UPC Universe Pharmaceuticals Inc

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-268028

 

Prospectus Supplement

(To Prospectus dated November 15, 2022)

 

388,000 Ordinary Shares

18,362,000 Pre-funded Warrants to Purchase 18,362,000 Ordinary Shares (and up to 18,362,000

Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Pre-funded Warrants)

and

18,750,000 Common Warrants to Purchase 18,750,000 Ordinary Shares (and up to 18,750,000

Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Common Warrants)

 

Universe Pharmaceuticals INC

 

Pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, Universe Pharmaceuticals INC (the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”) is offering (i) 388,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.28125 per share (the “ordinary shares”), to certain institutional investors (the “Purchasers”); (ii) 18,362,000 pre-funded warrants (the “pre-funded warrants” and each a “pre-funded warrant”) to purchase 18,362,000 ordinary shares, each exercisable at an exercise price of $0.001 per share, to the Purchasers. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until all of the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full; and (iii) 18,750,000 common warrants (the “common warrants” and each a “common warrant”) to purchase 18,750,000 ordinary shares, each exercisable at an exercise price of $0.80 per share, to the Purchasers. The common warrants will be immediately exercisable and expire five years after the initial date of issuance. Each ordinary share and one accompanying common warrant is offered at a combined offering price of US$0.80 per share, and each pre-funded warrant and one accompanying common warrant is offered at a combined offering price of $0.799, which equals the price per ordinary share and one accompanying common warrant being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.001.

 

Our ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “UPC.” On December 6, 2024, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on Nasdaq was US$3.39 per share.

 

We have retained Univest Securities, LLC as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-28 of this prospectus supplement for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Act of 2012, as amended, and, as such, will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

The aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates, or public float, as of August 9, 2024, was approximately US$83.46 million, which was calculated based on 23,645,974 ordinary shares of par value $0.01875 each held by non-affiliates as of August 9, 2024 and a per share price of US$3.8698, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on Nasdaq on August 9, 2024. The number of shares held by non-affiliates and the closing price of our ordinary shares did not take into account the Company’s share consolidation at a ratio of 15-to-1, effective at 5:00 p.m. Cayman Islands time on November 12, 2024 and reflected on Nasdaq beginning on November 18, 2024. Since the aggregate value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeded $75,000,000 as of August 9, 2024, the one-third limitation on sales pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5(a) of Form F-3 does not apply to us until the filing date of our next annual report on Form 20-F. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus supplement, we have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3.

 

This prospectus supplement refers to (i) Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, the Cayman Islands holding company, as “we”, “our”, “us”, or the “Company”, (ii) the Company’s subsidiaries, as “our subsidiaries,” (iii) Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., the Company’s indirect wholly owned subsidiary in China (“Jiangxi Universe”) and its subsidiaries, which are domiciled in China and conducting business operations in China, as our or the “PRC operating entities.” The Company does not conduct any operations.

 

 

We are a Cayman Islands holding company with no operations of our own and not a PRC operating company. Our operations are conducted in China by the PRC operating entities. Investors in our securities are not purchasing equity interests in our subsidiaries but instead are purchasing equity interests in the ultimate Cayman Islands holding company. Therefore, you will not directly hold any equity interests in our operating companies. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow this structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale, including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For risks facing our Company as a result of our organizational structure and doing business in China, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. We directly hold 100% equity interests in our subsidiaries, and we do not currently use a variable interest entity (“VIE”) structure.

 

We face legal and operational risks associated with having the majority of our operations in China, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. The Chinese government has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a China-based company, such as us, to conduct its business. Therefore, investors of our company and our business face potential uncertainty from the PRC government. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. These risks could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. In particular, recent statements and regulatory actions by China’s government, such as those related to the use of variable interest entities and data security or anti-monopoly concerns, as well as the PCAOB’s ability to inspect our auditors, may impact our Company’s ability to conduct our business, accept foreign investments, or be listed on a U.S. or other foreign stock exchange. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The PRC government has significant authority to intervene or influence the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as ours, at any time. The PRC government may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. If the PRC government exerts more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers and we were to be subject to such oversight and control, it may result in a material adverse change to our business operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and cause the ordinary shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless” and “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties arising from the legal system in China, including uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and the possibility that regulations and rules can change quickly with little advance notice, could hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer the ordinary shares, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause the ordinary shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we and our subsidiaries have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any PRC regulatory authority, nor have any of them received any inquiry, notice, or sanction. As confirmed by our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices (Fuzhou), we are not subject to cybersecurity review by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, since we currently do not possess any personal information of users in our business operations, it is unlikely for us to have over one million users’ personal information and we do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. We are not subject to network data security review by the CAC if Draft Regulations on the Network Data Security Administration (Draft for Comments) (the “Security Administration Draft”) are enacted as proposed, because we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information, we do not collect data that affect or may affect national security and we do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affect or may affect national security in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Security Administration Draft.

 

 

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (the “Trial Measures”) and five supporting guidelines (collectively, the “Overseas Listings Rules”), which became effective on March 31, 2023. These rules propose to establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings and listings by Chinese domestic companies. Under the Overseas Listings Rules, Chinese domestic companies conducting overseas securities offering and listing activities, either in direct or indirect form, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures within three working days following its submission of initial public offering or listing application. Since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures, the domestic enterprises otherwise subject to filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are considered existing enterprises: the application of such enterprises for indirect overseas securities issuance and listing has been approved by the applicable overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (e.g., an applicable registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC) before the effectiveness of the Trial Measures, and are not required to re-perform issuance and listing supervision procedures with the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the overseas issuance and listing of such enterprises shall have been completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file immediately, and filing should be made as required if they conduct refinancing activities or other matters requiring filings in the future. In the opinion of our PRC legal counsel, AllBright Law Offices (Fuzhou), as this offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus constitutes a consequent offering by us, we are required to file with the CSRC in accordance with the Trial Measures within three days after this offering is completed and we intend to complete the filing with the CSRC in a manner compliant with the Trial Measures. We cannot assure you that we can complete the required filing procedures with the CSRC or any other 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 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. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China— The approval and/or other requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, or other PRC governmental authorities may be required in connection with an offering under PRC rules, regulations or policies, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or how soon we will be able to obtain such approval” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

If we do not receive or maintain any required approvals, or we inadvertently conclude that such approvals are not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval in the future, we may be subject to an investigation by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant business and rectify, prohibited from engaging in relevant business, or subject to an order prohibiting us from conducting an offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—Failure to comply with cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, or any other laws and regulations related to data may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

