JYD Jayud Global Logistics Ltd

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Jayud Global Logistics Limited is not a Chinese operating company, but a Cayman Islands holding company with operations mainly conducted by its subsidiaries based in mainland China.

We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties associated with being based in and having the majority of our operations in mainland China and the complex and evolving mainland China laws and regulations. For example, we face risks associated with the fact that the PRC government has significant authority in regulating our operations and may influence or intervene in our operations at any time, regulatory approvals on offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on data security, which may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or continue to list on a United States exchange. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our shares, significantly limit or hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. 

Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for Our Operations

We are required to obtain certain licenses, permits and approvals from relevant governmental authorities in China in order to operate our business. As of December 31, 2022, as advised by our PRC counsel, PacGate Law Group, we had obtained the licenses, permits and registrations from the PRC government authorities that are material and necessary for our business operations in China. Given the uncertainties of interpretation and implementation of relevant laws and regulations and the enforcement practice by relevant government authorities, and the promulgation of new laws and regulations and amendment to the existing ones, we may be required to obtain additional licenses, permits, registrations, filings or approvals for our business operations in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain, in a timely manner or at all, or maintain such licenses, permits or approvals, and we may also inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required. Any lack of or failure to maintain requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to us may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects and cause the value of any securities we offer to significantly decline or become worthless. For details, see “— D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry— Any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business operation may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and any requirement of approvals or permits in connection with our future offering of securities could cause our operations and financial conditions to be materially adversely affected, our ability to offer securities to investors to become significantly limited or completely hindered, and the securities being offered to substantially decline in value and become worthless.”

On November 14, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, issued the Administrative Regulations of Cyber Data Security (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations, which provide that data processors conducting the following activities shall apply for cybersecurity review: (i) merger, reorganization or spin-off of Internet platform operators that have acquired a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests affects or may affect national security; (ii) listing abroad of data processors processing over one million users’ personal information; (iii) listing in Hong Kong which affects or may affect national security; (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, together with other relevant administrative departments, jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, critical information infrastructure operators that procure internet products and services are subject to the cybersecurity review if their activities affect or may affect national security. The Cybersecurity Review Measures further stipulate that an internet platform operator who possesses personal information of more than one million users shall apply for a cybersecurity review before any public offering in a foreign country, and the relevant governmental authorities may initiate a cybersecurity review if they consider that the relevant network products or services or data processing activities affect or may affect national security. As of December 31, 2022, we had not received any notice that we are a critical information infrastructure operator from any government authority, nor had we received any request from the CAC to undergo a cybersecurity review in relation to our initial public offering. However, in connection with any future overseas capital markets activities, we cannot assure you that we will not be required to undergo a cybersecurity review conducted by the CAC, or meet other regulatory requirements that may be adopted in the future by mainland China authorities. To the extent such requirements are or become applicable, we cannot assure you that we would be able to comply with them. For more detailed information, see “— D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided directly or indirectly by our customers or end users.”

On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated the Trial Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”) and the related guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures has comprehensively improved and reformed the existing regulatory regime for overseas offering and listing of securities by PRC domestic companies and regulates both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of securities by PRC domestic companies by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. The CSRC provided further notice related to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures that companies that have acquired approval from overseas authority or overseas stock exchanges for indirect overseas offering and listing before March 31, 2023 and have completed overseas offering and listing before September 30, 2023, are not required to perform filling procedure. As advised by our PRC counsel, we are not required to make filing with the CSRC in connection with our initial public offering and listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market in April 2023. In addition, as of the date of this annual report, we have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or regulatory objection from the CSRC with respect to our initial public offering and listing overseas. However, we could be subject to the filing requirements with the CSRC if we conduct subsequent offerings. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulations — Regulations Relating to Overseas Listings and M&A Rules.”

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 would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose restrictions and penalties on the 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 of 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 Class A 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. For details, see “— D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The approval of and the filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.”

The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) was enacted on December 18, 2020. Pursuant to the HFCA Act, if the Securities and Exchange Commission, or 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 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our Class A ordinary shares 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.

Our auditor prior to December 8, 2022, Friedman LLP, or Friedman, and current auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (“Marcum Asia”), the independent registered public accounting firms that issue the audit reports included elsewhere in this annual report, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and firms registered with the PCAOB, have been subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Both Friedman and Marcum Asia have been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in 2020. Neither Friedman nor Marcum Asia is subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. The PCAOB is expected to continue to demand complete access to inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in the future and states that it has already made plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCA Act after we file this annual report on Form 20-F. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and if we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC by then, we may 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 HFCA Act, and the value of our Class A ordinary shares may significantly decline or become worthless. For details, see “— D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The PCAOB had historically been unable to inspect auditors in mainland China and Hong Kong in relation to their audit work. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in these jurisdictions and if we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report by then, our Class A ordinary shares may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCA Act, and such delisting or the threat of delisting may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.”

Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, and selected consolidated cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1.

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this Selected Consolidated Financial Data section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this annual report.

The following table presents our selected consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022:

The following table presents our selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2021 and 2022:

The following table presents our selected consolidated cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022:

Summary Risk Factors

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and prospects. These risks are discussed more fully below and include, but are not limited to, risks related to:

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Risks Related to the Class A Ordinary Shares

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Our business and growth are significantly affected by the development of international commerce and the e-commerce industry, as well as macroeconomic and other factors that affect demand for supply chain solutions and logistics services, in China and globally.

We generate a significant portion of volume of orders by serving merchants that may conduct business on various e-commerce platforms, which rely on our supply chain solutions and logistics services to fulfill orders placed by consumers on such platforms. As such, our business and growth are highly dependent on the viability and prospects of international commerce, as well as the domestic and international e-commerce industry. Any uncertainties relating to the growth, profitability and regulatory regime of international commerce and/or the e-commerce industry could have a significant impact on us. The development of international commerce and/or the e-commerce industry is affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond our control. These factors include but not limited to:

International commerce and the e-commerce industry are highly sensitive to the changes of macroeconomic conditions, and people’s e-commerce spending tends to decline during recessionary periods. Many factors beyond our control, including economic recessions, downturns in business cycles, inflation and deflation, fluctuation of currency exchange rate, volatility of stock and property markets, interest rates, tax rates and other government policies and changes in unemployment rates, can adversely affect international commerce, consumer confidence and spending behavior on e-commerce platforms, which could in turn materially and adversely affect our growth and profitability. In addition, unfavorable changes in domestic and international politics, including military conflicts, political turmoil and social instability, may also adversely affect consumer confidence and spending behavior, which could in turn negatively impact our growth and profitability.

Further, the supply chain solution industry has historically experienced cyclical fluctuations in operational and financial performance due to economic recessions, reductions in per capita disposable income and levels of consumer spending, downturns in the business cycles of customers, interest rate fluctuations and economic factors beyond our control. During economic downturns, whether in China or globally, reduced overall demand for supply chain services will likely result in decreased demand for our supply chain solutions and logistics services and exert downward pressures on our rates and margins. As we provide a significant portion of our supply chain solutions and logistics services for the international commerce and the e-commerce industry, if the online and offline retail channel integration trend or any other trend required for the development of international commerce and the e-commerce industry does not develop as we expect, our business prospect may be adversely affected. In periods of strong economic growth, demand for limited transportation resources can also result in increased network congestion and operating inefficiencies.

In addition, any deterioration in the economic environment subjects our business to various risks that may have a material impact on our operating results and future prospects. For example, the trade dispute between the PRC and the United States and the increase in tariffs that the two states imposed on each other’s imports have contributed to increased market volatility, weakened business and consumer confidence, and diminished expectations for economic growth around the world. The adverse impact on sellers, cross-border e-commerce, logistics companies and overseas warehouses were most prominent in the trade war if products sold belonged to the tariff lines, further leading to massive growth in tax costs. Any trade barriers, legal measures and exchange rate fluctuations may severely affect cross-border business activities or integrated supply chain solution providers that are highly sensitive to price changes. In such deteriorated economic environment, some of our customers may face difficulties in paying us, and some may go out of business. These customers may not complete their payments as quickly as they did in the past, if at all, which may have adverse impact on our working capital. We may not be able to promptly adjust our expenses in response to changing market demands and it may be more difficult to match our staffing levels to our business needs.

Trade restrictions could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are an end-to-end supply chain solution provider, and a substantial portion of our business operations is freight forwarding, particularly international freight forwarding. Our freight forwarding operations may be affected by trade restrictions implemented by countries or territories in which our customers are located or in which our customers’ products are manufactured or sold. For example, we are subject to risks relating to changes in trade policies, tariff regulations, embargoes or other trade restrictions adverse to our customers’ business. Actions by governments which result in restrictions on movement of cargo or otherwise could also impede our ability to carry out freight forwarding operations. In addition, international trade and political issues, tensions, conflicts and wars may cause delays and interruptions to cross-border transportation and result in limitations on our insurance coverage. If we are unable to transport cargo to and from countries with trade restrictions in a timely manner or at all, we may face risks related to contract violations and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We face intense competition which could adversely affect our results of operations and market share.

The industries we operate in are highly competitive and fragmented. Our extensive supply chain solutions and logistics services encompass a wide range of services, including freight forwarding services, supply chain management and other value-added services. As a result, we may compete with a broad range of companies, such as integrated supply chain solution and service providers, and express and freight delivery service providers. Specifically, there are multiple existing market players that offer integrated supply chain solutions and logistics services, and there may be new entrants emerging in each of the markets we operate in, which compete to attract, engage and retain consumers and merchants. These companies may have greater financial, technological, research and development, marketing, distribution, and other resources than we do. They may also have longer operating histories, a larger customer base or broader and deeper market coverage. As a result, our competitors may be able to respond more quickly and effectively to new or evolving opportunities, technologies, standards or user requirements than we do and may have the ability to initiate or withstand significant regulatory changes and industry evolvement. Furthermore, when we expand into other markets, we will face competition from new competitors, domestic or foreign, who may also enter markets where we currently operate or plan to operate.

Any significant increase in competition may have a material adverse effect on our revenue and profitability as well as on our operations and business prospect. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continuously distinguish our services from those of our competitors, preserve and improve our relationships with various participants in the supply chain solution industry, or increase or even maintain our existing market share. We may experience the loss of market share, and our financial condition and results of operations may deteriorate if we fail to compete effectively.

In addition, many operators in the supply chain solution industry have consolidated in recent years to create larger enterprises with greater bargaining power, which created greater competitive pressures on us. If this consolidation trend continues, this industry will be more competitive. New partnerships and strategic alliances in the supply chain solution industry also can alter market dynamics and adversely impact our businesses and competitive positioning. If we cannot equip ourselves with necessary resources and skills, we may lose our market share as competition increases. In addition, our current and potential competitors may also establish cooperative or strategic relationships amongst themselves or with third parties that may further enhance their resources and offerings. If we are unable to anticipate or react to these competitive challenges, our competitive position could be undermined, and we could experience a decline in growth which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, certain large retailers or e-commerce platforms may establish or further develop their own logistics networks leveraging on their established warehousing and delivery capacities in selected areas in order to gain control of the consumer touchpoint and to create synergies with their businesses. They may also compete with us for qualified delivery personnel and warehouse staff with competitive remuneration. Any of the above could adversely affect our results of operations and market share.

We face risks associated with the items we deliver and the contents of shipments and inventories handled through our logistics networks, including real or perceived quality or health issues with the products that are handled through our logistics networks, and risks inherent in the logistics industry, including personal injury, product damage, and transportation-related incidents.

We handle a large volume of parcels, cargo and freights across our logistics network, and face challenges with respect to the protection and examination of these parcels. Parcels in our network may be delayed, stolen, damaged or lost during delivery for various reasons, and we may be perceived or found liable for such incidents. In addition, we may fail to screen parcels and detect unsafe, prohibited or restricted items. Unsafe items, such as flammables and explosives, toxic or corrosive items and radioactive materials, may damage other parcels in our network, harm the personnel and facilities of us, or even injure the recipients. Furthermore, if we fail to prevent prohibited or restricted items from entering into our network and if we participate in the transportation and delivery of such items unknowingly, we may be subject to administrative or even criminal penalties, and if any personal injury or property damage is concurrently caused, we may also be liable for civil compensation.

