Meiwu Technology Co Ltd 20-F for FY2024
Meiwu Technology Co Ltd (WNW)
About this 20-F
Meiwu Technology Co Ltd filed this 20-F on May 14, 2025, covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (FY2024).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $158.49K
- down 98.6% from $10.98M a year earlier
- Net income
- $5.11M
- compared with a net loss of $16.07M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $0.16
- compared with -$6.54 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
| REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
or
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For
the fiscal year ended
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ___________________________ to ___________________________
or
| SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report
Commission
file number:
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(Address of principal executive offices)
Telephone:
(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 | ||
| The
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
(Title of Class)
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.
The number of outstanding ordinary shares, no par value, was as of December 31, 2024, on a pre-Reverse Split (as defined herein) basis.
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 ☒
Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
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.
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
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 by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐ |
Other ☐ |
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 Exchange Act).
☐
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
INTRODUCTION
In this annual report, except where the context otherwise requires and for purposes of this annual report only:
| ● | “Antai” refers to Antai Medical Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of Hong Kong and a wholly owned subsidiary of Yuanxing BVI; | |
| ● | “BVI” refers to the British Virgin Islands; | |
| ● | “Baode” refers to Baode Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, a limited liability company organized under the laws of China and a majority-owned subsidiary of Meiwu Shenzhen before December 28, 2021; | |
| ● | “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding Taiwan for the purposes of this annual report only; | |
| ● | “Code Beating” refers to Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited, a company organized under the laws of the PRC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Delimond; | |
| ● | “Commission” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; | |
| ● | “Delimond” refers to Delimond Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Hong Kong and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahao BVI; | |
| ● | “Heme Shenzhen” refers to Heme Brand Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of PRC and a 51% owned subsidiary of Meiwu Shenzhen; | |
| ● | “Mahao BVI” refers to Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiwu; | |
| ● | “Meiwu Catering” is to Meiwu Catering Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, a limited liability company organized under the laws of China and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiwu Shenzhen; | |
| ● | “PRC operating entities” refer to PRC subsidiaries, Meiwu Shenzhen and its subsidiaries; | |
| ● | “PRC subsidiaries” refer to Code Beating, Guo Gang Tong, Yundian, and Yuanxing; | |
| ● | “Vande” refers to Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of Hong Kong and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiwu; | |
| ● | “variable interest entity” or “VIE” is to our variable interest entity, Wunong Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. | |
| ● | “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our,” “the Company” and “Meiwu” is to Meiwu Technology Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands company; | |
| ● | “WFOE” or “Guo Gang Tong” refers to Guo Gangtong Trade (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, a limited liability company organized under the laws of China, which is wholly-owned by Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited; | |
| ● | “Wude Shanghai” is to Wude Agricultural Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, a limited liability company organized under the laws of China and a majority-owned subsidiary of Meiwu Shenzhen and | |
| ● | “Meiwu Shenzhen” refers to Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co,. Ltd, formerly known as Wunong Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, a limited liability company organized under the laws of China and a variable interest entity (“VIE”) contractually controlled by WFOE; | |
| ● | “Website” is to our e-commence website for the offering of the food products at www.wnw108.com. | |
| ● | “Yuanxing” refers to Hunan Yuanxing Chanrong Technology Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the PRC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Antai; | |
| ● | “Yuanxing BVI” refers to Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiwu; | |
| ● | “Yundian” refers to Dalian Yundian Zhiteng Technology Company Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of China and a wholly owned subsidiary of Yun Tent; | |
| ● | “Yundian BVI” refers to Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiwu; and | |
| ● | “Yun Tent” refers to Yun Tent Technology Company Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of Hong Kong and a wholly owned subsidiary of Yundian BVI; |
All references to “RMB” or “Chinese Yuan” is to the legal currency of China;
All references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars,” “USD” or “$” are to the legal currency of the United States;
Our business is conducted by our subsidiaries in PRC, using RMB, the currency of China. Our consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars. In this annual report, we refer to assets, obligations, commitments and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements in United States dollars. These dollar references are based on the exchange rate of RMB to United States dollars, determined as of a specific date or for a specific period. Changes in the exchange rate will affect the amount of our obligations and the value of our assets in terms of United States dollars which may result in an increase or decrease in the amount of our obligations (expressed in dollars) and the value of our assets, including accounts receivable (expressed in dollars).
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This annual report on Form 20-F contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “future” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| ● | our intent to profitably grow our business through our strategic initiatives; | |
| ● | our intent to seek additional acquisition opportunities in food products and our expectation regarding competition for acquisitions; | |
| ● | our beliefs regarding our competitive strengths and ability to successfully compete in the markets in which we participate; | |
| ● | our expectations concerning consumer demand for our products, our future growth opportunities, market share and sales channels; | |
| ● | our future operating and financial performance; | |
| ● | the accuracy of our estimates and key judgments regarding certain tax matters and accounting valuations; and | |
| ● | our belief regarding our ability to comply with environmental, health and other applicable regulatory matters. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 20-F are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our management’s experience in the industry as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. As you read and consider this annual report, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to:
| ● | the loss of any of our executive officers or members of our senior management team or other key employees; | |
| ● | the loss of any of our major customers or a decrease in demand for our products; | |
| ● | our ability to effectively compete in our markets; | |
| ● | changes in consumer preferences and our failure to anticipate and respond to such changes or to successfully develop and renovate products; | |
| ● | our ability to protect our brand names; | |
| ● | economic conditions that may affect our future performance including exchange rate fluctuations; | |
| ● | fluctuations in the availability of food ingredients and packaging materials that we use in our products; | |
| ● | disruptions in our information technology systems, supply network, manufacturing and distribution facilities or our workforce or the workforce of our suppliers; | |
| ● | increases in operating costs, including labor costs, and our ability to manage our cost structure; | |
| ● | the incurrence of liabilities not covered by our insurance; | |
| ● | the loss of our foreign private issuer status; | |
| ● | the effects of reputational damage from unsafe or poor quality food products, particularly if such issues involve products we distributed; | |
| ● | our failure to comply with, and liabilities related to, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; and | |
| ● | changes in applicable laws or regulations. |
We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed in “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors.” Those risks are not exhaustive. We operate in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is impossible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law.
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PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
Our Corporate Structure
We are an offshore holding company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations, we currently conduct our business through our subsidiaries in China. Investors of our Ordinary Shares are not acquiring equity interest in any operating company but instead are acquiring interest in a British Virgin Islands holding company. This holding company structure involves unique risks to investors. As a holding company, we may rely on dividends from its subsidiaries for cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to its shareholders. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to us may be restricted by laws and regulations applicable to them or the debt they incur on their own behalf or the instruments governing their debt. In addition, PRC regulatory authorities could disallow this holding company structure and limit or hinder our ability to conduct our business through, receive dividends or distributions from, or transfer funds to, the operating companies or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange, which could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
Prior to December 24, 2024, we conducted our business in China by (i) the former VIE, Meiwu Shenzhen, and (ii) the former VIE’s subsidiaries, Jiayuan Liquor, Wunong Shaanxi, Heme Shenzhen, Wude Shanghai and Meiwu Catering. Neither we nor our subsidiaries owned any equity interests in the VIE. WFOE, the VIE and the shareholders of the VIE entered into a series of contractual arrangements, also known as the “VIE Agreements”, pursuant to which we are able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in our consolidated financial statements because we are deemed as the primary beneficial of the VIE under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) .
On December 10, 2024, we effected a restructuring and terminated the VIE corporate structure. The termination was due to the continued loss incurred by the business and operations of the VIE and its subsidiaries, and in connection with our business transition to focus on the functional skincare business. Following the restructuring in December 2024, the contractual arrangement of the VIE structure was terminated and currently we do not have any VIE in China.
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this annual report:
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Risks Related to Doing Business in China
We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties relating to doing business in China. Our business operations are primarily conducted in China, and we are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations. For example, the PRC government has issued statements and regulatory actions relating to areas such as regulatory approvals on overseas offerings and listings by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy. It remains uncertain how PRC government authorities will regulate overseas listings and offerings in general and whether we can fully comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including completing filings with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, and whether we are required to complete other filings or obtain any specific regulatory approvals from the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, or any other PRC government authorities for our overseas offerings and listings, as applicable. In addition, if future regulatory developments mandate clearance of cybersecurity review or other specific actions to be completed by China-based companies listed on foreign stock exchanges, such as us, we face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all. These risks may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or list and conduct offerings on a stock exchange in the United States or any other foreign country. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our Ordinary Shares, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For a detailed description of risks relating to doing business in China, see “Item 3. Key Information- D. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Doing Business in China.”
The PRC government’s significant authority in regulating our operations and its oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Implementation of industry-wide regulations in this nature, such as data security or anti-monopoly related regulations, may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China – Any actions by Chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence our operations or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to our operation, may limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.”
Risks and uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of laws and quickly evolving rules and regulations in China, could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China – [Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us].”
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, including our auditor. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. As of the date of this annual report, the PCAOB has not issued any new determination that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in any jurisdiction. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA after we file our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely registered public accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. Our auditor, Enrome LLP, is headquartered in Singapore (“Enrome”) and subject to inspect by the PCAOB. Enrome is not subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. If PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely registered public accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we use a registered public accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA. See “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Doing Business in China – Our securities may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in mainland China and Hong Kong. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.”
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Permission Required from the PRC Authorities for Our Operations
We conduct our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. Each of our mainland China subsidiaries is required to obtain, and has obtained, a business license issued by PRC authorities such as the State Administration for Market Regulation and its local counterparts. Our mainland China subsidiaries are also required to obtain, and have obtained, additional operating licenses and permits in connection with their operations, including but not limited to the compulsory product certifications for certain of our products. None of our mainland China subsidiaries has been subject to any penalties or other disciplinary actions from any authority in mainland China for the failure to obtain or insufficiency of any approvals or permits in connection with the conduct of its business operations as of the date of this annual report.
The PRC government has sought to exert more control and impose more restrictions on China-based issuers raising capital overseas and such efforts may continue or intensify in the future. On July 6, 2021, the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, which emphasized the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by mainland China-based companies, was enacted. Effective measures, such as promoting the establishment of regulatory frameworks, are to be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of mainland China-based overseas-listed companies, cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements, and similar matters. The revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review issued by the CAC, and several other administrations on December 28, 2021 (which took effect on February 15, 2022) require that, both critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products or services that affect or may affect national security and “online platform operators” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security should be subject to the cybersecurity review. As of the date of this annual report, (i) we have not been informed that we are a critical information infrastructure operator or a data processor conducting data processing activities that affect or may affect national security by any government authority, although it is uncertain whether we would in fact be categorized as such under the PRC law; and (ii) we have not been involved in any investigations or cybersecurity review by the CAC and we have not received any official inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions in this respect.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released several regulations regarding the filing requirements for overseas offerings and listings by mainland China-based issuers, including the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five supporting guidelines, or collectively the Overseas Listing Filing Rules, which took effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Overseas Listing Filing Rules, for an issuer which is already listed, it should make filing in accordance with the Overseas Listing Filing Rules if: (i) it issues additional convertible bonds, exchangeable bonds or preferred shares, (ii) it issues additional securities in the same overseas market, excluding securities issued for the purpose of implementing equity incentive, distribution of stock dividends, share split, etc., (iii) it issues additional securities in several offerings within its authorized scope; or (iv) it conducts a secondary listing or primary listing in any other overseas market. Failure to comply with the filing requirements may result in fines, suspension of their businesses, revocation of their business licenses and operation permits and fines on the controlling shareholder and other responsible persons. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the Notice on Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of Domestic Enterprise’s Overseas Offering and Listing, which stipulates that mainland China-based issuers like us that have completed overseas listings prior to March 31, 2023 are not required to file with CSRC immediately, but must carry out filing procedures as required if we conduct refinancing or if other circumstances arise, which will require us to make a filing with the CSRC.
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Based on the opinion of Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, LLP (Fuzhou) (“Dacheng”), our legal counsel as to the law of mainland China, according to its interpretation of the laws and regulations of mainland China currently in effect, we believe that, as of the date of this annual report, our past offerings do not require any cybersecurity review or any other permission or approval from any government authorities in mainland China including the CSRC. For more detailed information, see “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Doing Business in China - Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us.” in this annual report. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the required approvals or completing the required procedures could subject us to restrictions and penalties imposed by the CSRC, the CAC, or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, delays of or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from our overseas offerings into China, or other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
If (i) we do not receive or maintain any permits or approvals required of us, (ii) we inadvertently concluded that certain permits or approvals have been acquired or are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations thereof change and we become subject to the requirement of additional permits or approvals in the future, we may have to expend significant time and costs to procure them. If we are unable to do so, on commercially reasonable terms, in a timely manner or otherwise, we may become subject to sanctions imposed by the PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against us, and other forms of sanctions, and our ability to conduct our business, invest into China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted, and our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For more detailed information, see “Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Doing Business in China - Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us.”
Cash Transfers and Dividend Distribution
As of the date of this the annual report, none of our subsidiaries have made any dividends or distributions to our Company and our Company has not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders. We intend to keep any future earnings to re-invest in and finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid or any assets will be transferred in the foreseeable future. Cash can be transferred from Meiwu to our subsidiaries through capital contributions, loans, and inter-company advances. In addition, cash may be transferred among our subsidiaries, through capital contributions, loans and settlement of transactions. Our management is directly supervising cash management. Our finance department is responsible for establishing the cash management policies and procedures among our departments and the operating entities. Each department or operating entity initiates a cash request by putting forward a cash demand plan, which explains the specific amount and timing of cash requested, and submitting it to designated management members of our Company, based on the amount and the use of cash requested. The designated management member examines and approves the allocation of cash based on the sources of cash and the priorities of the needs, and submit it to the cashier specialists of our finance department for a second review. Other than the above, we currently do not have other cash management policies or procedures that dictate how funds are transferred nor a written policy that addresses how we will handle any limitations on cash transfers due to PRC law.
Pursuant to the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 as amended from time to time (the “BVI Act”), and our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our board of directors may authorize and declare a dividend to shareholders at such time and of such an amount as they think appropriate, if they are satisfied on reasonable grounds that immediately following the dividend payment, the value of our assets will exceed our liabilities and we will be able to pay our debts as they become due. There is no further British Virgin Islands statutory restriction on the amount of funds which may be distributed by us by dividends. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Ordinary Shares in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our our subsidiaries.
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Current PRC regulations permit the PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.
The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operating subsidiaries in China, we may be unable to pay dividends on our Ordinary Shares.
Financial Information Relating to the Former VIEs
Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Meiwu Technology Company Limited, its subsidiaries, and the Former VIE
The following tables present selected condensed consolidated financial data of Meiwu Technology Company Limited. and its subsidiaries and VIE for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, which have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for those years.
In December 2024, Meiwu terminated the VIE arrangements with immediate effect.
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
| For the year ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | Meiwu Company | WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE
and its Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | - | - | 9,239,819 | 1,738,752 | - | 10,978,571 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | - | - | 8,494,105 | 1,309,778 | - | 9,803,883 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | (778,038 | ) | 68,944 | (525,212 | ) | (2,695,110 | ) | (7,290,435 | ) | (11,219,851 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive (Loss) Income | (778,038 | ) | 67,297 | (512,438 | ) | (4,241,837 | ) | (7,290,435 | ) | (12,755,451 | ) | |||||||||||||
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | Meiwu Company | WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE
and its Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | - | - | 8,520,183 | 2,457,246 | - | 10,977,429 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | - | - | 7,647,158 | 747,206 | - | 8,394,364 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | (423,651 | ) | 50,419 | (6,768,231 | ) | (1,435,993 | ) | (7,735,249 | ) | (16,312,705 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive (Loss) Income | (423,651 | ) | 50,419 | (7,083,642 | ) | (1,281,837 | ) | (8,245,896 | ) | (16,984,607 | ) | |||||||||||||
| 7 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD |
Meiwu Technology Company Limited |
WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE and its Subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated Total |
||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | 71,839 | 86,646 | - | 158,485 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | 49,118 | 42,236 | - | 91,354 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | (1,376,718 | ) | 11,591 | (1,269,705 | ) | (613,417 | ) | 8,362,933 | 5,114,684 | |||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive (Loss) Income | (1,376,718 | ) | 11,591 | (1,176,941 | ) | (4,050,920 | ) | 8,362,933 | 1,769,945 | |||||||||||||||
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The following tables present our condensed consolidating schedule depicting the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024.
| As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | Meiwu Technology Company Limited | WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE
and its Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 1,834 | 16,042,628 | 7,241 | 10,344 | - | 16,062,047 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intercompany receivables | 24,260,905 | 7,605,741 | - | 467,243 | (32,333,889 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 26,514,524 | 117,262 | 3,575,004 | 485,789 | (10,303,826 | ) | 20,388,753 | |||||||||||||||||
| Investment in subsidiaries | 14,298,487 | - | - | - | (14,298,487 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 26,514,524 | 117,262 | 3,580,353 | 675,966 | (10,303,826 | ) | 20,584,279 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 4,271,817 | 2,117 | 9,994,615 | 7,222,803 | (9,922,980 | ) | 11,568,372 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 22,242,707 | 115,145 | (6,414,262 | ) | (6,546,837 | ) | (380,846 | ) | 9,015,907 | |||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | 26,514,524 | 117,262 | 3,580,353 | 675,966 | (10,303,826 | ) | 20,584,279 | |||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | Meiwu Technology Company Limited | WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE and its Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 470,228 | 2,972 | 42,923,777 | - | - | 43,396,977 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intercompany receivables | 46,291,567 | - | - | - | (46,291,567 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 70,215,400 | 125,485 | 44,884,652 | - | (54,280,402 | ) | 60,945,135 | |||||||||||||||||
| Investment in subsidiaries | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 70,215,400 | 125,485 | 44,884,652 | - | (54,280,402 | ) | 60,945,135 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 1,965,816 | 2,060 | 44,902,622 | - | (44,902,726 | ) | 1,967,772 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 68,249,583 | 123,425 | (17,970 | ) | - | (9,377,675 | ) | 58,977,363 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | 70,215,400 | 125,485 | 44,884,652 | - | (54,280,402 | ) | 60,945,135 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 |
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| For the year ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | Meiwu Company | WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE
and its Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (1,384,162 | ) | 68,944 | (296,608 | ) | 238,434 | (4,148,948 | ) | (5,522,340 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | - | - | (25,916 | ) | - | - | (25,916 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 3,041,019 | (743,052 | ) | (1,653,349 | ) | (856,123 | ) | 3,089,005 | 2,877,500 | |||||||||||||||
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | Meiwu Company | WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE
and its Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (189,397 | ) | (6,869,587 | ) | (4,676 | ) | (199,661 | ) | (159,518 | ) | (7,422,839 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | - | - | (3,794 | ) | (1,745 | ) | - | (5,539 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 161,487 | - | - | 111,051 | 4,256 | 276,794 | ||||||||||||||||||
The following tables present our condensed consolidating schedule depicting the consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 of Meiwu, the WFOE, the former VIE, other subsidiaries, and corresponding eliminating adjustments separately.
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USD |
Meiwu Technology Company Limited |
WOFE | Subsidiaries | VIE and its Subsidiaries |
Eliminations | Consolidated Total |
||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (45,492,962 | ) | (15,825,973 | ) | 44,207,155 | 69,950 | 2,977,222 | (14,064,609 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | - | - | (943,376 | ) | - | - | (943,376 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 45,968,149 | - | - | - | - | 45,968,149 | ||||||||||||||||||
| A. | [Reserved] |
| B. | Capitalization and indebtedness |
Not applicable.
| C. | Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds |
Not applicable.
| 9 |
| D. | Risk Factors |
Investment in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider, among other matters, the following risk factors in addition to the other information in this annual report on Form 20-F when evaluating our business because these risk factors may have a significant impact on our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow. If any of the material risks described below or in subsequent reports we file with the Commission actually occur, they may materially harm our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow. Additional risks and uncertainties that we have not yet identified or that we presently consider to be immaterial may also materially harm our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow.
Summary of Risk Factors
Below please find a summary of the principal risks we face, organized under relevant headings. For more information, please see the section titled “Risk factors” beginning on page 10 of this annual report.
Risks Related to the Functional Skincare Business
| ● | We operate in a dynamic industry and have a limited operating history. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 12 of this annual report. |
| ● | We rely on the formulas provided by third-parties. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 12 of this annual report. |
| ● | The beauty industry is highly competitive. If we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose our market share and our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 13 of this annual report. |
| ● | Our success is dependent on the popularity of our products and our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior in a timely manner. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 13 of this annual report. |
| ● | Our new product introductions may not be as successful as we anticipate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 14 of this annual report. |
| ● | Our business depends, in part, on the quality, effectiveness and safety of our products. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 14 of this annual report. |
| ● | We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 15 of this annual report. |
| ● | Higher labor costs could adversely affect our business and financial results. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 24 of this annual report. |
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
| ● | There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations. |
| ● | Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with our subsequent securities offerings, due to the promulgation of the new filing-based administrative rules for overseas offering and listing by domestic companies in China, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Ordinary Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless. |
| ● | Our securities may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 24 of this annual report. |
| 10 |
| ● | Any actions by Chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence our operations or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to our operation, may limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 27 of this annual report. |
| ● | Recent greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our business. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 27 of this annual report. |
| ● | Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 28 of this annual report. |
| ● | We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 28 of this annual report. |
| ● | Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of our shares. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 30 of this annual report. |
| ● | The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 32 of this annual report. |
Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares
| ● | We will incur additional costs as a result of becoming a public company, which could negatively impact our net income and liquidity. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 35 of this annual report. |
| ● | The obligation to disclose information publicly may put us at a disadvantage to competitors that are private companies. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 35 of this annual report. |
| ● | We are a “foreign private issuer,” and our disclosure obligations differ from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a result, we may not provide you the same information as U.S. domestic reporting companies or we may provide information at different times, which may make it more difficult for you to evaluate our performance and prospects. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 35 of this annual report. |
| ● | We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors. See more detailed discussion of this risk factor on page 36 of this annual report. |
| 11 |
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Risks Related to the Functional Skincare Business
We operate in a dynamic industry and have a limited operating history.
As a company with a relatively limited operating history, our historical results may not be indicative of our future performance. We may not be successful in executing our growth strategy, and even if we achieve our strategic plan, we may not be able to sustain profitability. In future periods, our revenue could decline or grow more slowly than we expect. We may also incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including as a result of the materialization of the following risks and the other risks described in this annual report, and we may encounter unforeseen difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors:
| ● | we may be unsuccessful in predicting and capturing industry trends and consumer preferences; | |
| ● | we may be unable to introduce new products that appeal to consumers; | |
| ● | we may be unsuccessful in protecting or enhancing the recognition and reputation of our brand; | |
| ● | we may be unsuccessful in competing for market share with our existing or new competitors; | |
| ● | the ability of our third-party suppliers, manufacturers and logistics providers to produce and deliver our products in a timely way and subject to ever changing customer expectations could be disrupted; | |
| ● | we may fail to adjust our sales and marketing strategies fast enough to stay current with consumers’ behavioral changes in using internet and mobile devices; | |
| ● | we may not be able to maintain and improve our customer experience; | |
| ● | we may experience service interruptions, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security breaches which may result in the disruption of our operating systems; | |
| ● | we may be unable to retain key members of our senior management team or attract and retain other qualified personnel; | |
| ● | we may fail to successfully implement new business initiatives, especially expansion into new offerings or new business lines in which we have limited or no prior experience, including sustaining continued expansion of our Operating Subsidiaries; | |
| ● | we may fail to successfully expand our physical stores providing light beauty experience; and | |
| ● | we may be affected by international trade tension and any adverse economic conditions in China or internationally. |
We cannot be sure that we will be successful in addressing these and other risks and challenges we may face in the future. Any of these occurrences could have a material and adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our customer base may not continue to grow or may decline as a result of such risks. Any of these risks could cause our net sales growth to decline and may adversely affect our margins and profitability.
We rely on the formulas provided by third-parties.
We rely on third-parties to provide the formulas for our products. The standard form of cooperation agreements provide that, the third party engaged by us shall be responsible for the comprehensive work on product research and development includes, but is not limited to, formula development, trial production, testing, and market preparation. We will provide the funds for the research and development of the formula throughout the whole process. Given our reliance on the third-parties to provide us with the formulas for our products and that we do not own the formulas, if we fail to enforce such agreements and if our competitors engage the same company and introduce the same or similar products at a significantly lower price in the same markets that we operate in, our results of operations may be adversely affected.
| 12 |
The beauty industry is highly competitive. If we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose our market share and our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
We face vigorous competition from both domestic and international players in China in the beauty industry, including large multinational consumer products companies that own or operate multiple beauty brands. Competition in the beauty industry is intense and based on multiple factors, including the ability to launch new products, pricing of products, quality of products and packaging, brand awareness, perceived value and quality, innovation, offline sales capabilities, customers’ functional and emotional satisfaction, promotional activities, advertising, editorials, e-commerce and mobile-commerce initiatives and other activities. We must compete with a high volume of new product introductions and a large number of existing products sold by diverse companies across several different distribution channels.
Many domestic and multinational consumer goods companies have greater financial, technical or marketing resources, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition or larger customer bases than we do and may be able to respond more effectively to changing business and economic conditions than we can. Despite our differentiated business model, existing and new players in the industry may also transform their business models and directly compete with us. Competitors may also roll out products targeting younger generations at a competitive price or adopt a price-cutting strategy for their current products to directly compete with us. Given the established sales network these large consumer goods companies maintain and the greater brand power they have, we cannot ensure that our existing customers will not allocate more market share to our competitor’s products or cease to purchase products from us completely. Further, our competitors may attempt to gain market share by offering products at prices at or below the prices at which our products are typically offered. Competitive pricing may require us to reduce our prices, which would decrease our profitability or result in lost sales. Because many of our competitors have greater resources than we do, they may be able to better withstand these price reductions and loss of sales under a competitive pricing strategy.
It is difficult for us to predict the timing and scale of our competitors’ activities in these areas or whether new competitors will emerge in the beauty industry. In addition, further technological breakthroughs, including new and enhanced technologies which increase competition in the online retail market, new product offerings by competitors and the strength and success of our competitors’ marketing programs may impede our growth and the implementation of our business strategy.
Our ability to compete also depends on the continued strength of our brand and products, our ability to predict and capture industry trends and consumer preferences, the success of our marketing, innovation and execution strategies, the continued diversification of our product offerings, the successful management of new product introductions and innovations, strong operational execution, including in order fulfillment and supply chain management, and our success in entering new markets and expanding our business in existing geographies. If we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose our market share and our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
Our success is dependent on the popularity of our products and our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior in a timely manner.
The success of our business and operations depends on our ability to offer quality products that are attractive to consumers. The beauty industry is driven in part by fashion and beauty trends and consumer preferences and behavior, which may shift quickly and have been heavily affected by the rapidly increasing use and proliferation of social and digital media by consumers, and the speed with which information and opinions are shared. As industry trends and consumers’ preferences and behavior continue to change, we must also continually work to develop, produce and market new products, maintain and enhance the recognition of our brand, achieve a favorable mix of products and refine our approach as to how and where we market and sell our products.
Our success depends on our products appeal to a broad range of consumers whose preferences and behavior cannot be predicted with certainty and may change rapidly, and on our ability to anticipate and respond in a timely and cost-effective manner to industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior through product innovations, product line extensions and marketing and promotional activities, among other things. We collect, store, process and use a variety of customer data and information for analysis of the changing consumer preferences and fashion trends to guide our product development and to improve our products and customer experience, and to predict and react to industry trends and consumers’ preferences and behavior effectively and efficiently. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully anticipate and respond to consumers’ preferences and behavior at all times, especially as we continue to broaden our customer base and diversify our product offerings aimed at customers with differing characteristics. If we are unable to anticipate and respond to the changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior, we may fail to continuously develop products with wide market acceptance, capture emerging growth opportunities, adopt competitive sales strategies for our existing products, or properly predict and manage our inventory. Such failure could also negatively impact our brand image and result in diminished customer experience and brand loyalty. Any of these occurrences could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects and results of operations.
| 13 |
Our new product introductions may not be as successful as we anticipate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Fast-evolving trends, and consumer preferences have shortened the life cycles of skincare products and required us to continually work to develop, produce and market new products, maintain and enhance the recognition of our brand and shorten our product development and supply chain cycles. Our continued success depends on our ability to develop and launch products in a timely and cost-effective manner in response to beauty industry trends, consumer preferences for skincare products and consumer attitudes toward our industry and brand. If we do not successfully and consistently develop new products that appeal to our customers our total revenue and margins could suffer.
We established a process for the development, evaluation and validation of our new product concepts. Nonetheless, each new product launch involves risks, as well as the possibility of unexpected consequences. For example, the acceptance of new product launches and sales to our customers may not be as high as we anticipate, due to a lack of acceptance of the products themselves or their price, or the limited effectiveness of our marketing strategies. The introduction of new products targeted at expanding our product reach beyond our current customer base may not be as successful as we anticipate due to insufficient data insights on and understanding about the preferences, trends and behaviors of such new customer group. Our ability to launch new products may be limited by delays or difficulties affecting the ability of our suppliers or manufacturers to timely manufacture new products. In addition, we may experience a decrease in sales of certain existing products as a result of newly launched products. Also, product innovation may place a strain on our employees and our financial resources, including incurring expenses in connection with product innovation and development, marketing and advertising that are not subsequently supported by a sufficient level of sales. Further, sales of new products may be affected by the efficacy of our inventory management and quality of delivery and order fulfillment services provided by our logistics providers, and we may experience product shortages and delayed or defective or improper product delivery. Any of these occurrences could delay or impede our ability to achieve our sales objectives, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
As part of our ongoing business strategy, we expect to continue introducing new functional skincare products while expanding our product launches into adjacent categories that target eye and lip care, in which we may have little or no prior operating experience. The success of product launches in adjacent product categories could be hampered by our relative inexperience operating in such categories, the strength of our competitors or any of the other risks referred to above. Furthermore, any expansion into new product categories may subject us to additional operational and financial constraints which could inhibit our ability to accomplish such expansion. If we fail to roll out commercially successful products in our traditional categories or in adjacent categories, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our business depends, in part, on the quality, effectiveness and safety of our products.
Any loss of confidence on the part of consumers in the ingredients used in our products, whether related to product contamination or product safety or quality failures, actual or perceived, or inclusion of prohibited or restricted ingredients or an improper mixture of ingredients, could tarnish the image of our brand and could cause consumers to choose other products. Allegations of contamination or other adverse effects on product safety or suitability for use by a particular consumer, even if untrue, may require us to expend significant time and resources responding to such allegations and could, from time to time, result in the suspension of sales or a recall of a product from any or all of the markets in which the affected product was distributed. Any such issues or recalls could negatively affect our profitability and brand image.
| 14 |
If our products are found to be, or perceived to be, defective or unsafe, or if they otherwise fail to meet our consumers’ expectations, our relationships with consumers could suffer, the appeal of our brand could be diminished, we may need to recall some of our products and/or become subject to regulatory action, and we could lose sales or market share or become subject to boycotts or liability claims. In addition, safety or other defects in our competitors’ products could reduce consumer demand for our products if consumers view them to be similar. Any of these outcomes could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy.
Our future growth, profitability and cash flows depend upon our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, which, in turn, is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to:
| ● | build a strong and well-recognized brand; | |
| ● | further penetrate our targeted markets by attracting new consumers and retaining and further engaging our existing customers; | |
| ● | capture the industry trends and develop and launch new products and expand into relevant adjacencies in answer to such trends; | |
| ● | continue to use innovation to drive sales, improve technological and operational efficiencies-and improve profit margin; | |
| ● | enhance Removed our market study and ability to predict and follow customers’ preferences, trends and behaviors; | |
| ● | effectively manage the quality and efficiency of the third-party manufacturing partners and packaging supply partners and logistics and other third-party service providers’ performance; | |
| ● | continue to broaden and diversify our distribution channels; | |
| ● | pursue strategic investments and collaborations to complement our existing capabilities and geographic reach; and | |
| ● | leverage our high-performance team culture to drive margins. |
There can be no assurance that we can successfully achieve any or all of the above initiatives in the manner or time period that we expect. Further, achieving these objectives will require investments which may result in short-term costs without generating any current net sales and therefore may be dilutive to our earnings. We cannot provide any assurance that we will realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits we expect our strategy will achieve. The failure to realize those benefits could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to provide superior customer experiences, our business and reputation may be materially and adversely affected.
The success of our business hinges on our ability to provide superior customer experience, which in turn depends on a variety of factors. These factors include our ability to bring innovative products to the market at competitive prices that respond to consumer demands and preferences, our ability to fit in the lifestyle of our customers and deeply engage with our customers. These factors also include our ability to maintain the quality of our products and services, provide timely and reliable delivery and responsive and superior before- and after-sales service. In addition, we will make efforts to maintain a superior customer experience that is driven by our relentless efforts to maintain product quality and curate our products offerings so they are responsive to industry trends and customers’ preferences. Similarly, we will substantially focus on to providing quality and responsive customer service.
| 15 |
Although we will provide skincare product and sales training at certain fees for our distributors and the retailers, there is no assurance that they will provide consistently satisfactory customer service to the end users. In addition, as our network of distributors and retailers continues to rapidly expand along with our growth, it may be harder for us to manage our distributors and ensure the quality of services they provide to the users of our products. Any negative customer service experience with our distributors either offline in the physical stores or online through our customer communities or one-on-one chats may discourage customers from purchasing our products and adversely affect our reputation and brand image.
If our customer service representatives fail to provide satisfactory service, or if waiting times are too long due to the high volume of calls from customers at peak times, our brand and customer loyalty may be adversely affected. There is no assurance that we will be able to maintain a stable network of distributors and retailers and provide sufficient training to them to meet our standards of customer service or that an influx of less experienced personnel will not dilute the quality of our customer service. In addition, any negative publicity or poor feedback regarding our customer service may harm our brand and reputation and in turn cause us to lose customers and market share.
Our reliance on distributors, retailers and other third-parties could affect our ability to efficiently and profitably distribute and market our products, maintain sales in our existing markets and expand our business into other geographic markets.
Our ability to maintain and expand our markets for our products, and to establish markets in new geographic distribution areas, is dependent on our ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with reliable distributors, retailers and other third-parties strategically positioned to serve those areas. We believe most of our distributors, retailers and other third-parties will sell and distribute competing products, and our products may represent a small portion of their businesses. The success of our distribution network will depend on the performance of the distributors, retailers, and other third-parties in our network. There is a risk they may not adequately perform their functions within the network by, without limitation, failing to distribute to sufficient retailers or positioning our products in localities that may not be receptive to our product. Our ability to incentivize and motivate distributors to manage and sell our products is affected by competition from other companies who have greater resources than we do. To the extent that our distributors, retailers and other third-parties are distracted from selling our products or do not employ sufficient efforts in managing and selling our products, including re-stocking the retail shelves with our products, our sales and results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, such third parties’ financial position or market share may deteriorate, which could adversely affect our distribution, marketing and sales activities.
