (i) the material facts as to such interested director’s relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the board in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors are less than a quorum, (ii) such material facts are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote on such transaction and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the shareholders, or (iii) the transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified. Under Delaware law, a director could be held liable for any transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit. | Interested director transactions are governed by the terms of a company’s memorandum and articles of association. |
| Voting Requirements |
The certificate of incorporation may include a provision requiring supermajority approval by the directors or shareholders for any corporate action.
In addition, under Delaware law, certain business combinations involving interested shareholders require approval by a supermajority of the non-interested shareholders. |
For the protection of shareholders, certain matters must be approved by special resolution of the shareholders as a matter of Cayman Islands law, including alteration of the memorandum or articles of association, appointment of inspectors to examine company affairs, reduction of share capital (subject, in relevant circumstances, to court approval), change of name, authorization of a plan of merger or transfer by way of continuation to another jurisdiction or consolidation or voluntary winding up of the company.
The Companies Act requires that a special resolution be passed by a majority of at least two-thirds or such higher percentage as set forth in the memorandum and articles of association, of shareholders being entitled to vote and do vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting, or by unanimous written consent of shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting.
The Companies Act defines “special resolutions” only. A company’s memorandum and articles of association can therefore tailor the definition of “ordinary resolutions” as a whole, or with respect to specific provisions. |
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| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
| Voting for Directors | Under Delaware law, unless otherwise specified in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.
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Director election is governed by the terms of the memorandum and articles of association of a company. | ||
| Cumulative Voting | No cumulative voting for the election of directors unless so provided in the certificate of incorporation. | There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the Companies Act but our articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting.
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| Directors’ Powers Regarding Bylaws | The certificate of incorporation may grant the directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws. | The memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution of the shareholders.
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| Nomination and Removal of Directors and Filling Vacancies on Board | Shareholders may generally nominate directors if they comply with advance notice provisions and other procedural requirements in company bylaws. Holders of a majority of the shares may remove a director with or without cause, except in certain cases involving a classified board or if the company uses cumulative voting. Unless otherwise provided for in the certificate of incorporation, directorship vacancies are filled by a majority of the directors elected or then in office.
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Nomination and removal of directors and filling of board vacancies are governed by the terms of the memorandum and articles of association. |
8
| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
| Mergers and Similar Arrangements |
Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation, exchange or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Under Delaware law, a shareholder of a corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which such shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by such shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration such shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction.
Delaware law also provides that a parent corporation, by resolution of its board of directors, may merge with any subsidiary, of which it owns at least 90% of each class of capital stock without a vote by shareholders of such subsidiary. Upon any such merger, dissenting shareholders of the subsidiary would have appraisal rights. |
The Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies provided that the laws of the foreign jurisdiction permit such merger or consolidation. For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies 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 shareholders 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.
A merger between a Cayman Islands parent company and its Cayman Islands subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders of that Cayman subsidiary if a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of that Cayman subsidiary to be merged unless that member agrees otherwise. For this purpose a subsidiary is a company of which at least 90% of the issued shares entitled to vote are owned by the parent company.
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The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company is required unless this requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands.
Except in certain limited circumstances, a dissenting shareholder of a Cayman Islands constituent company is entitled to payment of the fair value of his or her shares upon dissenting from a merger or consolidation. The exercise of such 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, except for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.
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| In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by seventy-five percent (75%) in value of the shareholders or 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 has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that: (a) the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met; (b) the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; (c) the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and (d) the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act. |
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| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
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When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares affected within four months the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If an arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, or if a takeover offer is made and accepted, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
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| Shareholder Suits | Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to shareholders under Delaware law for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court generally has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action. | 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 and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge: (a) an act which is illegal or ultra vires with respect to the company and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders; (b) an act which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and (c) an act which constitutes a “fraud on the minority” where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company.
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| Inspection of Corporate Records | Under Delaware law, shareholders of a Delaware corporation have the right during normal business hours to inspect for any proper purpose, and to obtain copies of list(s) of shareholders and other books and records of the corporation and its subsidiaries, if any, to the extent the books and records of such subsidiaries are available to the corporation. | Shareholders of a Cayman Islands exempted company have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of a list of shareholders or other corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association and any special resolutions passed by such companies, and the registers of mortgages and charges of such companies) of the company. However, these rights may be provided in the company’s memorandum and articles of association. |
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| Delaware | Cayman Islands | |||
| Shareholder Proposals | Unless provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, Delaware law does not include a provision restricting the manner in which shareholders may bring business before a meeting. | 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 articles of association provide that general meetings shall be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than 10 percent of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting within twenty-one clear days’ from the date of receipt of the requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting or any of them may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of twenty-one clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us. Our articles of association provide no other right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. However, our corporate governance guidelines require us to call such meetings every year.