The delivery of parcels also involves inherent risks. We constantly have a large number of vehicles and personnel in transportation, and are therefore subject to risks associated with transportation safety. The insurance maintained by us may not fully cover the liabilities caused by transportation related injuries or losses. From time to time, the vehicles and personnel of our third-party business partners may be involved in transportation and vehicle accidents, and the parcels carried by them may be lost or damaged. In addition, frictions or disputes may occasionally arise from the direct interactions between the pickup and delivery personnel with parcel senders and recipients. Personal injuries or property damages may arise if such incidents escalate.

Any of the foregoing could disrupt our services, cause us to incur substantial expenses and divert the time and attention of our management. We may face claims and incur significant liabilities if found liable or partially liable for any of injuries, damages or losses. Claims against us may exceed the amount of our insurance coverage, or may not be covered by insurance at all. Any uninsured or underinsured loss could negatively influence our business and financial condition. Governmental authorities may also impose significant fines on us or require us to adopt costly preventive measures. Furthermore, if our services are perceived to be insecure or unsafe by our customers, our business volume may be significantly reduced, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We may be exposed to credit risks in relation to defaults from customers.

Our exposure to credit risk may be influenced mainly by the individual characteristics of each customer as well as the industry or country in which the customers operate, and may be concentrated on few number of customers. Although we will monitor our exposure to credit risk on an ongoing basis and make periodic judgment on impairment of overdue receivables based on the likelihood of collectability, we cannot assure you that all of our customers are creditworthy and reputable and will not default on payments in the future. If we encounter significant delays or defaults in payment by our customers or are otherwise unable to recover our accounts receivables, our cash flow, liquidity and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

Our historical results of operations and financial performance are not indicative of future performance.

We generated revenues of RMB290.3 million, RMB545.6 million and RMB652.0 million (US$93.6 million) and gross profits of RMB21.0 million, RMB34.5 million and RMB37.4 million (US$5.4 million) in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Although our business has grown rapidly, our historical results of operations and financial performance may not be indicative of our future performance. In addition, we cannot assure you that we can continue to operate under our existing business models successfully. As the market and our business evolve, we may modify our operations, data and technology, sales and marketing, solutions and services. These changes may not achieve expected results and may have a material and adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. We expect our expenses to continue to increase in the future as we expand our business. Our expenses may grow faster than our revenue, and our expenses may be greater than we expected. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve similar results or grow at the same speed as we did in the past or at all. Rather than relying on our historical operating and financial results to evaluate us, you should consider our business prospects in light of the risks and difficulties we may encounter as a company in its ramp-up stage of development and operating in emerging and dynamic industries, including, among other factors, our ability to attract and retain customers; our ability to create value for participants in our ecosystem and increase monetization; our ability to navigate in the evolving regulatory environment; our ability to provide high-quality and satisfactory services; our ability to build up our reputation and promote our brand; and our ability to anticipate and adapt to changing market conditions. We may not be able to successfully address these risks and difficulties, which could significantly harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

If we are unable to collect our receivables from our existing customers, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Our business depends on our ability to successfully collect payment from our customers of the amounts they owe us for our services. As of December 31, 2022, we had accounts receivable recorded at RMB32.1 million (US$4.6 million), of which RMB1.2 million (US$0.2 million) was allowanced, accounting for approximately 3.7% of our total accounts receivable. We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon estimates, historical experience and other factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. However, actual losses on customer receivables balance could differ from our anticipation and as a result we might need to adjust our allowance. There is no guarantee that we will accurately assess the creditworthiness of our customers. Macroeconomic conditions, including related turmoil in the global financial system, could also result in financial difficulties for our customers, including limited access to the credit markets, insolvency or bankruptcy, and as a result could cause customers to delay payments to us, requesting modifications to their payment arrangements that could increase our receivables balance or default on the payment obligations to us. As a result, an extended delay or default in payment relating to a significant account will have a material and adverse effect on the aging schedule and turnover days of our accounts receivable. If we are unable to collect our receivables from our customers, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Our strategies and expansion plans may require a significant amount of capital, and the actual capital requirements may be different from what we anticipate. We may seek equity or debt financing to finance all or a portion of such capital expenditures. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms, our business, financial condition, and prospects will not be materially adversely affected.

In order to carry out our business strategies as well as market and network expansion plans, we may require significant capital to, among other things, rent, purchase and maintain our logistics equipment and infrastructure, including but not limited to warehouses, fleet vehicles, equipment and other fixed assets. We expect that our level of capital expenditures will be significantly affected by customer demand for our services as well as the prevailing prices of the certain equipment and infrastructure. The fact that we have a limited operating history means we have limited historical data on the demand for our services. As a result, our future capital requirements may be uncertain and actual capital requirements may be different from what we currently anticipate.

We may seek equity or debt financing to finance all or some of our capital expenditures. Such financing might not be available to us in a timely manner or on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms, our business, financial condition, and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our strategies and expansion plans is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business plans. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities, or substantially change our corporate structure. We might not be able to obtain any funding or service any of the debts we incurred, and we might not have sufficient resources to conduct our business as projected, either of which could mean that we would be forced to curtail or discontinue our operations. In addition, our future capital needs could require us to issue additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The issuance of additional equity or equity-linked securities could dilute our shareholders.

Failure to successfully implement our business strategy, effectively respond to changes in market dynamics and satisfactorily meet customer demand will cause our future financial results to suffer.

We are making significant investments and other decisions in connection with our long-term business strategy including our ability to expand the breadth and depth of our solutions and services and further invest in supply chain technologies. Such initiatives and enhancements may require us to make significant capital expenditures. Additionally, in developing our business strategy, we make certain assumptions including, but not limited to, those related to customer demand and preferences, competition landscape and the economy in China and globally. However, the actual market, economic and other conditions may be different from our assumptions. As the technology, customer behavior and market conditions continue to evolve, it is important that we maintain the relevance of our brand and service offerings to our customers. If we are not able to successfully implement our business strategies and effectively respond to changes in market dynamics, our future financial results will suffer. We have also incurred, and may continue to incur, increased operating expenses in connection with certain changes to our business strategies.

In addition, we make planning and spending decisions, including capacity expansion, procurement commitments, personnel needs and other resource requirements based on our estimate of customer demand. In particular, we may potentially experience capacity and resource shortages in fulfilling customer orders during peak season of e-commerce consumption or following special promotional campaigns on any e-commerce platforms. Failure to meet customer demand in a timely fashion or at all will adversely affect our competitive position, financial condition and results of operations.

We may need additional capital to pursue business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances, and financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

Since inception, we have obtained credit facilities from commercial banks to support the growth of our business. As we intend to continue to make investments to support the growth of our business, we may require additional capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances, including developing new supply chain solutions and logistics services, expanding our logistics infrastructure, and acquiring complementary businesses and technologies. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. However, additional funds may not be available when we need them, on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. Repayment of the indebtedness may divert a substantial portion of cash flow to repay principal and service interest, which would reduce the funds available for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; and we may suffer default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating cash flow is insufficient to fulfill our obligations, which could in turn result in acceleration of obligations to repay the indebtedness and limit our sources of financing.

Volatility in the credit markets may also have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain debt financing. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our existing shareholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of our ordinary shares. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us when we require it, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and to respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be adversely affected.

We may fail to successfully enter necessary or desirable strategic alliances or make acquisitions or investments, and we may not be able to achieve the anticipated benefits from these alliances, acquisitions or investments we make.

We may evaluate and consider strategic investments and acquisitions or enter into strategic alliances to develop new services or solutions and enhance our competitive position. Investments or acquisitions involve numerous risks, including potential failure to achieve the expected benefits of the integration or acquisition; difficulties in, and the cost of, integrating operations, technologies, services and personnel; potential write-offs of acquired assets or investments; and downward effect on our operating results. These transactions will also divert the management’s time and resources from our normal course of operations, and we may have to incur unexpected liabilities or expenses. Further, since our inception, we had entered into strategic alliances with air freight carriers and ocean freight carriers, thus boosting and stabilizing our service capabilities. We may also in the future enter into strategic alliances with various third parties. Strategic alliances with third parties could subject us to a number of risks, including risks associated with potential leakage of proprietary information, non-performance by the counterparty and an increase in expenses incurred in establishing new strategic alliances, any of which may materially and adversely affect our business.

In addition, if we do not successfully execute or effectively operate, integrate, leverage and grow acquired businesses, our financial results and reputation may suffer. Our strategy for long-term growth, productivity and profitability depends in part on our ability to make prudent strategic investment or acquisition decisions and to realize the benefits we expect when we make those investments or acquisitions. While we expect our past and future acquisitions to enhance our value proposition to customers and improve our long-term profitability, there can be no assurance that we will realize our expectations within the time frame we envisage, if at all, or that we can continue to support the value we allocate to these acquired businesses, including their goodwill or other intangible assets.

We rely on service providers, such as air, ocean and ground freight carriers, and if they become financially unstable or have reduced capacity to provide services because of pandemics, such as COVID-19, it may adversely impact our business and operating results.

We depend on services by air, ocean and overland freight carriers. The quality and profitability of our services depend upon the effective selection and oversight of our service providers. Pandemics, such as COVID-19 have ever placed significant stress on our air, ocean and freight ground carriers, which may continue to result in reduced carrier capacity or availability, pricing volatility or more limited carrier transportation schedules which could adversely impact our operations and financial results. During the pandemic, air carriers have been particularly affected having to cancel flights due to travel restrictions resulting in dramatic drops in revenues, historical losses and liquidity challenges. Uncertainty over recovery of demand for passenger air travel, in particular business travel, to pre-pandemic levels means air carriers’ operations and financial stability may be adversely affected long term.

Our business may be affected by fluctuations in China’s road transportation market.

We are sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions that impact cargo volumes and truck capacity. China’s road transportation market historically has experienced cyclical fluctuations due to economic slowdowns, downturns in business cycles of shippers, volatility in energy price, pandemic and other economic factors beyond our control. Deterioration in the economic environment subjects our business to various risks, including the following that may have a material and adverse impact on our operating results and cause us not to achieve growth or profitability:

Any disruption to the operation of the warehousing and logistics facilities operated by us or other third-party transportation companies and couriers that facilitate our logistics services, or to the development of new warehousing and logistics facilities, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

As of December 31, 2022, we had two self-operated warehouses located in Shenzhen of Guangdong province, with an aggregate gross floor area, or GFA, of approximately 14,564 sq. m. As of the same date, we had the rights to use two third-party warehouses located in Yiwu of Zhejiang province and Hong Kong, with an aggregate GFA of approximately 8,531 sq.m. In May 2022, we, through Shenzhen Jayud Logistics Technology Co., Ltd., entered into an agreement to obtain the right to use a brand new warehouse (“Dachan Bay Warehouse”) that was located close to Dachan Bay Terminals, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport and National Highway G4 which connects Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao, with an aggregate GFA of approximately 11,000 sq.m. Later in August, Shenzhen Jayud Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. assigned all its rights and obligations under such agreement to Shenzhen Jayud Yuncang Technology Co., Ltd., one of our subsidiaries in China, by entering into a supplementary agreement. Dachan Bay Warehouse further enhances our capabilities to cover logistics services in the Southeast Asian market. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Freight Forwarding Services—Warehousing Services.” Natural disasters or other unanticipated catastrophic events, including power interruptions, water shortage, storms, fires, environmental pollutions, earthquakes, terrorist attacks and wars, as well as changes in governmental planning for the land underlying these facilities, could destroy any inventory located in these facilities and significantly impair our business operations. We may not be able to identify suitable replacement warehousing and logistics facilities that meet our requirements in a timely manner, should any of the foregoing occur.

If we are unable to utilize our container depots and warehouses effectively, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.

As part of our end-to-end supply chain solution, we offer depot and warehousing services to our customers. Our continued growth depends in part on our ability to open and profitably operate our container depots and warehouses. The actual opening timing of new warehouses and its associated contribution to our growth are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to our ability to: (i) obtain adequate funding for development; (ii) accurately estimate the customer demand in new warehouses; (iii) successfully promote our new warehouses; and (iv) hire and retain skilled management and employees, especially qualified warehouse managers through our training and promotion, on commercially reasonable terms. Adverse changes in the economic conditions and any material decline in demand of our container depots and warehouse may lead to excess capacity. If we are unable to utilize excess warehouse capacity on hand, we may incur losses which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to obtain adequate amount of cargo space to meet our customers’ needs.