Our ability to maintain and expand our distribution network and attract additional distributors, retailers and other third-parties will depend on a number of factors, some of which are outside our control. Some of these factors include:
| ● | the level of demand for our brands and products in a particular distribution area; | |
| ● | our ability to price our products at levels competitive with those of competing products; and | |
| ● | our ability to deliver products in the quantity and at the time ordered by distributors, retailers and other third-parties. |
We may not be able to successfully manage all or any of these factors in any of our prospective geographic areas of distribution. Our inability to achieve success with regards to any of these factors in a geographic distribution area will have a material adverse effect on our relationships in that particular geographic area, thus limiting our ability to maintain or expand our market, which will likely adversely affect our revenues and financial results.
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Our business is subject to complex and evolving product safety laws, regulations and standards. If we fail to comply with these laws, regulations and safety standards or if our products otherwise have defects, we may be required to recall products and may face penalties and product liability claims, either of which could result in unexpected costs and damage our reputation.
The manufacturing, distribution and packaging of skincare products and their components, ingredients and raw materials are subject to complex product safety-related laws, regulations and national and industrial standards. To maintain compliance and promote product safety, we will establish a team dedicated to product quality inspection, product sampling and quality issues resolution and cooperate with qualified testing centers to continually oversee the quality and safety of our products. In addition, we will closely work with our counsel to monitor the development of laws, regulations and standards applicable to our business. However, certain of these laws, regulations and standards are relatively new and because their interpretation and implementation are evolving, we cannot assure you that the competent authorities will always hold the same view as our counsel does in terms of the compliance of our business operations.
Any failure or perceived failure to comply with laws, regulations or standards with respect to product safety, or any sale suspension or product recall may lead to government investigations of us, penalties and lawsuits against us which may result in adverse publicity. Furthermore, we may experience significant costs in connection with the suspension of sales or recall, litigation, investigations or penalties which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operating results could be materially harmed if we are unable to accurately forecast consumer demand for our products or adequately manage our inventory.
Our business requires us to manage a large volume of inventory effectively. Due to the particularity of the cosmetics industry, the storage and distribution of cosmetics production enterprises must meet timeliness requirements and monitor the uncertainty of terminal demand. Because we must maintain a certain inventory of the products, we will depend on our forecasts of product demand for, and popularity of-various products to make purchasing decisions to manage our inventory. If we subsequently fail to effectively manage our inventory, there may be a risk of inventory loss.
The demand for our inventory of products can change significantly between the time that components, ingredients or raw materials are ordered and the date of sale. Demand may be affected by seasonality, new product launches, rapid changes in product cycles and pricing, product defects, promotions, changes in consumer spending patterns, changes in consumer tastes with respect to our products and other factors, and our consumers may not purchase products in the quantities that we expect. It may be difficult to accurately forecast demand and determine appropriate levels of product or componentry.
We must maintain a certain inventory of their products to ensure products do not expire or reach the end of the period of validity. The period of validity of cosmetics is more strictly controlled than that of general merchandise and cosmetics close to the period of validity will be destroyed after relevant procedures are performed. Generally, we do not have the right to return unsold products to the third-party manufacturing partners and third-party packaging supply partners. If we fail to manage our inventory effectively or negotiate favorable credit terms with third-party manufacturers and suppliers, we may be subject to a heightened risk of inventory obsolescence, a decline in inventory values, and significant inventory write-downs or write-offs in the case of overestimation of consumer demand, or increased costs to secure necessary production and delivery delays in the case of underestimation of consumer demand. An inability to meet consumer demand and delays in the delivery of our products to our customers could result in reputational harm and damaged customer relationships. In addition, if we are required to lower sale prices in order to incentivize sales to reduce our inventory levels, our profit margins might be negatively affected. Any of the above may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on third-party service providers for logistics services. If these service providers fail to provide reliable services, our business and reputation may be adversely affected.
We rely on third-party couriers and logistics providers for order fulfillment and delivery services, including, among others, collection of products, warehousing services, shipping products to customers, stores and designated warehouse and handling product returns. While these arrangements allow us to focus on our central business, they reduce our direct control over the logistics services provided to our customers. Logistics in our primary locations or transit to final destinations may be disrupted for a variety of reasons, including events that are beyond our control or the control of these service providers, such as inclement weather, natural and man-made disasters, health epidemics, information technology system failures, transportation disruptions, labor unrest, commercial disputes, military actions or economic, business, labor, environmental, public health, or political issues. In addition, if our third-party logistics service providers fail to comply with applicable rules and regulations in China, our delivery services may be materially and adversely affected. If any of our service providers’ operations or services are disrupted or terminated, we may not be able to find alternative service providers with quality and on commercial terms to our satisfaction in a timely and reliable manner, or at all. Furthermore, delivery personnel of contracted third-party logistics service providers act on our behalf and interact with our customers personally. We will need to effectively manage these third-party logistics service providers to ensure the quality of customer services.
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If our products are not delivered in the proper condition or in a timely manner or there is any other failure to provide high-quality delivery services to our customers, our products may be compromised, customer experience may be impaired and, as a result, our business and reputation could suffer. Further, if our logistics providers raise their fee rate, we may incur additional costs and may not be able to pass such costs to our customers.
Our delivery, return and exchange policies may adversely affect our results of operations.
We adopted shipping policies that do not necessarily pass the full cost of shipping onto our customers. We also adopted customer-friendly return and exchange policies that make it convenient and easy for customers to change their minds within seven days after completing direct online purchases from us. We may also be legally required to adopt new or amend existing return and exchange policies from time to time. These policies improve customers’ shopping experience and promote customer loyalty, which in turn helps us acquire and retain customers. However, these policies also subject us to additional costs and expenses which we may not recoup through increased revenues. If our delivery, return and exchange policies are misused by a significant number of customers or if the return or exchange rates increase beyond historical records or otherwise substantially then our costs may increase significantly, and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
If we revise our shipping policies to reduce our costs and expenses, our customers may be dissatisfied. Our customers dissatisfaction may result in the loss of their business or our failure to acquire new customers at a desirable pace, which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Failure to successfully lease suitable warehouse facilities or any interruption in the operation of the warehouse for an extended period may negatively affect the business and results of operations.
We believe that our warehouse is essential to our supply chain management. We cannot assure you that we will be able to add suitable warehouse facilities on commercially acceptable terms or at all. In addition, our ability to process and fulfill orders accurately will depend on the smooth operation of the warehouse facilities. The warehouse may be vulnerable to damage caused by fire, flood, power outage, telecommunications failure, break-ins, earthquake, health epidemics, human error and other events. If the warehouse were rendered incapable of operations, then we may be unable to fulfill our orders on a timely basis, which could result in canceled sales and a loss of customer loyalty and have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We will not carry business interruption insurance, and the occurrence of any of the foregoing risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be subject to infringement claims of intellectual property rights or other rights of third parties, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt our business and operations.
Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to operate without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights of others. We have adopted and implemented internal procedures and licensing practices to prevent unauthorized use of such intellectual properties or the infringement by us of other rights of third parties. However, we cannot be certain that these measures can be effective in completely preventing all possible infringement, misappropriation and other violations of third-party’s intellectual property rights or other rights during the course of our business. As we will face increasing competition and as litigation becomes a more common way to resolve disputes in China, we will face a higher risk of being the subject of intellectual property infringement claims.
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We cannot be certain that our operations or any aspects of our business do not or will not infringe upon or otherwise violate patents, copyrights or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. This is especially true because our sales and marketing activities may use photos or video clips that contain portraits of individuals and shows performed by others such as recorded product promotion live-streaming held by our cooperating KOLs. possibility that some of these use cases are not properly authorized by the relevant performers and/or proprietary right holders, which may expose us to potential liabilities for infringement of portrait rights or rights to network dissemination of information under Chinese laws. There could also be existing intellectual property of which we are not aware that our operations and business may inadvertently infringe upon. Further, our internal procedures and licensing practices may not be effective in completely preventing the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials or the infringement of other rights of third parties by us and/or our employees. We may receive claims by third parties that we and/or our employees have infringed or otherwise violated their software copyright. We will license and use software and other technologies from third parties in our ordinary course of business. The third-party software or technology licenses may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms or at all and may expose us to potential infringement liability. Any such liability, or our inability to use any of these third-party software or technologies on acceptable terms or at all, could harm our reputation, result in increased operating costs, and/or disruptions to our business that may materially and adversely affect our operating and financial results.
We may from time to time in the future be subject to legal proceedings and claims relating to the intellectual property rights of others. Also, although we have not been subject to claims or lawsuits outside China, we cannot assure you that we will not become subject to intellectual property laws in other jurisdictions, such as the United States. If an infringement claim brought against us in China, the United States or another jurisdiction is successful, we may be required to pay substantial penalties or other damages and fines, enter into license agreements that may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all or be subject to injunctions or court orders. Even if allegations or claims lack merit, defending against them could be both costly and time consuming and could significantly divert the efforts and resources of our management and other personnel. Competitors and other third parties may claim as well that our officers or employees or the third-party manufacturing partners third-party manufacturing partners and packaging supply partners have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated their product formulas, confidential information, trade secrets or other proprietary information or technology in the course of their employment with us or in their designing and manufacturing products for us, as the case may be. Although we will take steps to prevent the unauthorized use or disclosure of such third-party information, intellectual property or technology by our officers, employees or the third-party manufacturing partners and packaging supply partners, we cannot guarantee that our internal intellectual property policy, any other policies or contractual provisions that we have implemented or may implement will be effective. If a claim of infringement, misappropriation or violation is brought against us or one of our officers or employees, we may suffer reputational harm and may be required to pay substantial damages, subject to an injunction or court orders or be required to suspend sales of our products or to remit to the plaintiff the revenues we derive from the sales, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, the value of our brands and other intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected.
We rely on a combination of trademark, copyright, trade secret, patent and other laws protecting proprietary rights, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements and other practices, to protect our brand and proprietary information, know-how, technologies and processes. Our principal intellectual property assets will include the registered trademarks for our brand, the design patents and copyrights for our product packaging and logos. Our copyrights, trademarks and design patents will be the valuable assets that support our brand and consumers’ perception of our products. Although we planning to apply for trademarks in China, there can be no assurance that all of them will be issued or registered. Trademark applications on key categories can be rejected, which may result in difficulties in our ability to protect our use of our brand name or logo on products of such categories, and may subject us to possible intellectual property disputes with third parties over such uses. Third parties may also oppose our trademark or patent applications domestically or abroad, or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks or patents. In the event that our trademarks or patents are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products or to refrain from using certain designs, which could result in the loss of brand recognition, impair the attractiveness of our products and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands and product designs.
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Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights and proprietary information, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual properties or know-how. Monitoring for infringement or other unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights and know-how is difficult and costly, and such monitoring may not be effective. From time to time, we may have to resort to courts or administrative proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights, which may result in substantial costs and the diversion of resources.
Our employees or business partners or other parties with whom we maintain business relationships may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, which may disrupt our business, hurt our reputation and results of operations.
Our employees or business partners, including third-party manufacturers and logistics service providers, may be subject to regulatory penalties or punishments or other legal proceedings because of their wrongdoings or regulatory compliance failures, which may disrupt our business. For example, we currently rely on third-party manufacturers to produce our products. Although we will require our third-party manufacturers to provide compliance representations and covenants, we cannot assure that they will not engage in any incompliant practices such as environmental or product safety requirement violations. If they engage in any noncompliance or face regulatory sanctions or operation suspensions, our business may as a result be disrupted and our reputation may be harmed.
We will be exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees or third-parties partners with whom we have business arrangements. Misconduct by employees or third-party partners could include inadvertent or intentional failures to comply with the laws and regulations to which we are subject or with our policies, provide accurate information to regulatory authorities, comply with ethical, social, product, labor and environmental standards, comply with fraud and abuse laws and regulations, report financial information or data accurately, or disclose unauthorized activities to us. We have no control over the off-work time and behaviors of our employees and the operations of our third-party partners. Any legal liabilities of, or regulatory actions against, our employees, especially key employees, or business partners may affect our business activities and reputation and, in turn, our results of operations.
If we fail to obtain and maintain the requisite licenses, permits, registrations and filings applicable to the business, or fail to obtain additional licenses, permits, registrations or filings that become necessary as a result of new enactment or promulgation of government policies, laws or regulations or the expansion of our business, the business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In general, the beauty industry and certain business practices such as the operation of franchise businesses in China are highly regulated, and may require multiple licenses, permits, filings and approvals to conduct and develop business.
As a fast-growing company with a limited operating history that is continuously exploring other approaches to conduct sales and marketing cost-effectively and capture points of growth, we may not be able to obtain in time all the additional licenses, registrations and filings that are advisable to obtain for certain aspects of our operations. Failure to obtain such additional licenses, permits, registrations or filings that could later become necessary to obtain as a result of new enactment or promulgation of government policies, laws or regulations, which may subject us to warnings, orders of correction, pecuniary penalties or other administrative proceedings from relevant governmental authorities, could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any notice of warning nor have we been subject to any administrative penalties or other disciplinary actions from the relevant governmental authorities for lack of licenses, permits, registrations or filings. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to any administrative action that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, certain licenses, permits or registrations are subject to periodic renewal. If we fail to maintain or renew one or more of our licenses and certificates when their term expires, or obtain such renewals on a timely manner, our operations could be disrupted. In addition, under relevant PRC laws and regulations are required to update certain licenses if any change to their respective name, registered capital or legal representative during the validity period of such license. If we fail to properly renew and maintain all such requisite licenses on time, we may face penalties and in extreme circumstances, order to suspend or terminate our website and online business.
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Further, due to uncertainties of interpretation and implementation of existing laws and the adoption of additional laws and regulations, the licenses, permits, registrations or filings we held may be deemed insufficient by PRC governments, which may restrain our ability to expand our business scope and may subject us to fines or other regulatory actions. Furthermore, as we develop and expand our business scope, we may need to obtain additional permits and licenses and we cannot assure that we will be able to obtain such permits on time or at all.
If we are unable to offer branded products at attractive prices to meet customer needs and preferences on our e-commerce platform, or if our reputation for selling authentic, high-quality products suffers, we may lose customers and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our future growth partially depends on our ability to continue to attract new customers as well as to increase the spending and repeat purchase rate of existing customers. Constantly changing consumer preferences have historically affected, and will continue to affect, the beauty industry. Consequently, we must stay abreast of emerging lifestyle and consumer preferences and anticipate product trends that will appeal to existing and potential customers.
Our future results and competitive position are dependent on the successful development of new product offerings and improvement of existing products, which is subject to a number of difficulties and uncertainties.
Our future results and ability to maintain or improve our competitive position depend on our capacity to anticipate changes in our key markets and to identify, develop, manufacture, market and sell new or improved products in these changing markets successfully. We have to introduce new products and re-launch and extend existing product lines on a timely basis in order to counteract obsolescence and decreases in sales of existing products as well as to increase overall sales of our products. The launch and success of new or modified products are inherently uncertain, especially as to the products’ appeal to consumers, and there can be no assurance as to our continuing ability to develop and launch successful new products or variations of existing products. The failure to launch a product successfully can affect consumer perception of our other products. Market factors and the need to develop and provide modified or alternative products may also increase costs. In addition, launching new or modified products can result in cannibalization of sales of our existing products if consumers purchase the new product in place of our existing products. If we are unsuccessful in developing new products in response to changing consumer demands or preferences in an efficient and economical manner, or if our competitors respond more effectively than we do, demand for our products may decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
To maximize our potential for future growth and achieve our expected revenues, we need to manage growth in our current operations.
In order to maximize potential growth in our current and potential markets, we believe that we must expand our sourcing and marketing operations. This expansion will place a significant strain on our management and on our operational, accounting, and information systems. We expect that as we continue to grow, we will need to improve our financial controls, operating procedures, and management information systems to handle increased operations. We will also need to effectively train, motivate, and manage our employees. Failure to manage our growth could disrupt our operations and ultimately prevent us from generating the revenues we expect.
We cannot assure you that our acquisition growth strategy will be successful.
In addition to our organic growth strategy we also expect to grow through strategic acquisitions. We cannot assure you that our acquisitions will be successful or that we will have the funds to pursue any acquisitions. Further, even if we are able to complete strategic acquisitions, as expected, we will face challenges such as integration of systems, personnel and corporate culture that may impact our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into our overall corporate structure, which would negatively impact our business, operations and financial performance.
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If we are not able to implement our strategies to achieve our business objectives, our business operations and financial performance will be adversely affected.
Our business plan and growth strategy is based on currently prevailing circumstances and the assumption that certain circumstances will or will not occur, as well as the inherent risks and uncertainties involved in various stages of development. However, there is no assurance that we will be successful in implementing our strategies or that our strategies, even if implemented, will lead to the successful achievement of our objectives. If we are not able to successfully implement our strategies, our business operations and financial performance will be adversely affected.
Any failure of our products to comply with safety requirements set by government may adversely affect our results from operations.
We currently obtain our products from third parties. We may fail to ensure the supplied goods to be in compliance with safety regulation and rules set by government, which may, in turn, results in losing our customers, which would adversely affect our revenues and shareholder value.
We are subject to payment processing risk.
Our customers pay for their services using a variety of different payment methods. We rely on third parties to process such payments. Acceptance and processing of these payment methods are subject to certain rules and regulations and require payment of interchange and other fees. To the extent there are increases in payment processing fees, material changes in the payment ecosystem, such as delays in receiving payments from payment processors and/or changes to rules or regulations concerning payment processing, our revenues, operating expenses and results of operations could be adversely impacted.
Security breaches and attacks against our internal systems and network, and any potential resulting breach or failure to otherwise protect confidential and proprietary information, could damage our reputation and negatively impact our business, as well as materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Although we have employed resources to develop security measures against unauthorized access to our systems and networks, our cybersecurity measures may not successfully detect or prevent all unauthorized attempts to access the data on our network or compromise and disable our systems. Unauthorized access to our network and systems may result in the misappropriation of information or data, deletion or modification of user information, or a denial-of-service or other interruption to our business operations. As techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers, we may be unable to anticipate, or implement adequate measures to protect against these attacks. If we are unable to avert these attacks and security breaches, we could be subject to significant legal and financial liability, our reputation would be harmed and we could sustain substantial revenue loss from user dissatisfaction. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. Actual or anticipated attacks and risks may cause us to incur significantly higher costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and network protection technologies, train employees, and engage third-party experts and consultants. Cybersecurity breaches would not only harm our reputation and business, but also could materially decrease our revenue and net income.
Our business generates and processes a large amount of data, which subjects us to governmental regulations and other legal obligations related to privacy, information security and data protection. Any improper use or disclosure of such data by us, our employees or our business partners could subject us to significant reputational, financial, legal and operational consequences.
Our business generates and processes a large quantity of personal, transaction, and behavior data. We face risks inherent in handling large volumes of data and in protecting the security of such data. In particular, we face a number of challenges relating to data from transactions and other activities on our system, including:
| ● | protecting the data in and hosted on our system, including against attacks on our system by third parties or fraudulent behavior by our employees; | |
| ● | addressing concerns related to privacy and sharing, safety, security and other factors; and | |
| ● | complying with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the collection, use, disclosure or security of personal information, including any requests from regulatory and government authorities relating to such data. |
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Security breaches and attacks against our technology systems, and any potentially resulting breach or failure to otherwise protect confidential and proprietary information, could damage our reputation and negatively impact our business, as well as materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Although we have employed significant resources to develop our security measures against breaches, our cybersecurity measures may not detect or prevent all attempts to compromise our systems, including distributed denial-of-service attacks, viruses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, social engineering, security breaches or other attacks and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted by our systems or that we otherwise maintain. Breaches of our cybersecurity measures could result in unauthorized access to our systems, misappropriation of information or data, deletion or modification of customer information, or a denial of service or other interruption to our business operations. As techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers, we may be unable to anticipate, or implement adequate measures to protect against, these attacks.
Further, if we are unable to avert these attacks and security breaches, we could be subject to significant legal and financial liability, our reputation would be harmed and we could sustain substantial lost sales and customer dissatisfaction. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. Actual or anticipated attacks and risks may cause us to incur significantly higher costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and network protection technologies, train employees and engage third-party experts and consultants.
Our revenue and net income may be materially and adversely affected by any economic slowdown in China and indirectly by trade disputes between the United States and China that may contribute to uncertainties in economic outlook.
The success of our business may be affected by consumer confidence and uncertainties in the outlook for economic growth within China. We derive substantially all of our revenue from China. As a result, our revenue and net income are impacted to a significant extent by economic conditions in China and globally, as well as economic conditions specific to online and mobile commerce. The PRC government has in recent years implemented a number of measures to control the rate of economic growth, including by raising and lowering interest rates and adjusting deposit reserve ratios for commercial banks as well as by implementing other measures designed to tighten or loosen credit and liquidity. In the past, these measures have contributed to a slowdown of the PRC economy and although recently the PRC has taken steps to reduce interest rates and adjust deposit reserve ratios to increase the availability of credit in response to a weakening economy caused, in part, by the continuing trade dispute with the United States, no assurances can be given that the PRC’s efforts will result in more certainty in domestic economic outlook or an increase in consumer confidence. Any continuing or worsening slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in China, including through the Internet generally and within our ecosystem. An economic downturn, whether actual or perceived, a further decrease in economic growth rates or an otherwise uncertain economic outlook in China or any other market in which we may operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our supply network and our suppliers’ manufacturing and distribution facilities could be disrupted by factors beyond our control such as extreme weather, fire and other natural disasters.
Severe weather conditions and natural disasters, such as storms, floods, droughts, frosts, earthquakes or pestilence and a pandemic, may affect the supply of the raw materials that our suppliers use for the manufacturing of our products. For example, changing climate may cause flooding and drought in crop growing areas. Competing food producers can be affected differently by weather conditions and natural disasters depending on the location of their supply sources. If supplies of raw materials are reduced, our suppliers may not be able to find adequate supplemental supply sources, if at all, on favorable terms, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. In addition, our suppliers’ manufacturing facilities may be subject to damage
Higher labor costs could adversely affect our business and financial results.
We compete with our competitors for good and dependable employees. The supply of such employees is limited and competition to hire and retain them may result in higher labor costs. High labor costs could adversely affect our profitability if we are not able to pass them on to our customers.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.
All of the operations of our subsidiaries are conducted in the PRC, and are governed by PRC laws, rules and regulations. The PRC subsidiaries are subject to laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, 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, rules and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past four decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws, rules and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China or may be subject to significant degrees of interpretation by PRC regulatory agencies. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited number of published decisions and the nonbinding nature of such decisions, and because the laws, rules and regulations often give the relevant regulator significant discretion in how to enforce them, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involve uncertainties and can be inconsistent and unpredictable. In addition, 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 which may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we or the PRC subsidiaries may not be aware of the violation of these policies and rules until after the occurrence of the violation.
Any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we or the PRC subsidiaries enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede the PRC subsidiaries’ ability to enforce the contracts they have entered into and could materially and adversely affect the PRC subsidiaries’ and our business, financial condition and results of operations.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, and made the Opinions available to the public. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. The Opinions remain unclear on how the law will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, but the Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us and the PRC subsidiaries to compliance requirements in the future.
On July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued a revised draft of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review for public comments, which required that, among others, in addition to “operator of critical information infrastructure,” any “data processor” controlling personal information of no less than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should also be subject to cybersecurity review, and further elaborated the factors to be considered when assessing the national security risks of the relevant activities. On December 28, 2021, the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) were promulgated and took effect on February 15, 2022, which provide that any “online platform operators” controlling personal information of more than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should be subject to cybersecurity review.
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On November 14, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China released the Regulations on Network Data Security (draft for public comments) and will accept public comments until December 13, 2021. The draft Regulations on Network Data Security provide that if a data processor that processes personal data of more than one million users intends to list overseas, it shall apply for a cybersecurity review. In addition, data processors that process important data or are listed overseas shall carry out an annual data security assessment on their own or by engaging a data security services institution, and the data security assessment report for the prior year should be submitted to the local cyberspace affairs administration department before January 31 of each year. We do not believe, as advised by our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices (Fuzhou), that we or any of the PRC subsidiaries may be considered to be an “operator of critical information infrastructure”, or “online platform operators,” as mentioned above; however, Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) were recently adopted and the Regulations on Network Data Security (draft for public comments) are in the process of being formulated and it remains unclear how the Opinions will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, which came into force on March 31, 2023. These Rules propose to establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings and listings by Chinese domestic companies. According to the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, among other things, Chinese domestic companies conducting overseas securities offering and listing activities, either in direct or indirect form, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Administrative Measures within three working days following their submission of initial public offering (“IPO”), listing applications, or completion of subsequent securities offerings. The New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings apply to both IPO and subsequent securities offerings of the company in the same overseas market where it has previously offered and listed securities. Under these rules, companies like ours must file with the CSRC within three working days after completing a post-IPO securities offering. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to doing business in China—Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with our subsequent securities offerings, due to the promulgation of the new filing-based administrative rules for overseas offering and listing by domestic companies in China, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Ordinary Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless”.
Furthermore, if the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors.
Furthermore, the PRC government authorities may strengthen oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Such actions taken by the PRC government authorities may intervene or influence the PRC subsidiaries’ operations at any time, which are beyond our control. Therefore, any such action may adversely affect the PRC subsidiaries’ operations and significantly limit or hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to you and reduce the value of such securities.
Uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and the fact that rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, along with the risk that the Chinese government may intervene or influence the PRC subsidiaries’ operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could result in a material change in the PRC subsidiaries’ and our operations, financial performance and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares or impair our ability to raise money.
Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with our subsequent securities offerings, due to the promulgation of the new filing-based administrative rules for overseas offering and listing by domestic companies in China, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Ordinary Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, which became effective on March 31, 2023. These rules propose to establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings and listings by Chinese domestic companies. According to the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, among other things, Chinese domestic companies conducting overseas securities offering and listing activities, either in direct or indirect form, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of Trial Administrative Measures within three working days following their submission of IPOs, listing applications, or completion of subsequent securities offerings. The New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings apply to both IPOs and subsequent securities offerings of the company in the same overseas market where it has previously offered and listed securities. Under these rules, companies like ours must file with the CSRC within three working days after completing a post-IPO securities offering. In the event that filings with the CSRC are required, we cannot assure you that we can complete the filing procedures, obtain the approvals, or complete other compliance procedures in a timely manner, or at all, or that any completion of filing or approval or other compliance procedures would not be rescinded. Any such failure to do so would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose restrictions and penalties on our operations in China, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to launch any new offering of our securities, limit our ability to pay dividends outside China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from future capital raising activities into China, or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Ordinary Shares. Furthermore, the PRC government authorities may further strengthen oversight and control over listings and offerings that are conducted overseas. Any such action may adversely affect our operations and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to you and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. Furthermore, on February 24, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions, which also became effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions, domestic companies that seek overseas offering and listing (either in direct or indirect means) and the securities companies and securities service (either incorporated domestically or overseas) providers that undertake relevant businesses shall institute a sound confidentiality and archives administration system, and take necessary measures to fulfill confidentiality and archives administration obligations. They shall not leak any state secret or working secret of government agencies, or harm national security and public interests. Therefore, a domestic company that plans to, either directly or through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level. The above-mentioned documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, therefore, the domestic company shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable regulations. Furthermore, a domestic company that provides accounting archives or copies of accounting archives to any entities, including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators and individuals, shall fulfill due procedures in compliance with applicable regulations. Working papers produced in mainland China by securities companies and securities service providers in the process of undertaking businesses related to overseas offering and listing by domestic companies shall be retained in mainland China. Where such documents need to be transferred or transmitted to areas outside of mainland China, relevant approval procedures stipulated by regulations shall be followed. We may be required to perform additional procedures in connection with the provision of accounting archives. The specific requirements of the relevant procedures are currently unclear, and we cannot be certain whether we will be able to perform the relevant procedures.
Our securities may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.
As an auditor of companies that are registered with the SEC and publicly traded in the U.S. and a firm registered with the PCAOB, our auditor is required under the laws of the U.S. to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess their compliance with the laws of the U.S. and professional standards.
Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this annual report, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the U.S. and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the U.S. pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor is currently subject to PCAOB inspections and PCAOB is able to inspect our auditor. However, we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the HFCAA, which includes requirements for the SEC to identify issuers whose audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a restriction imposed by a non-U.S. authority in the auditor’s local jurisdiction. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the HFCAA on December 2, 2020, and the HFCAA was signed into law on December 18, 2020.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. We would be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a “non-inspection” year (as defined in the interim final rules) under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC was assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCAA , including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above.
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 Board 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 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, SEC announced that the PCAOB designated China and Hong Kong as the jurisdictions where the PCAOB is not allowed to conduct full and complete audit inspections as mandated under the HFCAA.
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On August 26, 2022, the CSRC, the MOF, and the PCAOB signed the Protocol, governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC the PCAOB shall have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board determined the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary.
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden, which amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading.
However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination. Delisting of our Ordinary Shares would force holders of our Ordinary Shares to sell their Ordinary Shares. The market price of our Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected as a result of anticipated negative impacts of these executive or legislative actions upon, as well as negative investor sentiment towards, companies with significant operations in China that are listed in the U.S., regardless of whether these executive or legislative actions are implemented and regardless of our actual operating performance.
The recent joint statement by the SEC, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering, business operations, share price and reputation.
U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered on financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud.
On December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. 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, reiterating past SEC and PCAOB statements on matters including the difficulty associated with inspecting accounting firms and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets and the difficulty of bringing and enforcing SEC, Department of Justice and other U.S. regulatory actions, including in instances of fraud, in emerging markets generally.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the 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 exchange. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the HFCAA
On May 21, 2021, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in a “Restrictive Market”, (ii) prohibit Restrictive Market companies from directly listing on Nasdaq Capital Market, and only permit them to list on Nasdaq Global Select or Nasdaq Global Market in connection with a direct listing and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
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As discussed in the previous risk factor, our Ordinary Shares are subject to the risk of being delisted under the HFCAA and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, in the event that PCAOB determines that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction for two consecutive years. The PCAOB Board determined, on December 15, 2022, that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination.
As a result of these scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on us, our offering, business and our share price. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend our company. This situation will be costly and time consuming and distract our management from developing our growth. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, we and our business operations will be severely affected and you could sustain a significant decline in the value of our share.
Changes in political, social and economic policies in any of China, the U.S. or Europe may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our business operations are primarily conducted in China. Accordingly, we are affected by the economic, political and legal environment in China.
In particular, China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the fact that it:
| ● | has a high level of government involvement; | |
| ● | is in the early stages of development of a market-oriented economy; | |
| ● | has experienced rapid growth; and | |
| ● | has a tightly controlled foreign exchange policy. |
China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy towards a more market-oriented economy. However, a substantial portion of productive assets in China remain state-owned and the PRC government exercises a high degree of control over these assets. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industrial development by imposing industrial policies. For the past three decades, the PRC government has implemented economic reform measures to emphasize the utilization of market forces in economic development.
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China’s economy has grown significantly in recent years; however, there can be no assurance that such growth will continue. The PRC government exercises control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Some of these measures benefit the overall economy of China, but may also have a negative effect on our business. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. As such, our future success is, to some extent, dependent on the economic conditions in China, and any significant downturn in market conditions may materially and adversely affect our business prospects, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Any actions by Chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence our operations or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to our operation, may limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Substantially all of our operations are located in China. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
As such, our business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. We could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.
Furthermore, given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas, although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC federal or local government and has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, it is uncertain whether or when we might be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even if such permission is obtained, whether it will be later denied or rescinded, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of our shares to significantly decline or be worthless.
The risk that the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities.
Recent greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our business.
In the opinion of our PRC counsel, Dacheng, on December 28, 2021, the CAC and other relevant PRC governmental authorities jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures (“the “CAC Revised Measures”) to replace the original Cybersecurity Review Measures. The CAC Revised Measures took effect on February 15, 2022. The CAC Revised Measures provide that, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIOs”) that intend to purchase Internet products and services, net platform operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to cybersecurity review by the Review Office of the PRC. According to the CAC Revised Measures, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The CAC Revised Measures require that an online platform operator which possesses the personal information of at least one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review by the CAC if it intends to be listed in foreign countries.
On September 24, 2024, the CAC published the Regulation on Network Data Security Management (the “Network Data Security Management”), which provides that data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to network data security review by the relevant Cyberspace Administration of the PRC. According to the Network Data Security Management, data processing operators who possess personal data of at least one million users or collect data that affects or may affect national security must be subject to network data security review by the relevant Cyberspace Administration of the PRC.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying the PRC subsidiaries as CIIOs or requiring us to go through cybersecurity review or network data security review by the CAC. According to the CAC Revised Measures and based on the opinion of our PRC counsel, Dacheng, we believe that the operations of the PRC subsidiaries and our listing will not be affected and that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC, given that the PRC operating entities possess personal data of fewer than one million individual clients and do not collect data that affects or may affect national security in their business operations as of the date of this annual report and do not anticipate that they will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affects or may affect national security in the near future. There remains uncertainty, however, as to how the CAC Revised Measures and the Network Data Security Management will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the CAC Revised Measures and the Network Data Security Management. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply and to minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us. We cannot guarantee, however, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review and network data security review in the future. During such reviews, we may be required to suspend our operation or experience other disruptions to our operations. Cybersecurity review and network data security review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our Company and diversion of our managerial and financial resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions, and results of operations.
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China’s legal system is evolving and has inherent uncertainties that could limit the legal protection available to you.
We have all of our operations in China. The legal system of China is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which prior court decisions have limited value as precedents. Since 1979, the PRC government has promulgated laws and regulations governing economic matters in general, such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system. Recently-enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published cases and their non-binding nature, interpretation and enforcement of these newer laws and regulations involve greater uncertainties than those in jurisdictions available to you. In addition, China’s legal system is based in part on government policies and administrative rules and many have retroactive effects. We cannot predict the effect of future developments in China’s legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the pre-emption of local regulations by national laws.
Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes and prior court decisions have limited value as precedents. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate 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 in a timely manner or at all) that 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.
We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a holding company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, and we rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may require WFOE to adjust its taxable income under the contractual arrangements they currently have in place with our consolidated variable interest entity in a manner that would materially and adversely affect their ability to pay dividends and other distributions to us.
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Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries, as wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China, may pay dividends only out of their respective accumulated after-tax profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the aggregate amount of such funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. At its discretion, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not distributable as cash dividends.
Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business. See also “If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.”
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Under PRC laws and regulations, we are permitted to utilize the proceeds from our offerings to fund our PRC subsidiaries by making loans to or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, subject to applicable government registration and approval requirements.
Any loans to our PRC subsidiaries, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC laws, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations. For example, loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. According to the Interim Measures on the Management of Foreign Debts promulgated by SAFE, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission on January 8, 2003, the statutory limit for the total amount of foreign debts of a foreign-invested company is the difference between the amount of total investment as approved by the MOC or its local counterpart and the amount of registered capital of such foreign-invested company. According to the Circular of the People’s Bank of China on Matters relating to the Comprehensive Macro-prudential Management of Cross-border Financing issued by the People’s Bank of China in January 2017, or Circular 9, the maximum amount of foreign debt that each of our PRC subsidiaries or our consolidated variable interest entity is allowed to borrow is two times of their respective net assets as indicated in their respective latest audited financial reports. Pursuant to Circular 9 and other PRC laws and regulations regarding foreign debt, within a one-year grace period starting from January 11, 2017, the statutory limit for the total amount of foreign debt of a foreign-invested company, which is subject to its own election, is either the difference between the amount of total investment and the amount of registered capital as approved by the MOC or its local counterpart, or two times of their respective net assets. With respect to our consolidated variable interest entity, the limit for the total amount of foreign debt is two times of its respective net assets pursuant to Circular 9. Moreover, according to Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission on Promoting the Administrative Reform of the Recordation and Registration System for Enterprises’ Issuance of Foreign Debts issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in September 2015, any loans we extend to our consolidated variable interest entity for more than one year must be filed with the National Development and Reform Commission or its local counterpart and must also be registered with SAFE or its local branches.