In addition, trading in our securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect the workpapers prepared by our auditor, and that as a result an exchange may determine to delist our securities. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which was signed into law as part of the fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending legislation on December 29, 2022 and reduced the period of time for foreign companies to comply with PCAOB audits to two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determination that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in China and in Hong Kong because of positions taken by PRC and Hong Kong authorities in those jurisdictions. Our former auditor, YCM CPA INC., the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the U.S. and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the U.S., pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards, and is headquartered in California and has been inspected by the PCAOB. Our current auditor, Enrome LLP, is headquartered in Singapore and is subject to inspection by the PCAOB. Our auditors are not subject to the determination issued by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. On August 26, 2022, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, and the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Protocol”), governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong. The Protocol remains unpublished and is subject to further explanation and implementation. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Our ordinary shares may be delisted or prohibited from being traded over-the-counter under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, if the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is unable to inspect our auditors. The delisting or the cessation of trading of our ordinary shares, or the threat of their being delisted or prohibited from being traded, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections would deprive our investors with the benefits of such inspections. Our auditor has not been inspected by the PCAOB, but according to our auditor, it will be inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

 

Our Cayman Islands holding company has not declared or paid dividends or made any distributions to our shareholders in the past, nor were any dividends or distributions made by a subsidiary to the Cayman Islands holding company. Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to applicable laws. We intend to keep any future earnings to finance the expansion of our business, and we do not have any current plan to declare or pay any dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares—We currently do not expect to pay dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our ordinary shares in the future, as a holding company, we will rely on payments from subsidiaries of Jiangxi Universe to Jiangxi Universe, and from Jiangxi Universe to Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC (“Universe Technology”), and the distribution of such payments to Universe Pharmaceuticals Group (International) Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong (“Universe HK”), and then to our Company.

 

Subject to certain contractual, legal and regulatory restrictions, and our internal cash management policy, cash and capital contributions may be transferred among our Cayman Islands holding company and our subsidiaries. If needed, our Cayman Islands holding company can transfer cash to our PRC subsidiaries through loans and/or capital contributions, and our PRC subsidiaries can transfer cash to our Cayman Islands holding company through issuing dividends or other distributions. Our finance department supervises cash management, following the instructions of our management. Our finance department is responsible for establishing our cash operation plan and coordinating cash management matters among our subsidiaries and departments. Each subsidiary and department initiate a cash request by putting forward a cash demand plan, which explains the specific amount and timing of cash requested, and submitting it to our finance department. The finance department reviews the cash demand plan and prepares a summary for the management of our Company. Management examines and approves the allocation of cash based on the sources of cash and the priorities of the needs. Other than the above, we currently do not have other cash management policies or procedures that dictate how funds are transferred. Cash flows have occurred between our Cayman Islands holding company and our subsidiaries. From October 1, 2023 to the date of this prospectus supplement, the Cayman Islands holding company received cash in the amount of $100,005 from Universe HK for the payment of directors’ compensation and professional service fees. For the year ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Cayman Islands holding company received cash in the amount of $127,827 and $303,746 from its subsidiary in Hong Kong for the payment of directors’ compensation and professional service fees, respectively. The Cayman Islands holding company has not received cash transfer from its subsidiaries for the year ended September 30, 2021. There was no distribution of earnings by our PRC subsidiaries to the Cayman Islands holding company during the years ended September 30, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and from October 1, 2023 to the date of this prospectus supplement. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, our Company transferred the net proceeds from its initial public offering, through Universe HK and Universe Technology, to Jiangxi Universe and its subsidiaries, in the amount of $6,807,507, to be used for general corporate purposes. In the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2023, there was no cash transferred from the Cayman Islands holding company to its PRC subsidiaries. From October 1, 2023 to the date of this prospectus supplement, there was no cash transferred from the Cayman Islands holding company to its PRC subsidiaries. See also our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021 in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 and our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, in our current report on Form 6-K for filed with the SEC on September 20, 2024.

 

Cash transfers from our Cayman Islands holding company are subject to applicable PRC laws and regulations on loans and direct investment. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in China for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us, and as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Hong Kong subsidiary, Universe HK.

 

 

Current PRC regulations permit our indirect PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to Universe HK only out of their respective accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our subsidiaries in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.

 

The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in complying with the administrative requirements necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries and affiliates in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenue from our operations, we may be unable to pay dividends on our ordinary shares.

 

Cash dividends, if any, on our ordinary shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. Universe HK may be considered a non-resident enterprise for tax purposes, so that any dividends our PRC subsidiaries pay to Universe HK may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—People’s Republic of China Taxation” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

In order for us to pay dividends to our shareholders, we will rely on payments made from Universe Technology’s subsidiary, Jiangxi Universe, to Universe Technology and from Universe Technology to Universe HK and then to our Company. According to the Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, such payments from subsidiaries to parent companies in China are subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. In addition, if Jiangxi Universe or its subsidiary or branches incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.

 

Pursuant to the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC project. The 5% withholding tax rate, however, does not automatically apply and certain requirements must be satisfied, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong project must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong project must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC project during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong project must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to its immediate holding company, Universe HK. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. Universe HK intends to apply for the tax resident certificate if and when Universe Technology plans to declare and pay dividends to Universe HK. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors— There are significant uncertainties under the EIT Law, relating to the withholding tax liabilities of our PRC subsidiaries, and dividends payable by our PRC subsidiaries to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

 

To the extent cash is located in the PRC or within a PRC domiciled entity and may need to be used to fund operations outside of the PRC, the funds may not be available due to limitations placed on us and our subsidiaries by the PRC government. To the extent cash in and assets of the business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, the funds and assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash and assets. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — To the extent cash and assets of in the business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, the funds may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of our Company or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash and assets” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

		Per unit of ordinary share and common warrant				Per unit of pre-funded warrant and common warrant				Total
Public offering price		$	0.80			$	0.799			$	14,981,638
Placement agent’s fees (1)		$	0.056			$	0.05593			$	1,048,714.66
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$	0.744			$	0.74307			$	13,932,923.34

 

(1)

We will pay the placement agent a placement agent fee equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds of the offering and certain expenses incurred in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-28 of this prospectus supplement for more information regarding the compensation to placement agent.

 

We expect that delivery of the ordinary shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made on or about December 10, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

Univest Securities, LLC

 

Sole Placement Agent

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is December 6, 2024

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
About this Prospectus Supplement		S-ii
Commonly Used Defined Terms		S-iii
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		S-iv
Prospectus Supplement Summary		S-1
Risk Factors		S-8
Capitalization		S-14
Dilution		S-15
Use of Proceeds		S-16
Description of Securities We Are Offering		S-17
Plan of Distribution		S-28
Legal Matters		S-30
Experts		S-30
Incorporation of Documents by Reference		S-30
Where You Can Find Additional Information		S-31

 

Prospectus

 

		Page
About this Prospectus		ii
Commonly Used Defined Terms		iii
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		iii
Prospectus Summary		1
Risk Factors		13
Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable		16
Capitalization and Indebtedness		16
Dilution		16
Use of Proceeds		16
Description of Share Capital		17
Description of Debt Securities		33
Description of Warrants		35
Description of Rights		37
Description of Units		38
Plan of Distribution		39
Taxation		41
Expenses		41
Material Contracts		41
Material Changes		41
Legal Matters		41
Experts		41
Incorporation of Documents by Reference		42
Where You Can Find Additional Information		43
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities		44

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

On October 27, 2022, we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-268028), utilizing a shelf registration process relating to the securities described in this prospectus supplement, which registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on November 15, 2022. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to US$200,000,000 of any combination, together or separately, of our ordinary shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, rights, and units, or any combination thereof as described in the accompanying prospectus. We are selling ordinary shares, pre-funded warrants, and common warrants in this offering. Other than the securities being sold pursuant to this offering, we have not sold any securities under this shelf registration statement.