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| Approval of Corporate Matters by Written Consent | Delaware law permits shareholders to take action by written consent signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting of shareholders.
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The Companies Act allows a special resolution to be passed in writing if signed by all the voting shareholders (if authorized by the memorandum and articles of association). | ||
| Calling of Special Shareholders Meetings | Delaware law permits the board of directors or any person who is authorized under a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws to call a special meeting of shareholders.
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The Companies Act does not have provisions governing the proceedings of shareholders meetings which are usually provided in the memorandum and articles of association. | ||
| Dissolution; Winding Up | Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board of directors. | Under the Companies Act, the Company may be wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders, or if the winding up is initiated by our board of directors, by either a special resolution of our members or, if our company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of our members. In addition, a company may be wound up by an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so. |
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Changes in Capital (Item 10.B.10 of Form 20-F)
We may from time to time by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders:
| ● | increase our share capital by new shares of the amount fixed by that ordinary resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that ordinary resolution; |
| ● | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares; |
| ● | convert all or any of our paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination; |
| ● | subdivide our existing shares, or any of them, into shares of a smaller amount than that fixed by the memorandum, 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; and |
| ● | cancel any shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled, or, in the case of shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of shares into which our capital is divided. |
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by our company for an order confirming such reduction, reduce its share capital in any manner authorized by the Companies Act.
Debt Securities (Item 12.A of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Warrants and Rights (Item 12.B of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Other Securities (Item 12.C of Form 20-F)
Options Grants
Effective on August 1, 2022, Top Wealth (International) Limited (“TW HK”), the Operating Subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Corporate Development Consultant Appointment Agreement with Mr. Haitong, CHEN (the “Consultancy Agreement”), in which TW HK appointed Mr. Chen for a term of 10 months commencing from August 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, subject to extension or early termination, to provide corporate development, project management, and capital financing consultancy services in connection to the Company’s IPO in the United States. Pursuant to the Consultancy Agreement, in addition to a fixed cash remuneration to Mr. Chen, TW HK will also cause Top Wealth Group Holding Limited to grant stock options to Mr. Chen to acquire an aggregate of 1,080,000 Ordinary Shares of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited after Company’s IPO, representing 4% of the Ordinary Shares of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited issued and outstanding prior to the initial public offering of the Company (the “Consultancy Stock Option”). The options granted to Mr. Chen will vest and become exercisable over a period of three years in three equal tranches, on the first, second, and third anniversary of the date of Company’s listing on Nasdaq capital market. All options shall be exercised after three anniversaries and within 60 months of Company’s listing, otherwise the unexercised options will be null and void. The applicable exercise price for the Consultancy Stock Option that to be granted to Mr. Chen is fifty percent (50%) of the offering price per Ordinary Shares offered by the Company in Company’s initial public offering.
Upon the expiration of the term of the Consultancy Agreement, Mr. Chen and the Company mutually agreed not to extend Consultancy Agreement.
Description of American Depositary Shares (Items 12.D.1 and 12.D.2 of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
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Exhibit 8.1
Subsidiaries of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
| Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization | |
| Top Wealth (BVI) Holding Limited | British Virgin Islands | |
| Top Wealth Group (International) Limited | Hong Kong |
Exhibit 11.2
Top Wealth Group Holding Limited
Insider Trading Policy
This Insider Trading Policy describes the standards of Top Wealth Group Holding and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) on trading, and causing the trading of, the Company’s securities or securities of certain other publicly traded companies while in possession of confidential information. This Policy is divided into two parts: the first part prohibits trading in certain circumstances and applies to all directors, officers and employees and their respective immediate family members of the Company and the second part imposes special additional trading restrictions and applies to all (i) directors of the Company, (ii) executive officers of the Company (together with the directors, “Company Insiders”) , and (iii) certain other employees that the Company may designate from time to time as “Covered Persons” because of their position, responsibilities or their actual or potential access to material information.
One of the principal purposes of the federal securities laws is to prohibit so-called “insider trading.” Simply stated, insider trading occurs when a person uses material nonpublic information obtained through involvement with the Company to make decisions to purchase, sell, give away or otherwise trade the Company’s securities or the securities of certain other companies or to provide that information to others outside the Company. The prohibitions against insider trading apply to trades, tips and recommendations by virtually any person, including all persons associated with the Company, if the information involved is “material” and “nonpublic.” These terms are defined in this Policy under Part I, Section 3 below. The prohibitions would apply to any director, officer or employee who buys or sells securities on the basis of material nonpublic information that he or she obtained about the Company, its customers, suppliers, partners, competitors or other companies with which the Company has contractual relationships or may be negotiating transactions.