We typically obtained cargo space from carriers through arrangements under block space agreements and spot agreements. Pursuant to the block space agreements, we may procure cargo space on specified routes for an agreed freight carriage capacity that the shipping carriers provide and we agree to obtain during the term of the contract. If we wish to obtain more cargo space than the allocated under the block space agreements, such additional cargo space will be subject to the latest market price, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain such additional cargo space at all. Further, since cargo space offered by our suppliers is on a first-come-first-served basis with no formal agreement for guaranteed supply of cargo space from our suppliers other than those under block space agreements, there is no assurance that we will be able to source cargo space within our customers’ expected timeframe cost-effectively. We cannot guarantee that this will not happen in the future and if we cannot obtain sufficient cargo space from our suppliers to meet our customers’ demand, in particular during peak seasons, our reputation within the industry could be damaged.

We use third parties in some aspects of our operations and failure to maintain positive relationships with them could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We engage independent third parties to supplement some aspects of our operations and form our integrated logistic service offerings, such as freight transportation and last-mile delivery. We also depend on third parties to provide transportation services, including fleet and drivers, warehousing equipment, replacement parts, packaging and certain other materials. Our equipment and transportation service supplier bases are not concentrated and their performance will impact our overall service quality. In addition, the market for third-party transportation services is fragmented with a large number of service providers, and it can be difficult to find reliable partners whose performance and reliability meet our standards at the scale our operations require. Decreased availability or increased costs of key logistics and supply chain services, such as warehousing equipment and materials, could impact our cost of operations, our profitability, as well as our cash flows. In addition, we may also be exposed to legal risks and subject to certain liabilities, including administrative fines, if those third parties fail to obtain all necessary licenses and permits as required.

In addition, we are dependent in part on third party business partners to report certain events to us, such as delivery information and cargo claims. This partial reliance on third parties could cause delays in reporting certain events, impacting our ability to recognize revenue and claims in a timely manner. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain access to preferred third-party service providers at attractive rates or that these providers will have adequate capacity available to meet the needs of our customers.

We believe that we have good relationships with our third-party business partners and are generally able to obtain favorable pricing and other terms from such parties. If we fail to maintain these relationships with our third-party business partners, or if our third-party business partners are unable to provide the services we need or undergo financial hardship, we could experience difficulty in obtaining the services needed. Subsequently, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, our inability to maintain positive relationships with these third-party service providers could significantly limit our ability to serve our customers on competitive terms. If we are unable to secure sufficient equipment or other transportation or delivery services to meet our commitments to our customers or provide our services on competitive terms, our customers could shift their business to our competitors or other third-party service providers, temporarily or permanently, and our operating results could be materially and adversely affected. Our ability to secure sufficient equipment or other transportation or delivery services to meet our commitments to customers or provide our services on competitive terms is subject to inherent risks, many of which are beyond our control, including:

If we are unable to manage the expansion of our logistics infrastructure successfully, our business prospects and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

As of December 31, 2022, we had two self-operated warehouses located in Shenzhen City of Guangdong province, respectively, with an aggregate GFA of approximately 14,564 sq.m. In addition, as of the same date, we had the rights to use two third-party warehouses located in Yiwu City of Zhejiang province and Hong Kong, with an aggregate GFA of approximately 8,531 sq.m. In May 2022, we, through Shenzhen Jayud Logistics Technology Co., Ltd., entered into an agreement to obtain the right to use a brand new warehouse (“Dachan Bay Warehouse”) that was located close to Dachan Bay Terminals, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport and National Highway G4 which connects Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao, with an aggregate GFA of approximately 11,000 sq.m. Later in August, Shenzhen Jayud Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. assigned all its rights and obligations under such agreement to Shenzhen Jayud Yuncang Technology Co., Ltd., one of our subsidiaries in China, by entering into a supplementary agreement. As of December 31, 2022, we had an operation team of over 49 personnel who are responsible for delivery, warehouse operations as well as other functions such as customer services. We plan to establish larger, custom-designed warehouses to increase our storage capacity and to restructure and reorganize our logistics workflow and processes. We also plan to establish more warehouses in additional counties and districts to further enhance our service capacity and distribution network. As we continue to add logistics and warehouse capability, our logistics network becomes increasingly complex and challenging to operate. We cannot assure you that we will be able to set up warehouses or lease suitable facilities on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Moreover, the order volume in those less developed areas may not be sufficient to allow us to operate our own delivery network in a cost-efficient manner. We may not be able to recruit a sufficient number of qualified employees in connection with the expansion of our logistics infrastructure. In addition, the expansion of our logistics infrastructure may strain our managerial, financial, operational and other resources. If we fail to manage such expansion successfully, our growth potential, business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Even if we manage the expansion of our logistics infrastructure successfully, it may not give us the competitive advantage that we expect if improved logistics services become widely available at reasonable prices to our existing and potential customers, such as large retailers, in China.

We depend on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues and the loss of one or more of these customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Certain of our businesses depend significantly on a limited number of key customers. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, revenues generated from our five largest customers in terms of contract amount accounted for approximately 59.9%, 35.8%, and 46.1%, respectively. Most of our contracts with these key customers are generally renewed year-by-year. No other client accounted for more than 10.0% of revenues. Due to the concentration of revenues from a limited number of customers, if we do not receive the payments expected from any of these key customers, our revenue, financial condition and results of operations will be negatively impacted. In addition, we cannot assure that any of our customers in the future will not cease purchasing services or products from us in favor of services or products from our competitors, significantly reduce orders or seek price reductions in the future, and any such event could have a material adverse effect on our revenue, profitability, and results of operations.

If our customers reduce their expenditure on third-party supply chain solutions and logistics services or increase utilization of their internal solutions, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.

Our growth strategy is partially based on the assumption that the trend toward outsourcing of supply chain services will continue. Third-party service providers like us are generally able to provide such services more efficiently than otherwise could be provided “in-house,” primarily as a result of our expertise, technology and lower and more flexible employee cost structure. However, many factors could cause a reversal in the trend. For example, our customers may see risks in relying on third-party service providers, or they may begin to define these activities as within their own core competencies and decide to perform supply chain operations themselves. If our customers are able to improve the cost structure of their in-house supply chain activities, including in particular their labor-related costs, we may not be able to provide our customers with an attractive alternative for their supply chain needs. If our customers in-source significant aspects of their supply chain operations, or if potential new customers decide to continue to perform their own supply chain activities, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.

If we fail to cost-efficiently attract new customers to use our solutions and services, or to maintain relationships with existing customers, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

The success of our business depends in part on our ability to cost-effectively attract and retain new customers and increase engagement of existing customers by providing additional solutions and services. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we were successful in increasing our cooperation with existing customers and retaining new customers, and the total number of customers increased from 535 in 2020 to 1,299 in 2021 and further to 1879 in 2022. We believe that our selling and marketing efficiency, consistent and reliable services and rapid responses to changing customer preferences have been critical in promoting awareness of our services, which in turn drive customer growth and engagement. However, if our promotional activities and marketing strategies do not work efficiently, we cannot maintain our selling and marketing expenses at a reasonable level.

In addition, if the customers do not perceive our solutions and services to be timely and reliable, we may not be able to attract and retain customers and increase their use of our solutions and services. If we fail to cost-effectively retain customers and increase their use of our solutions and services, our business and results of operations could be adversely and materially affected.

Further, while we currently believe we can achieve profitability and grow cash flows organically through further penetration of existing customers and by expanding our customer base, we may not be able to effectively and successfully implement such strategies and realize our stated goals. Our goals may be negatively affected by a failure to further penetrate our existing customer base, expand our service offerings, pursue new customer opportunities, manage the operations and expenses of new or growing service offerings or otherwise achieve growth of our service offerings.

Overall tightening of the labor market, increases in labor costs or any labor unrest may affect our business as we operate in a labor-intensive industry.

Our business requires a considerable number of personnel. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021, and 2022, our labor costs comprised 5.3%, 3.5%, and 3.6% of our total operating expenses and cost of revenue for the same periods, respectively. Any failure to retain stable and dedicated labor by us may lead to disruptions to or delays in our services. We sometimes hire additional or temporary workers, in particular logistics and delivery personnel, during peak periods of e-commerce activities. We have observed an overall tightening labor market. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, increases in labor costs due to increases in salaries, social benefits and employee headcounts and we may also face seasonal labor shortages. We may compete with other companies for labor, and we may not be able to offer competitive salaries and benefits compared to what other companies do.

Our results of operations are subject to seasonal fluctuations.

We experience seasonality in our business, mainly correlating to the seasonality patterns associated with the e-commerce and logistics and supply chain industries both in China and in other countries. We typically experience a seasonal surge in volume of orders during the second and fourth quarters of each year when major online retail and e-commerce platforms launch special promotional campaigns, for example, June 18 Anniversary Sale in China and the Black Friday Sale in the United States each year. We may experience capacity and resource shortages in fulfilling orders during the period of such seasonal surge in our business. On the contrary, activity levels across our business lines are typically lower around Chinese national holidays, including Chinese New Year in the first quarter of each year, primarily due to weaker consumer spending, lower user activity levels and decreased availability of delivery personnel and warehouse staff during these holiday seasons.

Our financial condition and results of operations for future periods may continue to fluctuate, and the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares, may fluctuate from time to time, due to seasonality.

Fluctuations in the price or availability of fuel, may adversely affect our results of operations.

We offer transportation services as part of our supply chain solutions and logistics services, for which we use heavy-duty trucks as the major transportation instrument. Therefore, truck fuel costs and tolls account for a portion of our cost. We, or our third-party business partners, must purchase large quantities of fuel to meet the demand of our vehicles, and the price and availability of fuel is subject to political, economic, and market factors that are outside of our control and can be highly volatile. In the event of significant fuel prices rise, our related costs may arise and our gross profits may decrease if we are unable to adopt any effective cost control-measures or pass on the incremental costs to our customers in the form of service surcharges.

Any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business operation may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and any requirement of approvals or permits in connection with our future offering of securities could cause our operations and financial conditions to be materially adversely affected, our ability to offer securities to investors to become significantly limited or completely hindered, and the securities being offered to substantially decline in value and become worthless.

Our business is subject to certain regulations, and we are required to hold or complete a number of licenses, permits and filings in connection with our business operation, including, but not limited to, Road Transportation Operation Permit, Filings of International Freight Forwarding Agencies, Fillings of Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier and Fillings of Customs Declaration Entities. Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in penalties to rectify, fines, or suspension of business for remediation. We hold and complete all material licenses, permits and filings for our current operations and will apply for certain permits and filings with the government authorities if needed in the future. Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Licenses, Permits and Approvals” for more details of licenses and permits we have obtained and filings we have made. However, we cannot assure you that we can complete such filings in a timely manner, or at all, due to complex procedural requirements and the expansion of our business.

We, as an end-to-end supply chain solution provider, conduct a substantial portion of our business operations of freight forwarding, particularly international freight forwarding. According to the Administrative Provisions on International Freight Forwarders and the implementation rules thereof as well as the Tentative Measures on Putting on Record of International Freight Forwarding Agencies, all international freight forwarding agencies and their branches shall be filed with the Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”) or the governmental authorities authorized by MOC. Entities engaging in international freight forwarding operations who do not complete or maintain the filing will be subject to penalties as determined by competent authorities and any illegal operational activities will be banned. In addition, we, as an end-to-end supply chain solution provider, also provide our service as a non-vessel operating common carrier (“NVOCC”). Under the Regulations on International Maritime Transport and its implementation rules, all NVOCC shall complete bill of lading filing formalities with the department responsible for transportation under the State Council. Entities conducting business as an NVOCC in violation of such filing requirements may be ordered to suspend business and the illegal gains may be confiscated. If the illegal gains are less than RMB100,000, a fine of between two to five times of their illegal gains may be imposed. Where there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than RMB100,000, a fine ranging from RMB50,000 to RMB200,000 may be imposed.