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the prospectus supplement. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which does not apply to this offering. You should read this entire prospectus supplement as well as the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference that are described under “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” and “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement. However, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Except as specifically stated, we are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under any Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, therein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

We further note that the representations, warranties, and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you unless you are a party to such agreement. Moreover, such representations, warranties, or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made or expressly referenced therein. Accordingly, such representations, warranties, and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs unless you are a party to such agreement.

 

 

COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS

 

Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus or in a prospectus supplement to:

 

●

“China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau and excluding Taiwan for the purposes of this prospectus only;

 

●

“Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

●

“fiscal year” are to the period from October 1 to September 30 of the next calendar year;

 

●

“Jiangxi Universe” are to Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC, which is wholly owned by Universe Technology (as defined below) and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;

 

●

“PRC operating entities” are to Jiangxi Universe and its subsidiaries;

 

●

“RMB” and Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China;

 

●

“shares” or “ordinary shares” are to the ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.01875 per share;

 

●

“SEC” are to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission;

 

●

“Securities Act” are to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

●

“TCM” are to traditional Chinese medicine;

 

●

“TCMD” are to traditional Chinese medicine derivatives;

 

●

“Universe Hanhe” are to Guangzhou Universe Hanhe Medical Research Co., Ltd., a PRC formed on May 12, 2021, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Universe;

 

●

“Universe HK” are to the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Universe Pharmaceuticals Group (International) Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong;

 

●

“Universe Technology” are to Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC, and is wholly owned by Universe HK;

 

●

“Universe Trade” are to Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Trade Co., Ltd., a PRC company formed in 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Universe;

 

●

“US$,” “U.S. dollars,” “$” and “dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States; and

 

●

“we,” “us,” “our Company,” or the “Company”, are to one or more of Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, an exempted company incorporated and registered in the Cayman Islands with limited liability.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and our SEC filings that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Many of the forward- looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” and “potential,” among others.

 

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and our SEC filings that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief, or current expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to of various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under the section entitled “Item 3. Key Information—3.D. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement, and the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to:

 

●

our goals and growth strategies;

 

●

our future prospects and market acceptance of our TCMD products and other medical products;

 

●

our future business development, results of operations, and financial condition;

 

●

expected changes in our revenue, costs or expenditures;

 

●

our plans to diversify and improve the functionality and efficacy of our products;

 

●

our ability to retain and increase our existing customers;

 

●

our expectations regarding the demand for, and market acceptance of, our products and our brands;

 

●

relevant government policies and regulations relating to our business and industry;

 

●

general economic and business condition in the markets where we operate;

 

●

growth and competition in the Chinese patent medicine industry;

 

●

our proposed use of proceeds from this offering;

 

●

assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing;

 

●

the future development of the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued impact on our business and industry;

 

●

legislative and regulatory developments related to U.S.-listed China-based companies due to lack of PCAOB inspection;

 

●

other factors that may affect our financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations; and

 

●

other risk factors discussed under “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as, and to the extent required by, applicable securities laws.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

The following is a summary of certain risks that should be carefully considered along with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act. Particularly, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 and in the accompanying prospectus. If any of the following events actually occurs, our business, operating results, prospects, or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and could result in a complete loss of your investment.

 

Risks Related to this Offering and our Ordinary Shares

 

Our share price may be volatile and could decline substantially.

 

The market price of our ordinary shares may be volatile, both because of actual and perceived changes in the company’s financial results and prospects, and because of general volatility in the stock market. The factors that could cause fluctuations in our share price may include, among other factors discussed in this section, the following:

 

●

actual or anticipated variations in the financial results and prospects of the company or other companies in the retail business;

 

●

changes in financial estimates by research analysts;

 

●

changes in the market valuations of other companies specializing in TCMD products;

 

●

announcements by us or our competitors of new education services, expansions, investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures;

 

●

mergers or other business combinations involving us;

 

●

additions and departures of key personnel and senior management;

 

●

changes in accounting principles;

 

●

the passage of legislation or other developments affecting us or our industry;

 

●

the trading volume of our ordinary shares in the public market;

 

●

the release of lockup, escrow or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities;

 

●

potential litigation or regulatory investigations;

 

●

changes in economic conditions, including fluctuations in global and Chinese economies;

 

●

financial market conditions;

 

●

natural disasters, terrorist acts, acts of war or periods of civil unrest; and

 

●

the realization of some or all of the risks described in this section.

 

 

In addition, the stock markets have experienced significant price and trading volume fluctuations from time to time, and the market prices of the equity securities of retailers have been extremely volatile and are sometimes subject to sharp price and trading volume changes. These broad market fluctuations may materially and adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

Since our management will have broad discretion in how we use the proceeds from this offering, we may use the proceeds in ways with which you disagree.

 

Our management will have significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of those net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to influence how the proceeds are being used. It is possible that the net proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us. The failure of our management to use such funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.

 

Future sales of our ordinary shares, whether by us or our shareholders, including the Purchasers, could cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.

 

In this offering, the Purchasers are purchasing from us an aggregate of 388,000 ordinary shares, 18,362,000 pre-funded warrants to purchase 18,362,000 ordinary shares, and 18,750,000 common warrants to purchase 18,750,000 ordinary shares. If our existing shareholders, including the Purchasers, sell, or indicate an intent to sell, substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline significantly. Similarly, the perception in the public market that our shareholders might sell our ordinary shares could also depress the market price of our shares. A decline in the price of our ordinary shares might impede our ability to raise capital through the issuance of additional ordinary shares or other equity securities. In addition, the issuance and sale by us of additional ordinary shares, or securities convertible into or exercisable for our ordinary shares, or the perception that we will issue such securities, could reduce the trading price for our ordinary shares as well as make future sales of equity securities by us less attractive or not feasible. The sale of ordinary shares issued upon the exercise of our outstanding pre-funded warrants and/or common warrants could further dilute the holdings of our then existing shareholders.

 

We do not know whether a market for the ordinary shares will be sustained or what the trading price of the ordinary shares will be and as a result it may be difficult for you to sell your ordinary shares.