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We may also decide to finance our PRC subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be approved by the MOC or its local counterpart. On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Management Approach regarding the Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, which expands a pilot reform of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of foreign-invested enterprises nationwide. Circular 19 came into force and replaced both previous Circular 19 and Circular 36 on June 1, 2015. On June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or Circular 16, to further expand and strengthen such reform. Under Circular 19 and Circular 16, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are allowed to use their foreign exchange funds under capital accounts and RMB funds from exchange settlement for expenditure under current accounts within its business scope or expenditure under capital accounts permitted by laws and regulations, except that such funds shall not be used for (i) expenditure beyond the enterprise’s business scope or expenditure prohibited by laws and regulations; (ii) investments in securities or other investments than principal-secured products issued by banks; (iii) granting loans to non-affiliated enterprises, except where it is expressly permitted in the business license; and (iv) construction or purchase of real estate for purposes other than self-use (except for real estate enterprises). In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested company. The use of such RMB capital may not be altered without SAFE’s approval, and such RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used. Violations of these circulars could result in severe monetary or other penalties. These circulars may significantly limit our ability to use RMB converted from the cash provided by our offshore financing activities to fund the establishment of new entities in China by our PRC subsidiaries, to invest in or acquire any other PRC companies through our PRC subsidiaries, or to establish new variable interest entities in the PRC.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiaries or future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we expect to receive from our initial public offering and our private placement and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of our shares.
Substantially all of our revenues and expenditures are denominated in RMB. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar while the functional currency for our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entity is RMB. Gains and losses from the remeasurement of assets and liabilities that are receivable or payable in RMB are included in our consolidated statements of operations. The remeasurement has caused the U.S. dollar value of our results of operations to vary with exchange rate fluctuations, and the U.S. dollar value of our results of operations will continue to vary with exchange rate fluctuations. A fluctuation in the value of RMB relative to the U.S. dollar could reduce our profits from operations and the translated value of our net assets when reported in U.S. dollars in our financial statements. This could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations as reported in U.S. dollars. If we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our shares or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us. In addition, fluctuations in currencies relative to the periods in which the earnings are generated may make it more difficult to perform period-to-period comparisons of our reported results of operations.
The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions and China’s foreign exchange policies. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future.
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There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a flexible currency policy. Any significant appreciation or depreciation of the RMB may materially and adversely affect our revenues, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our shares in U.S. dollars. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from our initial public offering into RMB to pay our operating expenses, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, a significant depreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings, which in turn could adversely affect the price of our shares.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on the price of our shares.
Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our net revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our net revenues in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, our BVI company relies on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulation, such as the overseas investment registrations by the beneficial owners of our Company who are PRC residents. But approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies.
Restrictive foreign exchange policies and stepped up scrutiny of major outbound capital movement. More restrictions and substantial vetting process are put in place by SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions falling under the capital account. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
We are required under PRC laws and regulations to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations.
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Currently, we are making contributions to the plans based on the minimum standards although the PRC laws required such contributions to be based on the actual employee salaries up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. Therefore, in our consolidated financial statements, we have made an estimate and accrued a provision in relation to the potential make-up of our contributions for these plans as well as to pay late contribution fees and fines. If we are subject to late contribution fees or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in August 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances that the MOC be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the MOC shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOC that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOC, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOC or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC law.
SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. In addition, such PRC residents or entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to any change of basic information (including change of such PRC citizens or residents, name and operation term), increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or exchanges of shares, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is issued to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents Engaging in Financing and Roundtrip Investments via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75. SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment in February 2015, which took effect on June 1, 2015. This notice has amended SAFE Circular 37 requiring PRC residents or entities to register with qualified banks rather than SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. Based on our knowledge after due inquiry, our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities have not completed their SAFE registration.
If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities do not complete their registration as required, our PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration described above could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions and these shareholders may be subject to administrative punishment pursuant to the related law.
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Additionally, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our Company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular, known as Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners like us, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” As substantially all of our management members are based in China, it remains unclear how the tax residency rule will apply to our case. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we or any of our subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, then we or such subsidiary could be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on its world-wide income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we will also be subject to PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Furthermore, if the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our shares may be subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty), if such gains are deemed to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our Company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on the investment in our shares.
We may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary.
We are a British Virgin Islands incorporated company and as such rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries to satisfy part of our liquidity requirements. Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a withholding tax rate of 10% currently applies to dividends paid by a PRC “resident enterprise” to a foreign enterprise investor, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, such withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC enterprise. Furthermore, the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Enterprises to Enjoy Treatments under Tax Treaties, which became effective in November 2015, require non-resident enterprises to determine whether they are qualified to enjoy the preferential tax treatment under the tax treaties and file relevant report and materials with the tax authorities. There are also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. As of December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, we did not record any withholding tax on the retained earnings of our subsidiaries in the PRC as we recorded net losses for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 and did not distribute any dividend for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022. Should our tax policy change to allow for offshore distribution of our earnings, we would be subject to a significant withholding tax. We cannot assure you that our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment will not be challenged by the relevant tax authority or we will be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid to Vande, our Hong Kong subsidiary.
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Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.
The PRC tax authorities have enhanced their scrutiny over the direct or indirect transfer of certain taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by a non-resident enterprise by promulgating and implementing SAT Circular 59 and Circular 698, which became effective in January 2008, and a Circular 7 in replacement of some of the existing rules in Circular 698, which became effective in February 2015.
Under Circular 698, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the equity interests of a PRC “resident enterprise” indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, if the indirect transfer is considered to be an abusive use of company structure without reasonable commercial purposes. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of up to 10%. Circular 698 also provides that, where a non-PRC resident enterprise transfers its equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise to its related parties at a price lower than the fair market value, the relevant tax authority has the power to make a reasonable adjustment to the taxable income of the transaction.
In February 2015, the SAT issued Circular 7 to replace the rules relating to indirect transfers in Circular 698. Circular 7 has introduced a new tax regime that is significantly different from that under Circular 698. Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers set forth under Circular 698 but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets, through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, Circular 7 provides clearer criteria than Circular 698 on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Circular 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity which directly owned the taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise.
We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences on future private equity financing transactions, share exchange or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our Company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed, under Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under SAT Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. Although we currently have no plans to pursue any acquisitions in China or elsewhere in the world, we may pursue acquisitions in the future that may involve complex corporate structures. If we are considered a non-resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and if the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under SAT Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, our income tax costs associated with such potential acquisitions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares
We will incur additional costs as a result of becoming a public company, which could negatively impact our net income and liquidity.
As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, Sarbanes-Oxley and rules and regulations implemented by the SEC and the Nasdaq require significantly heightened corporate governance practices for public companies. We expect that these rules and regulations will increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and will make many corporate activities more time-consuming and costly.
We do not expect to incur materially greater costs as a result of becoming a public company than those incurred by similarly sized U.S. public companies. If we fail to comply with these rules and regulations, we could become the subject of a governmental enforcement action, investors may lose confidence in us and the market price of our Ordinary Shares could decline.
The obligation to disclose information publicly may put us at a disadvantage to competitors that are private companies.
As a publicly listed company, we will be required to file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission upon the occurrence of matters that are material to our Company and shareholders. In some cases, we will need to disclose material agreements or results of financial operations that we would not be required to disclose if we were a private company. Our competitors may have access to this information, which would otherwise be confidential. This may give them advantages in competing with our company. Similarly, as a U.S.-listed public company, we will be governed by U.S. laws that our competitors, which are mostly private Chinese companies, are not required to follow. To the extent compliance with U.S. laws increases our expenses or decreases our competitiveness against such companies, our public listing could affect our results of operations.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” and our disclosure obligations differ from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a result, we may not provide you the same information as U.S. domestic reporting companies or we may provide information at different times, which may make it more difficult for you to evaluate our performance and prospects.
We are a foreign private issuer and, 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.
As a foreign private issuer, we will also be exempt from the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) which, generally, are meant to ensure that select groups of investors are not privy to specific information about an issuer before other investors. However, we will still be subject to the anti-fraud and anti-manipulation rules of the SEC, such as Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act. Since many of the disclosure obligations imposed on us as a foreign private issuer differ from those imposed on U.S. domestic reporting companies, you should not expect to receive the same information about us and at the same time as the information provided by U.S. domestic reporting companies.
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We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including 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 nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although we could lose that status sooner if our revenues exceed $1.235 billion, if we issue more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three-year period, or if the market value of our shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any December 31 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our stock price may be more volatile.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail our Company of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an “emerging growth company.”
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the Nasdaq, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies. As a company with less than US$1.235 billion in net revenues for our last fiscal year, 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 and permission to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies.
We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. After we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. We also expect that operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
In the past, shareholders of a public company often brought securities class action suits against the company following periods of instability in the market price of that company’s 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, which could harm our results of operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and divert management’s attention.
As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the listing requirements of the securities exchange on which we list, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Despite recent reforms made possible by the JOBS Act, compliance with these rules and regulations will nonetheless increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and operating results.
As a result of disclosure of information in this annual report and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which we believe may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and operating results could be harmed, and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and adversely affect our business, brand and reputation and results of operations.
We also expect that being a public company and these new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.
Future issuances or sales, or perceived issuances or sales, of substantial amounts of shares in the public market could materially and adversely affect the prevailing market price of the Shares and our ability to raise capital in the future.
The market price of our shares could decline as a result of future sales of substantial amounts of shares or other securities relating to the shares in the public market, including by the Company’s substantial shareholders, or the issuance of new shares by the Company, or the perception that such sales or issuances may occur. Future sales, or perceived sales, of substantial amounts of the shares could also materially and adversely affect our ability to raise capital in the future at a time and at a price favorable to us, and our shareholders will experience dilution in their holdings upon our issuance or sale of additional securities in the future.
Future financing may cause a dilution in your shareholding or place restrictions on our operations.
We may need to raise additional funds in the future to finance further expansion of our capacity and business relating to our existing operations, acquisitions or strategic partnerships. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of new equity or equity-linked securities of the Company other than on a pro rata basis to existing shareholders, the percentage ownership of such shareholders in the Company may be reduced, and such new securities may confer rights and privileges that take priority over those conferred by the shares. Alternatively, if we meet such funding requirements by way of additional debt financing, we may have restrictions placed on us through such debt financing arrangements which may:
| ● | further limit our ability to pay dividends or require us to seek consents for the payment of dividends; | |
| ● | increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; | |
| ● | require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to service our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund capital expenditure, working capital requirements and other general corporate needs; and | |
| ● | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry. |
We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our shares if the market price of our shares increases.
Shares eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market price of our shares, as the future sale of a substantial amount of outstanding shares in the public marketplace could reduce the price of our shares.
The market price of our shares could decline as a result of sales of substantial amounts of our shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur. In addition, these factors could make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future offerings of our shares. A significant portion of our shares is held by a few shareholders and these are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144. These shares may be sold in the future without registration under the Securities Act to the extent permitted by Rule 144 or other exemptions under the Securities Act.
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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.
We are in a continuing process of developing, establishing, and maintaining internal controls and procedures that will allow our management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, our internal controls over financial reporting if and when required to do so under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Although our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until the date we are no longer an emerging growth company, our management will be required to report on our internal controls over financial reporting under Section 404.
As of December 31, 2024, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses identified by management is that we do not have in-house accounting personnel with sufficient knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting experiences. Management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of December 31, 2024.
In order to address and resolve the foregoing material weakness, we have begun to implement measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting to remediate this material weakness, including hiring outside financial personnel with requisite training and experience in the preparation of financial statements in compliance with applicable SEC requirements.
Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
Although we are a BVI-incorporated company, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, all of our directors and executive officers reside within China, and most of the assets of these persons are located within China. As a result, it may be difficult, impractical or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe 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 British Virgin Islands and of the PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our director and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.
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You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under British Virgin Islands law.
We are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and conduct substantially all of our operations in China through our wholly-foreign owned enterprise and the variable interest entity. Most of our directors and substantially all of our executive officers reside outside the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside of the United States. Our directors and executive officers are located in the PRC,. A substantial portion of the assets of these individuals are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for our shareholders to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the British Virgin Islands or in China in the event that they believe that their rights have been infringed under the securities laws of the United States or otherwise. Even if shareholders are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the British Virgin Islands and China may render them unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. There is no statutory recognition in the British Virgin Islands of judgments obtained in the United States of China, although the courts of the British Virgin Islands will generally recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the BVI Act and the common law of the British Virgin Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the British Virgin Islands and by the BVI Act. The common law of the British Virgin Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the British Virgin Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the British Virgin Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states (such as Delaware) have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. As a result of the foregoing, holders of our Ordinary Shares may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, directors or major shareholders than they would as shareholders of a U.S. company and whose management, directors and/or major shareholders were also incorporated, resident, or otherwise established in a United States jurisdiction.
As a result of the foregoing, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our management, our directors or our major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
British Virgin Islands
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the BVI Act and the common law of the British Virgin Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the British Virgin Islands and by the BVI Act. The common law of the British Virgin Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the British Virgin Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the British Virgin Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states (such as Delaware) have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. As a result of the foregoing, holders of our Ordinary Shares may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, directors or major shareholders than they would as shareholders of a U.S. company and whose management, directors and/or major shareholders were also incorporated, resident, or otherwise established in a United States jurisdiction.
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As a result of the foregoing, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our management, our directors or our major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.
China
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. There are no treaties or other forms of reciprocity between the PRC and the U.S. for the mutual recognition and enforcement of court judgments. Under PRC law, PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our officers and directors if the court decides that such judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest, thus making the recognition and enforcement of a U.S. court judgment in the PRC difficult.
There can be no assurance that we will not be 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 shares to significant adverse United States income tax consequences.
We will be a “passive foreign investment company,” or “PFIC,” if, in any particular taxable year, either (a) 75% or more of our gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (b) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets (as determined on the basis of fair market value) during such year produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). Based upon our income and assets, and the value of our Ordinary Shares, we do not believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2024 or that we will be a PFIC for the taxable year ending December 31, 2025 and we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC in the foreseeable future. See the discussion of the PFIC rules under “E. Taxation - United States Federal Income Taxation” below.
While we do not expect to become 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 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 of our income and assets, which may be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets. 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 may incur significantly increased United States income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of the shares and on the receipt of distributions on the 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. See the discussion of the PFIC rules under “E. Taxation - United States Federal Income Taxation” below. Further, 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.
The trading price of our Ordinary Shares is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
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 because of broad market and industry factors, akin to the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in Hong Kong or the People’s Republic of China that have listed their securities in the United States. A number of Chinese companies have listed or are in the process of listing their securities on U.S. stock markets. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility, including price declines in connection with their initial public offerings. The trading performances of these Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the perception and attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of our shares, regardless of our actual operating performance.
In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our shares may be highly volatile due to a number of factors, including the following:
| ● | regulatory developments affecting us or our industry and customers; | |
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results; | |
| ● | changes in the market condition, market potential and competition in the online food retail sector; | |
| ● | announcements by us or our competitors of new products, services, expansions, investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures; | |
| ● | fluctuations in global and Chinese economies; | |
| ● | changes in financial estimates by securities analysts; | |
| ● | adverse publicity about us; | |
| ● | additions or departures of our key personnel and senior management; | |
| ● | release of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities; and | |
| ● | potential litigation or regulatory investigations |
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our shares will trade.
Item 4. Information on the Company
A. History and development of the Company.
We were incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands on December 4, 2018 with the name of “Advancement International Limited” (“Advancement International”) by three shareholders, namely Kindness Global Company Limited, Four Dimensions Global Investment Limited and Wisdom Global Company Limited. Union International Company Limited was included as a fourth shareholder on February 14, 2019 when Kindness Global Company Limited transferred 17,000 Ordinary Shares to Union International Company Limited.
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Kindness Global Company Limited, a BVI company incorporated in October 1, 2018, that is 100% owned by Mr. Peijiang Chen, a Chinese citizen, our Chairman and director and shareholder and director of Meiwu Shenzhen; Four Dimensions Global Investment Limited, a BVI company that is 100% owned by Mr. Changbin Xia, a Chinese citizen and a shareholder and director of Meiwu Shenzhen; Wisdom Global Company Limited, a BVI company that is 100% owned by Mr. Hanwu Yang, a Chinese citizen and a shareholder and director of Meiwu Shenzhen; Union International Company Limited, a BVI company that is 100% owned by Mishan City Shenmi Dazhong Management Consulting Partnership (Limited Partnership), a PRC limited partnership comprising 14 partners, all of whom are PRC citizens and natural persons. We do not foresee a conflict of interest with any of Kindness Global Company Limited, Four Dimensions Global Investment Limited, Wisdom Global Company Limited, Union International Company Limited and Mishan City Shenmi Dazhong Management Consulting Partnership (Limited Partnership) as the latter are all holding companies with no business operations.
On February 15, 2019, we acquired all shares of Vande pursuant to an Instrument of Transfer, Sold Note and Bought Note recorded with Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR).
Vande, incorporated on April 6, 2017 in Hong Kong, SAR, incorporated Guo Gang Tong (“WFOE”) in the People’s Republic of China with a registered capital of RMB 5,000,000 (approximately, $707,500) on December 28, 2018.
WFOE, in turn, entered into a series of contractual agreements on March 2, 2019 with Meiwu Shenzhen, a company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China on June 16, 2015 with a registered capital of RMB5,000,000 (approximately, $707,500). Meiwu Shenzhen wholly owns a subsidiary, Meiwu Catering Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, formerly known as Wunong Catering Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, which it incorporated in the PRC with a registered capital of RMB 5,000,000 on November 27, 2018.
On August 19, 2019, we changed our name from “Advancement International Limited” to Wunong Net Technology Company Limited.
On November 15, 2019, Kindness Global Company Limited transferred 2,500 Ordinary Shares to Fragrance International Group Company Limited. Also on November 15, 2019, we issued 6,667 Ordinary Shares to Soaring International Company Limited and 3,333 Ordinary Shares to each of Morning Choice International Company Limited, August International Group Company Limited and Eternal Horizon International Company Limited.
On December 2, 2019, we filed amended memorandum and articles of association with the BVI Registry of Corporate Affairs to change the par value of our Ordinary Shares from $1 to no par value and to forward split our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares from 66,666 to 20,000,000.
On September 29, 2020, our variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen, together with two individuals, Guoming Huang (“Huang”) and Yafang Liu (“Liu”), established a new Shanghai subsidiary, Wude Agricultural Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (“Wude Shanghai”). Wude Shanghai’s registered capital is RMB 20 million (approximately, $3.106 million) and its equity interests are divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (51%), Liu (25%) and Huang (24%). Wude’s domiciled address is Room 2382, Building 2,181 Songyu Road, Tinglin Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai. Meiwu Shenzhen transferred the 51% ownership interest to Huang and Liu on December 15, 2020 and repurchased the 51% ownership interest on January 28, 2021.
On October 20, 2020, Meiwu Shenzhen entered into an Equity Transfer Agreement to acquire 51% equity interests in a newly-incorporated company, Baode Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (“Baode”). Baode’s registered capital is RMB 5 million (approximately $781,466) and its equity interest is divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (51%), Shiliang Ma (30%) and Yongqiang He (19%). Meiwu Shenzhen transferred the 100% ownership interest to Yafang Liu on December 15, 2020 and repurchased the ownership interest on January 19, 2021. Baode’s registered capital was increased to RMB 30 million (approximately $4.6 million) on April 29, 2021.
On December 10, 2020, our variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Wunong Technology (Shaanxi) Co., Ltd (“Wunong Shaanxi”). Wunong Shaanxi’s registered capital is RMB 8.8 million (approximately $ 1,375,670) and is located at 18/F, B, Yu Shang Building, Tongda Road, High-tech Industrial Park, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. Meiwu Shenzhen transferred the 100% ownership interest to Haiyan Qin on December 14, 2020 and repurchased the ownership interest on January 26, 2021.
On December 15, 2020, we priced the initial public offering of 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of $5.00 per share to the public for a total of US$25,000,000 of gross proceeds. In addition, the underwriters purchased 999,910 ordinary shares from a selling shareholder for $4,999,550 for a total of US$29,999,550 in total gross proceeds from the offering. Our Ordinary Shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 15, 2020 under the symbol “WNW” and the initial public offering closed on December 17, 2020.
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On January 8, 2021, our variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen entered into an Equity Transfer Agreement to acquire all the equity interests in a newly-incorporated company, Wunong Technology (Liaoning) Co., Ltd (“Wunong Liaoning”). Wunong Liaoning was incorporated on November 4, 2020 with a registered capital of RMB 8.88 million (approximately US$1.372 million) and is domiciled at 1183 Anhai Road, Qianshan District, Anshan City, Liaoning Province. Wunong Liaoning was stopped business on December 26, 2022.
On August 23, 2021, we changed our name from “Wunong Net Technology Company Limited” to Meiwu Technology Company Limited.
On November 23, 2021, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Boxinrui International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Anxin BVI”), and all the shareholders of Anxin BVI, who collectively hold 100% issued and outstanding shares of Anxin BVI (the “Sellers”). Anxin BVI indirectly owns 100% of Beijing Anxin Jieda Logistics Co., Ltd. (“Anxin”), a company organized under the laws of the PRC, via Anxin BVI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Anxin Jieda Co., Limited. Anxin is a company engaging in the business of transportation and logistics based in Beijing, China. Pursuant to the SPA, at the closing, we shall deliver to the Sellers a total of 7,968,755 ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares”), however, if the audit of the Anxin’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is not completed by the sixty-fifth (65th) day following the date of the SPA, the 50% of the Share Consideration paid to each Seller shall be forfeited and returned to the Company for cancellation. As of March 11, 2022, Anxin BVI failed to deliver the audited financial statements of Anxin for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Therefore, we entered into a termination agreement, (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which, the parties agreed to terminate the transaction as contemplated by the SPA and the Sellers agreed to return 7,968,755 Ordinary Shares to the Company immediately and such Ordinary Shares were forfeited and reserved as the treasury shares of the Company.
On December 28, 2021, Meiwu Shenzhen sold the 51% equity interests of Baode Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd to Mr. Shiliang Ma, who held 30% ownership of Baode with the amount of RMB 200,000 (approximately $31,405). Upon the consummation of the sale of 51% equity shares in Baode, Meiwu Shenzhen ceased to hold shares in Baode and Baode was no longer a majority controlled subsidiary of Meiwu Shenzhen.
On March 31, 2022, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yundian BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yundian BVI, who collectively hold 100% issued and outstanding shares of Yundian BVI (the “Sellers”). Yundian BVI indirectly owns 100% of Dalian Yundian Zhiteng Technology Company Limited (“Yundian”), a company organized under the laws of the PRC, via Yundian BVI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Yun Tent Technology Company Limited. Yundian is a company engaging in the information technology and communication engineering based in Dalian, China. Pursuant to the SPA, we agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Yundian BVI. Upon the closing, we shall deliver to the Sellers total consideration of US$8.1 million to be paid in ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of the Company, at a price of US$0.9 per share, for a total of 9,000,000 Ordinary Shares (“Share Consideration”) provided, however, if the audit of the Yundian’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is not completed by the sixty-fifth (65th) day following the closing date of the transaction contemplated in the SPA, all the Share Consideration paid to each Seller shall be forfeited and returned to the Company for cancellation.
On May 12, 2022, Meiwu Shenzhen, together with Shenzhen Heme Enterprise Consulting Partnership (limited partnership) (“Heme Consulting”), established a new Shenzhen subsidiary, Heme Brand Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Heme Shenzhen”). Heme Shenzhen’s registered capital is RMB 10 million (approximately, $1.5 million) and its equity interests are divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (51%) and Heme Consulting (49%).
On June 23, 2022, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Mahao BVI”), and all the shareholders of Mahao BVI, who collectively hold 100% issued and outstanding shares of Mahao BVI (the “Sellers”). Mahao BVI indirectly owns 100% of Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited, a company organized under the laws of the PRC (“Code Beating”), via Mahao BVI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, DELIMOND Limited. Code Beating is a company engaging in providing Internet access and related services based in Xiamen, China. Pursuant to the SPA, we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Mahao BVI. Upon the closing, the Company delivered to the Sellers total consideration of US$6 million to be paid in Ordinary Shares of the Company, at a price of US$0.6 per share, for a total of 10,000,000 Ordinary Shares.
On July 22, 2022, Heme Shenzhen established a new Shenzhen subsidiary, Heme Catering Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (“Heme Catering”). Heme Catering’s registered capital is RMB 10 million (approximately, $1.5 million) and its equity interests are wholly-owned by Heme Shenzhen.
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On October 31, 2022, we changed the name from “Wunong Technology (Shenzhen) Co,. Ltd” to Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co,. Ltd.
On December 12, 2022, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (“Yuanxing BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yuanxing BVI. Yuanxing BVI indirectly owns 100% of Hunan Yuanxing Chanrong Technology Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the PRC, via a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yuanxing BVI in Hong Kong, Antai Medical Limited. Pursuant to the SPA, the Company is going to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Yuanxing BVI. Upon the closing, the Company shall deliver to the Sellers total consideration of US$9.6 million to be paid in Ordinary Shares of the Company, at a price of US$0.8 per share, for a total of 12,000,000 Ordinary Shares.
On May 4, 2023, the VIE, Meiwu Shenzhen, together with an individual, Kun Xu (“Kun”) and an entity, Xi ‘an Senli Huinong Agricultural Technology Co. LTD (“Senli Huinong”), established a new subsidiary in Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen Jiayuan Liquor Sales Co., Ltd (“Jiayuan Liquor”). Jiayuan Liquor’s registered capital is RMB 1.8 million (approximately, $252,180) and its equity interests are divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (70%), Kun (21%) and Senli Huinon (9%). Jiayuan Liquor’s domiciled address is 1603, Building C, Shenye Century Industrial Center, No. 743, Zhoushi Road, Hezhou Community, Hangcheng Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen.
On December 10, 2024, Guogangtong Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”), the wholly owned subsidiary of Vande entered into an agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Meiwu Zhishi” or “VIE”), VIE’s shareholders to terminate of a series of contractual arrangements (“VIE Agreements”) by and among the VIE, the WFOE, and shareholders of the VIE.
On December 24, 2024, the Company, Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Magnum”) and an individual that is not affiliated with the Company or any of its directors or officers (the “Purchaser”) entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Magnum Disposition Agreement”). Pursuant to the Magnum Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Magnum for $10. On 2024, the transaction contemplated therein (the “Magnum Disposition”) was closed, and the Purchaser became the sole shareholder of Magnum and as a result, assume all assets and liabilities of Magnum and subsidiaries owned or controlled by Magnum.
On December 24, 2024, the Company, Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Xinfuxin”) and the same Purchaser entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Xinfuxin Disposition Agreement”, collectively with the Termination Agreement and Magnum Disposition Agreement, the “Agreements”). Pursuant to the Xinfuxin Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Xinfuxin for $10. On December 31, 2024, the transaction contemplated therein (the “Xinfuxin Disposition”) was closed, and the Purchaser became the sole shareholder of Xinfuxin and as a result, assume all assets and liabilities of Xinfuxin and subsidiaries owned or controlled by Xinfuxin.
On April 1, 2025, the Company effectuate a reverse split (“Reverse Split”) of its Ordinary Shares on an one-for-twenty basis. In connection with the Reverse Split, the Company’s shareholders received one new Ordinary Share of the Company for every twenty Ordinary Shares they hold. The Company’s Ordinary Shares began trading on a Reverse Split-adjusted basis when the market opened on April 1, 2025. The Company’s authorized share capital and par value remained unchanged following the Reverse Split, as unlimited Ordinary Shares with no par value.
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The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure as of the date of this annual report:
Pursuant to PRC laws, each entity formed under PRC law shall have certain business scope approved by the Administration of Industry and Commerce or its local counterpart. Meiwu is a holding company with no business operation other than holding the shares in its subsidiaries.
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Our principal executive offices are located at Unit 304-3, No. 19, Wanghai Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, People’s Republic of China, and our phone number is +86-755-85250400. We maintain a corporate website at www.wnw108.com. The information contained in, or accessible from, our website or any other website does not constitute a part of this annual report.
Recent Financing Transactions
Notes Offering in 2024
On May 17, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with three unaffiliated investors (each, an “Investor”, collectively, the “Investors”), pursuant to which, the Company agreed to issue a convertible note (each, a “Note”, collectively, the “Notes”) with 10% original issuance discount (the “OID”) to each Investor (the “2024 Notes Offering”). The Company received gross proceeds of $1,000,000, before any expenses, as the aggregate purchase price of the three Notes.
Each of the Notes bears interest at a rate of 10% per annum compounding daily. All outstanding principal and accrued interest on the Notes will become due and payable eighteen (18) months after the issuance date. Each of the Note includes an original issue discount that equals 10% of the purchase price. The Company may prepay all or a portion of the Notes at any time by paying 120% of the outstanding balance elected for pre-payment. Each of the Investor can convert his or her Note at any time after the six-month anniversary of the issuance date at a per share conversion price that is equal to the lower of (i) $0.50 or (ii) 80% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares, in the 20 trading days prior to the date on which the conversion price is measured (the “Market Price”).
The Company issued the Notes and closed this 2024 Notes Offering on May 17, 2024. The issuance of the Notes and the Ordinary Shares underlying the Notes were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D. The proceeds of this 2024 Notes Offering were used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Primary Public Offering in 2024
On December 2, 2024, the Company closed a best-efforts offering (the “Primary Offering”) of 30,000,000 Ordinary Shares (the “Primary Offering Shares”) of the Company, to certain investors pursuant to that certain securities purchase agreement (the “Primary Offering SPA”), dated as of November 27, 2024, at an offering price of $0.80 per share.
The Primary Offering Shares were sold pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (the “Registration Statement”, File No. 333-282379), which was declared effective by the Commission on November 27, 2024. A final prospectus dated November 27, 2024 relating to this Offering was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Company received net proceeds of $23,895,000 from the Primary Offering. The Company used the net proceeds for the development of its functional skincare business and for general corporate purpose, as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
In addition, as previously disclosed, the Company sold 30,000,000 Ordinary Shares (the “Resale Shares”) to Mr. Changbin Xia, the chairman of the board of directors of the Company, at an offering price of $0.80 per share, pursuant to a certain securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2024 (“Private SPA”). The Resale Shares were also registered in the Registration Statement. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of such Resale Shares.
Concurrently with the Company’s execution of the Primary Offering SPA, Mr. Xia entered into a certain lock-up agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”) pursuant to which, Mr. Xia agreed not to directly or indirectly sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer (excluding intra-family transfers, transfers to a trust for estate planning purposes or to beneficiaries of officers, directors and shareholders upon their death), or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction which may result in the disposition of any Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any Ordinary Shares, without the prior written consent of the Company, for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date of the Lock-Up Agreement.
B. Business overview
We are a British Virgin Islands company incorporated on December 4, 2018. We do not have material operation and we conduct our business in China through our subsidiaries.
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Functional Skincare Business
In the last quarter of 2024, the management has decided to implement a strategic transition in the Company’s business to expand into the sales of functional skincare products and launched this functional skincare business. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the functional skincare business accounted for 38% of our total revenue.
Products and Services
We aim to build a comprehensive online ecosystem with stable supply chain for our functional skincare products to be launched around the last quarter of 2025. This will include upstream product research and development of the skincare products, midstream distributor support and training, and downstream franchisee partnerships for functional skincare stores. We will connect three key groups in this business: stores, professionals in functional skincare, and consumers.
Xiamen Chunshang’s current product offerings include essence, serum, collagen and prebiotics solid beverage. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Xiamen Chunshang, the Company has acquired of trademarks, entered into cooperation agreement with a research company, entry into letters of intent with four distributors, and hired of two skincare product engineers. As of the date of this annual report, we entered into certain trademark transfer agreements to acquire trademarks of “MQIANS”, “Chunran”, “秘莳”, and “纯然时代” from Guangzhou Meixing Health Information Group Co., Ltd. (“Guangzhou Meixin”); and trademarks “艾姝俪Aishuli”, “后小白HOUXIAOBAI” and “施华舒SHIHUASHU” from Guangzhou Shiji Shengxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd, (“Guangzhou Shengxin”).
Our services encompass technical training in functional skincare, sales training, and product offerings.
Research and Development
Our company is dedicated to advancing the skincare industry through strategic research and development. We aims to our R&D capabilities with the two following approaches:
Firstly, we plan to enter into cooperation agreements with third parties to develop functional skincare formulations. The standard form of cooperation agreements will provide that, the third party engaged by us shall be responsible for the comprehensive work on product research and development includes, but is not limited to, formula development, trial production, testing, and market preparation. We will provide the funds for the research and development of the formula throughout the whole process. Secondly, we are considering possible acquisition of certain research institutions to have our in-house product development department. This will allow us to bring a dedicated team of experts and researchers in-house, providing greater control over the development process and facilitating the creation of cutting-edge skincare products.
These strategies are aimed at ensuring our product offerings remain at the forefront of the industry, leveraging both external partnerships and internal resources to drive innovation and address the evolving needs of our customers.
In September 2024, Xiamen Chunshang entered into an agreement with Meixing Biology Research Institute (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. to jointly develop light therapy anti-aging skincare product for skin cell rejuvenation through the sharing of resources, technology, and expertise. We agreed to provide RMB 15 million (US$2,100,000) for the expenses of the research and development and providing market information; and Meixing Biology is responsible for product development, including but not limited to formula development, trial production, testing, and market preparation. Xiamen Chunshang and Meixing Biology entered into a supplemental agreement on September 18, 2024, pursuant to which, Meixing Biology agreed not to commercialize any intellectual property generated thereof within three years after the product is launched and enters mass production. Xiamen Chunshang agreed that, if the cumulative revenue generated from the product reaches RMB 30 million within three years of its launch and mass production, Xiamen Chunshang will allocate 10% of its profits to Meixing Biology, and in return, Xiamen Chunshang agreed that all intellectual property rights arising from the project shall be owned by Xiamen Chunshang.
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Sales and Distribution
Through Xiamen Chunshang, we sell our products to the distributors at a wholesale price with a discount for repurchase. Our revenues of the functional skincare business mainly consists of (i) wholesale purchase price and (ii) training fees, which we charge for the training workshops where experienced distributors and professionals in the skincare industry teach about the customer development skills, sales strategies and instructions for using our functional skincare products.