Meanwhile, we also conduct international trading business and provide agent services related to export and import business, including application for duty-refund and customs brokerage services. According to the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Record-filing of Customs Declaration Entities, enterprises conducting customs declaration business shall file a record with the Customs in accordance with laws. Implementing Regulations of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Administrative Penalties provides that, in case anyone undertakes customs declaration business without completing filing with the Customs, including the fillings of customs declaration entities, it shall be prohibited from conducting relevant business activities, the illegal gains shall be confiscated, and a fine of less than RMB100,000 may be imposed. Before December 30, 2022, the then-effective Foreign Trade Law and the Measures for the Record-Filing and Registration of Foreign Trade Business Operators require a foreign trade business operator who engages in the import or export of goods or technologies to go through the record registration formalities with the MOC or its entrusted agency. In case a foreign trade business operator fails to complete the said record registration formalities, the Customs shall not process the formalities for import or export declaration and release. On December 30, 2022, the Foreign Trade Law of the PRC was amended, and foreign trade operators were no longer required to go through the record registration formalities.

We are also engaged in the business of road transportation in support of and concurrently with our main business mentioned above. Road Transport Regulation of the PRC requires that entities apply for engaging in the freight transport business operations shall apply for a road transport business operation permit, and further sets out that entities engaging in the road transport business operations without possessing a road transport business operation permit will be subject to an order to stop business operation and confiscation of any illegal gains, and shall be fined two to ten times of the amount of the illegal gains, and, if it has not obtained any illegal gains or the amount of illegal gains is less than RMB20,000, a fine ranging from RMB30,000 to RMB100,000 shall be imposed.

The information contained in the licenses, permits, records or filings that we possessed may not be updated in a timely manner due to changes in any registered information of the applicable PRC subsidiaries, such as their domicile address, registered capital and type of entity, and we will apply for these changes of registration as required. However, we cannot guarantee that we will complete such change of registration in time or at all and any failure to complete the change of registration in a timely manner may result in fines and penalties.

New laws and regulations may be enforced from time to time to require additional licenses and permits other than those we currently have or provide additional requirements on the operation of our business. If we do not receive, complete or maintain necessary approvals or filings, or we inadvertently conclude that such approvals or filings are not required, or there is a change in the applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations such that we need to make filings or obtain approvals in the future, we may be subject to (i) investigations by competent regulatory authorities, (ii) fines or penalties, (iii) orders to suspend our operations and to rectify any non-compliance, or (iv) prohibitions from engaging in relevant businesses and even securities offerings. These risks could result in material adverse changes in our operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.

If it is determined that any approval, filing or other administrative procedure from other PRC governmental authorities is required for any future offering or listing, we cannot assure that we can obtain the required approval or accomplish the required filings or other regulatory procedures in a timely manner, or at all. Any such failure would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose restrictions and penalties on the 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 of 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.

We have been closely monitoring regulatory developments in China regarding any necessary approvals from the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities required for overseas listings. As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection to our listing status from the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities. However, there remains significant uncertainty as to the enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulatory requirements related to overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities. If it is determined in the future that the approval of any PRC regulatory authority is required, we may face sanctions by such regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operations in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, you do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the regulatory PRC agencies later promulgate new rules requiring that we obtain their approvals for the previous offering, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such an approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our securities.

The PRC government may take actions to exert more oversight and control over offerings by China based issuers conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in such companies, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors outside China and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. See “—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes of PRC laws and regulations with little advance notice could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us, and the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas, which changes could materially hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless” on page 22 and “The approval of and the filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing” on page 24.

The COVID-19 pandemic has, and will likely continue to, negatively impact the global economy and disrupt normal business activity, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

The global spread of COVID-19 and the efforts to control it have slowed global economic activity and disrupted, and reduced the efficiency of, normal business activities in much of the world. The pandemic has resulted in authorities around the world implementing numerous unprecedented measures such as travel restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, and factory and office shutdowns. These measures have impacted and will likely continue to impact our workforce and operations, and those of our customers and suppliers.

In particular, we have experienced some disruption to our supply chain during the Chinese government mandated lockdown. For instance, from April to May 2022, Shanghai was shut down and all the businesses in Shanghai were closed due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant. While all our major suppliers were fully operational as of December 31, 2022, any future disruption in their operations would impact our ability to manufacture and deliver our products to customers. In addition, reductions in commercial airline and cargo flights, disruptions to ports and other shipping infrastructure resulting from the pandemic are resulting in increased transport times to deliver packages to our customers.

In response to governmental directives and recommended safety measures, we have implemented personal safety measures at all our facilities. However, these measures may not be sufficient to mitigate the risk of infection by COVID-19. If a significant number of our employees, or employees and third parties performing key functions, including our chief executive officer and members of our board of directors, become ill, our business may be further adversely impacted.

In the longer-term, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, and could result in a global economic downturn and a recession. Although China began to modify its zero-COVID policy in late 2022, and most of the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements were lifted in December 2022, there remains uncertainty as to the future impact of the virus, especially in light of this change in policy. Future lockdowns or other restrictive measures that may be imposed, especially those imposed in major cities where we have a significant presence, may have a material impact on our services and our customers, which may, in turn negatively impact our results of operations.

The Russia-Ukrainian War has, and will likely continue to, negatively impact the global economy and disrupt international trade and oil price, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which commenced in February 2022, has disrupted supply chains and caused instability and significant volatility in the energy markets and the global economy. Much uncertainty remains regarding the global impact of the conflict in Ukraine, and it is possible that such instability, uncertainty and resulting volatility could significantly increase our costs and adversely affect our business, including our ability to obtain oil and other energy resources, and as a result, adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows.

As a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Switzerland, the US, the EU, the UK and others have announced unprecedented levels of sanctions and other measures against Russia and certain Russian entities and nationals. Such sanctions against Russia may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. For example, apart from the immediate commercial disruptions caused in the conflict zone, escalating tensions among the two countries and fears of potential shortages in the supply of Russian crude have caused the price of oil to trade above $100 per barrel as of March 18, 2022. The consequent rise of fuel prices may increase our costs and reduce our profits. See “—Fluctuations in the price or availability of fuel, may adversely affect our results of operations” for more details. In addition, the China-Europe Railway Express, which we originally relied on as a major means of overland transportation between China and Europe, was at risk because most of its routes pass through Russia. The ongoing conflict could result in the imposition of further economic sanctions against Russia, with uncertain impacts on the logistics market and the world economy. While we do not have any Ukrainian or Russian crew, our shipping routes currently do not cross the Black Sea and we otherwise conduct zero operations in Russia and Ukraine, it is possible that the conflict in Ukraine, including any increased shipping costs, disruptions of global shipping routes, any impact on the global supply chain and any impact on current or potential customers caused by the events in Russia and Ukraine, could adversely affect our operations or financial performance.

Any failure to maintain the satisfactory performance of our technology systems and resulting interruptions in the availability of our websites, applications, or services could adversely affect our business, results of operations and prospects.

The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our technology platform are critical to our success. We have developed a technology platform that enables us to deliver supply chain solutions and logistics services with simplicity, convenience, speed and reliability. These integrated systems support the smooth performance of certain key functions of our business. However, our technology platform or infrastructure may not function properly at all times. We may be unable to monitor and ensure high-quality maintenance and upgrade of our technology platform and infrastructure, and our customers may experience service outages and delays in accessing and using our platforms as we seek to source additional capacity. In addition, we may experience surges in online traffic and orders associated with promotional activities as we scale, which can put additional demand on our platform at specific times. Any disruption to our technology platform and causing interruptions to our website, applications, platform or services could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our technology systems may also experience telecommunications failures, computer viruses, failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases or components, power outages, hardware failures, user errors, or other attempts to harm our technology systems, which may result in the unavailability or slowdown of our technology platform or certain functions, delays or errors in transaction processing, loss of data, inability to accept and fulfill orders, reduced gross merchandise volume and the attractiveness of our technology platform. Further, hackers, acting individually or in coordinated groups, may also launch distributed denial of service attacks or other coordinated attacks that may cause service outages or other interruptions in our business. Any of such occurrences could cause severe disruption to our daily operations. If we cannot successfully execute system maintenance and repair, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected and we could be subject to liability claims.

If we fail to keep up with the technological developments and implementation of advanced technologies, our business, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We apply technology to serve our clients more efficiently and bring them better user experience. Our success will in part depends on our ability to keep up with the changes in technology and the continued successful implementation of advanced technology, including 5G, cloud computing, distributed architecture and big data analytics. If we fail to adapt our platform and services to changes in technological development in an effective and timely manner, our business operations may suffer. Changes in technologies may require substantial expenditures in research and development as well as in modification of our services. Technical hurdles in implementing technological advances may result in our services becoming less attractive to clients, which, in turn, may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and prospects.

We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.

We regard our trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies, and similar intellectual property (which we have ownership or legal rights to use) as critical to our success, and we rely on a combination of intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements, including confidentiality, invention assignment and non-compete arrangements with our employees and others, to protect our proprietary rights. Despite these measures, any of our intellectual property rights could be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or misappropriated, or such intellectual property may not be sufficient to provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, there can be no assurance that our patent applications will be approved, that any issued patents will adequately protect our intellectual property, or that such patents will not be challenged by third parties or found by a judicial authority to be invalid or unenforceable. Further, because of the rapid pace of technological change in our industry, parts of our business rely on technologies developed or licensed by third parties, and we may not be able to obtain or continue to obtain licenses and technologies from these third parties on reasonable terms, or at all.

It is often difficult to register, maintain and enforce intellectual property rights in China. Statutory laws and regulations are subject to judicial interpretation and enforcement and may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation. Confidentiality, invention assignment and non-compete agreements may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to us for any such breach. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our contractual rights in China. Policing any unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly and the steps we take may be inadequate to prevent the infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property. In the event that we resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managerial and financial resources, and could put our intellectual property at risk of being invalidated or narrowed in scope. We cannot assure you that we will prevail in such litigation, and even if we do prevail, we may not obtain a meaningful recovery. In addition, our trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by, our competitors. Any failure in maintaining, protecting or enforcing our intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt our business and operations.

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. We have been, and from time to time in the future may be, subject to legal proceedings and claims relating to the intellectual property rights of others. In addition, there may be other third-party intellectual property that is infringed by our solutions or services, the solutions or services provided by third-party merchants on our marketplace, or other aspects of our business. There could also be existing patents of which we are not aware that our solutions or services may inadvertently infringe. We cannot assure you that holders of patents purportedly relating to some aspects of our technology platform or business, if any such holders exist, would not seek to enforce such patents against us in China, the United States or any other jurisdictions. Further, the application and interpretation of China’s patent laws and the procedures and standards for granting patents in China are still evolving and are uncertain, and we cannot assure you that PRC courts or regulatory authorities would agree with our analysis. If we are found to have violated the intellectual property rights of others, we may be subject to liability for our infringement activities or may be prohibited from using such intellectual property, and we may incur licensing fees or be forced to develop alternatives of our own. In addition, we may incur significant expenses, and may be forced to divert management’s time and other resources from our business and operations to defend against these third-party infringement claims, regardless of their merits. Successful infringement or licensing claims made against us may result in significant monetary liabilities and may materially disrupt our business and operations by restricting or prohibiting our use of the intellectual property in question. Finally, we use open source software in connection with our solutions and services. Companies that incorporate open source software into their solutions and services have, from time to time, faced claims challenging the ownership of open source software and compliance with open source license terms. As a result, we could be subject to suits by parties claiming ownership of what we believe to be open source software or noncompliance with open source licensing terms. Some open source software licenses may require users who distribute open source software as part of their software to publicly disclose all or part of the source code to such software and make available any derivative works of the open source code on unfavorable terms or at no cost. Any requirement to disclose our source code or pay damages for breach of contract could be harmful to our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our business depends on the continued efforts of our senior management, particularly Mr. Geng. If Mr. Geng, or one or more other of our key executives and employees, were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, our business may be severely disrupted.