 

Although our ordinary shares trade on Nasdaq, an active trading market for the ordinary shares may not be sustained. It may be difficult for you to sell your ordinary shares without depressing the market price for the ordinary shares. As a result of these and other factors, you may not be able to sell your ordinary shares. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling ordinary shares, or may impair our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using our ordinary shares as consideration.

 

The issuance of securities in connection with the exercise of the pre-funded warrants and the common warrants, and additional securities offerings in the future may dilute then existing shareholders’ percentage ownership of our Company.

 

Given the issuance of securities in connection with the exercise of the pre-funded warrants and the common warrants, and our plans and expectations that we may need additional capital in the future, we may issue and may need to issue additional ordinary shares or securities convertible or exercisable for ordinary shares, including convertible preferred shares, convertible notes, share options or warrants. The issuance of additional securities in the future will dilute the percentage ownership of then existing shareholders.

 

There is no public market for the pre-funded warrants or common warrants being offered in this offering.

 

There is no public trading market for the pre-funded warrants or common warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants or common warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other national securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants and the common warrants will be limited. See “Description of Securities We Are Offering—Pre-Funded Warrants” and “Description of Securities We Are Offering—Common Warrants.”

 

 

We will not receive any meaningful amount of additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.

 

Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable until it is fully exercised and by means of payment of the nominal cash purchase price upon exercise or, at the holder’s option, no cash payment at all if a cashless exercise is elected. Accordingly, we will not receive any or any meaningful additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.

 

Holders of the pre-funded warrants or common warrants will have no rights as holders of ordinary shares until such holders exercise their pre-funded warrants or common warrants and acquire our ordinary shares.

 

Until holders of the pre-funded warrants or common warrants exercise their warrants and acquire our ordinary shares, such holders will have no rights with respect to our ordinary shares underlying such warrants. Upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants or common warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of ordinary shares only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

 

Securities analysts may not cover our ordinary shares and this may have a negative impact on the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

The trading market for our ordinary shares will depend, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over independent analysts (provided that we have engaged various non-independent analysts). We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by independent securities and industry analysts. If no independent securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our ordinary shares would be negatively impacted. If we obtain independent securities or industry analyst coverage and if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our ordinary shares, changes their opinion of our shares or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our ordinary shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our ordinary shares could decrease and we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price and trading volume of our ordinary shares to decline.

 

You will experience immediate dilution as a result of this offering and may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings or other equity issuances.

 

We believe that our existing shareholders will experience an immediate dilution relative to net tangible book value per ordinary share. Our net tangible book value on March 31, 2024 was US$26,596,444, or US$109.42 per ordinary share. After giving effect to the sale of our ordinary shares, pre-funded warrants and common warrants of approximately US$14.98 million in this offering at an offering price of US$0.80 per ordinary share and one accompanying common warrant, and US$0.799 per pre-funded warrant and one accompanying common warrant, and after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2024 would have been US$40,353,867, or US$1.07 per ordinary share. This represents an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of US$108.35 per ordinary share to our existing shareholders and an immediate increase in net tangible book value of US$0.27 per ordinary share to the investor participating in this offering.

 

We may in the future issue additional ordinary shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell our ordinary shares or other securities in any other offering or other transactions at a price per ordinary share that is equal to or greater than the price per ordinary share paid by the investor in this offering. The price per ordinary share at which we sell additional ordinary shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per ordinary share in this offering. If we do issue any such additional ordinary shares, such issuance also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other shareholders.

 

 

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

 

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

 

Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ordinary shares will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our ordinary shares. There is no guarantee that our ordinary shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased the ordinary shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in our ordinary shares and you may even lose your entire investment in our ordinary shares.

 

Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is in the short seller’s interest for the price of the security to decline, many short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a security short. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market.

 

Public companies listed in the United States that have a substantial majority of their operations in China have been the subject of short selling. Much of the scrutiny and negative publicity has centered on allegations of a lack of effective internal control over financial reporting resulting in financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result, many of these companies are now conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations and, in the interim, are subject to shareholder lawsuits and/or SEC enforcement actions.

 

We may in the future be the subject of unfavorable allegations made by short sellers. Any such allegations may be followed by periods of instability in the market price of our ordinary shares and negative publicity. If and when we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we could have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend ourselves. While we would strongly defend against any such short seller attacks, we may be constrained in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller by principles of freedom of speech, applicable federal or state law or issues of commercial confidentiality. Such a situation could be costly and time- consuming and could distract our management from growing our business. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, allegations against us could severely impact our business operations and shareholder’s equity, and the value of any investment in our could be greatly reduced or rendered worthless.

 

 

As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.

 

As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands company with limited liability that is listed on the Nasdaq, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. We have relied on and plan to rely on certain home country practice. Specifically, we are not required to seek shareholder approval for issuance 20% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares or voting power in a private offering. As a result, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would enjoy under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

 

We may become a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States investors.

 

Based on the projected composition of our income and valuation of our assets, including goodwill, we are not expected to be a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for its current taxable year, and we do not expect to become one in the future, although there can be no assurance in this regard. Although we do not expect to be a PFIC, if we are or were to become a PFIC, such characterization could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to you if you are a U.S. investor. For example, if we are a PFIC, its U.S. investors will become subject to increased tax liabilities under U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations and will become subject to burdensome reporting requirements. We cannot assure you that we will not be a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year.

 

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

 

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association currently in effect, the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by our minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties 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 precedents in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the 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 have no general rights under the Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have the discretion under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to 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 differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the U.S. To the extent we choose to follow home country practice, shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would have under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

 

 

The Cayman Islands courts are also unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws, or (ii) to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature.

 

There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits.

 

As a result of all of the above, our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of our board of directors or shareholders than they would as shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.

 

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

 

We are a Cayman Islands company and all of our assets are located outside of the United States. All of our current operations are conducted in the PRC. In addition, all of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of the PRC, including our chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors, Mr. Gang Lai, our chief financial officer, Ms. Lin Yang, and our directors, Mr. Jiawen Pang, Mr. Yongping Yu and Mr. Ding Zheng, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of the PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Cayman Islands and the PRC.

 

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:

 

●

the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC;

 

●

the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

 

●

the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

 

●

the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.