Xiamen Chunshang entered into letters of intent with four distributors, pursuant to which Xiamen Chunshang authorizes each distributor as the exclusive distributor in four different provinces in China. The letters of intent are valid for one year starting on January 1, 2025 and include minimum sales targets. If these targets are not met within the year, Xiamen Chunshang reserves the right to terminate the letter. If the annual order amount reaches RMB 8 million, Xiamen Chunshang will grant that distributor an additional 3% commission on the total amount paid by the distributor for orders. If the annual order amount reaches 12 million RMB or more, Xiamen Chunshang will grant that distributor an additional 2% commission on the total amount paid by the distributor for orders. In addition, Xiamen Chunshang enters into quality guaranty and price control agreements with its distributors, pursuant to which, Xiamen Chunshang guarantees that the products and packages are in compliance with the regulatory requirements and Xiamen Chunshang provides suggested and the minimum retail prices for each product. Distributors agree not to sell the products at a price lower than the agreed minimum retail price.
Marketing
Our sales and marketing strategy focuses on in person launch events to facilitate business development and attract new distributors and partners. These events primarily target second- and third-tier cities within China. Our marketing efforts are tailored to address the specific needs and opportunities in these targeted cities, ensuring that our approach resonates with local market dynamics and maximizes our outreach. These in person launch events serve as a key component of our business development promotion strategy. By organizing these events in various cities, we aim to build brand awareness, engage directly with potential distributors and skincare professionals, and showcase our product offerings in an impactful and personalized manner.
We believe that social media will be the engine that fuels our next stage of growth. The increase in sales of our functional skincare products is directly related to the increase in new customers and consequently, product consumption. We believe that new customers are often swayed by social media messages of the benefits of consuming our functional skincare products and the ease of obtaining these products by ordering them from our Website. As such we have made a concerted effort to utilize social media to increase awareness of our Company and its offerings.
We use information technology to track operations-related data indicators, including but not limited to daily, weekly and monthly sales, new registered users, new user orders and amounts, number of active users and their orders, single product sales amounts and sales performance rankings, etc. Such information is however discrete and localized and not used to assess our performance as a whole.
Manufacture
We rely on third-party manufacturers to produce our products. The engagement will specify that the third-party manufacturers engaged by us shall be responsible for the comprehensive manufacturing of the products includes, but is not limited to, the sourcing of product ingredients, the development of product formulation, and the procurement of raw materials, and should also be responsible for coordinating and organizing the production and assembly other parties, and delivering complete sets of boxed products. The manufactures should conduct internal inspections to ensure that each batch of products meets national standards.
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Quality Control
We are consumer-focused and committed to the highest standards of product safety and quality. Xiamen Chunshang has implemented a comprehensive quality control framework that spans supply chain onboarding, warehousing, channel oversight, and after-sales support.
A quality control team—reporting directly to Xiamen Chunshang’s head of quality and safety department—oversees this framework. The team operates separately from commercial functions and is responsible for executing the following core functions:
Supplier and Product Compliance
| ● | Onboarding Oversight: Xiamen Chunshang conducts rigorous qualification reviews of new suppliers and brand partners, ensuring all manufacturers hold valid cosmetics production licenses and that all products are duly registered or filed with regulatory authorities. |
| ● | Initial Product Testing: For any new product procured (i.e., “first-time purchase products”), third-party labs are engaged to conduct random batch testing, targeting contaminants such as heavy metals and microbial agents. Current testing coverage is approximately 90%. |
| ● | Annual Surprise Inspections: Xiamen Chunshang commissions independent blind testing of 100% of listed SKUs each year, with results archived for at least three years. |
| ● | Dynamic Risk Rating: Suppliers are continuously evaluated based on testing pass rates and customer complaint frequency, enabling tiered risk management. |
Warehousing and Logistics Compliance
| ● | Environmental Controls: Warehousing facilities are climate-controlled (maintained at 24°C ± 2°C), with temperature and humidity logs recorded three times daily. Cold-chain products are stored using industry-standard refrigeration equipment. |
| ● | Shelf-Life Monitoring: Products approaching expiry (within 90 days) are automatically flagged by the Company’s logistics system and removed from distribution. |
| ● | Full Traceability: Xiamen Chunshang utilizes item-level digital tracking (e.g., RFID or QR codes) to maintain complete traceability from supplier to end consumer. |
Channel Governance and Risk Mitigation
| ● | Marketing Compliance: All product marketing content is subject to digigent legal review. Claims that imply therapeutic or medical effects are strictly prohibited under PRC advertising laws and internal policy. |
| ● | Price and Distributor Oversight: Xiamen Chunshang enforces price and sales channel compliance through quality assurance agreements. Any distributor found engaging in unauthorized pricing tactics or bundling practices is subject to immediate contract termination. |
| ● | Digital Audit Trails: Online product page edits are recorded and archived for three years, enabling regulatory traceability and internal audit readiness. |
After-Sales Quality Management
| ● | Rapid Recall Protocol: If a quality issue is identified, Xiamen Chunshang notify all of its distributors within 72 hours across all retail channels. |
| ● | Consumer-Centric Compensation: Xiamen Chunshang provides timely compensation to consumers before pursuing claims against responsible parties. |
| ● | Data-Driven Quality Feedback: Customer complaint data is analyzed monthly to identify trends and root causes, driving product or packaging improvements in partnership with suppliers. |
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Competitive Advantages
We believe we will be able to possess robust capabilities throughout the supply chain of our functional skincare business. First, we plan to cooperate with company with expertise in formula development and recruit experienced professionals for our product research and development. We will also work with credible third party manufactures to deliver high-quality offerings. Second, we aim to establish a network of distributor for our functional skincare products, focusing in the second and third tier cities in China. Third, we also plan to provide support and training for our distributors, as well as staff in beauty and skincare stores to enhance their ability to effectively market and showcase our products.
We believe the above mentioned advantages will strengthen our position in the market and supports our goal of delivering high-quality products to the customers.
Growth Strategies
We plan to expand our partnership with research institutions to develop new functional skincare formulas and products. We also seek to develop a network of distributors in the second and third tier cities in China, then organically develop new channels of distribution and new sales relationships across the country.
Competition
We will face competition from both established multinational and domestic brands, as well as from smaller niche players in the PRC market and the global beauty sector. Notable competitors such as Winona, Pechoin, and Chando, each with franchisees nationwide, will continue to present significant challenges. These competitors are expected to maintain their advantages due to their longer operating histories, higher market shares, and established brand recognition, which may affect our ability to gain visibility and credibility among consumers.
Furthermore, larger and more established companies will likely benefit from economies of scale, enabling them to produce goods at lower costs per unit. This cost advantage will pose pricing challenges for us, making it difficult to compete on price while ensuring profitability.
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We plan to differentiate ourselves through perceived value by focusing on factors such as pricing and innovation, product efficacy, customer service, promotional activities, advertising, special events, new product introductions, e-commerce initiatives, and direct sales. However, predicting the timing, scale, and effectiveness of our competitors’ future strategies, as well as the impact of new market entrants, will remain a challenge.
Seasonality
We do not expect that our functional skincare business will be subject to seasonal variations.
Prior to December 2024 when we terminated the VIE arrangements, we had two business lines, one was the SMS business, operated by Code Beating; another was the online and mobile commerce for food products, operated by Meiwu Shenzhen and its subsidiaries. The SMS business was operated by Code Beating. For the year ended December 31, 2024, SMS business did not generate any revenue, and the online and mobile commerce business generated 54.6% of our total revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2023, SMS business generated 77.1% of our total revenue, and the online and mobile commerce business generated 22.9% of our total revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2022, SMS business generated 80.5% of our total revenue, and the online and mobile commerce business generated 19.5% of our total revenue.
SMS Business
Code Beating operated a SMS platform to send customized content to terminal customers. Code Beating is a mobile information service provider. Code Beating relied on a systematic service process and independently developed business platform to provide customers with secure, effective, and timely mobile information services through the integration of communication resources of telecom operators. Enterprise SMS is currently the main business form of Code Beating. Code Beating utilized its accumulated system development technology and business understanding based on customers’ industry to provide professional enterprise SMS services to customers.
We mainly provided SMS services for small and medium-sized Internet enterprises. As of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we had an active customer base of 0, 15 and 12 enterprises, respectively. Our various sales and marketing efforts have played a critical role in customer acquisition and retention. Our sales and marketing team is generally responsible for contacting prospective customers, renewing existing subscriptions, and maintaining customer relationships. Leveraging their sales expertise, thorough knowledge of our business and dedication to customer support, our sales and marketing team focuses primarily on small and medium-sized Internet enterprises with communications requirements.
In December 2023, our SMS service was suspended because the reach and engagement of SMS services are less competitive than the social media, which drives the rate of Maohao’s SMS business down and narrows its profit margin.
E-Commerce for Food Products
We sold a myriad of food products sourced from selected third parties on our website.
For fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, our total revenue was $158,485, all from offline sales of food products on our Website. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, our total revenue was $10,977,429, comprising $2,513,483 from online sales of food products on our Website, and $8,463,946 from SMS. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, our total revenue was $10,978,571, comprising $2,144,218 from online sales of food products on our Website, and $8,834,353 from SMS.
Intellectual Property
Our business is dependent on a combination of protections provided by trademarks. As of the date of this annual report, Xiamen Chunshang has 27 trademarks in the PRC.
| Trademark | Registration Number | Valid Until | |||
| 1 | 
|
39163254 | March 20, 2030 | ||
| 2 | 37807263 | January 13, 2030 | |||
| 3 | 37828842 | January 20, 2030 | |||
| 4 | 37807235 | January 13, 2030 | |||
| 5 | 37811597 | January 13, 2030 | |||
| 6 | 37828423 | January 13, 2030 | |||
| 7 |  |
38571358 | February 6, 2030 | ||
| 8 |  |
33206726 | June 13, 2029 | ||
| 9 |
|
75039745 | June 27, 2034 | ||
| 10 | 71264053 | October 6, 2033 | |||
| 11 | 71265559 | October 6, 2033 | |||
| 12 | 71244598 | October 6, 2033 | |||
| 13 |  |
66806757 | August 13, 2033 | ||
| 14 |  |
67327192 | March 13, 2033 | ||
| 15 |  |
66763734 | February 13, 2033 | ||
| 16 |
|
75934470 | June 13, 2034 | ||
| 17 | 74482278 | March 27, 2034 | |||
| 18 | 71110886 | October 20, 2033 | |||
| 19 |
|
75037274 | April 13, 2034 | ||
| 20 | 66772252 | February 20, 2033 | |||
| 21 |  |
70993131 | October 6, 2033 | ||
| 22 | 70983676 | October 6, 2033 | |||
| 23 | 70980158 | October 6, 2033 | |||
| 24 |  |
75946022 | September 6, 2034 | ||
| 25 |  |
66763730 | February 13, 2033 | ||
| 26 |  |
75934473 | June 13, 2034 | ||
| 27 |  |
66781874 | February 13, 2033 |
Cybersecurity
The Cybersecurity Law, as adopted by the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016, has come into force on June 1, 2017. Regarded as the fundamental law in the area of cybersecurity in China, the Cybersecurity Law regulates network operators and others from the following perspectives: the principle of Cyberspace sovereignty, security obligations of network operators and providers of network products and services, protection of personal information, protection of critical information infrastructure, data use and cross-border transfer, network interoperability and standardization. Network operators shall, according to the requirements of the rules for graded protection of cybersecurity, fulfill security protection obligations, so as to ensure that the network is free from interference, damage or unauthorized access, and prevent network data from being divulged, stolen or falsified. In addition, any network operator to collect personal information shall follow the principles of legitimacy, rationality and necessity and shall not collect or use any personal information without due authorization of the person whose personal information is collected. Each individual is entitled to require a network operator to delete his or her personal information if he or she finds that collection and use of such information by such operator violate the laws, administrative regulations or the agreement by and between such network operator and such individual; and is entitled to require any network operator to make corrections if he or she finds errors in such information collected and stored by such network operator. Such network operator shall take measures to delete the information or correct the error.
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On December 28, 2021, the CAC and other 12 regulatory authorities jointly revised and promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022 and replaced the Measures for Cybersecurity Review promulgated in 2020. The Cybersecurity Review Measures stipulates that (1) critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products and services and network platform operators carrying out data processing activities, which affect or may affect national security, are subject to the cybersecurity review by the Cybersecurity Review Office, and (2) network platform operators holding personal information of more than one million users seeking for listing in a foreign country must apply for the cybersecurity review. In addition, the relevant PRC governmental authorities may conduct a cybersecurity review against the operators if the authorities believe that network products, services or data processing activities of such operators affect or may affect national security.
The SCNPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law on June 10, 2021, which came into effect on September 1, 2021. According to the PRC Data Security Law, data collection shall be conducted in a legitimate and proper manner, while theft or illegal collection of data shall be prohibited. In addition, enterprises conducting data processing activities shall establish and improve their data security management systems, organize data security trainings and adopt corresponding technical measures and other necessary measures to guard data security. The State shall establish a data security system to administer data protection at different levels and by different categories, and impose specific compliance obligations on processors of important data, including specifying the person and institution of data security protection responsibilities, conducting regular risk assessment, fulfilling the regulatory requirements for transmitting important data overseas. Any organization or individual carrying out data processing activities that violates the PRC Data Security Law shall bear the corresponding civil, administrative or criminal liability depending on specific circumstances. Where the national core data management system is violated, which endangers national sovereignty, security, and development interests, the relevant competent authority shall impose a fine ranging from RMB2 million to RMB10 million, and order suspension of the related business, suspension of business for rectification, revocation of the related business permit or business license according to the circumstance.
On November 14, 2021, the CAC issued the Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations, which provides that data processors conducting the following activities shall apply for cybersecurity review: (1) merger, reorganization or separation of internet platform operators that have acquired a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests that affect or may affect national security, (2) data processors that process personal information of over one million users and that intend to list abroad; (3) listing in Hong Kong which affects or may affect national security; (4) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. The processors of important data or data processors who are listed overseas shall conduct data security assessments by themselves or by entrusted data security service agencies every year, and submit the data security assessment report of the previous year to the local branch of CAC before January 31 of each year.
Privacy groups and government bodies have increasingly scrutinized the ways in which companies link personal identities and data associated with particular users with data collected through the internet, and we expect such scrutiny to continue to increase. We have adopted policies, procedures and guidelines to comply with these laws and regulations and protect the personal privacy of our customers and the security of their data. Our board of directors has general oversight power over cybersecurity issues and delegates the daily supervision responsibility to our chief executive officer, Mr. Zhichao Yang. The head of our IT department directly reports cybersecurity status to Mr. Yang, and in case of a cybersecurity incident, Mr. Yang will report the incident to our board of directors to take appropriate and timely measures in response to the incident. See “Item 3. Key Information - D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Our business generates and processes a large amount of data, which subjects us to governmental regulations and other legal obligations related to privacy, information security and data protection. Any improper use or disclosure of such data by us, our employees or our business partners could subject us to significant reputational, financial, legal and operational consequences.”
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Market Outlook
Functional Skincare Business Industry in China
The functional skincare industry is dedicated to the research, development, production, and distribution of skincare products with targeted efficacy (e.g., brightening, anti-aging, acne treatment, and sensitive skin repair). Its core value proposition lies in addressing specific dermatological concerns through the incorporation of highly active ingredients, supported by rigorous clinical validation to ensure safety and efficacy.
The industry is projected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5% over the next five years. China has emerged as a pivotal growth market, with its market size exceeding RMB 48 billion (approximately USD 6.6 billion) in 2024, reflecting a remarkable five-year CAGR of 25.25%.
Evolving consumer preferences, particularly the heightened focus on ingredient transparency and product efficacy, are driving R&D innovation. Notably, 58.8% of Chinese consumers prioritize ingredient composition when making purchasing decisions, underscoring the market’s demand for scientifically validated formulations.
Beauty Training Service Industry in China
The beauty training service industry in China covers vocational education in sub-sectors such as makeup techniques, styling design, skin management, and medical aesthetic technology, aiming to provide professional skilled talents for the beauty industry. Its service targets include individual consumers, professional practitioners, and vertical fields such as film and television and wedding planning. The industry has a strong educational attribute and career development orientation. The course forms have diversified from offline practical operation to online live teaching, and AR/VR technology is gradually integrated to enhance the training experience.
The market size of light medical aesthetics in China may reach the level of hundreds of billions by 2025, which will give rise to the demand for compound talents and require the support of beauty training services. The government encourages the development of vocational education and strengthens industry norms to promote the improvement of the vocational qualification certification system. Meanwhile, the market has introduced intelligent devices and digital tools (such as simulation cabin practical operation and AI makeup teaching) to enhance the efficiency and safety of training.
Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act enacted on April 5, 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) 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 advisory “say-on-pay” and “say-when-on-pay” votes on executive compensation and shareholder advisory votes on golden parachute compensation. Under the JOBS Act, we will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:
| ● | the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; | |
| ● | the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our ordinary shares; | |
| ● | the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt; or | |
| ● | the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) (we will qualify as a large accelerated filer as of the first day of the first fiscal year after we have (i) more than $700 million in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates and (ii) been public for at least 12 months; the value of our outstanding common equity will be measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter). |
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The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company may utilize the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, we are choosing to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for companies that are not emerging growth companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
REGULATIONS
Overview
We operate our business in China under a legal regime consisting of the National People’s Congress, which is the country’s highest legislative body, the State Council, which is the highest authority of the executive branch of the PRC central government, and several ministries and agencies under its authority, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, State Administration for Industry and Commerce (“SAIC”), the State Administration for Market Regulation and their respective local offices.
This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
The Draft PRC Foreign Investment Law
In January 2015, the PRC Ministry of Commerce (“MOC” or “MOFCOM”) published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law for public review and comments. The draft law purports to change the existing “case-by-case” approval regime to a “filing or approval” procedure for foreign investments in China. The State Council will determine a list of industry categories that are subject to special administrative measures, which is referred to as a “negative list,” consisting of a list of industry categories where foreign investments are strictly prohibited, or the “prohibited list” and a list of industry categories where foreign investments are subject to certain restrictions, or the “restricted list.” Foreign investments in business sectors outside of the “negative list” will only be subject to a filing procedure, in contrast to the existing prior approval requirements, whereas foreign investments in any industry categories that are on the “restricted list” must apply for approval from the foreign investment administration authority.
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The draft for the first time defines a foreign investor not only based on where it is incorporated or organized, but also by using the standard of “actual control.” The draft specifically provides that entities established in China, but “controlled” by foreign investors will be treated as FIEs (“Foreign Invested Enterprises”). Once an entity is considered to be an FIE, it may be subject to the foreign investment restrictions in the “restricted list” or prohibitions set forth in the “prohibited list.” If an FIE proposes to conduct business in an industry subject to foreign investment restrictions in the “restricted list,” the FIE must go through a market entry clearance by the MOC before being established. If an FIE proposes to conduct business in an industry subject to foreign investment prohibitions in the “prohibited list,” it must not engage in the business. However, an FIE that conducts business in an industry that is in the “restricted list,” upon market entry clearance, may apply in writing for being treated as a PRC domestic investment if it is ultimately “controlled” by PRC government authorities and its affiliates and/or PRC citizens. In this connection, “control” is broadly defined in the draft law to cover the following summarized categories: (i) holding 50% or more of the voting rights of the subject entity; (ii) holding less than 50% of the voting rights of the subject entity but having the power to secure at least 50% of the seats on the board or other equivalent decision making bodies, or having the voting power to exert material influence on the board, the shareholders’ meeting or other equivalent decision making bodies; or (iii) having the power to exert decisive influence, via contractual or trust arrangements, over the subject entity’s operations, financial matters or other key aspects of business operations. According to the draft, variable interest entities would also be deemed as FIEs, if they are ultimately “controlled” by foreign investors, and be subject to restrictions on foreign investments. However, the draft law has not taken a position on what actions will be taken with respect to the existing companies with the “variable interest entity” structure, whether or not these companies are controlled by Chinese parties.
The draft emphasizes on the security review requirements, whereby all foreign investments that jeopardize or may jeopardize national security must be reviewed and approved in accordance with the security review procedure. In addition, the draft imposes stringent ad hoc and periodic information reporting requirements on foreign investors and the applicable FIEs. Aside from investment implementation report and investment amendment report that are required at each investment and alteration of investment specifics, an annual report is mandatory, and large foreign investors meeting certain criteria are required to report on a quarterly basis. Any company found to be non-compliant with these information reporting obligations may potentially be subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities, and the persons directly responsible may be subject to criminal liabilities.
In September 2016, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (the “SCNPC”) published The Decision on Amending Four Laws including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises (the “Decision”). According to the Decision, one provision is added to the Foreign Invested Enterprise Law, Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Law, Sino-Foreign Cooperative Enterprise Law and the Law on Protection of Investment by Taiwanese Compatriots. Under this new provision, foreign investments in business sectors outside of the “negative list” will only be subject to a filing procedure, in contrast to the existing prior approval requirements, whereas foreign investments in any industry categories that are on the “restricted list” must apply for approval from the foreign investment administration authority. This Decision means that the existing “case-by-case” approval regime has been changed to a “filing or approval” procedure for non-”negative list” foreign investments in China.
On October 8, 2016, The Provisional Measures for Filing Administration for the Establishment and Changes of Foreign-invested Enterprises was promulgated by MOC and become effective on the same date. It was subsequently amended on June 30, 2018.
On March 15, 2019, the final Foreign Investment Law was promulgated and will be implemented on January 1, 2020. As such, the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations, will be abolished.
Industry Catalog Relating to Foreign Investment
Investment activities in China by foreign investors are principally governed by the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries, which was promulgated by MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission, as amended from time to time. Industries listed in the catalogue are divided into three categories: encouraged, restricted and prohibited. Industries not listed in the catalogue are generally open to foreign investment unless specifically restricted by other PRC regulations. Establishment of wholly foreign-owned enterprises is generally allowed in encouraged industries. For some restricted industries, foreign investors can only conduct investment activities through equity or contractual joint ventures, while in some cases PRC partners are required to hold the majority interests in such joint ventures. In addition, projects in the restricted category are subject to higher-level governmental approvals. Foreign investors are not allowed to invest in industries in the prohibited category.
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The National Development and Reform Commission and the MOFCOM jointly issued two “negative lists” and one “encouraged catalogue”. The two Negative Lists refer to the Special Administrative Measures on Access to Foreign Investment (2024 edition) (“2024 FI National Negative List”) effective on November 1, 2024, and the Free Trade Zone Special Administrative Measures on Access to Foreign Investment (2021 edition) (“2021 FI FTZ Negative list”), which will replace their respective 2020 versions. These two negative lists enumerate the industries where foreign investment will either be prohibited or restricted. The respective lists will be applicable in different areas – the FTZ list is for pilot free trade zones and the national list is for the rest of the country. Besides the lists, the new Encouraged Catalogue, or the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment (2022 edition) (“2022 FI Encouraged Catalogue”) lists industries where foreign knowhow and investment is welcome. The 2022 FI Encouraged Catalogue will replace the 2020 editions of the “encouraged category” of the Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment and the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries in the Central and Western Region. However, the Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investment (2017 Revised Version) for the Restricted and Prohibited Categories is still valid.
For industries not included in the negative list, foreign and domestic investors shall enjoy equal access under the law, save for record-filing requirements. No region or department may impose separate restrictions on foreign investment in areas not on the negative list.
Pursuant to the Notice of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Removing the Restrictions on Foreign Equity Ratios in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (Operating E-commerce) promulgated on June 19, 2015 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, there is no restrictions on foreign investment into online data processing and transaction processing business (operating e-commerce). However, industries such as value-added telecommunication services (except e-commerce), including internet information services, are still restricted from foreign investment.
Laws and Regulations Relating to the Functional Skincare Industry in General
Laws and Regulations Relating to Product Quality
The Product Quality Law of the PRC
Pursuant to the Product Quality Law of the PRC, which was promulgated on February 22, 1993, became effective on September 1, 1993, and was last amended on December 29, 2018, producers are liable for the quality of the products they produce. Where anyone produces or sells products that do not comply with the relevant national or industrial standards safeguarding the health and safety of the persons and property, the relevant authority will order such person to suspend the production or sales, confiscate the products, impose a fine of an amount higher than the value of the products and less than three times of the value of the products, confiscate illegal gains (if any) as well as revoke the business license in severe cases. Where the activities constitute a crime, the offender will be prosecuted.
Product Liabilities
Manufacturers and distributors of defective products in the PRC may incur liability for losses and injuries caused by such products. Under the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China, which took effect on January 1, 2021, and the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests of the PRC, which was promulgated on October 31, 1993, became effective on January 1, 1994 and was amended on October 25, 2013, the manufacturers and distributors will be held liable for losses and damages suffered by consumers caused by the defective products manufactured or distributed by them.
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Under the above-mentioned laws and regulations, we are required to ensure that products which we produce and sell meet the requirements for safeguarding human health and ensuring human and property safety. Failing to do so will lead to a series of penalties, including the suspension of production and sale, confiscation of the products and earnings, imposition of fines, revocation of business licenses, and/or even criminal liabilities. In addition, if the products cause personal injuries or other form of torts, the manufacturers and distributors of the products may be subject to tort liability.
Anti-money Laundering Regulations
On October 31, 2006, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress issued the PRC Anti-Money Laundering Law, which was amended on November 8, 2024 and took effect from January 1, 2025. Pursuant to the PRC Anti-Money Laundering Law, specific non-financial institutions that are required by relevant regulations to perform the obligation of anti-money laundering shall, in accordance with law, among others adopt preventive and monitoring measures, establish and improve internal control systems for anti-money laundering, and fulfill anti-money laundering obligations such as customer due diligence, preservation of customer identity data and transaction records, reporting of large and suspicious transactions, and special preventive measures for anti-money laundering. The client ID data and transaction information, and investigation information of anti-money laundering acquired through performing the functions and duties of anti-money laundering according to law shall be kept confidential, and shall not be provided to any unit or individual unless otherwise prescribed by law. Any unit or individual that finds money laundering activities is entitled to report the same to the competent administrative authority of anti-money laundering or judicial organ, and the organs that accept the report shall keep confidential the reporter and the content reported.
Enterprises and other market entities shall submit information on beneficial owners through the relevant information system of the market supervision and regulation department.
On April 12, 2016, General Office of the State Council issued a Circular of the General Office of the State Council on Issuing the Implementing Proposals for the Special Rectification of Internet Financial Risks, pursuant to which online peer-to-peer lending platforms or equity-based crowdfunding platforms shall not engage in asset management, claims or equity transfer, capital allocation in the high-risk securities market, or other financial business without approval. Internet enterprises that have not obtained the financial business qualifications may not carry out the corresponding business by relying on the internet, and the nature of the business they carry out shall comply with the business qualifications obtained. Without approval of the relevant departments, no financial products of different categories that are privately placed may be offered to the public by packaging, splitting, or otherwise.
Furthermore, the People’s Bank of China, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission and China Securities Regulatory Commission jointly published the Administrative Measures for Anti-money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing by Internet Finance Service Agencies (for Trial Implementation), which became effective on January 1, 2019. Under these measures the specific scope of work on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing in the internet finance industry shall be determined, adjusted and released by the People’s Bank of China in concert with financial regulators of the State Council in accordance with laws, regulations and regulatory rules, including the online payment, peer-to-peer lending, peer-to-peer lending information intermediary services, equity crowdfunding financing, internet fund sale, internet insurance, internet trust and internet consumption finance. The People’s Bank of China will develop an online monitoring platform for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing in the internet finance industry (hereinafter referred to as the “online monitoring platform”), and this online monitoring platform will be used to improve the online regulatory mechanism for anti-money laundering and strengthen information sharing. Service agencies other than financial institutions and non-banking payment institutions shall register the fulfillment of duties in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing on the online monitoring platform. Where a single cash receipt or payment, or the aggregate cash receipts and payments, of a client on a single day, amount(s) to RMB50,000 or more or the equivalent value of US$10,000 or more, a service agency that is neither a financial institution nor a non-banking payment institution shall report the large-amount transaction within five working days of the occurrence of the transaction.
Regulation on Intellectual Property Rights
Patent. Patents in the PRC are principally protected under the Patent Law of the PRC. The duration of a patent right is either 10 years or 20 years from the date of application, depending on the type of patent right.
Copyright. Copyright in the PRC, including copyrighted software, is principally protected under the Copyright Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.
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Trademark. Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Trademarks are registered with the Trademark Office of the SAIC. Where registration is sought for a trademark that is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or given preliminary examination and approval for use in the same or similar category of commodities or services, the application for registration of such trademark may be rejected. Trademark registrations are effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked.
Domain names. Domain name registrations are handled through domain name service agencies established under the relevant regulations, and applicants become domain name holders upon successful registration.
Regulations Relating to Dividend Withholding Tax
Pursuant to the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, if a non-resident enterprise has not set up an organization or establishment in the PRC, or has set up an organization or establishment but the income derived has no actual connection with such organization or establishment, it will be subject to a withholding tax on its PRC-sourced income at a rate of 10%. Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, the withholding tax rate in respect to the payment of dividends by a PRC enterprise to a Hong Kong enterprise is reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10% if the Hong Kong enterprise directly holds at least 25% of the PRC enterprise. Pursuant to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on the Issues concerning the Application of the Dividend Clauses of Tax Agreements, or Circular 81, a Hong Kong resident enterprise must meet the following conditions, among others, in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax: (i) it must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC resident enterprise; and (ii) it must have directly owned such percentage in the PRC resident enterprise throughout the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends. There are also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. In October 2019, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Administrative Measures on Non-resident Taxpayers Enjoying Treaty Benefits, or Circular 35, which became effective on January 1, 2020. Circular 35 provides that non-resident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax rate. Instead, non-resident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty benefits are met, directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate, and file necessary forms and supporting documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities. Accordingly, Vande, our Hong Kong subsidiary, may be able to enjoy the 5% withholding tax rate for the dividends they receive from our PRC subsidiaries, if it satisfies the conditions prescribed under Circular 81 and other relevant tax rules and regulations. However, according to Circular 81 and Circular 35, if the relevant tax authorities consider the transactions or arrangements we have are for the primary purpose of enjoying a favorable tax treatment, the relevant tax authorities may adjust the favorable withholding tax in the future.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange
Regulation on Foreign Currency Exchange
The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, most recently amended in August 2008. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital account items, such as direct investments, repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China. On February 28, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13. After SAFE Notice 13 became effective on June 1, 2015 and was last amended on December 30, 2019, instead of applying for approvals regarding foreign exchange registrations of foreign direct investment and overseas direct investment from SAFE, entities and individuals will be required to apply for such foreign exchange registrations from qualified banks. The qualified banks, under the supervision of the SAFE, will directly examine the applications and conduct the registration.
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In August 2008, SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency-registered capital into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. SAFE Circular 142, provides that the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable government authority and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises. The use of such RMB capital may not be changed without SAFE’s approval, and such RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used. Violations may result in severe monetary or other penalties.
In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign Direct Investment and further amended on December 30, 2019, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds derived by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated another circular in May 2013 and further amended on December 30, 2019, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC must be conducted by way of registration and banks must process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches.
In July 2014, SAFE issued SAFE Circular 36, which purports to reform the administration of settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of foreign-invested enterprises in certain designated areas on a trial basis. Under the pilot program, some of the restrictions under SAFE Circular 142 will not apply to the settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of the foreign-invested enterprises established within the designated areas and the enterprises are allowed to use its RMB capital converted from foreign exchange capitals to make equity investment. On March 30, 2015, the SAFE promulgated Circular 19, to expand the reform nationwide. Circular 19 came into force and replaced both Circular 142 and Circular 36 on June 1, 2015. Circular 19 allows foreign-invested enterprises to make equity investments by using RMB fund converted from foreign exchange capital. However, Circular 19 continues to, prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from, among other things, using RMB fund converted from its foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond its business scope, providing entrusted loans or repaying loans between non-financial enterprises.
Regulations on Dividend Distribution
Under our current corporate structure, our BVI holding company may rely on dividend payments from Guo Gang Tong, which is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in China, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends of foreign-invested enterprises include the Foreign-Invested Enterprise Law, as amended from time to time, and its implementation rules. Under these laws and regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. Wholly foreign-owned companies may, at their discretion, allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.
Regulations on Overseas Listings
Six PRC regulatory agencies, including the CSRC, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which became effective in September 2006 and were revised on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules, among other things, require offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange.
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While the application of the M&A Rules remains unclear, we believe, based on the opinion of our PRC counsel, Dacheng, that our contractual arrangements are in compliance with the M&A Rules. However, as there has been no official interpretation or clarification of the M&A Rules, there is uncertainty as to how this regulation will be interpreted or implemented.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and five supporting guidelines, which has become effective on March 31, 2023. On the same date of the issuance of the Overseas Listings Rules, the CSRC circulated the Notice on Administration Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Listings by Domestic Enterprises. Under the Overseas Listings Rules and the Notice, domestic companies conducting overseas securities offering and listing activities, either in direct or indirect form, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures within three working days following its submission of initial public offerings or listing application. The companies that have already been listed on overseas stock exchanges or have obtained the approval from overseas supervision administrations or stock exchanges for its offering and listing before March 31, 2023 and will complete their overseas offering and listing prior to September 30, 2023 are not required to make immediate filings for its listing yet need to make filings for subsequent offerings in accordance with the Overseas Listings Rules. The companies that have already submitted an application for an initial public offering to overseas supervision administrations prior to the effective date of the Overseas Listings Rules but have not yet obtained the approval from overseas supervision administrations or stock exchanges for the offering and listing may arrange for the filing within a reasonable time period and should complete the filing procedure before such companies’ overseas issuance and listing.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection from the CSRC with respect to our initial listing or subsequent offerings. As the Overseas Listings Rules were newly published and there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and its implementation, if we are required to submit to the CSRC and complete the filing procedure of our subsequent overseas public offerings, we cannot be sure that we will be able to complete such filings in a timely manner. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with such filing requirements under the Overseas Listings Rules may result in forced corrections, warnings and fines against us and could materially hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities.
Regulations Relating to Employment
The PRC Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law require that employers must execute written employment contracts with full-time employees. If an employer fails to enter into a written employment contract with an employee within one year from the date on which the employment relationship is established, the employer must rectify the situation by entering into a written employment contract with the employee and pay the employee twice the employee’s salary for the period from the day following the lapse of one month from the date of establishment of the employment relationship to the day prior to the execution of the written employment contract. All employers must compensate their employees with wages equal to at least the local minimum wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative sanctions, and serious violations may result in criminal liabilities.
Enterprises in China are required by PRC laws and regulations to participate in certain employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds, namely a pension plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan and a maternity insurance plan, and a housing provident fund, and contribute to the plans or funds in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of the employees as specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate their businesses or where they are located. Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans may be subject to fines and other administrative sanctions.
Although we have made significant contributions to employee benefits plans, we do not believe those are adequate contributions as required by applicable PRC laws and regulations. See “Item 3. Key Information - D. Risk Factors— Risks Related to Doing Business in the People’s Republic of China—Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.”
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Regulations Relating to Cybersecurity
Regulation on Information Security
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the Cyber Security Law of the PRC, or the Cyber Security Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017, to protect cyberspace security and order. Pursuant to the PRC Cybersecurity Law, personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if a critical information infrastructure operator purchases internet products and services that affects or may affect national security, it should be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC. Due to the lack of further interpretations, the exact scope of “critical information infrastructure operator” remains unclear. On December 28, 2021, the CAC published the CAC Revised Measures which further restates and expands the applicable scope of the cybersecurity review. The CAC Revised Measures took effect on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the CAC Revised Measures, if a network platform operator holding personal information of over one million users seeks for “foreign” listing, it must apply for the cybersecurity review. In addition, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services are also obligated to apply for the cybersecurity review for such purchasing activities.