Our business operations depend on the continuing services of our senior management, particularly Mr. Geng, our chairman and chief executive officer, and our other executive officers named in this annual report. While we have provided different incentives to our management, we cannot assure you that we can continue to retain their services. If one or more of our key executives were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily or at all, our future growth may be constrained, our business may be severely disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we may incur additional expenses to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel. In addition, although we have entered into confidentiality and non-competition agreements with our key executives of our subsidiaries in China, there is no assurance that any member of our management team will not join our competitors or form a competing business. Moreover, it is possible that our key employees, upon their departure, will join our competitors or start their own competing businesses, and may solicit certain of our current customers, which may adversely affect our business, financial results and daily operations. If any dispute arises between us and our current or former officers, we may have to incur substantial costs and expenses in order to enforce such agreements in China or we may be unable to enforce them at all.

Our executive officers have no prior experience in operating a U.S. public company, and their inability to operate the public company aspects of our business could harm us.

Our executive officers have no experience in operating a U.S. public company, which makes our ability to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations uncertain. Our failure to comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to U.S. public companies could subject us or our management to regulatory scrutiny or sanction, which could harm our reputation and share price.

Any damage to the reputation and recognition of our brand names, including negative publicity against us, our solutions and services, operations and our directors, senior management and business partners may materially and adversely affect our business operations and prospects.

We believe our brand image and corporate reputation will play an increasingly important role in enhancing our competitiveness and maintaining business growth. Many factors, some of which are beyond our control, may negatively impact our brand image and corporate reputation if not properly managed. These factors include our ability to provide superior solutions and services to our customers, successfully conduct marketing and promotional activities, manage relationship with and among our customers and business partners, and manage complaints and events of negative publicity, maintain positive perception of our Company, our peers and logistics industry in general. Any actual or perceived deterioration of our service quality, which is based on an array of factors including customer satisfaction, rate of complaint or rate of accident, could subject us to damages such as loss of important customers. Any negative publicity against us, our solutions and services, operations, directors, senior management, employees, business partners or our peers could adversely affect customer perception of our brand, cause damages to our corporate reputation and result in decreased demand for our solutions and services. If we are unable to promote our brand image and protect our corporate reputation, we may not be able to maintain and grow our customer base, and our business and growth prospects may be adversely affected.

We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws, and non-compliance with such laws can subject us to administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.

We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws and regulations in various jurisdictions in which we conduct activities, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and other anti-corruption laws and regulations. The FCPA prohibits us and our officers, directors, employees and business partners acting on our behalf, including agents, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to a “foreign official” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records and accounts that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls.

We have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies and state-owned affiliated entities in the ordinary course of business. We have also entered into joint ventures and/or other business partnerships with government agencies and state-owned or affiliated entities. These interactions subject us to an increased level of compliance- related concerns. We are in the process of implementing policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by us and our directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, agents and business partners with applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws and regulations. However, our policies and procedures may not be sufficient and our directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, agents, and business partners could engage in improper conduct for which we may be held responsible.

Non-compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering or financial and economic sanctions laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, and severe administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation. In addition, changes in economic sanctions laws in the future could adversely impact our business and investments in our shares.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and, as a result, may rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.

We are a “controlled company” as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because our founder, Chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Xiaogang Geng, beneficially owns more than 50% of our total voting power. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely on, and may rely on, certain exemptions from corporate governance rules, including an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors. As a result, you may not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements.

We are subject to changing laws, rules and regulations in the U.S. regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that will increase both our costs and the risks associated with non-compliance.

We are subject to rules and regulations by various governing bodies and self-regulatory organizations, including, for example, the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market, which are charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law. Our efforts to comply with new and changing laws and regulations have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.

Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance becomes available. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. If we fail to address and comply with these regulations and any subsequent changes, we may be subject to penalty and our business may be harmed.

If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our shares may be materially and adversely affected.

We are a public company in the United States subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, our reporting obligations as a public company may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation. Our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. In the course of management’s preparation and our independent registered public accounting firm’s auditing our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. As defined in standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness identified relates to (i) the lack of formal internal control policies and internal independent supervision functions to establish formal risk assessment process and internal control framework; (ii) the lack of sufficient accounting staff and resources with appropriate knowledge of generally accepted U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting and compliance requirements to design and implement formal period-end financial reporting policies and procedures to address complex U.S. GAAP technical accounting issue in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the SEC requirements; and (iii) information technology general control in the areas of: (a) risk and vulnerability assessment and management; (b) third-party (service organization) vendor management; (c) system change management; (d) backup and recovery management; (e) access to systems and data; (f) segregation of duties, privileged access, and monitoring; (g) password management.

In response to the above-mentioned material weaknesses (i) and (ii) identified, we implemented a number of measures to address the material weakness identified, including but not limited to recruitment of a chief financial officer with appropriate knowledge and experience in U.S. GAAP accounting and SEC reporting; and establishing of an audit committee. In addition, we are in the process of implementing a number of measures to address the material weakness identified, including but not limited to (i) hiring additional qualified accounting and financial personnel with appropriate knowledge and experience in U.S. GAAP accounting and SEC reporting; and (ii) organizing regular training for our accounting staffs, especially training related to U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. We also plan to adopt additional measures to improve our internal control over financial reporting, including, among others, creating U.S. GAAP accounting policies and procedures manual, which will be maintained, reviewed and updated, on a regular basis, to the latest US GAAP accounting standards, and strengthening corporate governance. For IT related weakness, we will (1) enhance our data backup procedures and computer operations monitoring; (2) enhance user account management and enhance segregation of duties; and (3) enhance risk assessment procedures and system controls. For details, see “Item 15. Controls and Procedures—Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.” However, we cannot assure you that we will not identify additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the future. In addition, if we are unable to meet the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our Class A ordinary shares may not be able to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report beginning with our second annual report on Form 20-F. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, as we are a public company, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation.

During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, we may identify other weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. This could in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of operations and lead to a decline in the trading price of our shares. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions. We may also be required to restate our financial statements from prior periods.

Our insurance coverage may not be adequate, which could expose us to significant costs and business disruptions.

We have obtained or caused relevant counterparties to obtain insurance to cover certain potential risks and liabilities. We provide social security insurance, including pension insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance, maternity insurance and medical insurance for our employees. Additionally, we provide group accident insurance for all delivery personnel we employed and some drivers we cooperated with. Further, we have purchased compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance, as well as commercial insurance for self-operated vehicles. In addition, we also purchase logistics liability insurance, property insurance covering warehouses and parcels, and some other liability insurance as needed. However, we do not maintain product liability insurance or key-man insurance. There can be no assurance that our insurance coverage is sufficient to prevent us from any loss or that we will be able to successfully claim our losses under our current insurance policies on a timely basis, or at all. If we incur any loss that is not covered by our insurance policies, or the compensated amount is significantly less than our actual loss, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Natural disasters, epidemics, acts of war, terrorist attacks and other events could materially and adversely affect our business.

Natural disasters (such as typhoons, flooding and earthquakes), epidemics, acts of war, terrorist attacks and other events, many of which are beyond our control, may lead to global or regional economic instability, which may in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. An outbreak or epidemic, such as those of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (“SARS”), the H1N1 and H5N1, and the COVID-19 viruses, could cause general consumption or the demand for specific products to decline, which could result in reduced demand for our services. Such an outbreak or epidemic may also cause significant interruption to our operations as health or governmental authorities may impose quarantine and inspection measures on our contract carriers or restrict the flow of cargo to and from areas affected by the epidemic. In addition, airplanes, shipping vessels and other transportation vehicles can be targets of terrorist attacks, which could lead to, among other things, increased insurance and security costs. Political tensions or conflicts and acts of war, such as the conflicts in Ukraine, or the potential for war could also cause damage and disruption to our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be subject to potential liability in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings and other matters, which could adversely affect our business or financial results

From time to time, we have become and may in the future become a party to various legal or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business in China. We may also be subject to potential liability in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings arising from breach of contract claims, anti-competition claims and other matters. These proceedings, investigations, claims and complaints could be initiated or asserted under or on the basis of a variety of laws in different jurisdictions, including data protection and privacy laws, trucker or consumer protection laws, labor and employment laws, anti-monopoly or competition laws, transportation laws, advertising laws, intellectual property laws, securities laws, tort laws, contract laws and property laws. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in defending ourselves in legal and administrative actions or in asserting our rights under various laws. If we fail to defend ourselves in these actions, we may be subject to restrictions, fines or penalties that will materially and adversely affect our operations. Even if we are successful in our attempt to defend ourselves in legal and regulatory actions or to assert our rights under various laws and regulations, the process of communicating with relevant regulators, defending ourselves and enforcing our rights against the various parties involved may be expensive and time-consuming. These actions could expose us to negative publicity, substantial monetary damages and legal defense costs, injunctive relief and criminal and civil fines and penalties, including but not limited to suspension or revocation of licenses to conduct business.

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Change in China’s economic, political or social conditions, laws, regulations or governmental policies could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

Substantially all of our revenues are sourced from China. Accordingly, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects are influenced by economic, political and legal developments in China. Economic reforms begun in the late 1970s have resulted in significant economic growth. However, any economic reform policies or measures in China may from time to time be modified or revised. China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including with respect to the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past 30 years, growth has been uneven across different regions and among different economic sectors. The Chinese government has implemented measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of the resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations.

Although the PRC economy has grown significantly in the past decade, that growth may not continue, as evidenced by the slowing of the growth of the PRC economy since 2012. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on a specific industry including our operating companies in China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position.

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes of PRC laws and regulations with little advance notice could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us, and the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas, which changes could materially hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

Our operating subsidiaries are incorporated under and governed by the laws of the PRC. 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 and regulations governing economic matters in general, such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. As a significant part of our business is conducted in China, our operations are principally governed by PRC laws and regulations. However, since the PRC legal system continues to evolve rapidly, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice. The interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to us. Uncertainties due to evolving laws and regulations could also impede the ability of a China-based company like us, to obtain or maintain permits or licenses required to conduct business in China. In the absence of required permits or licenses, governmental authorities could impose material sanctions or penalties on us. See “—Any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business operation may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and any requirement of approvals or permits in connection with our future offering of securities could cause our operations and financial conditions to be materially adversely affected, our ability to offer securities to investors to become significantly limited or completely hindered, and the securities being offered to substantially decline in value and become worthless” for more details. In addition, some regulatory requirements issued by certain PRC government authorities may not be consistently applied by other PRC government authorities (including local government authorities), thus making strict compliance with all regulatory requirements impractical, or in some circumstances impossible. For example, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we enjoy either by law or contract. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate or predict the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection available to you and us than in more developed legal systems.

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, and which may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any 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, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued an announcement to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. Since this announcement is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, and, if any, the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on companies like us and our securities.

Given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over securities offerings and other capital markets activities that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based companies like us. 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. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas could materially and adversely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

The Chinese government has substantial oversight and influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which actions could impact our operations materially and adversely, and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

The Chinese government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene or influence our operations at any time as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. For instance, the Chinese government has recently published new policies that significantly affected certain industries such as the education and internet industries. The Chinese government has exercised, and continues to exercise, substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership, which could materially and adversely impact the results of our operations and future prospects.

Our ability to operate in the PRC may be further harmed by changes in its laws and regulations. The central or local governments of the PRC 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 the PRC or particular regions thereof. We cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and the value of our Class A ordinary shares.

Our business is also subject to various government and regulatory interference. We could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. The Company may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. Our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry, which could result in further material changes in our operations and adversely impact the value of our securities.

The PCAOB had historically been unable to inspect auditors in mainland China and Hong Kong in relation to their audit work. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in these jurisdictions and if we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report by then, our Class A ordinary shares may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCA Act, and such delisting or the threat of delisting may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.

The HFCA Act was enacted on December 18, 2020. Pursuant to the HFCA Act, 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 Class A ordinary shares 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 and our auditor was subject to that determination. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms.