 

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 compared to 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, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of March 31, 2024:

 

●

on an actual basis, as derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2024, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement;

 

●

on a pro forma basis, to give effect to the issue and sale of 1,333,333 ordinary shares at an offering price of US$18.75 per share (retroactively taking into account the Share Consolidation); and

 

●

on an as adjusted basis to give further effect to the issuance and sale of 388,000 ordinary shares at the offering price of US$0.80 per ordinary share and one accompanying common warrant, the issuance and sale of 18,362,000 pre-funded warrants at the offering price of US$0.799 per pre-funded warrant and one accompanying common warrant, and the issue and sale of 18,750,000 common warrants, after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming no exercise of the common warrants or pre-funded warrants, and excluding our ordinary shares issued and any proceeds received upon exercise of the common warrants and pre-funded warrants and any resulting accounting associated with the common warrants and pre-funded warrants, in each case after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and notes included in the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

		As of March 31, 2024
		Actual				Pro Forma				Pro Forma As Adjusted
		US$				US$				US$
Shareholders’ Equity:
Share capital US$0.28125 par value, 450,000,000 ordinary shares authorized; 243,065 ordinary shares outstanding (actual), 1,715,184 ordinary shares (pro forma), and 39,215,184 ordinary shares outstanding (pro forma as adjusted)			68,362				482,396				11,029,271
Additional paid-in capital			29,278,766				53,864,726				57,075,274
Statutory reserve			2,439,535				2,439,535				2,439,535
Retained earnings			(2,942,153	)			(2,942,153	)			(2,942,153	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(2,100,414	)			(2,100,414	)			(2,100,414	)
Total Shareholders’ Equity			26,744,096				51,744,090				65,501,513
Total Capitalization			26,744,096				51,744,090				65,501,513

 

 

DILUTION

 

Our net tangible book value on March 31, 2024 was US$26,596,444, or US$109.42 per ordinary share. “Net tangible book value” is total assets minus the sum of liabilities and intangible assets. “Net tangible book value per share” is net tangible book value divided by the total number of shares outstanding.

 

After giving effect to the sale of our ordinary shares, pre-funded warrants and common warrants of approximately US$14.98 million in this offering, at an offering price of US$0.80 per ordinary share and one accompanying common warrant, and US$0.799 per pre-funded warrant and one accompanying common warrant, and after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2024 would have been US$40,353,867, or US$1.07 per ordinary share. This represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of US$108.35 per ordinary share to our existing shareholders and an immediate increase in net tangible book value of US$0.27 per ordinary share to the investor participating in this offering.

 

The following table illustrates the net tangible book value dilution per ordinary share to shareholders after the issuance of the ordinary shares, pre-funded warrants and common warrants in this offering:

 

Public offering price per ordinary share and one accompanying common warrant		US$	0.80
Public offering price per pre-funded warrant and one accompanying common warrant		US$	0.799
Net tangible book value per ordinary share as of March 31, 2024		US$	109.42
Decrease per ordinary share attributable to existing investors under this prospectus supplement		US$	(108.32	)
As Adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering		US$	1.07
Net tangible book value increase per ordinary share to new investors		US$	0.27

 

The foregoing table and discussion is based on 1,715,814 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2024, if retroactively adjusted to give effect to the Share Consolidation.

 

This discussion of dilution, and the table quantifying it, assumes no exercise of any outstanding options over our ordinary shares.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately US$13.8 million, after deducting the placement agent fees and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the purposes and in the amounts set forth below:

 

●

30% of the net proceeds allocated to marketing and promotional activities;

 

●

40% of the net proceeds allocated to expanding production capacity; and

 

●

30% of the net proceeds allocated to working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The amounts and timing of our use of proceeds will vary depending on a number of factors, including the amount of cash generated or used by our operations, and the rate of growth, if any, of our business. As a result, we will retain broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds of this offering.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and our affairs are governed by our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended and restated from time to time, and Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”), and the common law of the Cayman Islands.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our authorized share capital is US$140,625,000 divided into 450,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.28125 per share and 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value US$0.28125 per share.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

General

 

All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form, and are issued when registered in our register of members. Unless the board of directors determine otherwise, each holder of our ordinary shares will not receive a certificate in respect of such ordinary shares. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares. We may not issue shares or warrants to bearer.

 

Our authorized share capital is US$140,625,000 divided into 450,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.28125 per share and 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value US$0.28125 per share. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our articles regarding redemption and purchase of the shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. Such authority could be exercised by the directors to allot shares which carry rights and privileges that are preferential to the rights attaching to ordinary shares. No share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. The directors may refuse to accept any application for shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and any rights attaching to any class or classes of shares under and in accordance with the articles:

 

(a)

the directors may declare dividends or distributions out of our funds which are lawfully available for that purpose; and

 

(b)

the Company’s shareholders may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.

 

Subject to the requirements of the Companies Act regarding the application of a company’s share premium account and with the sanction of an ordinary resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account. The directors when paying dividends to shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.

 

Unless provided by the rights attached to a share, no dividend shall bear interest.

 

Voting Rights

 

Subject to any rights or restrictions as to voting attached to any shares, unless any share carries special voting rights, on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person and every person representing a shareholder by proxy shall have one vote per ordinary share. On a poll, every shareholder who is present in person and every person representing a shareholder by proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he or the person represented by proxy is the holder. In addition, all shareholders holding shares of a particular class are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of shares. Votes may be given either personally or by proxy.

 

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

Whenever our capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class of share (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the holders of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.

  

Unless the terms on which a class of shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the shareholder holding shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with the existing shares of that class.

 

Alteration of Share Capital

 

Subject to the Companies Act, our shareholders may, by ordinary resolution:

 

(a)

increase our share capital by new shares of the amount fixed by that ordinary resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that ordinary resolution;

 

(b)

consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares;

 

(c)

convert all or any of our paid up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;

 

(d)

sub-divide our shares or any of them into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and

 

(e)

cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of that ordinary resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled or, in the case of shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of shares into which our capital is divided.

 

Subject to the Companies Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, our shareholders may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.

 

Calls on Shares and Forfeiture

 

Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares including any premium and each shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made), pay to us the amount called on his shares. Shareholders registered as the joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or if no rate is fixed, at the rate of ten percent per annum. The directors may, at their discretion, waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.

 

We have a first and paramount lien on all shares (whether fully paid up or not) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to us by the shareholder or the shareholder’s estate:

 

(a)

either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a shareholder; and

 

(b)

whether or not those monies are presently payable.

 

 

At any time the directors may declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from the lien on shares provisions of the articles.

 

We may sell, in such manner as the directors may determine, any share on which the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, if due notice that such sum is payable has been given (as prescribed by the articles) and, within 14 days of the date on which the notice is deemed to be given under the articles, such notice has not been complied with.

 

Unclaimed Dividend

 

A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the company.

 

Forfeiture or Surrender of Shares

 

If a shareholder fails to pay any capital call, the directors may give to such shareholder not less than 14 clear days’ notice requiring payment and specifying the amount unpaid including any interest which may have accrued, any expenses which have been incurred by us due to that person’s default and the place where payment is to be made. The notice shall also state the place where payment is to be made and contain a warning that if the notice is not complied with, the shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

If such notice is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any share the subject of that notice be forfeited (which forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited share and not paid before such forfeiture).

 

A forfeited share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit.