In addition, the PRC 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. Furthermore, the recently issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law require (i) speeding up the revision of the provisions on strengthening the confidentiality and archives management relating to overseas issuance and listing of securities and (ii) improving the laws and regulations relating to data security, cross-border data flow, and management of confidential information.
On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law of the PRC, or the PIPL, which took effect in November 2021. As the first systematic and comprehensive law specifically for the protection of personal information in the PRC, the PIPL provides, among others, that (i) an individual’s consent shall be obtained to use sensitive personal information, such as biometric characteristics and individual location tracking, (ii) personal information operators using sensitive personal information shall notify individuals of the necessity of such use and impact on the individual’s rights, and (iii) where personal information operators reject an individual’s request to exercise his or her rights, the individual may file a lawsuit with a People’s Court.
To comply with these laws and regulations, we have adopted security policies and measures to protect our cyber system and customer information.
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Regulation on Internet Privacy
Pursuant to the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, effective on August 1, 2016 and was last amended on August 1, 2022, owners or operators of mobile applications that provide information services are required to be responsible for information security management; establish and improve the protective mechanism for user information; observe the principles of legality, rightfulness and necessity; and expressly state the purpose, method and scope of, and obtain user consent to, the collection and use of users’ personal information. In addition, the Cyber Security Law also requires network operators to strictly keep confidential users’ personal information that they have collected and to establish and improve user information protective mechanism. On May 8, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released the Interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Citizens’ Personal Information, which clarifies several concepts regarding the crime of “infringement of citizens’ personal information” stipulated by Article 253A of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, including “citizen’s personal information,” “provision” and “unlawful acquisition of citizens’ personal information.” Also, it specifies the standards for determining “serious circumstances” and “particularly serious circumstances” of this crime.
To comply with these laws and regulations, we have required our customers to consent to our collecting and using their personal information, and established information security systems to protect customers’ privacy.
C. Organizational Structure
We were incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands on December 4, 2018 with the name of “Advancement International Limited” by three shareholders, namely Kindness Global Company Limited, Four Dimensions Global Investment Limited and Wisdom Global Company Limited. Union International Company Limited was included as a fourth shareholder on February 14, 2019 when Kindness Global Company Limited transferred 17,000 Ordinary Shares to Union International Company Limited.
Kindness Global Company Limited, a BVI company incorporated in October 1, 2018, that is 100% owned by Mr. Peijiang Chen, a Chinese citizen, our Chairman and director and shareholder and director of Meiwu Shenzhen; Four Dimensions Global Investment Limited, a BVI company that is 100% owned by Mr. Changbin Xia, a Chinese citizen and a shareholder and director of Meiwu Shenzhen; Wisdom Global Company Limited, a BVI company that is 100% owned by Mr. Hanwu Yang, a Chinese citizen and a shareholder and director of Meiwu Shenzhen; Union International Company Limited, a BVI company that is 100% owned by Mishan City Shenmi Dazhong Management Consulting Partnership (Limited Partnership), a PRC limited partnership comprising 14 partners, all of whom are PRC citizens and natural persons. We do not foresee a conflict of interest with any of Kindness Global Company Limited, Four Dimensions Global Investment Limited, Wisdom Global Company Limited, Union International Company Limited and Mishan City Shenmi Dazhong Management Consulting Partnership (Limited Partnership) as the latter are all holding companies with no business operations.
On February 15, 2019, we acquired all shares of Vande pursuant to an Instrument of Transfer, Sold Note and Bought Note recorded with Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR).
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Vande, incorporated on April 6, 2017 in Hong Kong, SAR, incorporated Guo Gang Tong (“WFOE”) in the People’s Republic of China with a registered capital of RMB5,000,000 (approximately, $707,500) on December 28, 2018.
WFOE, in turn, entered into a series of contractual agreements on March 2, 2019 with Meiwu Shenzhen, a company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China on June 16, 2015 with a registered capital of RMB5,000,000 (approximately, $707,500) Wunong Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd wholly owns a subsidiary, Meiwu Catering Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, which it incorporated in the PRC with a registered capital of RMB 5,000,000 on November 27, 2018.
On August 19, 2019, we changed our name from “Advancement International Limited” to Wunong Net Technology Company Limited.
On September 29, 2020, our variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen, together with two individuals, Guoming Huang (“Huang”) and Yafang Liu (“Liu”), established a new Shanghai subsidiary, Wude Agricultural Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (“Wude Shanghai”). Wude Shangai’s registered capital is RMB 20 million (approximately, $3.106 million) and its equity interests are divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (51%), Liu (25%) and Huang (24%). Wude’s domiciled address is Room 2382, Building 2,181 Songyu Road, Tinglin Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai. Meiwu Shenzhen transferred the 51% ownership interest to Huang and Liu on December 15, 2020 and repurchased the 51% ownership interest on January 28, 2021.
On October 20, 2020, our variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen, together with two individuals, Shiliang Ma (“Ma”) and Yongqiang (“He”) established a new Shenzhen subsidiary, Baode Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (“Baode”). Baode’s registered capital is RMB 5 million (approximately $781,466) and its equity interested are divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (51%), Ma (30%) and He (19%). Meiwu Shenzhen transferred the 100% ownership interest to Yafang Liu on December 15, 2020 and repurchased the ownership interest on January 19, 2021. Baode’s registered capital was increased to RMB 30 million (approximately $4.6 million) on April 29, 2021.
On November 15, 2019, Kindness Global Company Limited transferred 2,500 Ordinary Shares to Fragrance International Group Company Limited. Also on November 15, 2019, we issued 6,667 Ordinary Shares to Soaring International Company Limited and 3,333 Ordinary Shares to each of Morning Choice International Company Limited, August International Group Company Limited and Eternal Horizon International Company Limited.
On December 2, 2019, we filed amended memorandum and articles of association with the BVI Registry of Corporate Affairs to change the par value of our Ordinary Shares from $1 to no par value and to forward split our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares from 66,666 to 20,000,000.
On December 10, 2020, our variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Wunong Technology (Shaanxi) Co., Ltd (“Wunong Shaanxi”). Wunong Shaanxi’s registered capital is RMB 8.8 million (approximately $ 1,375,670) and is located at 18/F, B, Yu Shang Building, Tongda Road, High-tech Industrial Park, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. Meiwu Shenzhen transferred the 100% ownership interest to Haiyan Qin on December 14, 2020 and repurchased the ownership interest on January 26, 2021.
On December 15, 2020, we priced the initial public offering of 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of $5.00 per share to the public for a total of US$25,000,000 of gross proceeds. In addition, the underwriters purchased 999,910 ordinary shares from a selling shareholder for $4,999,550 for a total of US$29,999,550 in total gross proceeds from the offering. Our Ordinary Shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 15, 2020 under the symbol “WNW” and the initial public offering closed on December 17, 2020.
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On January 8, 2021, the variable interest entity, Meiwu Shenzhen entered into an Equity Transfer Agreement to acquire all the equity interests in a newly-incorporated company, Wunong Technology (Liaoning) Co., Ltd (“Wunong Liaoning”). Wunong Liaoning was incorporated on November 4, 2020 with a registered capital of RMB 8.88 million (approximately US$1.372 million) and is domiciled at 1183 Anhai Road, Qianshan District, Anshan City, Liaoning Province.
On August 23, 2021, we changed our name from “Wunong Net Technology Company Limited” to Meiwu Technology Company Limited.
On December 28, 2021, Meiwu Shenzhen sold the 51% equity interests of Baode Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd to Mr. Shiliang Ma, who held 30% ownership of Baode with the amount of RMB 200,000 (approximately $31,405). Upon the consummation of the sale of 51% equity shares in Baode, Meiwu Shenzhen ceased to hold shares in Baode and Baode was no longer a majority controlled subsidiary of Meiwu Shenzhen.
On March 31, 2022, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yundian BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yundian BVI, who collectively hold 100% issued and outstanding shares of Yundian BVI (the “Sellers”). Yundian BVI indirectly owns 100% of Dalian Yundian Zhiteng Technology Company Limited (“Yundian”), a company organized under the laws of the PRC, via Yundian BVI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Yun Tent Technology Company Limited. Yundian is a company engaging in the information technology and communication engineering based in Dalian, China. Pursuant to the SPA, we agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Yundian BVI. Upon the closing, we shall deliver to the Sellers total consideration of US$8.1 million to be paid in ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of the Company, at a price of US$0.9 per share, for a total of 9,000,000 Ordinary Shares (“Share Consideration”) provided, however, if the audit of the Yundian’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is not completed by the sixty-fifth (65th) day following the closing date of the transaction contemplated in the SPA, all the Share Consideration paid to each Seller shall be forfeited and returned to the Company for cancellation.
On June 23, 2022, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Mahao BVI”), and all the shareholders of Mahao BVI, who collectively hold 100% issued and outstanding shares of Mahao BVI (the “Sellers”). Mahao BVI indirectly owns 100% of Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited, a company organized under the laws of the PRC (“Code Beating”), via Mahao BVI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, DELIMOND Limited. Code Beating is a company engaging in providing Internet access and related services based in Xiamen, China. Pursuant to the SPA, we are going to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Mahao BVI. Upon the closing, the Company delivered to the Sellers total consideration of US$6 million to be paid in Ordinary Shares of the Company, at a price of US$0.6 per share, for a total of 10,000,000 Ordinary Shares.
On December 12, 2022, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yuanxing BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yuanxing BVI. Yuanxing BVI indirectly owns 100% of Hunan Yuanxing Chanrong Technology Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the PRC, via a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yuanxing BVI in Hong Kong, Antai Medical Limited. Pursuant to the SPA, the Company is going to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Yuanxing BVI. Upon the closing, the Company shall deliver to the Sellers total consideration of US$9.6 million to be paid in Ordinary Shares of the Company, at a price of US$0.8 per share, for a total of 12,000,000 Ordinary Shares.
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On May 4, 2023, the VIE, Meiwu Shenzhen, together with an individual, Kun Xu (“Kun”) and an entity, Xi ‘an Senli Huinong Agricultural Technology Co. LTD (“Senli Huinong”), established a new subsidiary in Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen Jiayuan Liquor Sales Co., Ltd (“Jiayuan Liquor”). Jiayuan Liquor’s registered capital is RMB 1.8 million (approximately, $252,180) and its equity interests are divided among Meiwu Shenzhen (70%), Kun (21%) and Senli Huinon (9%). Jiayuan Liquor’s domiciled address is 1603, Building C, Shenye Century Industrial Center, No. 743, Zhoushi Road, Hezhou Community, Hangcheng Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen.
On December 10, 2024, Guogangtong Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”), the wholly owned subsidiary of Vande entered into an agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Meiwu Zhishi” or “VIE”), VIE’s shareholders to terminate of a series of contractual arrangements (“VIE Agreements”) by and among the VIE, the WFOE, and shareholders of the VIE.
On December 24, 2024, the Company, Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Magnum”) and an individual that is not affiliated with the Company or any of its directors or officers (the “Purchaser”) entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Magnum Disposition Agreement”). Pursuant to the Magnum Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Magnum for $10. On 2024, the transaction contemplated therein (the “Magnum Disposition”) was closed, and the Purchaser became the sole shareholder of Magnum and as a result, assume all assets and liabilities of Magnum and subsidiaries owned or controlled by Magnum.
On December 24, 2024, the Company, Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Xinfuxin”) and the same Purchaser entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Xinfuxin Disposition Agreement”, collectively with the Termination Agreement and Magnum Disposition Agreement, the “Agreements”). Pursuant to the Xinfuxin Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Xinfuxin for $10. On December 31, 2024, the transaction contemplated therein (the “Xinfuxin Disposition”) was closed, and the Purchaser became the sole shareholder of Xinfuxin and as a result, assume all assets and liabilities of Xinfuxin and subsidiaries owned or controlled by Xinfuxin.
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The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure as of the date of this annual report:
Pursuant to PRC laws, each entity formed under PRC law shall have certain business scope approved by the Administration of Industry and Commerce or its local counterpart.
Meiwu Technology Company Limited is a holding company with no business operation other than holding the shares in Vande and Mahao BVI.
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D. Properties, Plants and Equipment
Leases
Our headquarters and executive offices are located in Unit 304-3, No. 19, Wanghai Road, Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China.
Xiamen Chunshang signed a lease agreement with Xiamen Xinbaihui Digital Technology Company Limited for the executive offices for a monthly rent of RMB 5,000 (US$700), effective from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.
| Facility | Address | Space (m2) | ||
| Headquarters/Executive Offices | Unit 304-3, No. 19, Wanghai Road, Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China | 145 |
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition should be read together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and other financial information, which are included elsewhere in this annual report. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). In addition, our financial statements and the financial information included in this annual report reflect our organizational transactions and have been prepared as if our current corporate structure had been in place throughout the relevant periods.
This section contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to various factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Further, as a result of these factors, risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events may not occur. Relevant factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Business,” “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s beliefs and opinions as of the date of this annual report, as amended. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
We are a British Virgin Islands company incorporated on December 4, 2018. We do not have material operation and we and conduct our business in China through the VIE and its subsidiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we currently had two business lines, one is the functional skincare, operated by Chunshang Xiamen; another is the online and mobile commerce for food products, operated by Meiwu Shenzhen and its subsidiaries. We stopped operating the SMS business which operated by Code Beating for the years ended December 31, 2024. For the years ended December 31, 2024, functional skincare business generated 45.4% of our total revenue, and the online and mobile commerce business generated 54.6% of our total revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2023, SMS business generated 77.1% of our total revenue, and the online and mobile commerce business generated 22.9% of our total revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2022, SMS business generated 80.5% of our total revenue, and the online and mobile commerce business generated 19.5% of our total revenue.
How to Assess the Company’s Performance
In assessing performance, we consider a variety of performance and financial measures, including principal growth in net revenue, gross profit, distribution, general and administrative expenses, net income from operations. The key measures that we use to evaluate the performance of our business are set forth below:
| (i) | Net Revenue |
Net revenue is equal to gross sales minus sales returns and sales incentives that the Company offers to its customers, such as discounts that are offset to gross sales. Our net sales are driven by changes in the number of customers, product varieties, selling price, and mix of products sold.
| (ii) | Gross Profit |
Gross profit is equal to net sales minus cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold primarily includes inventory costs (net of supplier consideration), inbound freight and other miscellaneous expenses. Cost of goods sold generally changes as we incur higher or lower costs from suppliers and as the customer and product mix changes.
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| (iii) | Selling, Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses |
Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for employees, shipping expense, utilities, maintenance and repairs expenses, insurance expense, depreciation and amortization expenses, selling and marketing expenses, professional fees, and other operating expenses.
Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operation
Our business benefits from the significant growth of China’s e-commerce sector and e-grocery market. By 2021, online retail held more than 30% of the fast-moving consumer goods (“FMCG”) retail market in China, thanks to the rapidly developing internet penetration and postal services. Fresh food was one of the quickest developing sectors within online retail. In 2021, the online sales value of fresh produce surpassed RMB 4.9 trillion, with approximately 70 million consumers purchasing fresh food from the most popular e-commerce companies.
A further slowdown in overall economic growth, an economic downturn or recession or other adverse economic developments in the PRC may materially reduce the purchase power of the consumers of our products and lead to the decrease of demand for our products and may have a materially adverse effect on our business.
Also, changes in the Chinese or regional business or regulatory environment affecting the purchasing power of consumers of our products, changes in the Chinese government policy on food industry generally or a breakout of livestock or crop diseases in the PRC, such as Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease), Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD), swine flu and avian flu and increases in fuel/transportation costs could materially impact our business and affect the results of operations of our operations.
A. Operating Results
Years Ended December 31, 2024, and 2023
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and provides information regarding the dollar and percentage increase or (decrease) during such periods.
| Year ended | Year ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | % of revenue | 2023 | % of revenue | Amount | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| NET REVENUES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Product Revenue | $ | 152,665 | 96 | % | $ | 2,513,483 | 23 | % | $ | (2,360,818 | ) | 94 | % | |||||||||||
| Net Service Revenue | 5,820 | 4 | % | 8,463,946 | 77 | % | (8,458,126 | ) | (100 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total Net Revenues | 158,485 | 100 | % | 10,977,429 | 100 | % | (10,818,944 | ) | (99 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| COST OF REVENUES | 91,354 | 58 | % | 8,394,364 | 76 | % | (8,303,010 | ) | (99 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| GROSS PROFIT | 67,131 | 42 | % | 2,583,065 | 24 | % | (2,515,934 | ) | (97 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sales and Marketing Expenses | 94,408 | 60 | % | 1,459,792 | 13 | % | (1,381,384 | ) | (94 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | 2,019,051 | 1274 | % | 2,532,860 | 23 | % | (956,512 | ) | (38 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Research and Development Expenses | 689 | - | 107,199 | 1 | % | (106,510 | ) | (99 | )% | |||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,114,148 | 1334 | % | 4,099,851 | 37 | % | (2,428,406 | ) | (59 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | (2,047,017 | ) | (1292 | )% | (1,516,786 | ) | (14 | )% | (87,528 | ) | (6 | )% | ||||||||||||
| Assets impairment loss | (1,449,371 | ) | (915 | )% | (14,698,853 | ) | (134 | )% | 14,698,853 | (100 | )% | |||||||||||||
| (Loss) Gain on disposal of subsidiary | 8,220,215 | 5187 | % | (28,648 | ) | - | 8,030,750 | (28032 | )% | |||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 18,293 | 12 | % | 138,822 | 1 | % | (120,529 | ) | (87 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX | 4,742,120 | 2992 | % | (16,105,465 | ) | (147 | )% | 22,521,546 | (140 | )% | ||||||||||||||
Income Tax Expense | (372,564 | ) | (235 | )% | 207,240 | 2 | % | (579,301 | ) | (280 | )% | |||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | 5,114,684 | 3227 | % | (16,312,705 | ) | (149 | )% | 23,100,847 | (142 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interest | - | - | (246,321 | ) | (2 | )% | 246,321 | (100 | )% | |||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS’ COMPANY | 5,114,684 | 3227 | % | (16,066,384 | ) | (146 | )% | 22,854,526 | (142 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | (3,344,739 | ) | (2110 | )% | (671,902 | ) | (6 | )% | (2,690,119 | ) | (400 | )% | ||||||||||||
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ | 1,769,945 | 1117 | % | $ | (16,984,607 | ) | (155 | )% | $ | 20,410,728 | (120 | )% | |||||||||||
| 68 |
Net Revenue
Net revenue is equal to gross sales minus sales returns and sales incentives that we offer to our customers, such as discounts that are offsets to gross sales and certain other adjustments. Our net revenue consists of product revenue and service revenue. Product revenue was derived mainly from sales of our products to customers in China via our Website and offline sales.
Net revenue decreased by US$10.9 million from US$11.0 million in 2023 to US$158,485 in 2024, which was due to we stopped operating the SMS business which operated by Code Beating for the years ended December 31, 2024.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
For the year ended December 31, 2024
| Net | % of Total | Sales | Average | |||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | quantities | selling price | ||||||||||||
| Functional skincare products | $ | 60,227 | 38.0 | % | 93,520 | $ | 0.64 | |||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 35,574 | 22.4 | % | 1,314 | $ | 27.07 | |||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 28,534 | 18.0 | % | 177 | $ | 161.21 | |||||||||
| Other food | $ | 10,001 | 6.3 | % | 688 | $ | 14.54 | |||||||||
| Course Services | $ | 5,820 | 3.7 | % | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||
| Health Products | $ | 5,792 | 3.7 | % | 500 | $ | 11.58 | |||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 5,546 | 3.5 | % | 565 | $ | 9.82 | |||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 6,337 | 4.0 | % | 1,126 | $ | 5.63 | |||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 439 | 0.3 | % | 50 | $ | 8.78 | |||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 215 | 0.1 | % | 38 | $ | 5.66 | |||||||||
| SMS service | $ | - | - | % | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 158,485 | 100 | % | 97,978 | |||||||||||
Our revenue is divided into offline and online sales. Offline sales is new business 2024 which mainly involve selling functional skincare products and a small portion of health products and course services revenue. We have seven major product categories in online sales: (1) grains, oil, and spices (2) fresh fruits and vegetables (3) meat, poultry and eggs, (4) dried seafood, (5) beverages, alcohol and tea, (6) other food, (7) groceries. And we did not generate any SMS service revenue in 2024. Functional skincare products had average selling prices of $0.64 for the years ended December 31, 2024, and accounted for 38.0% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024. Grains, oil, and spices had average selling prices of $27.07 and $7.89 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and accounted for 22.4% and 0.9% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Beverages, alcohol and tea had average selling prices of $161.21 and $323.30 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and accounted for 18.0% and 13.9% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2023
| Net | % of Total | Sales | Average | |||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | quantities | selling price | ||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 98,336 | 0.9 | % | 12,470 | $ | 7.89 | |||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 1,527,256 | 13.9 | % | 4,724 | $ | 323.30 | |||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 42,616 | 0.4 | % | 2,724 | $ | 15.64 | |||||||||
| Other food | $ | 643,524 | 5.9 | % | 11,308 | $ | 56.91 | |||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 74,009 | 0.7 | % | 2,370 | $ | 31.23 | |||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 126,459 | 1.2 | % | 2,540 | $ | 49.79 | |||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 1,283 | 0.0 | % | 278 | $ | 4.61 | |||||||||
| SMS service | $ | 8,463,946 | 77.0 | % | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,977,429 | 100 | % | 36,414 | |||||||||||
| 69 |
We have seven major product categories in online sales: (1) grains, oil, and spices (2) fresh fruits and vegetables (3) meat, poultry and eggs, (4) dried seafood, (5) beverages, alcohol and tea, (6) other food, (7) groceries. Our revenue is primarily generated from SMS service, which account for 77.0% and 80.5% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Grains, oil, and spices had average selling prices of $7.89 and $11.16 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Beverages, alcohol and tea had average selling prices of $323.30 and $26.72 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and accounted for 13.9% and 2.6% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Cost of Revenue and Gross Profit
Cost of revenue and gross profit have decreased in 2024. Cost of revenue, including tax surcharges, was $91,354 for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $8.3 million, or 99% from $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Gross profit was $67,131 for the year ended December 31, 2024, an decrease of $2.5 million from $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The following tables set forth the calculation of gross profit and gross margin for sales of major product categories for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
For the year ended December 31, 2024
| Net | Cost of | Tax | Gross | Gross | ||||||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | surcharges | profit | margin | |||||||||||||||
| Functional skincare products | $ | 60,227 | 45,168 | 49 | 15,010 | 24.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 35,574 | 19,336 | - | 16,238 | 45.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 28,534 | 9,529 | - | 19,005 | 66.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Other food | $ | 10,001 | 4,195 | - | 5,806 | 58.1 | % | |||||||||||||
| Course Services | $ | 5,820 | - | 10 | 5,810 | 99.8 | % | |||||||||||||
| Health Products | $ | 5,792 | 3,891 | 35 | 1,866 | 32.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 5,546 | 4,010 | - | 1,536 | 27.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 6,337 | 4,591 | - | 1,746 | 27.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 439 | 383 | - | 56 | 12.8 | % | |||||||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 215 | 157 | - | 58 | 27.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 158,485 | 91,260 | 94 | 67,131 | 42.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Course Services had the highest gross margin of 99.9% among the eleven product categories whereas groceries had the lowest gross margin of 12.8% among products sold for the year ended December 31, 2024. The gross margin of functional skincare products was 24.9% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
| 70 |
For the year ended December 31, 2023
| Net | Cost of | Tax | Gross | Gross | ||||||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | surcharges | profit | margin | |||||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 98,336 | 72,566 | 154 | 25,616 | 26.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 1,527,256 | 413,875 | 2,386 | 1,110,995 | 72.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 42,616 | 34,708 | 67 | 7,841 | 18.4 | % | |||||||||||||
| Other food | $ | 643,524 | 160,007 | 1,004 | 482,513 | 75.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 74,009 | 13,953 | 116 | 59,940 | 81.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 126,459 | 36,806 | 198 | 89,455 | 70.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 1,283 | 1,316 | 2 | (35 | ) | (2.7 | )% | ||||||||||||
| SMS service | $ | 8,463,946 | 7,643,981 | 13,225 | 806,740 | 9.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,977,429 | 8,377,212 | 17,152 | 2,583,065 | 23.5 | % | |||||||||||||
Fresh fruits and vegetables had the highest gross margin of 81.0% among the eight product categories whereas dried seafood had the lowest gross margin of negative 2.7% among products sold for the year ended December 31, 2023. The gross margin of SMS service was 9.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The 18.9% overall increase in gross margin from 23.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023 to 42.4% for the year ended December 31, 2024 was mainly due to the low gross margin of SMS service, and we did not generate any SMS service revenue in 2024.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses were $94,408 for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $1.4 million, from $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was attributable mainly to decreased advertising expenses and sales commissions to support the products promotion of Heme Brand.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were 2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $0.5 million from $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Due to the decrease in business of the company this year, related management expenses have also decreased. And the decrease was mainly attributable to decreased salary and employee benefit expenses.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses decreased by $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in research and development expenses was due to Meiwu Zhishi no longer conducting the software development in 2024.
Assets impairment loss
Assets impairment loss decreased by $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $14.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in assets impairment loss is due to the software development of Yundian and goodwill of Yuanxing impairment in 2023.
(Loss) Gain on disposal of subsidiaries
(Loss) Gain on disposal of subsidiaries increased by a gain of $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from a loss of $28,648 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in gain on disposal of subsidiaries is due to disposal of Meiwu Zhishi, Magnum and Xinfuxin.
| 71 |
Other Income (Expense), net
Other income (expense), net consists primarily of non-operating income and interest income or expenses. Other income was $18,293 for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $120,529 from $138,822 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in other income due to the decrease in tax incentives and government subsidies.
Income Tax Expense
Our income tax expenses was negative $372,564 and positive $207,240 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The gain on income taxes was due to the prior year adjustment items generated by Mahao BVI.
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation adjustments amounted to $3,344,739 and $671,902 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity, on December 31, 2024 were translated at 1.00 RMB to $0.1370 as compared to 1.00 RMB to $0.1408 on December 31, 2023. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the income statements accounts for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were 1.00 RMB to $0.1390 and 1.00 RMB to $0.1412, respectively. The change in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar may affect our financial results reported in U.S dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operation.
Years Ended December 31, 2023, and 2022
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and provides information regarding the dollar and percentage increase or (decrease) during such periods.
| Year ended | Year ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | % of revenue | 2022 | % of revenue | Amount | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| NET REVENUES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Product Revenue | $ | 2,513,483 | 23 | % | $ | 2,144,218 | 20 | % | $ | 369,265 | 17 | % | ||||||||||||
| Net Service Revenue | 8,463,946 | 77 | % | 8,834,353 | 80 | % | (370,407 | ) | (4 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total Net Revenues | 10,977,429 | 100 | % | 10,978,571 | 100 | % | (1,142 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||
| COST OF REVENUES | 8,394,364 | 76 | % | 9,803,883 | 89 | % | (1,409,519 | ) | (14 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| GROSS PROFIT | 2,583,065 | 24 | % | 1,174,688 | 11 | % | 1,408,377 | 120 | % | |||||||||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sales and Marketing Expenses | 1,459,792 | 13 | % | 1,081,567 | 10 | % | 175,366 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | 2,532,860 | 23 | % | 2,802,132 | 26 | % | (269,272 | ) | (10 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Research and Development Expenses | 107,199 | 1 | % | 1,030,359 | 9 | % | (923,160 | ) | (90 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 4,099,851 | 37 | % | 4,914,058 | 45 | % | (1,012,066 | ) | (21 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | (1,516,786 | ) | (14 | )% | (3,739,370 | ) | (34 | )% | 2,420,443 | (65 | )% | |||||||||||||
| Assets impairment loss | (14,698,853 | ) | (134 | )% | (6,736,684 | ) | (61 | )% | (1,745,601 | ) | 26 | % | ||||||||||||
| (Loss) Gain on disposal of subsidiary | (28,648 | ) | - | 14,002 | - | (42,650 | ) | (305 | )% | |||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 138,822 | 1 | % | (546,655 | ) | (5 | )% | 699,764 | (128 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX | (16,105,465 | ) | (147 | )% | (11,008,707 | ) | (100 | )% | 1,331,956 | (12 | )% | |||||||||||||
Income Tax Expense | 207,240 | 2 | % | 211,144 | 2 | % | (3,904 | ) | (2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| NET LOSS | (16,312,705 | ) | (149 | )% | (11,219,851 | ) | (102 | )% | 1,335,860 | (12 | )% | |||||||||||||
| Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interest | (246,321 | ) | (2 | )% | (147,835 | ) | (1 | )% | 24,615 | (17 | )% | |||||||||||||
| NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS’ COMPANY | (16,066,384 | ) | (146 | )% | (11,072,016 | ) | (101 | )% | 1,311,245 | (2 | )% | |||||||||||||
| OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | (671,902 | ) | (6 | )% | (1,535,600 | ) | (14 | )% | 1,208,255 | (79 | )% | |||||||||||||
| COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | $ | (16,984,607 | ) | (155 | )% | $ | (12,755,451 | ) | (116 | )% | $ | 2,544,115 | (20 | )% | ||||||||||
| 72 |
Net Revenue
Net revenue is equal to gross sales minus sales returns and sales incentives that we offer to our customers, such as discounts that are offsets to gross sales and certain other adjustments. Our net revenue consists of product revenue and service revenue. Product revenue was derived mainly from sales of our products to customers in China via our Website and the SMS services.
Net revenue decreased by US$1,142 from US$11.0 million in 2022 to US$11.0 million in 2023, which was mainly due to the online retail sales and offline increased by US$0.4 million and the service revenue decreased by US$0.4 million compared to 2022.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
For the year ended December 31, 2023
| Net | % of Total | Sales | Average | |||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | quantities | selling price | ||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 98,336 | 0.9 | % | 12,470 | $ | 7.89 | |||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 1,527,256 | 13.9 | % | 4,724 | $ | 323.30 | |||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 42,616 | 0.4 | % | 2,724 | $ | 15.64 | |||||||||
| Other food | $ | 643,524 | 5.9 | % | 11,308 | $ | 56.91 | |||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 74,009 | 0.7 | % | 2,370 | $ | 31.23 | |||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 126,459 | 1.2 | % | 2,540 | $ | 49.79 | |||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 1,283 | 0.0 | % | 278 | $ | 4.61 | |||||||||
| SMS service | $ | 8,463,946 | 77.0 | % | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,977,429 | 100 | % | 36,414 | |||||||||||
We have seven major product categories in online sales: (1) grains, oil, and spices (2) fresh fruits and vegetables (3) meat, poultry and eggs, (4) dried seafood, (5) beverages, alcohol and tea, (6) other food, (7) groceries. Our revenue is primarily generated from SMS service, which account for 77.0% and 80.5% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Grains, oil, and spices had average selling prices of $7.89 and $11.16 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Beverages, alcohol and tea had average selling prices of $323.30 and $26.72 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and accounted for 13.9% and 2.6% of the total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
| 73 |
For the year ended December 31, 2022
| Net | % of Total | Sales | Average | |||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | quantities | selling price | ||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 473,481 | 4.3 | % | 42,424 | $ | 11.16 | |||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 300,799 | 2.6 | % | 11,257 | $ | 26.72 | |||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 269,880 | 2.6 | % | 24,996 | $ | 10.80 | |||||||||
| Other food | $ | 726,158 | 6.6 | % | 50,097 | $ | 14.50 | |||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 311,594 | 2.8 | % | 20,937 | $ | 14.88 | |||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 43,980 | 0.4 | % | 4,313 | $ | 9.53 | |||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 18,326 | 0.2 | % | 658 | $ | 27.85 | |||||||||
| SMS service | $ | 8,834,353 | 80.5 | % | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,978,571 | 100 | % | 154,682 | |||||||||||
We have seven major product categories in online sales: (1) grains, oil, and spices (2) fresh fruits and vegetables (3) meat, poultry and eggs, (4) dried seafood, (5) beverages, alcohol and tea, (6) other food, (7) groceries. Revenue is primarily generated from SMS service, which account for 80.5% of the total product revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 and primarily generated from meat, poultry and eggs, which account for 43.7% of the total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021. Grains, oil, and spices had average selling prices of $11.16 and $10.57 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Beverages, alcohol and tea had average selling prices of $26.72 and $43.40 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and accounted for 2.6% and 14.7% of the total product revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our SMS service is mainly provided by Code Beating.
Cost of Revenue and Gross Profit
Cost of revenue was decreased and gross profit have increased in 2023. Cost of revenue, including tax surcharges, was $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 14% from $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Gross profit was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $1.4 million from $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The following tables set forth the calculation of gross profit and gross margin for sales of major product categories for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
For the year ended December 31, 2023
| Net | Cost of | Tax | Gross | Gross | ||||||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | surcharges | profit | margin | |||||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 98,336 | 72,566 | 154 | 25,616 | 26.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 1,527,256 | 413,875 | 2,386 | 1,110,995 | 72.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 42,616 | 34,708 | 67 | 7,841 | 18.4 | % | |||||||||||||
| Other food | $ | 643,524 | 160,007 | 1,004 | 482,513 | 75.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 74,009 | 13,953 | 116 | 59,940 | 81.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 126,459 | 36,806 | 198 | 89,455 | 70.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 1,283 | 1,316 | 2 | (35 | ) | (2.7 | )% | ||||||||||||
| SMS service | $ | 8,463,946 | 7,643,981 | 13,225 | 806,740 | 9.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,977,429 | 8,377,212 | 17,152 | 2,583,065 | 23.5 | % | |||||||||||||
Fresh fruits and vegetables had the highest gross margin of 81.0% among the eight product categories whereas dried seafood had the lowest gross margin of negative 2.7% among products sold for the year ended December 31, 2023. The gross margin of SMS service was 9.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
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For the year ended December 31, 2022
| Net | Cost of | Tax | Gross | Gross | ||||||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | surcharges | profit | margin | |||||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | 473,481 | 392,585 | 326 | 80,572 | 17.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | 300,799 | 181,414 | 207 | 119,179 | 39.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | 269,880 | 244,843 | 186 | 24,851 | 9.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Other food | $ | 726,158 | 752,489 | 500 | (26,831 | ) | (3.7 | )% | ||||||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | 311,594 | 282,872 | 214 | 28,506 | 9.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Groceries | $ | 43,980 | 37,393 | 30 | 6,557 | 14.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | 18,326 | 11,965 | 13 | 6,348 | 34.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| SMS service | $ | 8,834,353 | 7,892,769 | 6,077 | 935,506 | 10.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,978,571 | 9,796,330 | 7,553 | 1,174,688 | 10.7 | % | |||||||||||||
Dried seafood had the highest gross margin of 34.6% among the eight product categories whereas other food had the lowest gross margin of negative 3.7% among products sold for the year ended December 31, 2022. In 2022, we acquired Code Beating, Yundian and Yuanxing, and of the service revenue increased due to the short messages service provided by these three new subsidiaries. The gross margin of SMS service was 10.6% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The 12.8% overall increase in gross margin from 10.7% for the year ended December 31, 2022 to 23.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023 was mainly due to the VIE’s subsidiary, Heme Brand, launched the new products such as blace rice grain beverage, which increased the gross margin of beverages, alcohol and tea to 72.7%. The gross margin for other food increased by 78.7%, gross margin for fresh fruits and vegetables increased by 71.8%, gross margin for groceries increased by 55.8%.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses were $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.4 million, from $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was attributable mainly to increased advertising expenses and sales commissions to support the products promotion of Heme Brand.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $0.3 million from $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was mainly attributable to decreased salary and employee benefit expenses. Besides, the headcount of employee decreased from 35 to 22.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses decreased by $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in research and development expenses was due to the software development of Yundian in 2022.