Our auditor prior to December 8, 2022, Friedman LLP, or Friedman, and current auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (“Marcum Asia”), the independent registered public accounting firms that issue the audit reports included elsewhere in this annual report, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and firms registered with the PCAOB, have been subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Both Friedman and Marcum Asia have been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in 2020. Neither Friedman nor Marcum Asia is subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. The PCAOB is expected to continue to demand complete access to inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in the future and states that it has already made plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCA Act after we file this annual report on Form 20-F. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and if we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC by then, we may 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 HFCA Act. If our Class A ordinary shares are prohibited from trading in the United States, there is no certainty that we will be able to list on a non-U.S. exchange or that a market for our shares will develop outside of the United States. A prohibition of being able to trade in the United States would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our Class A ordinary shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our Class A ordinary shares. Also, such a prohibition would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and prospects.

The approval of and the filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.

Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC persons or entities to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. If the CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore offerings, or a rescission of such approval if obtained, would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restrictions or limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies.

Approved by the State Council, CSRC released new regulations for the filing-based administration of overseas securities offering and listing by domestic companies on February 17, 2023. The regulations became effective on March 31, 2023, which include the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies or the Trial Measures, and 5 supporting guidelines. The Trial Measures stipulates that both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities are subject to regulation. Specifically, where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. Any overseas offering and listing made by an issuer that meets both the following conditions will be determined as indirect: (i) 50% or more of the operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic companies; and (ii) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in the PRC, or its main places of business are located in the PRC, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly PRC citizens or domiciled in the PRC. The determination as to whether or not an overseas offering and listing by domestic companies is indirect, shall be made on a substance over form basis. According to the Trial Measures and the Officials from Relevant Department of CSRC Answered Reporter Question Regarding the Trial Measures, the existing domestic companies that have acquired approval from overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges for indirect overseas offering and listing before the effective date of the Trial Measures, or March 31, 2023 and have completed overseas offering and listing before September 30, 2023, shall not be required to perform filling procedures for the completed overseas issuance and listing. However, from the effective date of the Trial Measures, any of our subsequent securities offering in the same overseas market shall be subject to the filing with the CSRC within 3 working days after the offering is completed, and any of our subsequent securities offering and listing in other overseas markets in future shall be subject to the filing with the CSRC within 3 working days after the relevant application is submitted overseas.

On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance, the National Administration of State Secrets Protection and the National Archives Administration jointly issued the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Provisions, which took effect on March 31, 2023 concurrently with the Trial Measures. The Provisions, in replacement of the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities which took effect on October 20, 2009, expand its application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing of domestic companies by adding the same confidentiality obligations to such domestic companies in the course of their indirect overseas issuance and listing. According to the Provisions, a domestic company that plans to, either directly or through its overseas-listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant entities or individuals including securities firms, securities service providers, and overseas regulators, documents and materials that contain state secrets or government work secrets, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level. Further, a domestic company that plans to, either directly or through its overseas-listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant entities or individuals including securities firms, securities service providers, and overseas regulators, other documents and materials that, if divulged, will cause an adverse impact on national security or the public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. We do not believe we will be required to obtain the aforementioned approval or go through such filings procedures as we do not possess nor will we disclose or provide documents and materials that contain state secrets or government work secrets or other documents and materials that, if divulged, will cause an adverse impact on national security or the public interest as mentioned above. However, given the recent promulgation of the Provisions, the opinions remain unclear on how they will be interpreted and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities. After the Provisions took effect on March 31, 2023, if the domestic companies fail to comply with the requirements under the Provisions in the course of their indirect overseas issuance and listing, such domestic companies may be held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime.

If it is determined that any approval, filing or other administrative procedure from other PRC governmental authorities is required for any future offering or listing, we cannot assure that we can obtain the required approval or accomplish the required filings or other regulatory procedures in a timely manner, or at all. Any such failure would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose restrictions and penalties on the 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 of 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.

On December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, which became effective on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to the Special Administrative Measures, if a PRC company engaging in the prohibited business stipulated in the 2021 Negative List seeks an overseas offering and listing, it shall obtain the approval from the competent governmental authorities. Besides, the foreign investors of the issuer shall not be involved in the company’s operation and management, and their shareholding percentages shall be subject, mutatis mutandis, to the relevant regulations on the domestic securities investments by foreign investors. As the 2021 Negative List is relatively new, there remain substantial uncertainties as to the interpretation and implementation of these new requirements, and it is unclear as to whether and to what extent listed companies like us will be subject to these new requirements. If we are required to comply with these requirements and fail to do so on a timely basis, if at all, our business operation, financial conditions and business prospect may be adversely and materially affected.

In addition, we cannot assure you that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional requirements on us. If it is determined in the future that approval and filing from the CSRC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures, including the cybersecurity review under the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, are required for our future offshore offerings, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval or completing such filing procedures for our future offshore offerings, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to seek CSRC approval or filing or other government authorization for our offshore offerings. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our future offshore offerings before settlement and delivery of the shares offered. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our prior offshore offerings, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of our listed securities.

We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided directly or indirectly by our customers or end users.

We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. These laws and regulations are continuously evolving and developing. The scope and interpretation of the laws that are or may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be conflicting, particularly with respect to foreign laws. In particular, there are numerous laws and regulations regarding privacy and the collection, sharing, use, processing, disclosure, and protection of personal information and other user data. Such laws and regulations often vary in scope, may be subject to differing interpretations, and may be inconsistent among different jurisdictions.

We expect to obtain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees and third parties. The integrity and protection of our customers, employees and company data is critical to our business. Our customers, end users and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information. We are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we collect, and to take adequate security measures to safeguard such information.

The PRC Criminal Law, as amended by its Amendment 7 (effective on February 28, 2009) and Amendment 9 (effective on November 1, 2015), prohibits institutions, companies and their employees from selling or otherwise illegally disclosing a citizen’s personal information obtained during the course of performing duties or providing services or obtaining such information through theft or other illegal ways.

The Civil Code of the PRC (issued by the PRC National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020 and effective from January 1, 2021) provides main legal basis for privacy and personal information infringement claims under the Chinese civil laws. PRC regulators, including the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”), MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection.

The PRC regulatory requirements regarding cybersecurity are constantly evolving. For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including the CAC, the Ministry of Public Security and the SAMR, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations.

In November 2016, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress passed China’s first Cybersecurity Law (“CSL”), which became effective in June 2017. The CSL is the first PRC law that systematically lays out the regulatory requirements on cybersecurity and data protection, subjecting many previously under-regulated or unregulated activities in cyberspace to government scrutiny. The legal consequences of violation of the CSL include penalties of warning, confiscation of illegal income, suspension of related business, winding up for rectification, shutting down the websites, and revocation of business license or relevant permits. In April 2020, the CAC and certain other PRC regulatory authorities promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2020), which became effective in June 2020. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2020), operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security.

On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law also sets forth the data security protection obligations for entities and individuals handling personal data, including that no entity or individual may acquire such data by stealing or other illegal means, and the collection and use of such data should not exceed the necessary limits.

On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Regulations on Network Data Security (draft for public comments), or the draft Regulations on Network Data Security, which reiterate that data processors that process the personal information of more than one million users and intend to list overseas should apply for a cybersecurity review. In addition, data processors that process important data or are listed overseas shall carry out an annual data security assessment on their own or by engaging a data security services institution, and the data security assessment report for the prior year should be submitted to the local cyberspace affairs administration department before January 31 of each year. Currently, the draft Regulations on Network Data Security has been released for public comment only, and its implementation provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date remains substantially uncertain and may be subject to change.

On December 28, 2021, the CAC issued the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), which replaced the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2020) and took into effect on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021) required that, in addition to “operator of critical information infrastructure,” any “operator of internet platform” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security 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, including, among others, (i) the risk of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or exited the country; and (ii) the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled, or maliciously used by foreign governments after listing abroad. The CAC has said that under the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), operators of internet platforms holding data on more than 1,000,000 users must now apply for cybersecurity approval when seeking listings in other nations because of the risk that such data and personal information could be “affected, controlled, and maliciously exploited by foreign governments.” The cybersecurity review will also investigate the potential national security risks from overseas IPOs. Given the recency of the issuance of the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021), there is a general lack of guidance and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to their interpretation and implementation. For example, it is unclear whether the requirement of cybersecurity review applies to follow-on offerings by an “online platform operator” that is in possession of personal data of more than one million users where the offshore holding company of such operator is already listed overseas. We do not know what regulations will be adopted or how such regulations will affect we and our listing on Nasdaq. In the event that the Cyberspace Administration of China determines that we are subject to these regulations, we may be required to delist from Nasdaq and we may be subject to fines and penalties.

We are not subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC, given that: (i) we do not possess a large amount of personal information in our business operations and (ii) data processed in our business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities. However, there remains uncertainty as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021) will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021). If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation comes into effect, we will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply and to minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us.

On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC approved the Personal Information Protection Law (“PIPL”), which became effective on November 1, 2021. The PIPL regulates collection of personal identifiable information and seeks to address the issue of algorithmic discrimination. Companies in violation of the PIPL may be subject to warnings and admonishments, forced corrections, confiscation of corresponding income, suspension of related services, and fines. We mainly interact with corporate clients and has limited direct interactions with individual customers, which means our potential access or exposure to customers’ personal identifiable information is limited. However, in the event we inadvertently access or become exposed to end-users’ personal identifiable information, through our corporate clients’ end-user-facing applications which access or store end users’ personal identifiable information, then we may face heightened exposure to the PIPL.

We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we can fully or timely comply with such laws. In the event that we are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity review and other specific actions required by the CAC, we face uncertainty as to whether any clearance or other required actions can be timely completed, or at all. Given such uncertainty, we may be further required to suspend our relevant business, shut down our website, or face other penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

As of the date of this annual report, our three Hong Kong subsidiaries have not collected, stored, or managed any personal information in Hong Kong. Therefore, we concluded that currently we do not expect that laws and regulations in mainland China on data security, data protection, or cybersecurity to be applied to our Hong Kong subsidiaries or that the oversight of the Cyberspace Administration of China will be extended to its operations outside of mainland China. In Hong Kong, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486 of Hong Kong), or the PDPO, applies to data users, that control the collection, holding, processing or use of personal data in Hong Kong. Our Hong Kong subsidiaries are subject to the general requirements under PDPO including the need to obtain the prescribed consent of the data subject and to take all practicable steps to protect the personal data held by data users against unauthorized or accidental access, loss or use. Breaches of the PDPO may lead to a variety of civil and criminal sanctions including fines and imprisonment. In addition, data subjects have a right to bring proceedings in court to seek compensation for damage. We cannot guarantee that we are, or will be, in compliance with all applicable international regulations as they are enforced now or as they evolve.

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the annual report based on foreign laws.

We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. However, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, most of our management members reside within China for a significant portion of the time and many of them are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or our management named in the annual report inside mainland China. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts of the judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors as none of them currently resides in the United States or has substantial assets located in the United States. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.

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 and other applicable laws, regulations and interpretations based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC 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. Furthermore, class action lawsuits, which are available in the United States for investors to seek remedies, are generally uncommon in China.

It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.

Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, which became effective in March 2020 (“Article 177”), no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. In addition, entities or individuals are prohibited from providing documents and information in connection with any securities business activities to any organizations and/or persons aboard without the prior consent of the securities regulatory authority of the State Council and the competent departments of the State Council. Article 26 of the Trial Measures, or the Article 26, which was issued by the CSRC on February 17, 2023 and came into effect on March 31, 2023, sets out that where an overseas securities regulatory agency intends to conduct investigation and evidence collection regarding overseas offering and listing activities by a domestic company, and request assistance of the CSRC under relevant cross-border securities regulatory cooperation mechanisms, the CSRC may provide necessary assistance in accordance with law. Any domestic entity or individual providing documents and materials requested by an overseas securities regulatory agency out of investigative or evidence collection purposes shall not provide such information without prior approval from the CSRC and competent authorities under the State Council. In addition, Article 11 of the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration in Respect of Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Enterprises, or the Article 11, which was jointly issued by the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance, the State Secrecy Administration and the State Archives Bureau on February 24, 2023 and came into effect on March 31, 2023, specifies that, (a) where the overseas securities regulator and the relevant competent authorities request to conduct inspections or investigations to collect evidence from a domestic enterprise and the domestic securities firms and securities service agencies providing corresponding services regarding the overseas offering and listing activities of the domestic enterprise, the inspection or investigation shall be carried out under the cross-border regulatory cooperation mechanism, and the CSRC or the relevant authorities shall provide the requisite assistance pursuant to the bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanism, and (b) relevant domestic companies, securities firms and securities service agencies shall obtain the consent of the CSRC or the relevant administrative authorities prior to cooperating in the inspection or investigation carried out by the overseas securities regulator or relevant administrative authorities or providing documents and materials for cooperating in the inspection or investigation. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under Article 177, the Article 26 and the Article 11 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests. See also “—Risks Related to the Class A Ordinary Shares—You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law” for risks associated with investing in us as a Cayman Islands company.