PART I
1. Applicability
This Policy applies to all trading or other transactions in (i) the Company’s securities, including common stock, options and any other securities that the Company may issue, such as preferred stock, notes, bonds and convertible securities, as well as to derivative securities relating to any of the Company’s securities, whether or not issued by the Company and (ii) the securities of certain other companies, including common stock, options and other securities issued by those companies as well as derivative securities relating to any of those companies’ securities.
This Policy applies to all employees of the Company, all officers of the Company and all members of the Company’s board of directors, officers, employees, and their respective family members.
2. General Policy: No Trading or Causing Trading While in Possession of Material Nonpublic Information
(a) No director, officer or employee or any of their immediate family members may purchase or sell, or offer to purchase or sell, any Company security, whether or not issued by the Company, while in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company. (The terms “material” and “nonpublic” are defined in Part I, Section 3(a) and (b) below.)
(b) No director, officer or employee or any of their immediate family members who knows of any material nonpublic information about the Company may communicate that information to (“tip”) any other person, including family members and friends, or otherwise disclose such information without the Company’s authorization.
(c) No director, officer or employee or any of their immediate family members may purchase or sell any security of any other publicly-traded company while in possession of material nonpublic information that was obtained in the course of his or her involvement with the Company. No director, officer or employee or any of their immediate family members who knows of any such material nonpublic information may communicate that information to, or tip, any other person, including family members and friends, or otherwise disclose such information without the Company’s authorization.
(d) For compliance purposes, you should never trade, tip or recommend securities (or otherwise cause the purchase or sale of securities) while in possession of information that you have reason to believe is material and nonpublic unless you first consult with, and obtain the advance approval of, the Compliance Officer (which is defined in Part I, Section 3(c) below).
(e) Covered Persons must “pre-clear” all trading in securities of the Company in accordance with the procedures set forth in Part II, Section 3 below.
3. Definitions
(a) Material. Insider trading restrictions come into play only if the information you possess is “material.” Materiality, however, involves a relatively low threshold. Information is generally regarded as “material” if it has market significance, that is, if its public dissemination is likely to affect the market price of securities, or if it otherwise is information that a reasonable investor would want to know before making an investment decision.
Information dealing with the following subjects is reasonably likely to be found material in particular situations:
(i) significant changes in the Company’s prospects;
(ii) significant write-downs in assets or increases in reserves;
(iii) developments regarding significant litigation or government agency investigations;
(iv) liquidity problems;
(v) changes in earnings estimates or unusual gains or losses in major operations;
(vi) major changes in the Company’s management or the board of directors;
(vii) changes in dividends;
(viii) extraordinary borrowings;
(ix) major changes in accounting methods or policies;
(x) award or loss of a significant contract;
(xi) cybersecurity risks and incidents, including vulnerabilities and breaches;
(xii) changes in debt ratings;
(xiii) proposals, plans or agreements, even if preliminary in nature, involving mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, or purchases or sales of substantial assets; and
(xiv) offerings of Company securities.
Material information is not limited to historical facts but may also include projections and forecasts. With respect to a future event, such as a merger, acquisition or introduction of a new product, the point at which negotiations or product development are determined to be material is determined by balancing the probability that the event will occur against the magnitude of the effect the event would have on a company’s operations or stock price should it occur. Thus, information concerning an event that would have a large effect on stock price, such as a merger, may be material even if the possibility that the event will occur is relatively small. When in doubt about whether particular nonpublic information is material, you should presume it is material. If you are unsure whether information is material, you should either consult the Compliance Officer before making any decision to disclose such information (other than to persons who need to know it) or to trade in or recommend securities to which that information relates or assume that the information is material.
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(b) Nonpublic. Insider trading prohibitions come into play only when you possess information that is material and “nonpublic.” The fact that information has been disclosed to a few members of the public does not make it public for insider trading purposes. To be “public” the information must have been disseminated in a manner designed to reach investors generally, and the investors must be given the opportunity to absorb the information. Even after public disclosure of information about the Company, you must wait until the close of business on the second trading day after the information was publicly disclosed before you can treat the information as public.