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Assets impairment loss
Assets impairment loss increased by $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in assets impairment loss is due to the software development of Yundian and goodwill of Yuanxing.
(Loss) Gain on disposal of subsidiaries
(Loss) Gain on disposal of subsidiaries decreased by $42,650 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $14,002 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in gain on disposal of subsidiaries is due to we stopped the business of Wunong shaanxi on March 24, 2023.
Other Income (Expense), net
Other income (expense), net consists primarily of non-operating income and interest income or expenses. Other income was $138,822 for the year ended December 31, 2023, and expense was $546,655 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in other income due to the decrease in interest expense of convertible notes.
Provision for income taxes
Our provision for income taxes was $207,240 and $211,144 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase was due to the net income generated by Code beating, Yuanxing and Heimistar.
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation adjustments amounted to $671,902 and $1,535,600 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity, on December 31, 2023 were translated at 1.00 RMB to $0.1408 as compared to 1.00 RMB to $0.1450 on December 31, 2022. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the income statements accounts for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 1.00 RMB to $0.1412 and 1.00 RMB to $0.1486, respectively. The change in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar may affect our financial results reported in U.S dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operation.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
We had cash of $43,396,977 and $16,062,047 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Net income was $7.6 million for years ended December 31, 2024 and net loss was $16.3 million for years ended December 31, 2023. We had working capital of $62.3 million and $12.8 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company have funded working capital and other capital requirements primarily by equity contributions from shareholders. Cash is required to pay purchase costs for inventory, salaries, selling expenses, rental expenses, income taxes, and other operating expenses.
In assessing liquidity, management monitors and analyses cash on hand, ability to generate sufficient revenue sources in the future, and operating and capital expenditure commitments. In 2024, major shareholders have contributed approximately $47,748,628 to us.
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Cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
The following table sets forth cash flow data for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| Years Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (13,621,906 | ) | $ | (7,422,839 | ) | $ | (5,522,340 | ) | |||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (943,376 | ) | (5,539 | ) | (25,916 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 45,525,266 | 276,794 | 2,877,500 | |||||||||
| Effect of changes of foreign exchange rate on cash | (3,625,054 | ) | (503,137 | ) | (246,808 | ) | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 27,334,930 | $ | (7,654,721 | ) | $ | (2,917,564 | ) | ||||
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $13.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net cash used in operating activities in fiscal year 2024 mainly consisted of net income of $5.6 million, gain on disposal of subsidiaries of $8.2 million duo to the disposal of Meiwu Shenzhen, Yundian BVI and Yuanxing BVI, a decrease of $2.5 million in accounts receivable due to full bad debts have been accrued, an increase of $16.8 million in advances to suppliers due to the prepayment of trademark payment and an increase of $12.0 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net cash used in operating activities in fiscal year 2023 mainly consisted of net loss of $16.3 million, the loss mainly due to the assets impairment loss about $14.7 million, adjustments of $8.1 million non-cash items, a decrease of $1.2 million in accounts receivable due to the collection of accounts receivable, a decrease of $2.3 million in account payable and an increase of $1.1 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net cash used in operating activities in fiscal year 2022 mainly consisted of net loss of $11.2 million, adjustments of $6.8 million non-cash items, an increase of $4.1 million in account receivable and an increase of $3.3 million in account payable both due to the sales increased in 2022 and an increase of $1.2 million in advances to suppliers due to some suppliers required advance payment.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $943,376 for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was the cash paid out for loan receivables from third parties.
Net cash used in investing activities was $5,539 for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was mainly investment in purchasing of property and equipment of $5,539.
Net cash used in investing activities was $25,916 for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was mainly investment in purchasing of property and equipment of $25,916.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $45,525,266 for the year ended December 31, 2024, which consisted of issuance of shares of common stock of $47.7 million and repayments from related parties loans of $2.2 million.
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Net cash provided by financing activities was $276,794 for the year ended December 31, 2023, which consisted of repayment of Bank loans of $0.1 million and proceed from capital contribution of $0.2 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, which consisted of proceeds from convertible promissory notes of $5.5 million and repayment of related parties loans of $2.9 million.
Capital Expenditures
We had capital expenditures of $943,376, $5,539 and $25,916 for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
C. Research and Development, Patent and Licenses, etc.
Please refer to Item 4 Subparagraph B, “Information on the Company—Business Overview—Research and Development” and “—Intellectual Property Rights.”
D. Trend Information.
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
E. Critical Accounting Estimates.
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted by the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and any related disclosures. Although there were no material changes made to the accounting estimates and assumptions in the past two years, we continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in our estimates.
We believe that the following accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
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Consolidation of former variable interest entity
A VIE is an entity that either has a total equity investment that is insufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or whose equity investments lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, such as through voting rights, and the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. The variable interest holder, if any, that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of, and must consolidate, the VIE.
Guo Gang Tong is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in and be the primary beneficiary of Meiwu Shenzhen because it has both of the following characteristics:
| (1) | The power to direct activities at Meiwu Shenzhen that most significantly impact such entity’s economic performance, and | |
| (2) | The right to receive benefits from Meiwu Shenzhen that could potentially be significant to such entity. |
Pursuant to the contractual arrangements with Meiwu Shenzhen, Meiwu Shenzhen pays service fees equal to all of its net profit after tax payments to Guo Gang Tong. Such contractual arrangements are designed so that Meiwu Shenzhen operates for the benefit of Guo Gang Tong and ultimately, the Company.
Accordingly, the accounts of the Meiwu Shenzhen are consolidated in our financial statements pursuant to ASC 810-10, Consolidation. In addition, their financial positions and results of operations are included in our financial statements.
On December 10, 2024, Guogangtong Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”), the wholly owned subsidiary of Vande entered into an agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Meiwu Zhishi” or “former VIE”), former VIE’s shareholders to terminate of a series of contractual arrangements (“former VIE Agreements”) by and among the former VIE, the WFOE, and shareholders of the former VIE.
Use of estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting years. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but not limited to, the useful lives of property and equipment; allowance for doubtful accounts and advances to suppliers; assumptions related to the consolidation of entities in which the Company holds variable interests; the valuation of inventories; the useful lives and implicit interest rate of finance leases, and the realization of deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue recognition
On January 1, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (FASB ASC Topic 606) using the modified retrospective approach. The results of applying Topic 606 using the modified retrospective approach were insignificant and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, business process, controls or systems.
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The core principle underlying the revenue recognition ASU is that the Company will recognize revenue to represent the transfer of goods to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in such exchange. This will require the Company to identify contractual performance obligations and determine whether revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over time, based on when control of goods and services transfers to a customer. The majority of the Company’s contracts have one single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and is, therefore, not distinct. The initial payments received from pre-ordering are recorded in the advance from customers on the balance sheets and will not be recognized as revenue until transfer of goods. Shipping and handling are activities to fulfill the Company’s promise to transfer goods to customers, which are included in the sale price of the goods.
Revenue is recognized or realizable and earned when all five of the following criteria are met: (1) Identify the Contract with a Customer, (2) Identify the Performance Obligations in the Contract, (3) Determine the Transaction Price, (4) Allocate the Transaction Price to the Performance Obligations in the Contract, and (5) Recognize Revenue When (or as) the Entity Satisfies a Performance Obligation. The Company recognizes revenue based upon gross sales minus sales returns and sales incentives that the Company offers to its customers, such as discounts. Revenue is reported net of all value added taxes. The Company generally does not permit customers to return products and historically, customer returns have been immaterial.
On January 1, 2017, the Company also adopted ASU 2016-08 Principle versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which amended the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and illustrations in ASU 2014-09 to clarify how the principal-versus-agent indicators should be evaluated to support an entity’s conclusion that it controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to a customer. Under the new revenue standards, when a third party is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, the entity must determine whether its performance obligation is to provide the good or service itself (i.e., the entity is a principal) or to arrange for another party to provide the good or service (i.e., the entity is an agent). An entity makes this determination by evaluating the nature of its promise to the customer. An entity is a principal (and, therefore, records revenue on a gross basis) if it controls the promised good or service before transferring it to the customer. An entity is an agent (and records as revenue the net amount it retains as a commission) if its only role is to arrange for another entity to provide the goods or services.
Sales on Website
The Company operates an online platform to sell food products to retail customers and recognizes revenue on a gross basis. The Company is a principal because it controls the promised good or service before transferring it to a customer. This control is determined by the following indicators 1) The Company is the primary obligor in the sales transaction and responsible for providing products and service. 2) The Company bears the inventory risk. The Company will first indemnify customers for product damages and then request reimbursements from suppliers if the suppliers are determined to be responsible for the damages. 3) The Company selects suppliers and runs the entire sales process. 4) The Company sets the product price and has control over the entire transaction.
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Sales offline
In the second half of 2024, the Company started the offline sales which mainly focused on the non-retail customers. For the offline sales, the customers order goods from the Company according to their own needs, then the company will order the corresponding products from the suppliers. The Company’s offline sales have the following categories: functional skincare products, health products and service. Revenue is confirmed upon receipt of the goods. Payment will be made by the customer after the invoice is issued. The Company is a principal because it controls the promised goods or services before transferring them to a customer. This control is determined by the following indicators 1) The Company is the primary obligor in the sales transaction and responsible for providing products and services. 2) The Company bears the inventory risk. The Company will first indemnify customers for product damage and then request reimbursement from suppliers if the suppliers are determined to be responsible for the damage. 3) The Company selects suppliers and runs the entire sales process. 4) The Company sets the product price and has control over the entire transaction.
Service revenue
The Company generate substantially all of the Company’s services revenue from the following service:
(1) Communication Platform-as-a-Service (“CPaaS”) which allows customers to send text messages using the Company’s cloud-based platform through the new acquired subsidiary Code Beating; The Company account for revenue from customers’ usage of text message on the Company’s CPaaS platform as a separate performance obligation. The Company’s service fees are determined by applying the contractual unit price to the monthly usage volume of text messages sent and a contractual monthly fixed charge per subscriber multiplied by the number of subscribers recorded by the Company’s CPaaS platform where relevant. The cloud-based services to send text messages are sold separately to customers with observable standalone selling prices. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company recognize revenue upon the transfer of control of promised services provided to the Company’s customers, in the amount of consideration the Company expect to receive for those services (excluding sales taxes collected on behalf of government authorities). The Company’s revenue contracts generally do not include a right of return in relation to the delivered products or services.
(2) Providing technical solutions to customers: The Company generates revenue from providing technical and maintenance services under separate contracts to customers as a principal. The terms of pricing stipulated in the contracts are fixed. One performance obligation is identified in the contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services provided to the Company’s customers, in the amount of consideration the Company expect to receive for those services (excluding sales taxes collected on behalf of government authorities). The Company’s revenue contracts generally do not include a right of return in relation to the delivered products or services.
The Company applied a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract with a customer when the amortization period would have been one year or less. The Company has no material incremental costs of obtaining contracts with customers that the Company expects the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year which need to be recognized as assets.
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Inventory, net
Inventories consist of raw materials and finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is calculated using the weighted average basis. The Company reviews its inventories periodically to determine if any reserves are necessary for potential obsolescence or if the carrying value exceeds net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the normal course of business less any costs to complete and sell products.
Income taxes
The Company is subject to the income tax laws of the PRC. No taxable income was generated outside the PRC for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes”. ASC 740 requires an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes and allows recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or future deductibility is uncertain.
ASC 740-10-25 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” prescribes a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) in a tax return. It also provides guidance on the recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, years open for tax examination, accounting for income taxes in interim periods and income tax disclosures. There were no material uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. All tax returns since the Company’s inception are subject to examination by tax authorities.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A. Directors and Senior Management.
Set forth below is information concerning our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report:
| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||
| Zhichao Yang | 41 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
| Qiulan Li | 47 | Director | ||
| Qiufei Chen | 43 | Chief Operating Officer and Director | ||
| Zihao Liu | 31 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Changbin Xia | 52 | Chairman | ||
| Aiwei Luo | 45 | Independent Director | ||
| Peiqun Lin | 44 | Independent Director | ||
| Hanwu Yang | 50 | Independent Director |
The business address of each of the officers and directors is Unit 304-3, No. 19, Wanghai Road, Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian, People’s Republic of China.
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The following is a brief biography of each of our executive officers and directors:
Zhichao Yang – Chief Executive Officer and Director Mr. Zhichao Yang, aged 41, possesses extensive experience in operations and business management within the healthcare and functional skincare industries. From August 2017 to November 2020, Mr. Yang has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Guangzhou Meirenguo Skill Training Co., Ltd., which operates a platform that provides minimally invasive aesthetic services and business management consulting services. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s operations, sales management, channel development, customer development planning and execution, and overall financial management. Since December 2020, Mr. Yang held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Fujian Chencai Health Industry Group Co., Ltd., a comprehensive health industry service platform providing services including comprehensive health services, medical aesthetic services, lifestyle beauty services, and business management consulting services. In this role, he was responsible for the development of the company’s organizational structure, business model planning, financial control, and the strategic planning for its subsidiaries, as well as overall operational oversight.
Qiulan Li – Director
Ms. Qiulan Li, aged 46, is experienced in operation and business management. She joined our Company in May 2024 as the Co-Chief Executive Officer and a director. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Guangzhou Meixing Health Information Group Co., Ltd. (“Guangzhou Meixing”), since December 2020, which engages in the beauty industry and provides the research and development, branding and promotion services for beauty products and devices. Ms. Li oversees the operation and finance of Guangzhou Meixing. Prior to this, she was the chairman of the board and director of Shenzhen Xuming Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd. from August 2017 to November 2020, where she participated in the research and production of the products like cabinets and transformer. Ms. Li obtained her college diploma in investment and finance from Guangdong University of Science and Technology in 2022.
Qiufei Chen – Chief Operating Officer and Director
Ms. Qiufei Chen, aged 42, is experienced in marketing and business management. She joined our Company in May 2024 as the Chief Operating Officer and a director. She has been the President of Operations of Xiamen Xingnian Beauty Co., Ltd., since July 2018, which provides plastic surgery and medical cosmetology services. Ms. Chen is responsible for the marketing, financing and day-to-day operation of this company. Ms. Chen expects to obtain her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Xiamen Xingcai Vocational and Technical College in 2024.
Zihao Liu - Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Zihao Liu, age 30, has experience in financial management and capital management. Mr. Liu is familiar with the IPO process in the United States, mainland China and Hong Kong markets, as well as the financial reporting obligations of the public companies. From October 2019 to December 2022, Mr. Liu served as the Chief Financial Officer of Zhongcai International Fund Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. From September 2017 to September 2019, Mr. Liu served as the Treasurer of Zhongcai International Fund Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Mr. Liu obtained his Bachelor’s degree of finance management from Beijing Institute of Technology in 2017.
Changbin Xia – Chairman
Mr. Changbin Xia, age 51, has extensive experience in company management, marketing and financing. From October 1989 through November 1992, he was a Guard Team Sergeant with the Sichuan PAP (Chinese People’s Armed Police Force) Corps. From 1993 to 2010, he worked as sales and manager at several industrial supply and trading companies. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Xia joined Guangxi Nanning Zhu Hu Real Estate Co., Ltd as its General Manager. From 2017 till present, Mr. Xia has been the General Manager of Hunan Shangnong Network Technology Co., Ltd. Mr. Xia joined Meiwu Shenzhen in 2017, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from March 2017 until April 2019. Mr. Xia serves as a chairman of board of the directors on December 14, 2021.
Peiqun Lin – Independent Director
Mr. Peiqun Lin, aged 44, is experienced in marketing and brand development. From October 2018 to November 2011, he served as the marketing director of Quanzhou Weimei - Hello Beautiful Makeup Training School, an institution specializing in training in skills such as beauty, hairdressing, makeup, and nail art. He is responsible for overall marketing planning including the expansion of marketing channels, and the execution of the online and offline marketing campaigns. Since December 2020, he has served as the chief branding manager of Meixing Health Information Group Co., Ltd., which provides medical aesthetic services, lifestyle beauty services, and business management consulting services, where Mr. Lin is responsible for branding, marketing, advertising design, and the execution of both online and offline marketing campaigns. Mr. Lin obtain his secondary vocational degree in Interior Design from Guangdong Industry Polytechnic University in July 2001.
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Aiwei Luo – Independent Director
Mr. Aiwei Luo, aged 45, is experienced in financial management. From March 2019 to March 2021, he was the financial manager of Guangzhou Qingmi Cultural and Technological Services Co., Ltd., which focuses on providing educational services for children. He is responsible for overall financial management. Simultaneously, he was the financial manager of Guangzhou Bingquan Cosmetics Technology Co., Ltd., which engages in the business of wholesale and retail of cosmetics, wholesale and retail of daily necessities, and information consulting services. Mr. Luo was responsible for overall cost management. Since November 2022, he has been the financial director of Guangzhou Meixing Health Information Group Co., Ltd., which provides medical aesthetic services, lifestyle beauty services, and business management consulting services. Mr. Luo is responsible for the overall financial management. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in financial accounting education from Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University in July 2003.
Hanwu Yang – Independent Director
Mr. Hanwu Yang, aged 50, is experienced in marketing. Since December 2019, he was the marketing director of Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co,. Ltd., which is a variable interest entity controlled by The Company, which is an electronic online platform designed to provide primarily clean food to customers. Mr. Yang is responsible for enhancing company performance by driving revenue growth. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Shaanxi Normal University in July 2002.
Election of Officers
Our executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors.
Family Relationships
None of the directors or executive officers has a family relationship as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has, during the past ten years, been involved in any legal proceedings described in subparagraph (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K Our directors and officers have not been involved in any transactions with us or any of our affiliates or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
B. Compensation.
Executive Compensation
Our compensation committee approves our salaries and benefit policies. They determine the compensation to be paid to our executive officers based on our financial and operating performance and prospects, and contributions made by the officers’ to our success. Each of the named officers will be measured by a series of performance criteria by the board of directors, or the compensation committee on a yearly basis. Such criteria will be set forth based on certain objective parameters such as job characteristics, required professionalism, management skills, interpersonal skills, related experience, personal performance and overall corporate performance.
Our board of directors has not adopted or established a formal policy or procedure for determining the amount of compensation paid to our executive officers. The board of directors will make an independent evaluation of appropriate compensation to key employees, with input from management. The board of directors has oversight of executive compensation plans, policies and programs.
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Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to compensation for the year ended December 31, 2024 earned by or paid to our chief executive officer and chief financial officer (the “named executive officers” identified in Item 6.A. above).
| Name and Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock
/ Share Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) | Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation | Deferred
Compensation Earnings | Other | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xinliang Zhang(1) | 2024 | 300,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qiulan Li (2) | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zihao Liu (3) | 2024 | 300,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) On July 16, 2021, Meiwu entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Xinliang Zhang, pursuant to which he receives an annual base salary of $300,000 plus other remuneration, including, but not limited to, post allowance, performance-related pay, subsidies for work meals, transportation, housing, and confidentiality obligations. Mr. Zhang’s employment is for an initial term of two years and may be renewed by the parties within thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the employment agreement. Mr. Zhang resigned from his positions as the Co-Chief Executive Officer with Meiwu on December 27, 2024.
(2) On May 7, 2024, Meiwu entered into an employment agreement with our Co-Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Qiulan Li, pursuant to which she receives an annual base salary of $2,000 plus other remuneration, including, but not limited to, post allowance, performance-related pay, subsidies for work meals, transportation, housing, and confidentiality obligations. Ms. Li’s employment is for an initial term of two years and may be renewed by the parties within thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the employment agreement.
(3) On March 9, 2023, Meiwu entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Zihao Liu, pursuant to which he receives $1,000 per year, paid in periodic installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices, and such compensation is subject to annual review and adjustment by the Board.
2022 Equity Incentive Plan
In March 2022, the Company adopted a share incentive plan, which is referred to as the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (“the 2022 Plan”). The purpose of the 2022 Plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, provide additional incentive to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of the Company’s business. As of the date of this annual report, the Company has issued approximately 7,065 Ordinary Shares (on a post-Reverse Split basis) to its employees, which were all the Ordinary Shares available under the 2022 Plan.
2024 Equity Incentive Plan
In February 2024, the Company adopted a share incentive plan, which is referred to as the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (“the 2024 Plan”). The purpose of the 2024 Plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, provide additional incentive to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of the Company’s business. As of the date of this annual report, the Company has issued 21,925 Ordinary Shares (on a post-Reverse Split basis) to its employees, which were all the Ordinary Shares available under the 2024 Plan.
C. Board Practices.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of seven directors.
The directors will be re-elected at our annual general meeting of shareholders on an annual basis.
A director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested, provided, however that the nature of the interest of any director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote on that matter. A general notice or disclosure to the directors or otherwise contained in the minutes of a meeting or a written resolution of the directors or any committee thereof of the nature of a director’s interest shall be sufficient disclosure and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. A director may be counted for a quorum upon a motion in respect of any contract or arrangement which he shall make with our company, or in which he is so interested and may vote on such motion.
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Board Committees
We established three committees under the board of directors: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. We have adopted a charter for each of the three committees. Copy of our committee charters are posted on our corporate investor relations website at https://www.wnw108.com/home/index/control.
Audit Committee. The audit committee comprises Aiwei Luo, Peiqun Lin and Qiufei Chen with Peiqun Lin serving as chairman. Our board of directors has determined that Aiwei Luo qualifies as the audit committee financial expert and has the accounting or financial management expertise as defined under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and required under Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(2)(A). We have also determined that Aiwei Luo, Peiqun Lin and Qiufei Chen satisfy the “independence” requirements for purposes of serving on an audit committee under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and of Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2).
Our board of directors has also adopted a written charter for the audit committee which the audit committee reviews and reassesses for adequacy on an annual basis. A copy of the audit committee’s current charter is available at our corporate Website.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee comprises Aiwei Luo, Peiqun Lin and Qiufei Chen with Aiwei Luo serving as chairman. We have also determined that Aiwei Luo, Peiqun Lin and Qiufei Chen satisfy the “independence” requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2). The compensation committee oversees the compensation of our chief executive officer and our other executive officers and reviews our overall compensation policies for employees generally. If so authorized by the board of directors, the committee may also serve as the granting and administrative committee under any option or other equity-based compensation plans which we may adopt. The compensation committee does not delegate its authority to fix compensation; however, as to officers who report to the chief executive officer, the compensation committee consults with the chief executive officer, who may make recommendations to the compensation committee. Any recommendations by the chief executive officer are accompanied by an analysis of the basis for the recommendations. The committee will also discuss compensation policies for employees who are not officers with the chief executive officer and other responsible officers. A copy of the compensation committee’s current charter is available at our corporate Website.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee comprises Aiwei Luo, Peiqun Lin and Qiufei Chen with Qiufei Chen serving as chairman. We have also determined that Aiwei Luo, Peiqun Lin and Qiufei Chen satisfy the “independence” requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2). The governance and nominating committee is involved in evaluating the desirability of and recommending to the board any changes in the size and composition of the board, evaluation of and successor planning for the chief executive officer and other executive officers. The qualifications of any candidate for director will be subject to the same extensive general and specific criteria applicable to director candidates generally. A copy of the nominating committee’s current charter is available at our corporate Website.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is currently available at our corporate website https://www.wnw108.com/home/index/newsDetail/id/30.
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Board Diversity
The table below provides certain information regarding the diversity of our board of directors as of the date of this annual report.
| Board Diversity Matrix | ||
| Country of Principal Executive Offices: | China | |
| Foreign Private Issuer | Yes | |
| Disclosure Prohibited under Home Country Law | No | |
| Total Number of Directors | 7 | |
| Female | Male | Non- Binary | Did
Not Disclose Gender | |||||||||||||
| Part I: Gender Identity | ||||||||||||||||
| Directors | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Part II: Demographic Background | ||||||||||||||||
| Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| LGBTQ+ | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Duties of Directors
Under British Virgin Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to our Company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly and a duty to act in what they consider in good faith to be in our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. 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, and the class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. Our company has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached. A shareholder may in certain limited exceptional circumstances have the right to seek damages in our name if a duty owed by the 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’ meetings; | |
| ● | declaring dividends and distributions; | |
| ● | appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; | |
| ● | exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and | |
| ● | approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registration of such shares in our share register. |
Qualification
There are no membership qualifications for directors. Further, there are no share ownership qualifications for directors unless so fixed by us in a general meeting. There are no other arrangements or understandings pursuant to which our directors are selected or nominated.
Terms of Directors and Officers
Our directors may be elected by a resolution of our board of directors, or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Each of our directors will hold office until the expiration of his or her term as provided in the written agreement with our company, if any, and until his or her successor has been elected or appointed. A director will cease to be a director if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found by our company to be or becomes of unsound mind, (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing to the company, or (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from three consecutive board meetings and our directors resolve that his office be vacated. Our officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors.
Interested Transactions
A director may vote, attend a board meeting or sign a document on our behalf with respect to any contract or transaction in which he or she is interested. A director shall forthwith disclose the interest to all other directors after becoming aware of the fact that he or she is interested in a transaction we have entered into or are to enter into. A general notice or disclosure to all other directors that a director is a member, director, or officer of another named entity or has a fiduciary relationship with respect to the entity or a named individual and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction which may, after the date of the entry or disclosure, be entered into with that entity or individual, is a sufficient disclosure in relation to that transaction.
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Remuneration and Borrowing
The directors may receive such remuneration as our board of directors may determine from time to time. Each director is entitled to be repaid or prepaid all traveling, hotel and incidental expenses reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred in attending meetings of our board of directors or committees of our board of directors or shareholder meetings or otherwise in connection with the discharge of his or her duties as a director. The compensation committee will assist the directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure for the directors. Our board of directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge our undertakings and property or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the company or of any third party.
Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers and Directors
We have entered into employment agreements with each of the named executive officers. Under these agreements, each of the named executive officers is employed for a specified time period and is entitled to receive annual salary plus other remuneration, pension insurance, medical insurance, maternity insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance, housing provident funds and other benefits pursuant to PRC law. We and the named executive officers may terminate the employment upon mutual agreement. The named executive officers may terminate the employment by giving thirty days advance written notice. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as serious violation of the Company’s rules and regulations, gross neglect of duty and misconduct resulting in large economic losses to the Company, damaging the Company’s image through defamation or disseminating rumors about the Company or its employees outside the Company, We may also terminate the employment for cause, with thirty days advance written notice and one month’s salary, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as illness, non-work related injury resulting in inability to work in the previous position or a newly assigned position after recovery, and inability to perform the assigned work and failure to perform the assigned tasks even after training or adjustment of position. The employment agreements will be terminated upon (1) expiry of the employment, (2) the entitlement of the named executive officers to the pension insurance, (3) the death of the named executive officers, (4) the bankruptcy of the Company pursuant to law, and (5) revocation of the Company’s business license, shutdown of the business pursuant to the order issued by the relevant authority, or earlier dissolution of the Company.
Each named executive officer has agreed not to be involved in a second occupation during the period of employment. Without our prior written consent or related mutual agreement, he shall not, directly or indirectly, hold any position in any other enterprises providing same or similar products or services.
Each named executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition restrictions during the term of his employment and for two years following termination of the employment. The executive officers are not allowed to contact our customers for business after termination of the employment and we have the right to bring legal action against them in the event of any losses so caused by their breach of said restrictions.
In addition, each named executive officer has agreed that the title to the intellectual property, including but not limited to patents and copyrights, created by him during the course of his employment, is vested in the Company. In exchange, the Company will compensate him based on the economic returns so derived.
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We have entered into confidentiality agreements with each of the named executive officers. Each named executive officer has agreed (1) not to inquire about the trade secrets which are unrelated to the performance of his work; (2) not to disclose the trade secrets of the Company to any third party; (3) not to allow any third party to use or acquire the trade secrets of the Company, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to the instruction of the Company; (4) not to use the trade secrets of the Company for its own benefits; (5) to hold the trade secrets in strict confidence and report to the Company if the trade secrets are disclosed; and (6) to keep other confidential obligations.
Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his employment agreement, in strict confidence, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law or the Company’s instruction, any of our trade secrets, the trade secrets of our business partners and customers received by us and for which we have confidential obligations.
We have entered into director agreements with each of our independent director appointees. Their appointments will be effective on the date of close of our Offering and the listing of our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. These agreements set forth the services to be provided and compensation to be received by our independent directors, as well as the independent directors’ obligations in terms of confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation. Pursuant to these agreements, the directorship of our independent director appointees will last until the earlier of (i) the date on which the director ceases to be a member of our board of directors for any reason or (ii) the next annual meeting of shareholders if the director is not re-elected.
Compensation of Directors
Director Compensation — Non-Employee Directors
We have agreed to pay our independent directors an annual cash retainer of $0, subject to terms of the definitive agreements. We will also reimburse all directors for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with their services provided in such capacity. In addition, we may provide incentive grants of stock, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for, our securities. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we did not pay our non-employee directors, Jinfeng He, Lam Kit Lam, and Xiaoying Mu any compensation.
Employee directors will not receive any additional remuneration for serving as directors other than their remuneration as employees of us or. Further pursuant to our employment agreements, we do not provide benefits to these directors upon termination of employment.
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D. Employees.
As of the date of this annual report, we employed a total of 40 employees, located in Shenzhen and Xiamen, China. The following table sets forth breakdown of our employees by function:
| Function | Number of Employees | % of Total | ||||||
| General Manager’s Office | 8 | 20.0 | % | |||||
| Financial center | 5 | 12.5 | % | |||||
| Human resources and administrative personnel | 3 | 7.5 | % | |||||
| Products department | 6 | 15.0 | % | |||||
| Operating department | 10 | 25.0 | % | |||||
| Marketing department | 4 | 10.0 | % | |||||
| Customer service department | 4 | 10.0 | % | |||||
As required by regulations in China, we participate in various employee social security plans that are organized by local governments, including pension, unemployment insurance, childbirth insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing insurance. We are required under Chinese law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified percentages of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time.
Our employees are not represented by a labor organization or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees and to date, we have not experienced any significant labor disputes.
E. Share ownership.
The following table sets forth information with respect to beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares as of the date of this annual report by:
| ● | Each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares; | |
| ● | Each of our director, director nominees and named executive officers; | |
| ● | All directors and named executive officers as a group and |
In addition, the following table assumes that the over-subscription option has not been exercised.
Our Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Ordinary Shares with no par value. The number and percentage of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned are based on 3,168,133 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of the date of this annual report. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Ordinary Shares. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally requires that such person have voting or investment power with respect to securities. In computing the number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by a person listed below and the percentage ownership of such person, Ordinary Shares underlying options, warrants or convertible securities held by each such person that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the date of this annual report are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. None of our shareholders as of the date of this annual report is a record holder in the United States. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, or as required by applicable community property laws, all persons listed have sole voting and investment power for all Ordinary Shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the address for each principal shareholder is in the care of our Company at Unit 304-3, No. 19, Wanghai Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, People’s Republic of China.
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| Ordinary Shares | ||||||||
| Beneficially Owned | ||||||||
| Number | Percent | |||||||
| Directors and Executive Officers | ||||||||
| Zhichao Yang | - | - | ||||||
| Qiulan Li | - | - | ||||||
| Qiufei Chen | ||||||||
| Peiqun Lin | ||||||||
| Aiwei Luo | - | - | ||||||
| Hanwu Yang | - | - | ||||||
| Changbin Xia | 1,507,285 | * | 47.58 | % | ||||
| Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (7 Persons) | 1,507,285 | 47.58 | % | |||||
| 5% Beneficial Owners | ||||||||
| Changbin Xia | 1,507,285 | * | 47.58 | % | ||||
* Mr. Changbin Xia held 7,285 Ordinary Shares via Union International Company Limited, a BVI company controlled by Mr. Xia, with its address at 30 de Castro Street, Wickhams Cay 1, PO Box 4519, Tortola, British Virgin Island.
F. Disclosure of A Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
None.
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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transaction
A. Major Shareholders.
Please refer to “Item 6.E. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Share Ownership.”
B. Related party transactions.
In addition to the executive officer and director compensation arrangements discussed in “Executive Compensation,” below are certain transactions for the year ended December 31, 2024, to which we have been a participant and in which the amount involved in the transaction is material to us and the other party/parties is/are : (a) an enterprise/enterprises that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by, or are under common control with us; (b) associates; (c) individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of our Company that gives them significant influence over us, and close members of any such individuals’ family; (d) key management personnel, that is, persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of our Company, including directors and senior management and close members of such individuals’ families; and (e)enterprises in which a substantial interest in the voting power is owned, directly or indirectly, by any person described in (c) or (d) or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence.
Related parties with transactions and related party relationships
| Name of Related Party | Relationship to the Company | |
| Changbin Xia | Shareholder of the Company | |
| CEDE & CO | Shareholder of the Company | |
| Zhichao Yang | Legal representative of Xiamen Chunshang | |
| Eternal Horizon International Company Limited | As a shareholder of the Company before December 15, 2020 | |
| Sen Jin | Legal representative of Vande |
Due to related parties
As of December 31, 2024, we borrowed loans as working capital from our chairman of board Changbin Xia. The balance due to Changbin Xia was $1,287,629 as of December 31, 2024. The loans were interest-free and due on demand.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company purchased nil and $18,310 food products from related parties. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the account payable to these related parties is nil and $15,627, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, sales to related parties is nil and $21,215, respectively.
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C. Interests of experts and counsel.
No disclosure is required in response to this Item.
Item 8. Financial Information
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
See “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
Legal Proceedings
We are currently not a party to any legal or administrative proceedings that will likely have material impact on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations. We may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, may result in additional costs and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.
Dividend Policy
The holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to dividends out of funds legally available when and as declared by our board of directors. Our board of directors has never declared a dividend and does not anticipate declaring a dividend in the foreseeable future. Should we decide in the future to pay dividends, as a holding company, our ability to do so and meet other obligations depends upon the receipt of dividends or other payments from our operating subsidiaries and other holdings and investments. In addition, our operating subsidiaries may, from time to time, be subject to restrictions on their ability to make distributions to us, including as a result of restrictive covenants in loan agreements, restrictions on the conversion of local currency into U.S. dollars or other hard currency and other regulatory restrictions. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to receive, ratably, the net assets available to shareholders after payment of all creditors.