It may be difficult for overseas shareholders and/or regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within Hong Kong.

The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (“SFC”) is a signatory to the International Organization of Securities Commissions Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (“MMOU”), which provides for mutual investigatory and other assistance and exchange of information between securities regulators around the world, including the SEC. This is also reflected in section 186 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) which empowers the SFC to exercise its investigatory powers to obtain information and documents requested by non-Hong Kong regulators, and section 378 of the SFO which allows the SFC to share confidential information and documents in its possession with such regulators. However, there is no assurance that such cooperation will materialize, or if it does, whether it will adequately address any efforts to investigate or collect evidence to the extent that may be sought by the U.S. regulators.

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 “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. The Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore-Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, which was issued by the State Administration of Taxation on April 22, 2009 and further amended on December 29, 2017, or Circular 82, 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 Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto management body” text 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.” If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we could be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide income, subject to any reduction set forth in applicable tax treaties. Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to our non-PRC individual shareholders and any gain realized on the transfer of Class A ordinary shares by such shareholders may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or a rate of 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country or area of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the Class A ordinary shares.

We face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfer of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.

We may face uncertainties regarding the reporting on and consequences of private equity financing transactions involving the transfer and exchange of shares in our company by non-resident investors in the future. In February 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, an “indirect transfer” of PRC assets, including a transfer of equity interests in an unlisted non-PRC holding company of a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of the underlying PRC assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise.

On October 17, 2017, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or Bulletin 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017 and was most-recently amended on June 15, 2018. Bulletin 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of nonresident enterprise income tax. We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences of potential future private equity financing transactions, share exchanges or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed under Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with them or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these regulations, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under Bulletin 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. If the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under Bulletin 7, our income tax costs associated with such transactions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that the PRC tax authorities will not, at their discretion, adjust any capital gains and impose tax return filing obligations on us or require us to provide assistance to them for the investigation of any transactions we were involved in. Heightened scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.

If our preferential tax treatments are revoked or become unavailable or if the calculation of our tax liability is successfully challenged by the PRC tax authorities, we may be required to pay tax, interest and penalties in excess of our tax provisions.

The Chinese government has provided various tax incentives to our PRC subsidiaries, primarily in the form of reduced enterprise income tax rates. For example, under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, the statutory enterprise income tax rate is 25%. However, the income tax of an enterprise that has been determined to be a small low-profit enterprise can be reduced to a preferential rate of 20% on 12.5% of its taxable income with respect to the portion of the annual taxable income that does not exceed RMB1 million during certain periods. In addition, certain of our PRC subsidiaries enjoy preferential tax treatment. Any increase in the enterprise income tax rate applicable to our PRC subsidiaries in China, or any discontinuation, retroactive or future reduction or refund of any of the preferential tax treatments and local government subsidies currently enjoyed by our PRC subsidiaries in China, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Further, in the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to complex income tax and other tax regulations, and significant judgment is required in the determination of a provision for income taxes. Although we believe our tax provisions are reasonable, if the PRC tax authorities successfully challenge our position and we are required to pay tax, interest and penalties in excess of our tax provisions, our financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations or comply with laws and regulations on other employment practices may subject us to penalties.

Companies operating in China are required 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. Currently, our PRC subsidiaries are making contributions to the plans based on the minimum standards as required by law for most employees. With respect to the underpaid or unpaid employee benefits, we may be required to complete registrations, make up the contributions for these plans as well as to pay late fees and fines. If we are subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid or unpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. We may also be subject to regulatory investigations and other penalties if our other employment practices are deemed to be in violation of relevant PRC laws and regulations.

The enforcement of the PRC Labor Contract Law and other labor-related regulations in the PRC may subject us to penalties or liabilities.

The PRC Labor Contract Law, which was enacted in 2008 and amended in 2012, introduced specific provisions related to fixed-term employment contracts, part-time employment, probationary periods, consultation with labor unions and employee assemblies, employment without a written contract, dismissal of employees, severance, and collective bargaining to enhance previous PRC labor laws. Under the Labor Contract Law, an employer is obligated to sign a non-fixed term labor contract with any employee who has worked for the employer for ten consecutive years. Further, if an employee requests or agrees to renew a fixed-term labor contract that has already been entered into twice consecutively, the resulting contract, with certain exceptions, must have non-fixed term, subject to certain exceptions. With certain exceptions, an employer must pay severance to an employee where a labor contract is terminated or expires. In addition, the PRC governmental authorities have continued to introduce various new labor-related regulations since the effectiveness of the Labor Contract Law.

These laws and regulations designed to enhance labor protection tend to increase our labor costs. In addition, as the interpretation and implementation of these regulations are still evolving, our employment practices may not be at all times deemed in compliance with the regulations. As a result, we could be subject to penalties or incur significant liabilities in connection with labor disputes or investigations.

The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations may make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established complex procedures and requirements for acquisition of Chinese companies by foreign investors, including requirements in some instances that the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC 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 promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which became effective in 2008 and was recently amended in June 2022, requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds must be cleared by the Ministry of Commerce before they can be completed. In addition, the Rules on Implementation of Security Review System for the Merger and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors issued by the Ministry of Commerce and 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 Ministry of Commerce, 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 pursue potential strategic acquisitions that are complementary to our business and operations. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval or clearance from the Ministry of Commerce, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. Furthermore, according to the M&A Rules, if a PRC entity or individual plans to merge or acquire its related PRC entity through an overseas company legitimately incorporated or controlled by such entity or individual, such a merger and acquisition will be subject to examination and approval by the Ministry of Commerce. The application and interpretations of M&A Rules are still uncertain, and there is possibility that the PRC regulators may promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain approval of the Ministry of Commerce for our completed or ongoing mergers and acquisitions. There is no assurance that we can obtain such approval from the Ministry of Commerce for our mergers and acquisitions, and if we fail to obtain those approvals, we may be required to suspend our acquisition and be subject to penalties. Any uncertainties regarding such approval requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and corporate structure.

PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws. In addition, any failure to comply with PRC regulations with respect to registration requirements for offshore financing may subject us to legal or administrative sanctions.

In July 2014, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the SAFE registrations in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as change of a PRC individual shareholder, name and operation term, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contribution, share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.

Under these foreign exchange regulations, PRC residents who make, or have previously made, prior to the implementation of these foreign exchange regulations, direct or indirect investments in offshore companies are required to register those investments. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an offshore company is required to update its previously filed SAFE registration, to reflect any material change involving its round-trip investment. If any PRC shareholder fails to make the required registration or update the previously filed registration, the PRC subsidiary of that offshore parent company may be restricted from distributing their profits and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to their offshore parent company, and the offshore parent company may also be restricted from injecting additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions, including (i) the requirement by SAFE to return the foreign exchange remitted overseas or into the PRC within a period of time specified by SAFE, with a fine of up to 30% of the total amount of foreign exchange remitted overseas or into PRC and deemed to have been evasive or illegal and (ii) in circumstances involving serious violations, a fine of no less than 30% of and up to the total amount of remitted foreign exchange deemed evasive or illegal.

We are committed to complying with and to ensuring that our shareholders who are subject to these regulations will comply with the SAFE rules and regulations. However, due to the inherent uncertainty in the implementation of the regulatory requirements by the PRC authorities, such registration might not be always practically available in all circumstances as prescribed in those regulations. In addition, we may not always be able to compel them to comply with SAFE Circular 37 or other related regulations. We cannot assure you that SAFE or its local branches will not release explicit requirements or interpret the PRC laws and regulations otherwise. We may not be fully informed of the identities of all our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents, and we cannot provide any assurance that all of our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC residents will comply with our request to make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or comply with other requirements under SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules in a timely manner.

Because there is uncertainty concerning the reconciliation of these foreign exchange regulations with other approval requirements, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the governmental authorities. We cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.

In addition, our offshore financing activities, such as the issuance of foreign debt, are also subject to PRC laws and regulations. In accordance with such laws and regulations, we may be required to complete filing and registration with the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC, prior to such activities. Failure to comply with the requirements may result in administrative meeting, warning, notification and other regulatory penalties and sanctions.

We may be materially adversely affected if our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC entities fail to comply with the PRC overseas investment regulations.

On December 26, 2017, the NDRC promulgated the Administrative Measures on Overseas Investments by Enterprises, which took effect as of March 1, 2018. According to this regulation, nonsensitive overseas investment projects are subject to record-filing requirements with the local branch of the NDRC. On September 6, 2014, the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Administrative Measures on Overseas Investments, which took effect as of October 6, 2014. According to this regulation, overseas investments of PRC enterprises that involve nonsensitive countries and regions and nonsensitive industries are subject to record-filing requirements with a local branch of Ministry of Commerce. According to the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issuing the Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of the Overseas Direct Investment of Domestic Institutions, which was promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, on July 13, 2009 and took effect on August 1, 2009, and Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment, which was promulgated by the SAFE on February 13, 2015 and took effect on June 1, 2015, PRC enterprises must register for overseas direct investment with a local SAFE branch or its authorized banks.

We may not be fully informed of the identities of all our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC entities, and we cannot provide any assurance that all of our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC entities will comply with our request to complete the overseas direct investment procedures under the aforementioned regulations or other related rules in a timely manner, or at all. If they fail to complete the filings or registrations required by the overseas direct investment regulations, the authorities may order them to suspend or cease the implementation of such investment and make corrections within a specified time, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject our plan participants for us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.

In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, replacing earlier rules promulgated in 2007. Pursuant to these rules, PRC citizens and non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year and participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiaries of such overseas-listed company, and complete certain other procedures. In addition, an overseas-entrusted institution must be retained to handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We and our executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year and who may be granted options will be subject to these regulations when our company grants options after it became an overseas-listed company. Failure to complete SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions, and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law.

In addition, the State Administration of Taxation has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise share options and/or are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee share options and/or restricted shares with tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes according to laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC government authorities.

We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC and Hong Kong subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC and Hong Kong subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

We are a Cayman Islands holding company and we rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC and Hong Kong subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders for services of any debt we may incur. If our PRC and Hong Kong subsidiaries incur debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary, which is a foreign-owned enterprise, may pay dividends only out of its respective accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a foreign-owned enterprise, according to the PRC companies law, is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. Such reserve funds cannot be distributed to us as dividends.

Our PRC subsidiaries generate essentially all of their revenue in Renminbi, which is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC subsidiary to use their Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us.

The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC-resident enterprises are incorporated.

You may be subject to PRC income tax on dividends from us or on any gain realized on the transfer of our Class A ordinary shares.

Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10% is generally applicable to dividends from PRC sources paid to investors that are resident enterprises outside of China and that do not have an establishment or place of business in China, or that have an establishment or place of business in China if the income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business. Any gain realized on the transfer of shares by such investors is subject to 10% PRC income tax if this gain is regarded as income derived from sources within China. Under the PRC Individual Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, dividends from sources within China paid to foreign individual investors who are not PRC residents are generally subject to a PRC withholding tax at a rate of 20% and gains from PRC sources realized by these investors on the transfer of shares are generally subject to 20% PRC income tax. Any such PRC tax liability may be reduced by the provisions of an applicable tax treaty.

Although substantially all of our business operations are in China, it is unclear whether the dividends we pay with respect to our Class A ordinary shares, or the gains realized from the transfer of our Class A ordinary shares, would be treated as income derived from sources within China and as a result be subject to PRC income tax if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise. If PRC income tax is imposed on gains realized through the transfer of our Class A ordinary shares or on dividends paid to our non-resident investors, the value of your investment in our Class A ordinary shares may be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, our shareholders whose jurisdictions of residence have tax treaties or arrangements with China may not qualify for benefits under these tax treaties or arrangements.