Nonpublic information may include:
(i) information available to a select group of analysts or brokers or institutional investors;
(ii) undisclosed facts that are the subject of rumors, even if the rumors are widely circulated; and
(iii) information that has been entrusted to the Company on a confidential basis until a public announcement of the information has been made and enough time has elapsed for the market to respond to a public announcement of the information, normally two trading days.
As with questions of materiality, if you are not sure whether information is considered public, you should either consult with the Compliance Officer or assume that the information is nonpublic and treat it as confidential.
(c) Compliance Officer. The Company has appointed the Chief Financial Officer as the Compliance Officer for this Policy. The duties of the Compliance Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) assisting with implementation and enforcement of this Policy;
(ii) circulating this Policy to all employees and ensuring that this Policy is amended as necessary to remain up-to-date with insider trading laws;
(iii) pre-clearing all trading in securities of the Company by Covered Persons in accordance with the procedures set forth in Part II, Section 3 below; and
(iv) providing approval of any Rule 10b5-1 plans under Part II, Section 1(c) below and any prohibited transactions under Part II, Section 4 below.
(v) providing a reporting system with an effective whistleblower protection mechanism.
4. Exceptions
The trading restrictions of this Policy do not apply to exercising stock options granted under the Company’s current or future equity incentive plans or option plans for cash or the delivery of previously owned Company stock. However, the sale of any shares issued on the exercise of Company-granted stock options and any cashless exercise of Company-granted stock options are subject to trading restrictions under this Policy.
5. Violations of Insider Trading Laws
Penalties for trading on or communicating material nonpublic information can be severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers and supervisors, and may include jail terms, criminal fines, civil penalties and civil enforcement injunctions. Given the severity of the potential penalties, compliance with this Policy is absolutely mandatory.
(a) Legal Penalties. A person who violates insider trading laws by engaging in transactions in a company’s securities when he or she has material nonpublic information can be sentenced to a substantial jail term and required to pay a criminal penalty of several times the amount of profits gained or losses avoided.
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In addition, a person who tips others may also be liable for transactions by the tippees to whom he or she has disclosed material nonpublic information. Tippers can be subject to the same penalties and sanctions as the tippees, and the SEC has imposed large penalties even when the tipper did not profit from the transaction.
The SEC can also seek substantial civil penalties from any person who, at the time of an insider trading violation, “directly or indirectly controlled the person who committed such violation,” which would apply to the Company and/or management and supervisory personnel. These control persons may be held liable for up to the greater of $1 million or three times the amount of the profits gained or losses avoided. Even for violations that result in a small or no profit, the SEC can seek penalties from a company and/or its management and supervisory personnel as control persons.
(b) Company-Imposed Penalties. Employees who violate this Policy may be subject to disciplinary action by the Company, including dismissal for cause. Any exceptions to the Policy, if permitted, may only be granted by the Compliance Officer and must be provided before any activity contrary to the above requirements takes place.
6. Inquiries
If you have any questions regarding any of the provisions of this Policy, please contact the Compliance Officer at +852 36158567, c/o Top Wealth Group Holding Limited, Units 714 & 715 7F, Hong Kong Plaza 188 Connaught Road West Hong Kong.
PART II
1. Blackout Periods
All Covered Persons are prohibited from trading in the Company’s securities during blackout periods as defined below.
(a) Quarterly Blackout Periods. Trading in the Company’s securities is prohibited during the period beginning at the close of the market on two weeks before the end of each fiscal quarter and ending at the close of business on the second trading day following the date the Company’s financial results are publicly disclosed. During these periods, Covered Persons generally possess or are presumed to possess material nonpublic information about the Company’s financial results.
(b) Other Blackout Periods. From time to time, other types of material nonpublic information regarding the Company (such as negotiation of mergers, acquisitions or dispositions, investigation and assessment of cybersecurity incidents or new product developments) may be pending and not be publicly disclosed. While such material nonpublic information is pending, the Company may impose special blackout periods during which Covered Persons are prohibited from trading in the Company’s securities. If the Company imposes a special blackout period, it will notify the Covered Persons affected.
(c) Exception. These trading restrictions do not apply to transactions under a pre-existing written plan, contract, instruction, or arrangement under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (an “Approved 10b5-1 Plan”) that:
(i) has been reviewed and approved at least one month in advance of any trades thereunder by the Compliance Officer (or, if revised or amended, such revisions or amendments have been reviewed and approved by the Compliance Officer at least one month in advance of any subsequent trades);
(ii) was entered into in good faith by the Covered Person at a time when the Covered Person was not in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company; and
(iii) gives a third party the discretionary authority to execute such purchases and sales, outside the control of the Covered Person, so long as such third party does not possess any material nonpublic information about the Company; or explicitly specifies the security or securities to be purchased or sold, the number of shares, the prices and/or dates of transactions, or other formula(s) describing such transactions.