Subject to the BVI Act and our memorandum and articles, our directors may, by resolution, declare dividends at a time and amount as they think fit if they are satisfied, based on reasonable grounds, that, immediately after distribution of the dividend, the value of our assets will exceed our liabilities and we will be able to pay our debts as they fall due. There is no further BVI law restriction on the amount of funds which may be distributed by us by dividend, including all amounts paid by way of the subscription price for Ordinary Shares regardless of whether such amounts may be wholly or partially treated as share capital or share premium under certain accounting principles. Shareholder approval is not (except as otherwise provided in our memorandum or articles) required to pay dividends under BVI law. In accordance with, and subject to, our memorandum and articles, no dividend shall bear interest as against the Company (except as otherwise provided in our memorandum or articles).
If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Ordinary Shares in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Hong Kong subsidiary, Vande.
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Current PRC regulations permit our indirect PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to Vande only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our subsidiary in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve funds until the accumulative amount of such funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of such entity. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.
The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiary and affiliates in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations, we may be unable to pay dividends on our Ordinary Shares.
Cash dividends, if any, on our Ordinary Shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. Vande may be considered a non-resident enterprise for tax purposes, so that any dividends PRC subsidiaries pay to Vande may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10.0%.
Pursuant to the Arrangement between mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of the PRC enterprise. However, pursuant to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on the Issues concerning the Application of the Dividend Clauses of Tax Agreements, or SAT Circular 81, the 5% withholding tax rate does not automatically apply and certain requirements must be satisfied, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong enterprise must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC resident enterprise; and (b) the Hong Kong enterprise must have directly owned no less than 25% equity interests in the PRC resident enterprise during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong enterprise must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiary to its immediate holding company, Vande. As of the date of this annual report, we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. Vande intends to apply for the tax resident certificate when PRC subsidiaries plan to declare and pay dividends to Vande.
B. Significant Changes
We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing.
A. Offer and listing details.
Our Ordinary Shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on December 15, 2020 under the symbol “WNW.” Prior to that there was no market for our Ordinary Shares.
B. Plan of distribution.
No disclosure is required in response to this Item.
C. Markets.
Our Ordinary Shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on December 15, 2020 under the symbol “WNW.” Prior to that there was no market for our Ordinary Shares.
D. Selling Shareholders.
No disclosure is required in response to this Item.
E. Dilution.
No disclosure is required in response to this Item.
F. Expenses of the Issue.
No disclosure is required in response to this Item.
Item 10. Additional Information.
A. Share Capital.
Not applicable.
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B. Memorandum and articles of association.
We incorporate by reference into this annual report the description of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, description of securities, and the description of differences in corporate laws as set forth in Exhibit 2.1, filed herewith.
C. Material Contracts
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4. Information on the Company” or elsewhere in this annual report.
D. Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Foreign Exchange.”
E. Taxation
Material Tax Consequences Applicable to U.S. Holders of Our Ordinary Shares
The following sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax consequences related to an investment in our Ordinary Shares. It is directed to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of our Ordinary Shares and is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change. This description does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our Ordinary Shares or U.S. tax laws, other than the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as the tax consequences under non U.S. tax laws, state, local and other tax laws. Unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, this section is the opinion of Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, our U.S. Tax counsel, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law, and of Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, LLP (Fuzhou), our PRC counsel, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of PRC Enterprise Taxation below.
The following brief description applies only to U.S. Holders (defined below) that hold Ordinary Shares as capital assets and that have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. This brief description is based on the federal income tax laws of the United States in effect as of the date of this annual report and on U.S. Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the date of this annual report, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.
The brief description below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to you if you are a beneficial owner of Ordinary Share and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
| ● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; | |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; | |
| ● | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or | |
| ● | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
People’s Republic of China Enterprise Taxation
The following brief description of Chinese enterprise laws is designed to highlight the enterprise-level taxation on our earnings, which will affect the amount of dividends, if any, we are ultimately able to pay to our shareholders. See “Dividend Policy.”
We are a holding company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and we gain substantial income by way of dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”) and its implementation rules provide that China-sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC subsidiary to its equity holders that are non-resident enterprises, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential tax rate or a tax exemption.
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Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” which means that it is treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define “de facto management body” as a managing body that actually, comprehensively manage and control the production and operation, staff, accounting, property and other aspects of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in SAT Notice 82, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although Wunong Technology Company Limited does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of SAT Notice 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in SAT Notice 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of the Company and its subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.
According to SAT Notice 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met: (i) the places where senior management and senior management departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management of the enterprise perform their duties are mainly located within the territory of China; (ii) financial decisions (such as money borrowing, lending, financing and financial risk management) and personnel decisions (such as appointment, dismissal and salary and wages) are decided or need to be decided by organizations or persons located within the territory of China; (iii) main property, accounting books, corporate seal, the board of directors and files of the minutes of shareholders’ meetings of the enterprise are located or preserved within the territory of China; and (iv) one half (or more) of the directors or senior management staff having the right to vote habitually reside within the territory of China.
We believe that we do not meet some of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. For example, as a holding company, the key assets and records of Wunong, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that Wunong and its offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for “de facto management body” as set forth in SAT Notice 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body” as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status.
The implementation rules of the EIT Law provide that, (i) if the enterprise that distributes dividends is domiciled in the PRC or (ii) if gains are realized from transferring equity interests of enterprises domiciled in the PRC, then such dividends or gains are treated as China-sourced income. It is not clear how “domicile” may be interpreted under the EIT Law, and it may be interpreted as the jurisdiction where the enterprise is a tax resident. Therefore, if we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders which are non-resident enterprises as well as gains realized by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result become subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. We are unable to provide a “will” opinion because Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, LLP (Fuzhou), our PRC counsel, believes that it is more likely than not that the Company and its offshore subsidiaries would be treated as a non-resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes because they do not meet some of the conditions out lined in SAT Notice. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities as of the date of the annual report. Therefore we believe that it is possible but highly unlikely that the income received by our overseas shareholders will be regarded as China-sourced income.
See “Item 3. Key Information - D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People’s Republic of China — If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.”
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Our Company pays an EIT rate of 25% for PRC subsidiaries. The EIT is calculated based on the entity’s global income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Vande is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to a 10% PRC withholding tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our Ordinary Shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to dividends or gains realized by non-PRC individuals, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of the Company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that the Company is treated as a PRC resident enterprise. There is no guidance from the PRC government to indicate whether or not any tax treaties between the PRC and other countries would apply in circumstances where a non-PRC company was deemed to be a PRC tax resident, and thus there is no basis for expecting how tax treaty between the PRC and other countries may impact non-resident enterprises.
British Virgin Islands Taxation
Under British Virgin Islands law as currently in effect, there is no tax applicable to a holder of Ordinary Shares who is not a resident of the British Virgin Islands on dividends paid with respect to the Ordinary Shares and none of the holders of Ordinary Shares are liable to the British Virgin Islands for income tax on gains realized during that year on sale or disposal of such shares. The British Virgin Islands does not impose a withholding tax on dividends paid by a company incorporated or re-registered under the BVI Act.
There are no capital gains, gift or inheritance taxes levied by the British Virgin Islands on companies incorporated or re-registered under the BVI Act or persons not resident in the British Virgin Islands. In addition, shares of companies incorporated or re-registered under the BVI Act are not subject to transfer taxes, stamp duties or similar charges where the Company and other companies within its group are not BVI land owning companies for the purposes of the BVI Act.
There is no income tax treaty currently in effect between the United States and the British Virgin Islands or between China and the British Virgin Islands.
United States Federal Income Taxation
WE URGE POTENTIAL PURCHASERS OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAXADVISORS CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAXCONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES.
The following does not address the tax consequences to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:
| ● | banks; | |
| ● | financial institutions; | |
| ● | insurance companies; | |
| ● | regulated investment companies; | |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; | |
| ● | broker-dealers; | |
| ● | traders that elect to mark-to-market; | |
| ● | U.S. expatriates; | |
| ● | tax-exempt entities; |
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| ● | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; | |
| ● | persons holding our Ordinary Shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction; | |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting shares (including by reason of owning our Ordinary Shares); | |
| ● | persons who acquired our Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; or | |
| ● | persons holding our Ordinary Shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities. |
The discussion set forth below is addressed only to U.S. Holders that purchased our Ordinary Shares. Prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the application of the U.S. federal income tax rules to their particular circumstances as well as the state, local, foreign and other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares.
Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on our Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by us to you with respect to the Ordinary Shares (including the amount of any taxes withheld therefrom) will generally be includable in your gross income as dividend income on the date of receipt by you, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). With respect to corporate U.S. Holders, the dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations.
With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders, dividends will be taxed at the lower capital gains rate applicable to qualified dividend income, provided that (1) the Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or we are eligible for the benefits of an approved qualifying income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program, (2) we are not a passive foreign investment company (as discussed below) for either our taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. Because there is no income tax treaty between the United States and the British Virgin Islands, clause (1) above can be satisfied only if the Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Under U.S. Internal Revenue Service authority, Ordinary Shares are considered for purpose of clause (1) above to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on the Nasdaq. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our Ordinary Shares, including the effects of any change in law after the date of this annual report. Non-corporate U.S. Holders will also be subject to the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax if their income exceeds the threshold amounts for such tax.
Dividends will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If the dividends are taxed as qualified dividend income (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced rate divided by the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by us with respect to our Ordinary Shares will constitute “passive category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.”
To the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), it will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in your Ordinary Shares, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds your tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain. We do not intend to calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that a distribution will be treated as a dividend even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above. The Net Investment Income Tax also applies to capital gains.
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Taxation of Dispositions of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a share equal to the difference between the amount realized (in U.S. dollars) for the share and your tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the Ordinary Shares. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, including an individual U.S. Holder, who has held the Ordinary Shares for more than one year, you will be eligible for (a) reduced tax rates of 0% (for individuals in the 10% or 15% tax brackets), (b) higher tax rates of 20% (for individuals in the 39.6% tax bracket) or (c) 15% for all other individuals. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that you recognize will generally be treated as United States source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
A non-U.S. corporation is considered a PFIC for any taxable year if either:
| ● | at least 75% of its gross income is passive income; or | |
| ● | at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of the stock. In determining the value and composition of our assets for purposes of the PFIC asset test, the value of our assets must be determined based on the market value of our Ordinary Shares from time to time, which could cause the value of our non-passive assets to be less than 50% of the value of all of our assets on any particular quarterly testing date for purposes of the asset test.
We must make a separate determination each year as to whether we are a PFIC. Based on our current and anticipated operations and the composition of our assets, we do not expect to be treated as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our current taxable year. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year.
Based upon our income and assets, and the value of our Ordinary Shares, we do not believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2024 or that we will be a PFIC for the taxable year ending December 31, 2025 and we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC in the foreseeable future.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Code provides that the income and assets of an affiliated company are taken into account (on a proportionate basis) in determining the PFIC status of a foreign corporation if the affiliate is more than 25% “owned” by the foreign corporation.
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Because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test will generally be determined based on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and because cash is generally considered to be an asset held for the production of passive income, our PFIC status will also depend in large part on the market price of our Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, fluctuations in the market price of the Ordinary Shares may cause us to become a PFIC. In addition, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects. We are under no obligation to take steps to reduce the risk of our being classified as a PFIC, and as stated above, the determination of the value of our assets will depend upon material facts (including the market price of our Ordinary Shares from time to time) that may not be within our control. If we are a PFIC for any year during which you hold Ordinary Shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which you hold Ordinary Shares. However, if we cease to be a PFIC and you did not previously make a timely “mark-to-market” election as described below, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime by making a “purging election” (as described below) with respect to the Ordinary Shares.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold Ordinary Shares, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the Ordinary Shares, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the Ordinary Shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules:
| ● | the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the Ordinary Shares; | |
| ● | the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income, and | |
| ● | the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year. |
The tax liability for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the Ordinary Shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the Ordinary Shares as capital assets.
A U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election for such stock to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. If you make a mark-to-market election for the first taxable year which you hold (or are deemed to hold) Ordinary Shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, you will include in your income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares as of the close of your taxable year over your adjusted basis in such Ordinary Shares, which excess will be treated as ordinary income and not capital gain. You are allowed an ordinary loss for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the Ordinary Shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. However, such ordinary loss is allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the Ordinary Shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the Ordinary Shares, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment also applies to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the Ordinary Shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such Ordinary Shares. Your basis in the Ordinary Shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make a valid mark-to-market election, the tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations which are not PFICs would apply to distributions by us, except that the lower applicable capital gains rate for qualified dividend income discussed above under “Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on our Ordinary Shares” generally would not apply.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock”, which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market (as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations), including the Nasdaq. If the Ordinary Shares are regularly traded on the Nasdaq and if you are a holder of Ordinary Shares, the mark-to-market election would be available to you were we to be or become a PFIC.
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Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of stock in a PFIC may make a “qualified electing fund” election with respect to such PFIC to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. A U.S. Holder who makes a valid qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC will generally include in gross income for a taxable year such holder’s pro rata share of the corporation’s earnings and profits for the taxable year. However, the qualified electing fund election is available only if such PFIC provides such U.S. Holder with certain information regarding its earnings and profits as required under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. We do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable you to make a qualified electing fund election. If you hold Ordinary Shares in any year in which we are a PFIC, you will be required to file U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 in each such year and provide certain annual information regarding such Ordinary Shares, including regarding distributions received on the Ordinary Shares and any gain realized on the disposition of the Ordinary Shares.
If you do not make a timely “mark-to-market” election (as described above), and if we were a PFIC at any time during the period you hold our Ordinary Shares, then such Ordinary Shares will continue to be treated as stock of a PFIC with respect to you even if we cease to be a PFIC in a future year, unless you make a “purging election” for the year we cease to be a PFIC. A “purging election” creates a deemed sale of such Ordinary Shares at their fair market value on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, you will have a new basis (equal to the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC) and holding period (which new holding period will begin the day after such last day) in your Ordinary Shares for tax purposes.
You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in our Ordinary Shares and the elections discussed above.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our Ordinary Shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of our Ordinary Shares may be subject to information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and possible U.S. backup withholding at a current rate of 24%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and furnishing any required information. We do not intend to withhold taxes for individual shareholders. However, transactions effected through certain brokers or other intermediaries may be subject to withholding taxes (including backup withholding), and such brokers or intermediaries may be required by law to withhold such taxes.
Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010, certain U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to our Ordinary Shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for Ordinary Shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions), by attaching a complete Internal Revenue Service Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, with their tax return for each year in which they hold Ordinary Shares.
| F. | Dividends and Paying Agents |
Not applicable
| G. | Statements by Experts |
Not applicable
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| H. | Documents on Display |
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and file reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a Website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this Form 20-F and more recent information automatically updates and supersedes more dated information contained or incorporated by reference in this Form 20-F.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders.
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this annual report has been delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this annual report (not including exhibits to such incorporated information that are not specifically incorporated by reference into such information). Requests for such copies should be directed to us at the following address: Mr. Zhichao Yang, Chief Executive Officer, at Unit 304-3, No. 19, Wanghai Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, People’s Republic of China, Telephone: +86-755-85250400
| I. | Subsidiary Information. |
Please refer to “Item 4. Information on the Company - C. Organization Structure.”
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate fluctuations, primarily due to the uncertain future behavior of markets, may have a material impact on the financial results of the Company. Given the fact that the Company has no outstanding bank borrowings or loans, we believe we have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rates. However, we cannot provide assurance that we will not be exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rate in the future.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities.
A. Debt Securities.
Not applicable.
B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable.
C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
D. American Depositary Shares.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies.
There are no defaults, dividend arrearages and delinquencies or other information required to be disclosed in response to this Item.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.
There have been no modifications to the rights of security holders and there is no other information to disclose in response to this Item.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). As of December 31, 2024, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.
In designing and evaluating its disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Based upon that evaluation and subsequent evaluations conducted in connection with the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Exchange Act defines internal control over financial reporting as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with US GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:
| ● | Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; | |
| ● | Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and | |
| ● | Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
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Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, we used the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) (2013 framework) (the “COSO criteria”). Based on our evaluation and the COSO criteria, we determined that, as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP.
Since the Company is not an accelerated filer, the auditor’s attestation report pursuant to SOX Section 404(b) is not required in this annual report.
The material weaknesses that have been identified as of December 31, 2022 relate to our lack of in-house accounting personnel with sufficient knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting experiences. The material weaknesses, if not timely remedied, may lead to significant misstatements in our consolidated financial statements in the future.
In order to address and resolve the foregoing material weakness, we have begun to implement measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting to remediate this material weakness, including hiring outside financial personnel with requisite training and experience in the preparation of financial statements in compliance with applicable SEC requirements.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal year 2024 and that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16. [Reserved]
Item 16A. Audit committee financial expert.
In general, an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, is an individual member of the Audit Committee who:
| ● | understands generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements, | |
| ● | is able to assess the general application of such principles in connection with accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves, | |
| ● | has experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements comparable to the breadth and complexity to our financial statements, | |
| ● | understands internal controls over financial reporting, and | |
| ● | understands audit committee functions. |
An “audit committee financial expert” may acquire the foregoing attributes through:
| ● | education and experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, auditor or person serving similar functions; | |
| ● | experience actively supervising a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, auditor or person serving similar functions; experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies or public accounts with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements; or | |
| ● | other relevant experience. |
Our board of directors has determined that both Ms. Aiwei Luo qualifies as audit committee financial experts and have the accounting or financial management expertise as defined under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and required under Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(2)(A).
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Item 16B. Code of Ethics.
A Code of Ethics is a written standard designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
| ● | honest and ethical conduct, | |
| ● | full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in regulatory filings and public statements, | |
| ● | compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, | |
| ● | the prompt reporting violation of the code, and | |
| ● | accountability for adherence to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. |
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is currently available at our corporate website https://www.wnw108.com/home/index/newsDetail/id/30.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The following table shows the fees that we paid and accrued for audit and other services provided by Enrome LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, respectively.
| Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2024 | |||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 190,000 | $ | 200,000 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees | - | - | ||||||
| Tax Fees | - | - | ||||||
| All Other Fees | - | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | 190,000 | $ | 200,000 | ||||
Audit Fees —This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements and services that are normally provided by the independent auditors in connection with engagements for those fiscal years.
| 105 |
Audit-Related Fees — This category consists of assurance and related services by the independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees”.
Tax Fees — This category consists of professional services rendered by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for tax compliance and tax advice. The services for the fees disclosed under this category include tax return preparation and technical tax advice.
All Other Fees — This category consists of fees for other miscellaneous items.
Our Audit Committee has adopted a procedure for pre-approval of all fees charged by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Under the procedure, the Audit Committee approves the engagement letter with respect to audit, tax and review services. Other fees are also subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee or, in the period between meetings, by the Chief Executive Officer, which is disclosed to the Audit Committee or the entire board of directors at the next meeting.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.
There have been no exemptions from listing standards required to be disclosed in response to this Item.
Item 16E Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.
There have been no purchases of equity securities required to be disclosed in response to this Item.
Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
Not applicable.
| 106 |
Item 16G. Corporate Governance.
As a British Virgin Islands exempted company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, the 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 British Virgin Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Conyers Dill & Pearman, our British Virgin Islands counsel, has provided a letter to the Nasdaq Stock Market certifying that under British Virgin Islands law, we are not required to comply with the following corporate governance practice:
| 1. | Holding annual shareholders meetings every year. We held an annual meeting of shareholders in 2021. However, we intend to follow the home country practice and expect to hold annual shareholders meetings in the future only if there are matters that require shareholders’ approval. In addition, we may elect in the future not to comply with the Nasdaq requirement that we obtain shareholder approval for material amendments of equity compensation plans (including amendments relating to a material change to permit a repricing of outstanding stock options); | |
| 2. | We do not intend to follow Nasdaq’s requirements regarding shareholder approval for certain issuances of securities under Nasdaq Rule 5635. Under the British Virgin Islands laws, our board of directors are authorized to issue securities including in connection with certain events such as the acquisition of shares or assets of another company, the establishment of or amendments to equity-based compensation plans for employees, a change of control of us, rights issues at or below market price, certain private placements and issuance of convertible notes. We intend to take all actions necessary for us to maintain compliance as a foreign private issuer under the applicable corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules adopted by the SEC and Nasdaq’s listing standards. | |
| 3. | We do not intend to follow Nasdaq’s requirements regarding shareholder approval for all equity compensation plans. Generally, Nasdaq Rule 5635(c) requires each issuer to obtain shareholder approval of all equity compensation plans (including warrant incentive plans) and material amendments to such plans. However, pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5615(a)(3), we have elected to follow our home country’s practices (in this case, being British Virgin Islands practices) in lieu of the requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5635(c). Our home country practices do not require us to obtain a shareholders’ approval for amendments to our existing incentive program. |
If we choose to follow other 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.
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure.
Not applicable.
Item 16I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdiction that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
Item 16J. INSIDER TRADING POLICIES
Our
board of directors has
Our board of directors has also adopted a compensation recovery policy required by the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5608, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s FY2023 Annual Report.
Item 16K. CYBERSECURITY
| 107 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| F-1 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Meiwu Technology Company Limited
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. 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 consolidated 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 audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.
May 14, 2025
| F-2 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In U.S. dollars, except for share and per share data, or otherwise note)
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||
| Note | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 5 | |||||||||||
| Due from related party | 13 | |||||||||||
| Advances to suppliers, net | 6 | |||||||||||
| Inventories, net | ||||||||||||
| Other current assets | 7 | |||||||||||
| Total Current Assets | ||||||||||||
| Non-Current Assets: | ||||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 8 | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets | 11 | |||||||||||
| Total Non-Current Assets | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | ||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Short-term loan | 9 | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | 10 | |||||||||||
| Contract liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | 11 | |||||||||||
| Tax Payable | ||||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Non-Current Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Due to related parties | 13 | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | 11 | |||||||||||
| Total Non-Current Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | ||||||||||||
| Commitment and Contingencies | ||||||||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 12 | |||||||||||
| Ordinary Shares, par value, shares authorized; and shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 respectively* | ||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Equity attributable to owners of the Company | ||||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| * |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-3 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
(In U.S. dollars, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
| For the years ended | ||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| Note | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| REVENUE | ||||||||||||||||
| Product revenue | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Service revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| COST OF REVENUE | ||||||||||||||||
| Product revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Service revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| GROSS PROFIT | ||||||||||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||
| Sales and Marketing Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and Development Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Assets impairment loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Other income (loss), net | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 14 | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interest | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS’ COMPANY | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME | ||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||
| LOSS PER SHARE – BASIC AND DILUTED* | $ | $ | ) | $ | ) | |||||||||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING – BASIC AND DILUTED* | ||||||||||||||||
| * |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-4 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In U.S. dollars, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
| Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary Shares | Additional | Other | Non- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares* | Amount | Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Comprehensive Income/(Loss) | controlling interests | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary Shares issued for the acquisitions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital Contributions | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares on conversion of convertible notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary Shares issued for the acquisitions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital Contributions | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital Contributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares based compensation granted to employees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| * |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-5 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In U.S. dollars, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
| For the years ended | ||||||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense for convertible notes | ||||||||||||
| Bad debt expense | ||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on disposal of subsidiaries | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Impairment of goodwill | ||||||||||||
| Change in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Account receivable, net | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||||||||||
| Inventories, net | ||||||||||||
| Other current assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Advances to suppliers, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Rent deposit | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Contract liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Tax payable | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash disposed | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid out for loan receivables from third parties | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| (Payment to) Proceeds from related parties loans | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Proceeds from convertible promissory notes | ||||||||||||
| Shares based compensation granted to employees | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of Bank loans | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Capital contributions | ||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares of common stock | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Effect of changes of foreign exchange rate on cash | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the Beginning of financial year | ||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year | ||||||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTARY NON-CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | ||||||||||||
| Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Deferred offering cost reduces additional paid-in capital | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-6 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND
Meiwu Technology Company Limited (“Meiwu” or the “Company”), formerly known as Wunong Net Technology Co., Ltd is a holding company incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands on December 4, 2018. The Company, its subsidiaries and the former consolidated variable interest entity (the “former VIE”) are principally engaged in the provision of skin care products selling, skin care training services and operates an electronic online platform designed to provide primarily Clean Food to customers in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”).
On February 15, 2019, the Company acquired all shares of Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited (“Vande”) pursuant to the Instrument of Transfer, Sold Note and Bought Note recorded with Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR).
Vande, incorporated on April 6, 2017 in Hong Kong,
incorporated Guo Gang Tong (“WFOE”) in the People’s Republic of China with a registered capital of RMB
On March 2, 2019, WFOE entered into a series of contractual
agreements with Meiwu Shenzhen, a company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China on June 16, 2015 with a registered capital
of RMB
| ● | exercise effective control over Meiwu Shenzhen; | |
| ● | receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Meiwu Shenzhen; and | |
| ● | have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in Meiwu Shenzhen when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. |
As a result of these contractual arrangements, we have become the primary beneficiary of Meiwu Shenzhen, and we treat Meiwu Shenzhen as a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810 “Consolidation”, because the equity investments in Meiwu Shenzhen no longer have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, and the Company, through WFOE, is the primary beneficiary of Meiwu Shenzhen. Accordingly, Meiwu Shenzhen has been consolidated.
Since Meiwu Technology Company Limited and its subsidiaries are effectively controlled by the same controlling shareholders before and after the Reorganization, they are considered to be under common control. The above-mentioned transactions were accounted for as a recapitalization. The consolidation of the Company and its subsidiaries has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the aforementioned transactions had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
| F-7 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (CONTINUED)
On September 29, 2020, Meiwu
Shenzhen, together with two individuals, Guoming Huang (“Huang”) and Yafang Liu (“Liu”), established a new Shanghai
subsidiary, Wude Agricultural Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (“Wude Shanghai”). Wude’s registered capital is RMB
On October 20, 2020, Meiwu Shenzhen entered into an
Equity Transfer Agreement to acquire
On November 4, 2020, Meiwu Shenzhen
incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Wunong Technology (Liaoning) Co., Ltd (“Wunong Liaoning”). Wunong Liaoning’s
registered capital is RMB
On December 10, 2020, Meiwu Shenzhen
incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Wunong Technology (Shaanxi) Co., Ltd (“Wunong Shaanxi”). Wunong Shaanxi’s registered
capital is RMB
On December 17, 2020, the Company
completed the initial public offering (“IPO”) of Ordinary Shares at a price of $ per share to the public for
a total of US$
On November 23, 2021, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Boxinrui International Holdings Limited (the “Anxin BVI”) to acquire Beijing Anxin Jieda Logistics Co., Ltd. (“Anxin”). As of March 11, 2022, Anxin BVI failed to deliver the audited financial statements of Anxin for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The parties entered into a termination agreement, (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to terminate the transaction.
| F-8 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (CONTINUED)
On December 28, 2021, Meiwu Shenzhen
sold the
On March 31, 2022, the Company
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Magnum International Holdings Limited (the “Yundian BVI”)
to acquire Dalian Yundian Zhiteng Technology Company Limited (“Yundian”). Upon the closing, the Company shall deliver to the
Yundian BVI total consideration of US$
On May 12, 2022, Meiwu Shenzhen,
together with Shenzhen Heme Enterprise Consulting Partnership (limited partnership) (“Heme Consulting”), established a new
Shenzhen subsidiary, Heme Brand Chain Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Heme Shenzhen”). Heme Shenzhen’s registered
capital is RMB
On June 23, 2022, the Company
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited (the “Mahao
BVI”) to acquire Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited (“Code Beating”). Upon the closing, the Company shall
deliver to the Mahao BVI total consideration of US$
On July 22, 2022, Heme Shenzhen
established a new Shenzhen subsidiary, Heme Catering Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (“Heme Catering”). Heme Catering’s
registered capital is RMB
On October 31, 2022, the Company changed the name from “Wunong Technology (Shenzhen) Co,. Ltd” to Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co,. Ltd.
On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Stock
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited (the “Yuanxing BVI”) to acquire Hunan
Yuanxing Chanrong Technology Co., Ltd (“Yuanxing”). Upon the closing, the Company shall deliver to the Yuanxing BVI total
consideration of US$
On May 4, 2023, the VIE,
Meiwu Shenzhen, together with an individual, Kun Xu (“Kun”) and an entity, Xi ‘an Senli Huinong Agricultural Technology
Co. LTD (“Senli Huinong”), established a new subsidiary in Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen Jiayuan Liquor Sales Co., Ltd (“Jiayuan
Liquor”). Jiayuan Liquor’s registered capital is RMB
On September 3, 2024, Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited (“Vande”) a limited company organized under the laws of Hong Kong and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiwu Technology Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company”), incorporated a limited liability company under the laws of People’s Republic of China with the name of Xiamen Chunshang Health Technology Co., Ltd. (the “Chunshang Xiamen”). As previously disclosed, the Company was planning to implement a strategic transition in its business to expand into the sales of functional skincare products.
On December 10, 2024, Guogangtong Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”), the wholly owned subsidiary of Vande entered into an agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Meiwu Zhishi” or “former VIE”), former VIE’s shareholders to terminate of a series of contractual arrangements (“former VIE Agreements”) by and among the former VIE, the WFOE, and shareholders of the former VIE.
On December 24, 2024, the
Company, Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company (“Magnum”) and an individual that is not affiliated with the Company or any of its directors or officers (the
“Purchaser”) entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Magnum Disposition Agreement”). Pursuant to the
Magnum Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Magnum for $
On December 24, 2024, the
Company, Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company (“Xinfuxin”) and the same Purchaser entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Xinfuxin Disposition
Agreement”, collectively with the Termination Agreement and Magnum Disposition Agreement, the “Agreements”). Pursuant
to the Xinfuxin Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Xinfuxin for $
| F-9 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (CONTINUED)
As of December 31, 2024, details of the subsidiaries of the Company are set out below:
SCHEDULE OF SUBSIDIARIES AND ASSOCIATES
| Name of Entity | Date of Incorporation | Place of Incorporation | % of Ownership | Principal Activities | ||||
| Meiwu Technology Company Limited (“Meiwu” or the “Company”, formerly known as Wunong Net Technology Company Limited) | ||||||||
| Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited (“Vande”) | ||||||||
| Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited (“Mahao BVI”) | ||||||||
| Xiamen Chunshang Health Technology Co., Ltd (“Xiamen Chunshang”) | ||||||||
| Guo Gang Tong Trade (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (“WFOE”) | ||||||||
| DELIMOND Limited (“DELIMOND”) | ||||||||
| Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited (“Code Beating”) | ||||||||
| Xiamen Chunshang Health Technology Co., Ltd (“Xiamen Chunshang”) |
| F-10 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. LIQUIDITY
The Company had cash of $
In assessing liquidity, management monitors and analyses cash on hand, ability to generate sufficient revenue sources in the future, and operating and capital expenditure commitments. In 2024, major shareholders have contributed approximately $ to the Company.
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
● Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation
These accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and have been consistently applied. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, and the former VIE. All intercompany balances and transactions between the Company, its subsidiaries and the former VIE are eliminated upon consolidation.
● Consolidation of former Variable Interest Entity
A VIE is an entity that either has a total equity investment that is insufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or whose equity investments lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, such as through voting rights, and the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. The variable interest holder, if any, that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of, and must consolidate, the VIE.
Guo Gang Tong Trade (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in and be the primary beneficiary of Meiwu Shenzhen because it has both of the following characteristics:
| (1) | The power to direct activities at Meiwu Shenzhen that most significantly impact such entity’s economic performance, and | |
| (2) | The right to receive benefits from Meiwu Shenzhen that could potentially be significant to such entity. |
Pursuant to the contractual arrangements with Meiwu Shenzhen, Meiwu Shenzhen pays service fees equal to all of its net profit after tax payments to WFOE. Such contractual arrangements are designed so that Meiwu Shenzhen operates for the benefit of Guo Gang Tong Trade (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd and ultimately, the Company.
| F-11 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Consolidation of former Variable Interest Entity (continued)
Accordingly, the accounts of the Meiwu Shenzhen and its subsidiaries are consolidated in our financial statements pursuant to ASC 810-10, Consolidation. In addition, their financial positions and results of operations are included in our financial statements. The carrying amount of this former VIE’s assets and liabilities are as follows :
SCHEDULE OF CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Current assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Right of Use Lease Assets, net | ||||||||
| Other non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| For the years ended | ||||||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of revenue | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Effect of changes of foreign exchange rate on cash | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| F-12 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management makes these estimates using the best information available at the time the estimates are made; however actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, valuation of inventory, and recoverability of carrying amount and the estimated useful lives of fixed assets, and implicit interest rate of operating leases.
● Business combinations
The Company accounted for its business combination using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations”. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the acquisition date fair values of the assets transferred and liabilities incurred by the Company to the sellers and equity instruments issued. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets and liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair values as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any non-controlling interests. The excess of (i) the total costs of acquisition, fair value of the non-controlling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the acquisition date amounts of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated income statements. During the measurement period, which can be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Subsequent to the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any further adjustments are recorded in the consolidated income statements.
In a business combination achieved in stages, the Company re-measures the previously held equity interest in the acquiree immediately before obtaining control at its acquisition date fair value and the re-measurement gain or loss, if any, is recognized in the consolidated income statements.
When there is a change in ownership interests or a change in contractual arrangements that results in a loss of control of a subsidiary, the Company deconsolidates the subsidiary from the date control is lost. Any retained non-controlling investment in the former subsidiary is measured at fair value and is included in the calculation of the gain or loss upon deconsolidation of the subsidiary.
● Cash and cash equivalents
Cash consist of cash on hand, cash in bank with no restrictions, as well as highly liquid investments which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have remaining maturities of three months or less when initially purchased.
● Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable, net mainly represent amounts due from clients and are recorded net of allowance for doubtful accounts.
The Company mitigates the associated risks by performing
credit checks and actively pursuing past due accounts. An allowance for doubtful accounts is established and recorded based on management’s
assessment of historical bad debts, creditworthiness and financial conditions of the clients, current economic trends and changes in client
payment patterns. Past due accounts are generally written off against the allowance for bad debts only after all collection attempts have
been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The allowance was $
● Inventories, net
The Company values its inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is calculated using the first in first out basis.
Where there is evidence that the utility of inventories, in their disposal in the ordinary course of business, will be less than cost, whether due to physical deterioration, obsolescence, changes in price levels, or other causes, the inventories are written down to net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the normal course of business less any costs to complete and sell products. Any idle facility costs or excessive spoilage are recorded as current period charges. There was no inventory impairment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
| F-13 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Advances to suppliers
Advances to suppliers represent prepayments made to
certain suppliers of Clean Food. To ensure continuous high-quality supplies and favorable purchase prices of Clean Food, the Company is
required from time to time to make cash advances when placing its purchase orders. The Company reviews its advances to suppliers on a
periodic basis and makes general and specific allowances when there is doubt as to the ability of a supplier to provide supplies to the
Company or refund the advance. As of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the allowances was and $
● Property and equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The cost of an asset comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its present working condition and location for its intended use. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives listed below:
SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATED USEFUL LIVES OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
| Estimated Useful Life | ||
| Computers and accessories | ||
| Vehicle | ||
| Office Equipment | ||
| Leasehold improvement |
When computers and accessories, vehicle, and office equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, resulting gain or loss is included in net income or loss in the year of disposition for the difference between the net book value and proceeds received thereon. Maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the expected useful lives of the assets are charged to expenses as incurred.
Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining lease term.
Depreciation for equipment commences once it is placed in service and amortization of leasehold improvements commences once they are ready for our intended use.