In addition, pursuant to the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement between Hong Kong and China, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the equity interest of a PRC company at all times during the twelve-month period immediately prior to obtaining a dividend from such company, the 10% withholding tax on the dividend is reduced to 5%, provided that certain other conditions and requirements are satisfied at the discretion of the PRC tax authority. However, based on the Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, issued in 2009 by the State Administration of Taxation, if the PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from the reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, the PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. If our Hong Kong subsidiaries are determined by PRC government authorities as receiving benefits from reduced income tax rates due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, the dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to our Hong Kong subsidiaries will be taxed at a higher rate, which will have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

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 from our subsequent offerings to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries in China, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, or we may establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, or we may acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an offshore transaction.

Most of these ways are subject to PRC regulations and approvals or registration. For example, loans by us to our wholly owned PRC subsidiary to finance its activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE. If we decide to finance our wholly owned PRC subsidiary by means of capital contributions, these capital contributions are subject to registration with the State Administration for Market Regulation or its local branch, reporting of foreign investment information with the PRC Ministry of Commerce, or registration with other governmental authorities in China.

SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, in replacement of 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, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to SAFE Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within China, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in China in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in SAFE Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from our subsequent offering, to our PRC subsidiary, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE promulgated the Notice for Further Advancing the Facilitation of Cross-border Trade and Investment, or the SAFE Circular 28, which, among other things, allows all foreign-invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in China, as long as the equity investment is genuine, does not violate applicable laws, and complies with the negative list on foreign investment. However, since the SAFE Circular 28 is newly promulgated, it is unclear how SAFE and competent banks will carry this out in practice.

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, or at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiary or future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiary. As a result, uncertainties exist as to our ability to provide prompt financial support to our PRC subsidiary when needed. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we expect to receive from our subsequent offerings 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 and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.

The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. The Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies, among other things. We cannot assure you that Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future. From time to time, we are exposed to currency risk primarily through sales and purchases which give rise to receivables, payables and cash balances that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the operations to which the transactions relate.

Substantially all of our income and expenses are denominated in Renminbi and our reporting currency is Renminbi. Significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would reduce the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, a significant depreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings, which in turn could adversely affect the price of our Class A ordinary 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 hedge our exposure adequately or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert Renminbi into foreign currency.

Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our income effectively and affect the value of your investment.

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our income in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements payable outside of China. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions, cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiary in China may be used to pay dividends to our company without prior approval of SAFE. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, we need to obtain SAFE approval to use cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiary to pay any debts they may incur in a currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside China, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside China in a currency other than Renminbi.

In addition, if any of our shareholders who is subject to SAFE regulations fails to satisfy the applicable overseas direct investment filing or approval requirement, the PRC government may restrict our access to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If we are prevented from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.

If the chops of our PRC subsidiaries are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised.

In China, a company chop or seal serves as the legal representation of the company towards third parties even when unaccompanied by a signature. Each legally registered company in China is required to maintain a company chop, which must be registered with the local Public Security Bureau. In addition to this mandatory company chop, companies may have several other chops which can be used for specific purposes. The chops of our PRC subsidiaries are generally held securely by personnel designated or approved by us in accordance with our internal control procedures. To the extent those chops are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised and those corporate entities may be bound to abide by the terms of any documents so chopped, even if they were chopped by an individual who lacked the requisite power and authority to do so.

We may be subject to penalties for failure to register our lease with the PRC real estate administration department.

Pursuant to the Law on Administration of Urban Real Estate which took effect in January 1995 with the latest amendment in August 2019 and the Administrative Measures on Leasing of Commodity Housing which was promulgated by Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on December 1, 2010 and took effect on February 1, 2011, lessors and lessees are required to enter into a written lease contract and to register the lease with the real estate administration department, and failure to comply with the registration requirement may result in a fine ranging from RMB1,000 to RMB10,000. Our PRC subsidiaries only registered three of their leases with the real estate administration department. With respect to the unregistered lease, we may be required to complete such registration or subject to fines, which may materially affect our financial position or operation.

Risks Related to the Class A Ordinary Shares

The trading price of our Class A ordinary shares has been and will likely continue to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.

As a relatively small-capitalization company with relatively small public float, we may experience greater stock price volatility, extreme price run-ups, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies. Such volatility, including any stock-run up, may be unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance, financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Class A ordinary shares.

Moreover, the volatility and fluctuation of the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares may happen because of broad market and industry factors, like the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. 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 attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of our Class A ordinary shares, regardless of our actual operating performance.

In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our Class A ordinary shares may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:

Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our Class A ordinary shares will trade. Furthermore, the stock market in general experiences price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies like us. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our Class A ordinary shares.

In addition, if the trading volumes of our Class A ordinary shares are low, persons buying or selling in relatively small quantities may easily influence prices of our Class A ordinary shares. This low volume of trades could also cause the price of our Class A ordinary shares to fluctuate greatly, with large percentage changes in price occurring in any trading day session. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares may also not be able to readily liquidate their investment or may be forced to sell at depressed prices due to low volume trading. If high spreads between the bid and ask prices of our Class A ordinary shares exist at the time of a purchase, the stock would have to appreciate substantially on a relative percentage basis for an investor to recoup their investment. Broad market fluctuations and general economic and political conditions may also adversely affect the market price of our Class A ordinary shares. As a result of this volatility, investors may experience losses on their investment in our Class A ordinary shares. A decline in the market price of our Class A ordinary shares also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional Class A ordinary shares or other of our securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. No assurance can be given that an active market in our Class A ordinary shares will develop or be sustained. If an active market does not develop, holders of our Class A ordinary shares may be unable to readily sell the shares they hold or may not be able to sell their shares at all.

In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The dual-class structure of our ordinary shares has the effect of concentrating voting power with our existing shareholders prior to the IPO, which will limit your ability to influence the outcome of important transactions, including a change in control.

We have adopted a dual-class voting structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Our Class B ordinary shares have ten (10) votes per share, and our Class A ordinary shares have one (1) vote per share. As of the date of this annual report, our issued and outstanding share capital consists of 14,942,623 Class A ordinary shares and 6,409,600 Class B ordinary shares. Our founder and chief executive officer, Mr. Xiaogang Geng is the only shareholder who owns all our issued and outstanding 6,409,600 Class B ordinary shares and beneficially owns more than 50% of our total voting power. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership” and “—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We are a ‘controlled company’ within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and, as a result, may rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.” As a result of the dual-class share structure and the concentration of voting power, Mr. Xiaogang Geng, individually or together, may be able to significantly influence matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of directors, amendments of our memorandum and articles of association and any merger or other major corporate transactions that require shareholder approval, or may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. This concentrated voting power may, by changing the directors of the Company, have the ultimate effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of our Company, could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately materially and adversely affect the market price of our Class A ordinary shares. Future transfers by the holder of Class B ordinary shares may result in those shares converting into Class A ordinary shares. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time at the option of the holder, but Class A ordinary shares shall not be convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. However, as long as at least approximately 1,941,112 Class B ordinary shares remain outstanding, and without giving effect to any future issuances, the holder of our Class B ordinary shares will hold a majority of the outstanding voting power and will continue to control the outcome of matters submitted to shareholders approval, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional Class A ordinary shares. Our amended and restated articles of association generally do not prohibit us from issuing additional Class B ordinary shares, and any future issuance of Class B ordinary shares may be dilutive to Class A ordinary shareholders.

The dual-class structure of our ordinary shares may adversely affect the trading market for our Class A ordinary shares.

We cannot predict whether our dual-class structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A ordinary shares or in adverse publicity or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on companies with dual-class or multi-class share structures in their indices. In July 2017, S&P Dow Jones and FTSE Russell announced changes to their eligibility criteria for the inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices, including the Russell 2000, the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400 and the S&P SmallCap 600, to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares from being added to these indices. Beginning in 2017, MSCI, a leading stock index provider, opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from certain of its indices; however, in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities “with unequal voting structures” in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria. As a result, our dual class capital structure would make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these indices, and mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that attempt to passively track these indices will not be investing in our Class A ordinary shares. These policies are still relatively new and it is as of yet unclear what effect, if any, they will have on the valuations of publicly traded companies excluded from the indices, but it is possible that they may depress these valuations compared to those of other similar companies that are included. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that other stock indices will not take a similar approach to S&P Dow Jones or FTSE Russell in the future. Exclusion from indices could make our Class A ordinary shares less attractive to investors and, as a result, the market price of our Class A ordinary shares could be adversely affected.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our Class A ordinary shares, the market price for our Class A ordinary shares and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our Class A ordinary shares will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade our Class A ordinary shares, the market price for our Class A ordinary shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our Class A ordinary shares to decline.

The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our Class A ordinary shares could adversely affect their market price.

Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A ordinary shares and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities held by our significant shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares. In addition, if we issue additional ordinary shares, either through private transactions or in the public markets in the United States or other jurisdiction, your ownership interests in our company would be diluted and this, in turn, would have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A ordinary shares.

Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future, you must rely on price appreciation of our Class A ordinary shares for return on your investment.

We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our Class A ordinary shares as a source for any future dividend income.

Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiary, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our Class A ordinary shares will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our Class A ordinary shares. There is no guarantee that our Class A ordinary shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased the Class A ordinary shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in our Class A ordinary shares and you may even lose your entire investment in our Class A ordinary shares.

There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, which could subject U.S. investors in our Class A ordinary shares to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will generally be classified as a “passive foreign investment company,” or “PFIC,” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for any taxable year, if either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents, annuities, net gains from the sale or exchange of property producing such income and net foreign currency gains. For this purpose, cash and assets readily convertible into cash are categorized as passive assets and the company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are generally taken into account when determining the value of its assets.

Based upon our current and projected income and assets and the market price of our Class A ordinary shares, we do not believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022 and we do not presently expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we will be or become a PFIC is a factual determination made annually that will depend, in part, upon the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets. Fluctuations in the market price of the Class A ordinary shares may cause us to be or become a PFIC for the current or future taxable years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market price of the Class A ordinary shares from time to time (which may be volatile). If our market capitalization subsequently declines, we may be or become a PFIC for the current taxable year or future taxable years. Furthermore, the composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets. Under circumstances where our revenue from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to our revenue from activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of becoming a PFIC may substantially increase.

If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) holds our Class A ordinary shares, the PFIC tax rules discussed under “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—PFIC Rules” will generally apply to such U.S. Holder for such taxable year and, unless the U.S. Holder makes a “mark-to-market” election, will apply in future years even if we cease to be a PFIC.

Our memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our Class A ordinary shares may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our Class A ordinary shares may be materially and adversely affected.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts of New York County, New York) shall be the exclusive forum within the United States for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States regardless of whether such legal suit, action, or proceeding also involves parties other than us. This could limit the ability of holders of our Class A ordinary shares or other securities to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us, our directors and officers, and potentially others.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts of New York County, New York) shall be the exclusive forum within the United States for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States, regardless of whether such legal suit, action, or proceeding also involves parties other than us. However, the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ organizational documents has been challenged in legal proceedings in the United States, and it is possible that a court could find this type of provision to be inapplicable, unenforceable, or inconsistent with other documents that are relevant to the filing of such lawsuits. If a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions. If upheld, the forum selection clause in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may limit a security-holder’s ability to bring a claim against us, our directors and officers, and potentially others in a his or her preferred judicial forum, and this limitation may discourage such lawsuits.

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.

Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.

Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. Currently, we plan to rely on home country practice with respect to corporate governance matters, and our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States. For a discussion of significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Differences in Corporate Law.”

Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.

We are a Cayman Islands company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in China. In addition, a majority of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries and regions other than the United States, including China and Hong Kong. Substantially all of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands, China and Hong Kong may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.

We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.

Because we are a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:

We are required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely than that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information that would be made available to you were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.

We are an emerging growth company, and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our Class A ordinary shares less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we remain an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.

The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies, and as a result of this election our financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with public company effective dates, including other emerging growth companies that have not made this election.