 

A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a shareholder in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding such forfeiture, remain liable to pay to us all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to us in respect of the shares, together with all expenses and interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment, but his liability shall cease if and when we receive payment in full of the unpaid amount. The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.

 

A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the secretary shall be conclusive evidence that the person making the declaration is our director or secretary and that the particular shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.

 

Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the shares.

 

Share Premium Account

 

The directors shall establish a share premium account and shall carry the credit of such account from time to time to a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Companies Act.

 

 

Redemption and Purchase of Own Shares

 

Subject to the Companies Act and any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may by action of our directors:

 

(a)

issue shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at our option or the shareholder holding those redeemable shares, on the terms and in the manner our directors determine before the issue of those shares;

 

(b)

with the consent by special resolution of the shareholders holding shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of shares so as to provide that those shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at our option on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and

 

(c)

purchase all or any of our own shares of any class including any redeemable shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase.

 

We may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares in any manner authorized by the Companies Act, including out of any combination of capital, our profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares.

 

When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorized by the terms of the allotment of those shares or by the terms applying to those shares, or otherwise by agreement with the shareholder holding those shares.

 

Transfer of Shares

 

Provided that a transfer of ordinary shares complies with applicable rules of Nasdaq, a shareholder may transfer ordinary shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by Nasdaq or in any other form approved by the directors, executed:

 

(a)

where the ordinary shares are fully paid, by or on behalf of that shareholder; and

 

(b)

where the ordinary shares are nil or partly paid, or if otherwise required by the directors, by or on behalf of that shareholder and the transferee.

 

The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of an ordinary share until the name of the transferee is entered into the register of members of the Company.

  

Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share that has not been fully paid up or is subject to a company lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of such ordinary share unless:

 

(a)

the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

(b)

the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;

 

(c)

the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;

 

(d)

the ordinary shares transferred is fully paid and free of any lien in favor of us;

 

(e)

any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; and

 

(f)

the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.

 

If our directors refuse to register a transfer, they are required, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.

 

This, however, is unlikely to affect market transactions of the ordinary shares purchased by investors in the public offering. The legal title to such ordinary shares and the registration details of those ordinary shares in the Company’s register of members will remain with Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). All market transactions with respect to those ordinary shares will then be carried out without the need for any kind of registration by the directors, as the market transactions will all be conducted through the DTC systems.

 

 

The registration of transfers may, on 14 calendar days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and our register of members closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine. The registration of transfers, however, may not be suspended, and the register may not be closed, for more than 30 days in any year.

 

Inspection of Books and Records

 

Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under the Companies Act to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records.

 

General Meetings

 

As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings; accordingly, we may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting. Any annual general meeting held shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our board of directors. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.

 

The directors may convene general meetings whenever they think fit. General meetings shall also be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than ten percent of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting for a date not later than 21 clear days’ after the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us.

 

At least 14 days’ notice of an extraordinary general meeting and 21 days’ notice of an annual general meeting shall be given to shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of that business. In addition, if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution shall be given to all shareholders. Notice of every general meeting shall also be given to the directors and our auditors.

 

Subject to the Companies Act and with the consent of the shareholders who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90 percent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened on shorter notice.

 

A quorum shall consist of the presence (whether in person or represented by proxy) of one or more shareholders holding shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting.

 

If, within 15 minutes from the time appointed for the general meeting, or at any time during the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be cancelled. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors.

 

The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, adjourn the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned for seven days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with the articles.

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by at least two shareholders having the right to vote on the resolutions or one or more shareholders present who together hold not less than ten percent of the voting rights of all those who are entitled to vote on the resolution. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of, or against, that resolution.

 

 

If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.

 

In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

Directors

 

We may by ordinary resolution, from time to time, fix the maximum and minimum number of directors to be appointed. Under the articles, we are required to have a minimum of one director and the maximum number of directors shall be unlimited.

 

A director may be appointed by ordinary resolution or by the directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director.

 

Unless the remuneration of the directors is determined by the shareholders by ordinary resolution, the directors shall be entitled to such remuneration as the directors may determine.

 

The shareholding qualification for directors may be fixed by our shareholders by ordinary resolution and unless and until so fixed no share qualification shall be required.

 

Unless removed or re-appointed, each director shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next-following annual general meeting, if one is held. At any annual general meeting held, our directors will be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. At each annual general meeting, each director so elected shall hold office for a one-year term and until the election of their respective successors in office or removed.

 

A director may be removed by ordinary resolution.

 

A director may at any time resign or retire from office by giving us notice in writing. Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to us.

 

Subject to the provisions of the articles, the office of a director may be terminated forthwith if:

 

(a)

he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director;

 

(b)

he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;

 

(c)

he resigns his office by notice to us;

 

(d)

he only held office as a director for a fixed term and such term expires;

 

(e)

in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director;

 

(f)

he is given notice by the majority of the other directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such director);

 

(g)

he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or

 

(h)

without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for continuous period of six months.

 

Each of the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of at least three directors and the majority of the committee members shall be independent within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The audit committee shall consist of at least three directors, all of whom shall be independent within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and will meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10C-1 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Powers and Duties of Directors

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association, our business shall be managed by the directors, who may exercise all our powers. No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of our memorandum or articles of association. To the extent allowed by the Companies Act, however, shareholders may by special resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.

 

The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be shareholders and may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the directors. Our board of directors have established an audit committee, compensation committee, and nomination and corporate governance committee.

 

The board of directors may establish any local or divisional board of directors or agency and delegate to it its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) for managing any of our affairs whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional board of directors, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration.

 

The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be our agent with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers.

 

The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be our attorney or our authorized signatory and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under the articles.

 

The board of directors may remove any person so appointed and may revoke or vary the delegation.

 

The directors may exercise all of our powers to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of ours or our parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of us or of any third party.

 

A director shall not, as a director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interests, direct or indirect, in shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, us) and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall he be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to:

 

(a)

the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of:

 

(i)

money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person for our benefit or any of our subsidiaries; or

 

(ii)

a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which the director himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

(b)

where we or any of our subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the director is to or may participate;

 

(c)

any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him) does not to his knowledge hold an interest representing one percent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to shareholders of the relevant body corporate;

 

(d)

any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of us or any of our subsidiaries under which he is not accorded as a director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or

 

(e)

any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Companies Act) indemnities in favor of directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of anything to enable such director or directors to avoid incurring such expenditure.

 

A director may, as a director, vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which is not a material interest or as described above.

 

 

Capitalization of Profits

 

The directors may resolve to capitalize:

 

(a)

any part of our profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or

 

(b)

any sum standing to the credit of our share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any.

 

The amount resolved to be capitalized must be appropriated to the shareholders who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:

 

(a)

to divide in specie among the shareholders the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and

 

(b)

to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of shareholders and those liable to contribute to the winding up.