Construction in progress is related to office renovation that has not yet been completed for our intended use. Capitalization of the cost of renovation ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to leasehold improvement when substantially all the renovations are completed. Construction in progress is not depreciated until they are ready for our intended use.
| F-14 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Leases
From January 1, 2022, the Group adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Lease (FASB ASC Topic 842). The adoption of Topic 842 resulted in the presentation of operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The Group has elected the package of practical expedients, which allows the Group not to reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts as of the adoption date are or contain a lease, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases as of the adoption date and (3) initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases as of the adoption date. Lastly, the Group elected the short-term lease exemption for all contracts with lease terms of 12 months or less.
At inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is or contains a lease if it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange of a consideration. To assess whether a contract is or contains a lease, the Group assess whether the contract involves the use of an identified asset, whether it has the right to obtain substantially all the economic benefits from the use of the asset and whether it has the right to control the use of the asset.
The right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date. The Company recognizes operating lease expenses on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Right-of-use of assets
The Company recognises right-of-use assets at the commencement date of the lease (i.e. the date the underlying asset is available for use). Right-of-use assets are measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses and adjusted for any remeasurement of lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes the amount of lease liabilities recognised, initial direct costs incurred, and lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received. Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term and the estimated useful lives of the assets. All right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment annually. There was no impairment for right-of-use lease assets for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Lease liabilities
Lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the outstanding lease payments at the commencement date, discounted using the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise fixed lease payments, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee and any exercise price under a purchase option that the Group is reasonably certain to exercise. Lease liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. It is re-measured when there is a change in future lease payments, if there is a change in the estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee, or if there is any change in the Group assessment of option purchases, contract extensions or termination options.
● Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the estimated cash flows from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition below are the asset’s carrying value, then the asset is deemed to be impaired and written down to its fair value. There were no indicators of impairments of these assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
● Convertible notes
Convertible notes are recognized initially at fair value, net of upfront fees, debt discounts or premiums, debt issuance costs and other incidental fees. Upfront fees, debt discounts or premiums, debt issuance costs and other incidental fees are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds received and the related accretion is recorded as interest expense in the consolidated income statements over the estimated term of the facilities using the effective interest method.
● Revenue recognition
On January 1, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (FASB ASC Topic 606) using the modified retrospective approach. The results of applying Topic 606 using the modified retrospective approach were insignificant and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, business process, controls or systems.
The core principle underlying the revenue recognition ASU is that the Company will recognize revenue to represent the transfer of goods to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in such exchange. This will require the Company to identify contractual performance obligations and determine whether revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over time, based on when control of goods and services transfers to a customer. All the Company’s contracts have one single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and is, therefore, not distinct. The initial payments received from pre-ordering are recorded in the advance from customers on the balance sheets and will not be recognized as revenue until transfer of goods. Shipping and handling are activities to fulfil the Company’s promise to transfer goods to customers, which are included in the sale price of the goods.
| F-15 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Revenue recognition (continued)
The Group’s revenues are mainly generated from 1) product sales, 2) services income.
The Group recognizes revenue pursuant to ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). In accordance with ASC 606, revenues from contracts with customers are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Group’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Group expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services, reduced by estimates for return allowances, promotional discounts, rebates and business tax and Value Added Tax (“VAT”). The Company recognizes revenue based upon gross sales minus sales returns and sales incentives that the Company offers to its customers, such as discounts. The Company generally does not permit customers to return products and historically, customer returns have been immaterial. The amount and timing of the Group’s revenues could be different if management made different judgments or utilized different estimates. To achieve the core principle of this standard, we applied the following five steps:
1. Identification of the contract, or contracts, with the customer;
2. Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
3. Determination of the transaction price;
4. Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
5. Recognition of the revenue when, or as, a performance obligation is satisfied.
Revenue expected to be recognized in any future periods
related to remaining performance obligations is recorded in advances from customers. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the balance of
advances from customers was $
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
SCHEDULE OF NET REVENUE
| For the years ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net | % of total | Net | % of total | Net | % of total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Product category | revenue | revenue | revenue | revenue | revenue | Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||
| Functional skincare products | $ | % | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Grains, oil, and spices | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Beverages, alcohol and tea | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other food | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Course Services | $ | % | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Products | $ | % | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Meat, poultry and eggs | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Groceries | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dried seafood | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| SMS Services | $ | $ | % | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
On January 1, 2017, the Company also adopted ASU 2016-08 Principle versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which amended the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and illustrations in ASU 2014-09 to clarify how the principal-versus-agent indicators should be evaluated to support an entity’s conclusion that it controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to a customer. Under the new revenue standards, when a third party is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, the entity must determine whether its performance obligation is to provide the good or service itself (i.e., the entity is a principal) or to arrange for another party to provide the good or service (i.e., the entity is an agent). An entity makes this determination by evaluating the nature of its promise to the customer. An entity is a principal (and, therefore, records revenue on a gross basis) if it controls the promised good or service before transferring it to the customer. An entity is an agent (and records as revenue the net amount it retains as a commission) if its only role is to arrange for another entity to provide the goods or services.
| F-16 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Revenue recognition (continued)
Sales on website
The Company operates an online platform to sell Clean Food to retail customers and recognizes revenue on a gross basis. The Company is a principal because it controls the promised good or service before transferring it to a customer. This control is determined by the following indicators 1) The Company is the primary obligor in the sales transaction and responsible for providing products and service. 2) The Company bears the inventory risk. The Company will first indemnify customers for product damages and then request reimbursements from suppliers if the suppliers are determined to be responsible for the damages. 3) The Company selects suppliers and runs the entire sales process. 4) The Company sets the product price and has control over the entire transaction.
Sales offline
In the second half of 2024, the Company started the offline sales which mainly focused on the non-retail customers. For the offline sales, the customers order goods from the Company according to their own needs, then the company will order the corresponding products from the suppliers. The Company’s offline sales have the following categories: functional skincare products, health products and service. Revenue is confirmed upon receipt of the goods. Payment will be made by the customer after the invoice is issued. The Company is a principal because it controls the promised goods or services before transferring them to a customer. This control is determined by the following indicators 1) The Company is the primary obligor in the sales transaction and responsible for providing products and services. 2) The Company bears the inventory risk. The Company will first indemnify customers for product damage and then request reimbursement from suppliers if the suppliers are determined to be responsible for the damage. 3) The Company selects suppliers and runs the entire sales process. 4) The Company sets the product price and has control over the entire transaction.
Service revenue
The Company generate substantially all of the Company’s services revenue from the following service:
| (1) | Communication Platform-as-a-Service (“CPaaS”) which allows customers to send text messages using the Company’s cloud-based platform through the new acquired subsidiary Code Beating; The Company account for revenue from customers’ usage of text message on the Company’s CPaaS platform as a separate performance obligation. The Company’s service fees are determined by applying the contractual unit price to the monthly usage volume of text messages sent and a contractual monthly fixed charge per subscriber multiplied by the number of subscribers recorded by the Company’s CPaaS platform where relevant. The cloud-based services to send text messages are sold separately to customers with observable standalone selling prices. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company recognize revenue upon the transfer of control of promised services provided to the Company’s customers, in the amount of consideration the Company expect to receive for those services (excluding sales taxes collected on behalf of government authorities). The Company’s revenue contracts generally do not include a right of return in relation to the delivered products or services. |
| (2) |
Providing technical solutions to customers: The Company generates revenue from providing technical and maintenance services under separate contracts to customers as a principal. The terms of pricing stipulated in the contracts are fixed. One performance obligation is identified in the contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services provided to the Company’s customers, in the amount of consideration the Company expect to receive for those services (excluding sales taxes collected on behalf of government authorities). The Company’s revenue contracts generally do not include a right of return in relation to the delivered products or services.
|
| (3) | Providing training services to customers: The Company generates revenue from providing training services under separate contracts to customers as a principal. The terms of pricing stipulated in the contracts are fixed. One performance obligation is identified in the contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services provided to the Company’s customers, in the amount of consideration the Company expect to receive for those services (excluding sales taxes collected on behalf of government authorities). The Company’s revenue contracts generally do not include a right of return in relation to the delivered products or services. |
The Company applied a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract with a customer when the amortization period would have been one year or less. The Company has no material incremental costs of obtaining contracts with customers that the Company expects the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year which need to be recognized as assets.
● Cost of revenues
The shipping and handling costs as well as the cost of purchased Clean Food products listed for sale on the Company’s platform are included as part of cost of goods sold. The Company expenses shipping and handling costs in conjunction with sale of its products as incurred.
● Sales and marketing expense
Advertising, sales and marketing costs consist primarily of costs for the promotion of business brand and product marketing. The Company expensed all marketing and advertising costs as incurred.
● Research and development expense
Research and development expenditures include salaries, wages and other costs of personnel engaged in research and development. Costs of services performed by others for research and development on the Company’s behalf are expensed when incurred.
| F-17 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Income taxes
The Company is subject to the income tax laws of the PRC. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC740, “Income Taxes”. The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, the provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable (or received or receivable) for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid, and result from differences between the financial and tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when enacted.
Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, management considers all potential sources of taxable income, including income available in carryback periods, future reversals of taxable temporary differences, projections of taxable income, and income from tax planning strategies, as well as all available positive and negative evidence. Positive evidence includes factors such as a history of profitable operations, projections of future profitability within the carryforward period, including from tax planning strategies, and the Company’s experience with similar operations. Existing favorable contracts and the ability to sell products into established markets are additional positive evidence. Negative evidence includes items such as cumulative losses, projections of future losses, or carryforward periods that are not long enough to allow for the utilization of a deferred tax asset based on existing projections of income. Deferred tax assets for which no valuation allowance is recorded may not be realized upon changes in facts and circumstances, resulting in a future charge to establish a valuation allowance.
Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return are recorded when such benefits meet a more likely than not threshold. Otherwise, these tax benefits are recorded when a tax position has been effectively settled, which means that the statute of limitation has expired or the appropriate taxing authority has completed their examination even though the statute of limitations remains open. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as part of the provision for income taxes and are accrued beginning in the period that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law until such time that the related tax benefits are recognized. There were no material uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. All tax returns since the Company’s inception are subject to examination by tax authorities.
● Value added taxes (“VAT”)
Sales represents the invoiced value of goods, net of VAT. The VAT is based on gross sales price and VAT rates, depending on the type of products sold. The VAT may be offset by VAT paid by the Company on inventory acquired. The Company recorded a VAT payable net of payments in the accompanying financial statements. All of the VAT returns of the Company have been and remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
Before April 30, 2019,
Starting from September 3,2024,
All the Company’s products are subject to tax surcharges at 12% of the VAT payable.
| F-18 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Foreign currency transactions and translations
An entity’s functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates, normally that is the currency of the environment in which the entity primarily generates and expends cash. Management’s judgment is essential to determine the functional currency by assessing various indicators, such as cash flows, sales price and market, expenses, financing and inter-company transactions and arrangements. The functional currency of the Company is the Renminbi (“RMB’), and PRC is the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. The reporting currency of these combined financial statements is the United States dollar (“US Dollars” or “$”).
For financial reporting purposes, the financial statements of the Company, which are prepared using the RMB, are translated into the Company’s reporting currency, the United States Dollar. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated using average rates prevailing during each reporting period, and shareholders’ equity is translated at historical exchange rates when capital transaction occurred. Adjustments resulting from the translation are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies using the average translation rate. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. The resulting exchange differences are included in the determination of net loss of the consolidated financial statements for the respective periods.
The exchange rates used for foreign currency translation were as follows (US Dollars $1 = RMB):
SCHEDULE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION EXCHANGE RATES
| Year End | Average | |||||||
| 12/31/2024 | ||||||||
| 12/31/2023 | ||||||||
| 12/31/2022 | ||||||||
No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at the rates used in translation.
● Comprehensive loss
Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity of the Company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding those resulting from investments by and distributions to shareholders. Accumulated other comprehensive loss, as presented on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, only consists of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment.
| F-19 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Fair value of financial instruments
The Company also follows the guidance of the ASC Topic 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820-10”), with respect to financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value. ASC 820-10 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
| ● | Level 1: Inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets; | |
| ● | Level 2: Inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques (e.g., Black-Scholes Option-Pricing model) for which all significant inputs are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. | |
| ● | Level 3: Inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash, accounts receivable, net, loan receivable, advances to suppliers, other current assets, accounts payable, advance from customers, tax payable, other payables and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments.
● Concentration risk
A majority of the Company’s transactions are
denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Company and its subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB.
RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted
only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). Remittances
in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China must be processed through the PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies
which require certain supporting documentation in order to affect the remittance. Under PRC regulations, each bank account is insured
by People’s bank of China with the maximum amount of RMB
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, most of the Company’s assets were located in the PRC and all of the Company’s revenues were derived from the PRC.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, four major suppliers
accounted for approximately
| F-20 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
● Recent accounting pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280)”: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This ASU improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and do not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
In September 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The Board is issuing the amendments in this Update to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. Investors currently rely on the rate reconciliation table and other disclosures, including total income taxes paid, to evaluate income tax risks and opportunities. While investors find these disclosures helpful, they suggested possible enhancements to better (1) understand an entity’s exposure to potential changes in jurisdictional tax legislation and the ensuing risks and opportunities, (2) assess income tax information that affects cash flow forecasts and capital allocation decisions, and (3) identify potential opportunities to increase future cash flows. The Board decided that the amendments should be effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024.
In February 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-02, “Codification Improvements—Amendments to Remove References to the Concepts Statements”. The Board decided that the types of issues that it will consider through this project are changes to clarify the Codification or correct unintended application of guidance that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or cost to most entities. An explanation of why each amendment in this Update is being made is provided in the “Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification” section. Thus, there is no separate section for the Board’s basis for conclusions in this Update. These issues to remove references to various Concepts Statements and their proposed amendments were included in Section A (“Amendments to Remove References to the Concepts Statements”) of the 2019 proposed Accounting Standards Update, Codification Improvements. Sections B and C (“Amendments to Disclosure Sections of the Codification” and “Other Codification Improvements”) of that proposed Update were finalized in 2020.The issues in this Update are numbered as they were in the 2019 proposed Update. In some cases, the Board decided to revise the amendments in this Update from what was included in the 2019 proposed Update. Those changes were responsive to stakeholder feedback received on the 2019 proposed Update and, in many cases, resulted in more narrow changes than were proposed.
In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope Application of Profits Interest and similar Awards”. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15.2024, and interim periods within those annual periods. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15,2025, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. If an entity adopts the amendments in an interim period, it should adopt them as of the beginning of the annual period that includes that interim period.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, “Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses”. The amendments in this ASU are intended to improve financial reporting by requiring that public business entities disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements at interim and annual reporting periods. For interim and annual reporting periods, an entity shall disaggregate, in a tabular format disclosure in the notes to financial statements, all relevant expense captions presented on the face of the income statement in continuing operations into the purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, amortization, and depletion. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027.Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this Update should be applied either (1) prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this Update or (2) retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2024-03 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01 Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40). The Board issued Update 2024-03 on November 4, 2024. Update 2024-03 states that the amendments are effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Following the issuance of Update 2024-03, the Board was asked to clarify the initial effective date for entities that do not have an annual reporting period that ends on December 31 (referred to as non-calendar year-end entities). Because of how the effective date guidance was written, a non-calendar year-end entity may have concluded that it would be required to initially adopt the disclosure requirements in Update 2024-03 in an interim reporting period, rather than in an annual reporting period. The Board’s intent in the basis for conclusions of Update 2024-03 is clear that all public business entities should initially adopt the disclosure requirements in the first annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. However, the Board acknowledges that there was ambiguity between the intent in the basis for conclusions in Update 2024-03 and the transition guidance that was included in the Codification when Update 2024-03 was issued.
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
| F-21 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS
● The acquisition of Yundian
On March 31, 2022, the Company entered into a Share
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yundian
BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yundian BVI, who collectively hold
These transactions
were accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The results of the Yundian’s
operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since April 19, 2022.
The revenue and net loss of the Yundian from the acquisition date to December 31, 2022 was $
The following summarizes the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed pursuant to the acquisition of Yundian as of April 19, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF IDENTIFIED ASSETS ACQUIRED AND LIABILITIES
| Items | Amount | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |||
| Other current assets | ||||
| Accounts receivable | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||
| Other non-current assets | ||||
| Advances to suppliers, net | ||||
| Goodwill | ||||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||
| Advance from customer | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ( | ) | ||
| Total net assets | $ | |||
The fair value of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed is the estimated book value of the Yundian. Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of purchase price over the amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed of Yundian at the acquisition date.
The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented as if the acquisitions had been consummated on January 1, 2022 and after giving effect to acquisition accounting adjustments. These pro forma results have been prepared for illustrative purpose only and do not purport to be indicative of what operating results would have been had the acquisition actually taken place on the date indicated and may not be indicative of future operating results.
Unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF UNAUDITED PROFORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
| Items | Year ended December 31, 2022 | |||
| Revenue | $ | |||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | |
| F-22 |
4. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS (CONTINUED)
● The acquisition of Code Beating
On June 23, 2022, the Company entered into a Stock
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited (the “Mahao BVI”) to acquire
Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited (“Code Beating”). Upon the closing, the aggregate purchase price for Code
Beating was $
These transactions
were accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The results of the Code
Beating’s operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements
since June 23, 2022. The revenue and net income of the Code Beating from
the acquisition date to December 31, 2022 was $
The following summarizes the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed pursuant to the acquisition of Yundian as of June 23, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF IDENTIFIED ASSETS ACQUIRED AND LIABILITIES
| Items | Amount | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |||
| Accounts receivable | ||||
| Advances to suppliers, net | ||||
| Other current assets | ||||
| Goodwill | ||||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||
| Advance from customer | ( | ) | ||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ( | ) | ||
| Total net assets | $ | |||
The fair value of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed is the estimated book value of the Code Beating. Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of purchase price over the amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed of Code Beating at the acquisition date.
The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented as if the acquisitions had been consummated on January 1, 2022 and after giving effect to acquisition accounting adjustments. These pro forma results have been prepared for illustrative purpose only and do not purport to be indicative of what operating results would have been had the acquisition actually taken place on the date indicated and may not be indicative of future operating results.
Unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF UNAUDITED PROFORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
| Items | Year ended December 31, 2022 | |||
| Revenue | $ | |||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | |
● The acquisition of Yuanxing
On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Share
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yuanxing
BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yuanxing BVI, who collectively hold
| F-23 |
4. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS (CONTINUED)
These transactions
were accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The results of the Yuanxing’s
operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since December 23, 2022.
The revenue and net loss of the Yuanxing from the acquisition date to December 31, 2022 was $
The following summarizes the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed pursuant to the acquisition of Yuanxing as of December 23, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF IDENTIFIED ASSETS ACQUIRED AND LIABILITIES
| Items | Amount | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |||
| Accounts receivable | ||||
| Advances to suppliers, net | ||||
| Other current assets | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||
| Other non-current assets | ||||
| Goodwill | ||||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||
| Advance from customer | ( | ) | ||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ( | ) | ||
| Total net assets | $ | |||
The fair value of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed is the estimated book value of the Yuanxing. Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of purchase price over the amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed of Yuanxing at the acquisition date.
The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented as if the acquisitions had been consummated on January 1, 2022 and after giving effect to acquisition accounting adjustments. These pro forma results have been prepared for illustrative purpose only and do not purport to be indicative of what operating results would have been had the acquisition actually taken place on the date indicated and may not be indicative of future operating results.
Unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF UNAUDITED PROFORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
| Items | Year ended December 31, 2022 | |||
| Revenue | $ | |||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | |
● The disposal of Yundian
On December 24, 2024, the Company, Magnum International
Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Yundian BVI”) with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Yundian BVI and an individual that is not affiliated with the Company or any of its directors or officers (the “Purchaser”)
entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Yundian BVI Disposition Agreement”). Pursuant to the Yundian BVI Disposition
Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Yundian BVI for $
● The disposal of Yuanxing
On December 24, 2024, the Company, Xinfuxin International
Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Yuanxing BVI”) with limited liabilities and a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Yuanxing BVI and the same Purchaser entered into a certain share transfer agreement (“Yuanxing BVI Disposition Agreement”,
collectively with the Termination Agreement and Yundian BVI Disposition Agreement, the “Agreements”). Pursuant to the Yuanxing
BVI Disposition Agreement, the Purchaser agreed to purchase all the equity interests of Yuanxing BVI for $
| F-24 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET
SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable | $ | |||||||
| Less: allowance for credit losses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net | $ | |||||||
The movement of the allowance for credit losses was as follows:
SCHEDULE OF ALLOWANCE FOR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Balance as of the beginning of year | $ | |||||||
| Additions charged to bad debt expense | ||||||||
| Effect of disposal subsidiaries | ( |
) | ||||||
| Translation adjustments | ( | ) | ||||||
| Balance as of the end of year | $ | |||||||
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company has
accounts receivable, net of and $
6. ADVANCE TO SUPPLIERS, NET
SCHEDULE OF ADVANCE TO SUPPLIERS
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Advances to Suppliers | $ | |||||||
| Less: allowance for credit losses | ( | ) | ||||||
| Advances to Suppliers, net | $ | |||||||
The movement of the allowance for credit losses was as follows:
SCHEDULE OF ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Balance as of the beginning of year | $ | |||||||
| Additions charged to credit losses | ||||||||
| Effect of disposal subsidiaries | ( | ) | ||||||
| Balance as of the end of year | $ | |||||||
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company has
advances to suppliers, net of $
7. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
The other current assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consist of the following:
SCHEDULE OF OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Staff advance | $ | |||||||
| Deposit | ||||||||
| VAT recoverable | ||||||||
| Loan to the third party | ||||||||
| Others | ||||||||
| Subtotal | ||||||||
| Less: allowance for credit losses | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total of other current assets | $ | |||||||
SCHEDULE OF ALLOWANCE FOR OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Balance as of the beginning of year | $ | |||||||
| Additions charged to bad debt expense | ||||||||
| Effect of disposal subsidiaries | ( |
) | ||||||
| Translation adjustments | ||||||||
| Balance as of the end of year | $ | |||||||
8. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consist of the following:
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Computer and accessories | $ | $ | ||||||
| Office Equipment | ||||||||
| Vehicle | ||||||||
| Leasehold improvement | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, gross | ||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||
Depreciation expense for the years ended December
31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $
| F-25 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. BANK LOANS
Bank loans represent the amounts due to various banks that are due within and over one year. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, bank loans consisted of the following:
SCHEDULE OF BANK LOANS
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Short-term bank loans: | ||||||||
| Loan from Bank of Jiangsu (1) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Loan from China Construction Bank (3) | ||||||||
| Loan from Shenzhen Qianhai Weizhong Bank (2) | ||||||||
| Short-term bank loans | $ | $ | ||||||
| (1) | |
| (2) | |
| (3) |
Due to Guogangtong Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”), the wholly owned subsidiary of Vande entered into an agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Meiwu Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Meiwu Zhishi” or “former VIE”), former VIE’s shareholders to terminate of a series of contractual arrangements (“former VIE Agreements”) by and among the former VIE, the WFOE, and shareholders of the former VIE on December 10, 2024. The balance of short-term loans was nil as of December 31,2024.
10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
The accounts payable as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consist of the following:
SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Accounts payable to suppliers | $ | |||||||
| Accounts payable for SMS service | ||||||||
| Total of Accounts payable | $ | |||||||
| F-26 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
11. RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS
The Company leases office and restaurant premises
under non-cancelable operating lease agreements, with an option to renew the leases. Per the new lease standard ASC 842-10-55, these leases
are treated as operating leases. Management determined the loan interest rate of
Rights-of-use assets, net consisted of the following:
SCHEDULE OF RIGHTS-TO-USE LEASE ASSETS
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Leased properties under operating lease | $ | |||||||
| Less: accumulated amortization | ( | ) | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets | $ | |||||||
The Company does not have any variable lease costs.
Cash payment made under the lease agreements is $
Amortization expense was recognized as lease expense
in general and administrative expense. Non-cash portion of amortization expense was $
| F-27 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12. EQUITY
Ordinary shares
Meiwu Technology Company Limited is established under
the laws of British Virgin Islands on December 4, 2018 with authorized and issued ordinary shares of par value USD$ each in
class. Subsequently on November 15, 2019, the Company issued new shares for $
The Company completed IPO of shares of ordinary
shares and ordinary shares offered by the selling shareholder, Eternal Horizon International Company Limited at a price of US$
per share to the public for a total of $
On November 23, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Boxinrui International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Anxin BVI”), and all the shareholders of Anxin BVI, who collectively hold % issued and outstanding shares of Anxin BVI (the “Sellers”). Anxin BVI indirectly owns % of Beijing Anxin Jieda Logistics Co., Ltd. (“Anxin”), a company organized under the laws of the PRC, via Anxin BVI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Anxin Jieda Co., Limited. Anxin is a company engaging in the business of transportation and logistics based in Beijing, China. Pursuant to the SPA, at the closing, we shall deliver to the Sellers a total of ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares”), however, if the audit of the Anxin’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is not completed by the sixty-fifth (65th) day following the date of the SPA, the % of the Share Consideration paid to each Seller shall be forfeited and returned to the Company for cancellation. As of March 11, 2022, Anxin BVI failed to deliver the audited financial statements of Anxin for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Therefore, we entered into a termination agreement, (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which, the parties agreed to terminate the transaction as contemplated by the SPA and the Sellers agreed to return Ordinary Shares to the Company immediately and such Ordinary Shares were forfeited and reserved as the treasury shares of the Company on June 14, 2022.
In March 2022, the Company adopted a share incentive plan, which is referred to as the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (“the 2022 Plan”). The purpose of the plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, provide additional incentive to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of the Company’s business. Under the 2022 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is Shares.
On March 31, 2022, the Company entered into a Share
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Magnum International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yundian
BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yundian BVI, who collectively hold
| F-28 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12. EQUITY (CONTINUED)
On June 23, 2022, the Company entered into a Share
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company
(the “Mahao BVI”), and all the shareholders of Mahao BVI, who collectively hold
On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Share
Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Xinfuxin International Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Yuanxing
BVI”), and all the shareholders of Yuanxing BVI, who collectively hold
On February 21, 2024 under the incentive plan registered of the Company issuance of Ordinary Shares with a cost basis of $ per share.
On December 2, 2024, the Company closed a best-efforts offering (the “Primary Offering”) of Ordinary Shares (the “Primary Offering Shares”) of the Company, to certain investors pursuant to that certain securities purchase agreement (the “Primary Offering SPA”), dated as of November 27, 2024, at an offering price of $ per share.
In addition, as previously disclosed, the Company sold Ordinary Shares (the “Resale Shares”) to Mr. Changbin Xia, the chairman of the board of directors of the Company, at an offering price of $ per share, pursuant to a certain securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2024 (“Private SPA”). The Resale Shares were also registered in the Registration Statement. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of such Resale Shares.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and ordinary shares were issued and outstanding with no par value, respectively.
Share Consolidation
On November 27, 2023, the shareholders of the Company held an extraordinary general meeting (the “Meeting”) and approved by an ordinary resolution of a share consolidation (the “Share Consolidation”) that every thirty-five () issued and unissued ordinary shares of the Company be consolidated into one (1) ordinary shares issued. As a consequence of the Share Consolidation, the par value of each issued and authorized but unissued ordinary share of the Company will remain as no par value. The Company believes it is appropriate to reflect the Share Consolidation of its Ordinary Shares on a retroactive basis pursuant to ASC 260. All shares and per share data for all the periods presented have been retroactively restated.
Additional Paid-in Capital
The additional paid-in capital at December 31,
2024 and 2023 was $
13. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
SCHEDULE OF RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
(1) Related parties with transactions and related party relationships
| Name of Related Party | Relationship to the Company | |
| Changbin Xia | ||
| CEDE & CO | ||
| Zhichao Yang | ||
| Eternal Horizon International Company Limited | ||
| Sen Jin |
| F-29 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
13. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
SCHEDULE OF DUE TO RELATED PARTIES
(2) Due to related parties
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Eternal Horizon International Company Limited(1) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Changbin Xia(2) | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| (1) |
| (2) |
During
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company purchased nil
and $
| F-30 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14. TAXATION
Income Tax
Meiwu Technology Company Limited was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) as an offshore holding company. Under the current law of the BVI, Meiwu Technology Company Limited is not subject to tax on income or capital gains. Additionally, upon payments of dividends by Meiwu Technology Company Limited to its shareholders, no BVI withholding tax will be imposed.
Meiwu Technology Company Limited’s subsidiary Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong and does not conduct any substantial operations on its own. No provision for Hong Kong profits tax has been made in the financial statements as Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited has no assessable profits. Additionally, upon payments of dividends by Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited to its shareholders, no Hong Kong withholding tax will be imposed.
Meiwu
Zhishi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, formerly known as Wunong Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, the Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries
and former VIE, being incorporated in the PRC, are governed by the income tax law of the PRC and is subject to PRC enterprise income
tax (“EIT”). The EIT rate of PRC is
Xiamen
Chunshang Health Technology Co., Ltd, the Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries, being incorporated in the PRC, are governed by
the income tax law of the PRC and is subject to PRC enterprise income tax (“EIT”). The EIT rate of PRC is
In accordance with PRC Tax Administration Law on the Levying and Collection of Taxes, the PRC tax authorities generally have up to five years to assess underpaid tax plus penalties and interest for PRC entities’ tax filings. In the case of tax evasion, which is not clearly defined in the law, there is no limitation on the tax years open for investigation. Accordingly, the PRC entities remain subject to examination by the tax authorities based on the above.
For
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company was subject to a
Reconciliation between the statutory rate and the effective tax rate is as follows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
SCHEDULE OF RECONCILIATION OF EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| PRC statutory tax rate | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Net impact of exemption and favorable tax rate rendered by local tax authorities | ||||||||||||
| Foreign loss not recognized in PRC | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Permanent difference and others | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||||
| Change in valuation allowance | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||||
| Effective tax rate | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||||
Deferred Tax
Realization
of the net deferred tax assets is dependent on factors including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and adequate
future taxable income, exclusive of reversing deductible temporary differences and tax loss or credit carry forwards. The Company evaluates
the potential realization of deferred tax assets on an entity-by-entity basis. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, valuation allowance
was provided against deferred tax assets in entities where it was determined it was more likely than not that the benefits of the deferred
tax assets will not be realized. The Company had deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, which can be carried forward to
offset future taxable income. The management determines it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets could not be recognized,
so full allowances were provided as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. The operating loss generated from tax year ending December 31, 2018
carry forward incurred by the Company and subsidiary
| F-31 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
The Company’s deferred tax assets were as follows:
SCHEDULE OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Tax effect of net operating losses carried forward | ||||||||
| Valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | $ | $ | ||||||
There
were
15. SEGMENT REPORTING
ASC 280, “Segment Reporting”, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments on a basis consistent with the Company’s internal organizational structure as well as information about geographical areas, business segments and major customers in financial statements for details on the Company’s business segments. The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company’s reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision maker, reviews operation results by the revenue of different products or services. Based on management’s assessment, the Company has determined that it has three operating segments as defined by ASC 280, including Clean Food platform, Skincare products & service and Technical Service.
Adjustments and eliminations of inter-company transactions were not included in determining segment (loss) profit, as they are not used by the chief operating decision maker. The following table presents summary information by segment for the years ended December 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively:
SCHEDULE OF SEGMENT REPORTING
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
Skincare Products & Service | Clean Food Platform | Technical Service | Total | |||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Income tax expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Segment gain(loss) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Segment assets | $ | |||||||||||||||
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
Clean Food Platform | Technical Service | Total | ||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ||||||||||||
| (Loss) income from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Income tax expenses | ||||||||||||
| Segment loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Segment assets | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| For the year ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||
Clean Food Platform | Technical Service | Total | ||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Income tax expenses | ||||||||||||
| Segment loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Segment assets | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| F-32 |
MEIWU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
As of December 31, 2024, there was no pending legal proceeding to which the Group is a party that will have a material effect on the Group’s business, results of operations or cash flows.
17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On January 1, 2025, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Xiamen Xinbaihui Digital Technology Co., Ltd. in relation to the office rental, which is located at Siming District, Xiamen City, PRC. The lease period is going to start from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.
Share Consolidation
On March 5, 2025, the shareholders of the Company held an extraordinary general meeting (the “Meeting”) and approved by an ordinary resolution of a share consolidation (the “Share Consolidation”) that every twenty (20) issued and unissued ordinary shares of the Company be consolidated into one (1) ordinary shares issued. As a consequence of the Share Consolidation, the par value of each issued and authorized but unissued ordinary share of the Company will remain as no par value. The Company believes it is appropriate to reflect the Share Consolidation of its Ordinary Shares on a retroactive basis pursuant to ASC 260. All shares and per share data for all the periods presented have been retroactively restated.
| F-33 |
PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements.
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
Item 18. Financial Statements.
The following financial statements are filed as a part of this Form 20-F in Appendix A hereto:
Item 19. Exhibits.
The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Form 20-F:
| 108 |
*Filed herewith
**Furnished herewith
† Incorporated by reference to our Amendment No.1 to Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on October 16, 2020.
†† Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on February 5, 2021.
(1) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on July 19, 2021.
(2) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on December 17, 2021
(3) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on December 17, 2021.
(4) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on April 6, 2022.
(5) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on April 11, 2022.
(6) Incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-8 filed on March 2, 2022.
(7) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on May 12, 2022.
(8) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on March 10, 2023.
(9) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on May 12, 2023.
(10) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on May 9, 2024.
(11) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 6-K filed on May 20, 2024.
(12) Incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-8 filed on February 9, 2024.
(13) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on July 5, 2024.
| 109 |
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
| Zhichao Yang | ||
| By: | /s/ Zhichao Yang | |
| Name: | Zhichao Yang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Date: May 14, 2025 | ||
| 110 |
Exhibit 8.1
Subsidiaries of Registrant
Shenzhen Vande Technology Co., Limited
Guo Gangtong Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd
Xiamen Chunshang Health Technology Co., Ltd.
Mahaotiaodong Information Technology Company
Delimond Limited
Code Beating (Xiamen) Technology Company Limited
Exhibit 12.1
Certification by the Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Zhichao Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Meiwu Technology Company Limited (the “Company”), certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of the Company;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Company’s other certifying officer 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 control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d. disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Dated: May 14, 2025
| By: | /s/ Zhichao Yang | |
| Name: | Zhichao Yang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 12.2
Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Zihao Liu, Chief Financial Officer of Meiwu Technology Company Limited (the “Company”), certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of the Company;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Company’s other certifying officer 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 control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d. disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Dated May 14, 2025
| By: | /s/ Zihao Liu | |
| Name: | Zihao Liu | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 13.1
Certification by the Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Zhichao Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Meiwu Technology Company Limited (the “Company”), hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
a. the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
b. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods presented therein.
Dated May 14, 2025
| By: | /s/ Zhichao Yang | |
| Name: | Zhichao Yang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 13.2
Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Zihao Liu, Chief Financial Officer of Meiwu Technology Company Limited (the “Company”), hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
a. the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
b. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods presented therein.
Dated May 14, 2025
| By: | /s/ Zihao Liu | |
| Name: | Zihao Liu | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