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2. Trading Window
Covered Persons are permitted to trade in the Company’s securities when no blackout period is in effect. Generally, this means that Covered Persons can trade during the period beginning on DAY THAT BLACKOUT PERIOD UNDER SECTION 1(A) ENDS and ending on DAY THAT NEXT BLACKOUT PERIOD UNDER SECTION 1(A) BEGINS. However, even during this trading window, a Covered Person who is in possession of any material nonpublic information should not trade in the Company’s securities until the information has been made publicly available or is no longer material. In addition, the Company may close this trading window if a special blackout period under Part II, Section 1(b) above is imposed and will re-open the trading window once the special blackout period has ended.
3. Pre-Clearance of Securities Transactions
(a) Because Company Insiders are likely to obtain material nonpublic information on a regular basis, the Company requires all such persons to refrain from trading, even during a trading window under Part II, Section 2 above, without first pre-clearing all transactions in the Company’s securities.
(b) Subject to the exemption in subsection (d) below, no Company Insider may, directly or indirectly, purchase or sell (or otherwise make any transfer, gift, pledge or loan of) any Company security at any time without first obtaining prior approval from the Compliance Officer. These procedures also apply to transactions by such person’s spouse, other persons living in such person’s household and minor children and to transactions by entities over which such person exercises control.
(c) The Compliance Officer shall record the date each request is received and the date and time each request is approved or disapproved. Unless revoked, a grant of permission will normally remain valid until the close of trading two business days following the day on which it was granted. If the transaction does not occur during the two-day period, pre-clearance of the transaction must be re-requested.
(d) Pre-clearance is not required for purchases and sales of securities under an Approved 10b5-1 Plan. With respect to any purchase or sale under an Approved 10b5-1 Plan, the third party effecting transactions on behalf of the Company Insider should be instructed to send duplicate confirmations of all such transactions to the Compliance Officer.
4. Prohibited Transactions
(a) Company Insiders are prohibited from trading in the Company’s equity securities during a blackout period imposed under an “individual account” retirement or pension plan of the Company, during which at least 50% of the plan participants are unable to purchase, sell or otherwise acquire or transfer an interest in equity securities of the Company, due to a temporary suspension of trading by the Company or the plan fiduciary.
(b) Covered Persons, including any person’s spouse, other persons living in such person’s household and minor children and entities over which such person exercises control, are prohibited from engaging in the following transactions in the Company’s securities unless advance approval is obtained from the Compliance Officer:
(i) Short-term trading. Company Insiders who purchase Company securities may not sell any Company securities of the same class for at least six months after the purchase;
(ii) Short sales. Company Insiders/Covered Persons may not sell the Company’s securities short;
(iii) Options trading. Covered Persons may not buy or sell puts or calls or other derivative securities on the Company’s securities;
(iv) Trading on margin or pledging. Covered Persons may not hold Company securities in a margin account or pledge Company securities as collateral for a loan; and
(v) Hedging. Covered Persons may not enter into hedging or monetization transactions or similar arrangements with respect to Company securities.
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5. Acknowledgment and Certification
All Covered Persons are required to sign the attached acknowledgment and certification.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CERTIFICATION
The undersigned does hereby acknowledge receipt of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. The undersigned has read and understands (or has had explained) such Policy and agrees to be governed by such Policy at all times in connection with the purchase and sale of securities and the confidentiality of nonpublic information.
| (Signature) | |||
| (Please print name) | |||
| Date: | |||
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Exhibit 12.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended
as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Kim Kwan Kings, WONG, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b. | [paragraph omitted in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)]; |
| c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: May 29, 2024 | /s/ Kim Kwan Kings, WONG |
| Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
Exhibit 12.2
Certification of Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended
as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Kwok Kuen, YUEN, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b. | [paragraph omitted in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)]; |
| c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: May 29, 2024 | /s/ Kwok Kuen, YUEN |
| Kwok Kuen, YUEN | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) |
Exhibit 13.1
CERTIFICATIONS OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Kim Kwan Kings, WONG, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Annual Report on Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited.
| Date: May 29, 2024 | /s/ Kim Kwan Kings, WONG |
| Kim Kwan Kings, WONG | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
I, Kwok Kuen, YUEN, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Annual Report on Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Top Wealth Group Holding Limited.
| Date: May 29, 2024 | /s/ Kwok Kuen, YUEN |
| Kwok Kuen, YUEN | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
The foregoing certifications are not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Prestige Wealth Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.