  

The directors have the authority to present a petition for our winding up to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on our behalf without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.

 

Register of Members

 

Under the Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:

 

●

the names and addresses of our shareholders, a statement of the shares held by each shareholder, and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each shareholder;

 

●

the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a shareholder; and

 

●

the date on which any person ceased to be a shareholder.

 

Under the Companies Act, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (that is, the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a shareholder registered in the register of members is deemed as a matter of the Companies Act to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members.

 

If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a shareholder of our company, the person or shareholder aggrieved (or any shareholder of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.

 

 

Pre-funded Warrants

 

The following is a brief summary of certain terms and conditions of the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering. The following description is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in the pre-funded warrants.

 

Form

 

The pre-funded warrants will be issued as individual warrant agreements to the purchaser. The form of pre-funded warrant will be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 6-K that we will file with the SEC.

 

Term

 

The pre-funded warrants will not expire until they are fully exercised.

 

Exercisability

 

The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time until they are fully exercised. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and payment of the exercise price. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the exercise of a pre-funded warrant. The holder of the pre-funded warrants may also satisfy its obligation to pay the exercise price through a “cashless exercise,” in which the holder receives the net value of the pre-funded warrant in ordinary shares determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant.

 

Exercise Limitations

 

Under the terms of the pre-funded warrants, the Company may not effect the exercise of any such warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any such warrant, if, upon giving effect to such exercise, the aggregate number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates, any other persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of the holder’s affiliates, and any other persons whose beneficial ownership of ordinary shares would or could be aggregated with the holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) or Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) would exceed 9.99% of the number of ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of such warrant, which percentage may be increased or decreased at the holder’s election upon 61 days’ notice to the Company subject to the terms of such warrants, provided that such percentage may in no event exceed 9.99%.

 

Exercise Price

 

The exercise price of our ordinary shares purchasable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants is $0.001 per share. The exercise price of the pre-funded warrants and the number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain share dividends and distributions, share subdivision, share combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our ordinary shares, as well as upon any distribution of assets, including cash, shares or other property, to our shareholders.

 

Transferability

 

Subject to applicable laws, the pre-funded warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.

 

Exchange Listing

 

We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.

 

 

Fundamental Transactions

 

Upon the consummation of a fundamental transaction (as described in the pre-funded warrants, and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our ordinary shares, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding ordinary shares, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power of our outstanding ordinary shares), the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that such holders would have received had they exercised the pre-funded warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction, without regard to any limitations on exercise contained in the pre-funded warrants.

 

No Rights as a Shareholder

 

Except by virtue of such holder’s ownership of ordinary shares, the holder of a pre-funded warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our ordinary shares, including any voting rights, until such holder exercises the pre-funded warrant.

 

Common Warrants

 

Form

 

The common warrants will be issued as individual warrant agreements to the investors. You should review the form of common warrant, which will be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 6-K that we will file with the SEC.

 

Exercisability

 

The common warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of ordinary shares purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as described below). One common warrant is for one ordinary share. A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the common warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the outstanding ordinary shares immediately after exercise, except that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase the amount of ownership of outstanding ordinary shares after exercising the holder’s common warrants up to 9.99% of the number of ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the common warrants. Purchasers of common warrants in this offering may also elect prior to the issuance of the common warrants to have the initial exercise limitation set at 9.99% of our outstanding ordinary shares. No fractional ordinary shares will be issued in connection with the exercise of a common warrants. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise price.

 

Duration and Exercise Price

 

The exercise price per whole ordinary share purchasable upon the exercise of the common warrants is $0.80 per share. The common warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised for a period of up to five years after issuance. The exercise price of the common warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, share splits, share combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our ordinary shares and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, shares or other property to our shareholders.

 

 

Cashless Exercise

 

If, at any time after the holder’s purchase of common warrants, such holder exercises its common warrants and a registration statement registering the issuance of the ordinary shares underlying the common warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available (or a prospectus is not available for the resale of ordinary shares underlying the common warrants), then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder shall instead receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) only the net number of ordinary shares determined according to a formula set forth in the common warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event we do not have or maintain an effective registration statement, there are no circumstances that would require us to make any cash payments or net cash settle the common warrants to the holders.

 

Transferability

 

Subject to applicable laws, the common warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned at the option of the holder upon surrender of the common warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

 

Exchange Listing

 

We do not plan on applying to list the common warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.

 

Fundamental Transactions

 

In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the common warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our ordinary shares, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our ordinary shares, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding ordinary shares, the holders of the common warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Common Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the common warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In the case of certain fundamental transactions affecting us, a holder of common warrants, upon exercise of such warrants after such fundamental transaction, will have the right to receive, in lieu ordinary shares, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property that such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the fundamental transaction, had the common warrants been exercised immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In lieu of such consideration, a holder of common warrants may instead elect to receive a cash payment based upon the Black-Scholes value of their common warrants.

 

Rights as a Shareholder

 

Except by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our ordinary shares, the holder of a common warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our ordinary shares, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the common warrant.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Univest Securities, LLC (the “placement agent” or “Univest”) has agreed to act as the exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, nor is the placement agent required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of all of the securities offered hereby.

 

We entered into a securities purchase agreement directly with the investors on December 6, 2024 pursuant to which we will sell to the investors 388,000 ordinary shares, 18,362,000 pre-funded warrants to purchase 18,362,000 ordinary shares, and 18,750,000 common warrants to purchase 18,750,000 ordinary shares, in this takedown from our shelf registration statement, and we will only sell to investors who have entered into the securities purchase agreement.

 

We expect to deliver the ordinary shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement on or about December 10, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

Regulation M

 

The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any fees or commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of securities sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, the placement agent is required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of ordinary shares and warrants by the placement agent. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent:

 

●

may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and

 

●

may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution.

 

From time to time in the common course of their respective businesses, the placement agent or its affiliates may in the future engage in investment banking and/or other services with us and our affiliates for which it may in the future receive customary fees and expenses.

 

Fees and Expense

 

We have agreed to pay the placement agent placement agent fees equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds of this offering. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse the placement agent for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees, costs and disbursements of its legal counsel, in an amount not to exceed an aggregate of $100,000. The Company will reimburse the placement agent at the closing of this offering, directly out of the gross proceeds raised in this offering. We have also agreed to pay a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering to the placement agent, which will be paid at the closing of this offering.

 

The following table shows per share and total placement agent fees we will pay to the placement agent in connection with the sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus:

 

		Per unit of ordinary share and common warrant				Per unit of pre-funded warrant  and common warrant				Total
Public offering price		$	0.80			$	0.799			$	14,981,638
Placement agent’s fees		$	0.056			$	0.05593			$	1,048,714.66
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$	0.744			$	0.74307			$	13,932,923.34

 

After deducting certain fees and expenses due to placement agent and our estimated offering expenses, we expect the net proceeds from this offering to be approximately US$13.8 million.

 

 

Tail Financing

 

If within twelve (12) months after the later of the closing of this offering of the termination of the placement agency agreement entered into by and between the Company and the placement agent, dated December 6, 2024 (the “Placement Agency Agreement”), the Company completes any financing of equity, equity-linked or debt or other capital-raising activity of the Company for which any investors who were formally introduced or wall-crossed by the placement agent in connection with this offering (other than the exercise by any person or entity of any options, warrants or other convertible securities), with whom the Company had no prior contact or dealing, then the Company shall pay to the placement agent a commission of seven percent (7%) of the aggregate proceeds raised from such investors. The placement agent shall provide a list of such investors upon termination of the Placement Agency Agreement or closing of this offering, and the Company shall be able to review and revise this list as needed.

 

Determination of Offering Price

 

The offering price of the securities we are offering was negotiated between us and the investors, in consultation with the placement agent based on the trading of our ordinary shares prior to the offering, among other things. Other factors considered in determining the offering price of the securities we are offering include our history and prospects, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as were deemed relevant.

 

Passive Market Making

 

In connection with this offering, the placement agent may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of our securities and extending through the completion of the distribution.

 

Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and liabilities arising from breaches of representations and warranties contained in the placement agency agreement, or to contribute to payments that the placement agent may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

 

Potential Conflicts of Interest

 

The placement agent and its affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which it may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of its various business activities, the placement agent and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for its own accounts and for the accounts of its customers and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our Company. The placement agent and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

Electronic Distribution

 

This prospectus supplement may be made available in electronic format on websites or through other online services maintained by the placement agent or by an affiliate. Other than this prospectus supplement, the information on the placement agent’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the placement agent is not part of this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus or this prospectus, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the placement agent, and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

We are being represented by Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC with respect to certain legal matters of U.S. federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the securities offered in this offering and certain other legal matters as to Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for us by Ogier (Cayman) LLP. Legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by AllBright Law Offices (Fuzhou). Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC may rely upon Ogier (Cayman) LLP with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and AllBright Law Offices (Fuzhou) with respect to matters governed by PRC law.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Universe Pharmaceuticals INC and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 2023 and 2022 and for the years ended September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2011 incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of YCM CPA INC., an independent registered public accounting firm, given the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The office of YCM CPA INC. is located at 2400 Barranca Pkwy, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92606.

 

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement certain information that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document, which also is incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

We hereby incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the following documents:

 

(1)

our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2024;

 

(2)

our current reports on Form 6-K furnished on February 7, 2024, July 18, 2024, September 3, 2024, September 30, 2024, September 27, 2024, October 10, 2024, November 1, 2024 and November 13, 2024;

 

(3)

the description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statements on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;

 

(4)

any future annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement; and

 

(5)

any future reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.

 

Our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2024, contains a description of our business and audited consolidated financial statements with a report by our independent auditors. These statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus supplement on the written or oral request of that person made to:

 

Universe Pharmaceuticals INC

265 Jingjiu Avenue

Jinggangshan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Ji’an, Jiangxi, China 343100

+86-0796-8403309

 

You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus supplement omits certain information and exhibits that are included in the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. Since this prospectus supplement may not contain all of the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents. If we have filed a contract, agreement, or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement in this prospectus supplement, including statements incorporated by reference as discussed above, regarding a contract, agreement, or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

 

We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All information filed with the SEC can be inspected over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic or current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

$200,000,000 of

Ordinary Shares

Preferred Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

and

Units

 

UNIVERSE PHARMACEUTICALS INC

 

This is an offering of the securities of Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, a Cayman Islands exempted company. Unless otherwise stated, as used in this prospectus, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” are to Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

We may, from time to time, in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to $200,000,000 of our ordinary shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, rights, and units, or any combination thereof, together or separately as described in this prospectus. In this prospectus, references to the term “securities” refers, collectively, to our ordinary shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, rights, and units. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of the securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. We will provide the specific terms of the securities offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus before you invest in any of our securities. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may add, update, or change information in this prospectus. You should read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, or “Nasdaq,” under the symbol “UPC.” On October 20, 2022, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on Nasdaq was $1.05 per share. The aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates, or public float, as of October 26, 2022, was approximately $9.73 million, which was calculated based on 9,270,000 ordinary shares held by non-affiliates and the price of $1.05 per share, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on Nasdaq on October 20, 2022. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3, in no event will we sell our securities in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75 million. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have not offered or sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, please read the information under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus and risk factors set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F (the “2021 Annual Report”), in other reports incorporated herein by reference, and in an applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may offer and sell the securities from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices, or at negotiated prices, to or through underwriters, to other purchasers, through agents, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The offering price of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution” elsewhere in this prospectus for a more complete description of the ways in which the securities may be sold.

 

This prospectus refers to (i) Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, the Cayman Islands holding company, as “we”, “our”, “us”, or the “Company”, (ii) the Company’s subsidiaries, as “our subsidiaries,” (iii) Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., the Company’s indirect wholly owned subsidiary in China (“Jiangxi Universe”) and its subsidiaries, which are domiciled in China and conducting business operations in China, as the “operating entities.” The Company does not conduct any operations.

 

We are an offshore holding company with no operations of our own and not a Chinese operating company. Our operations are conducted in China by our subsidiaries. This is an offering of securities of the offshore holding company in the Cayman Islands, instead of securities of our operating companies in China. Investors in our securities are not purchasing equity interests in our subsidiaries but instead are purchasing equity interests in the ultimate Cayman Islands holding company. Therefore, you will not directly hold any equity interests in our operating companies. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow this structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale, including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For risks facing our Company and this offering as a result of our organizational structure, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China” in the 2021 Annual Report.

 

 

We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with having the majority of our operations in China, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The PRC government has significant authority to intervene or influence the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as ours, at any time. The PRC government may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. If the PRC government exerts more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers and we were to be subject to such oversight and control, it may result in a material adverse change to our business operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and cause the ordinary shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless” in the 2021 Annual Report. Recently, the PRC government adopted a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. As of the date of this prospectus, we and our subsidiaries have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any PRC regulatory authority, nor has any of them received any inquiry, notice, or sanction. As confirmed by our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, we are not subject to cybersecurity review by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. We are not subject to network data security review by the CAC if the Draft Regulations on the Network Data Security Administration (Draft for Comments) (the “Security Administration Draft”) are enacted as proposed, because we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information, we do not collect data that affect or may affect national security and we do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affect or may affect national security in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Security Administration Draft. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Failure to comply with cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, or any other laws and regulations related to data may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations” in the 2021 Annual Report. According to our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, no relevant laws or regulations in the PRC explicitly require us to seek approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for our overseas listing. As of the date of this prospectus, we and our subsidiaries have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanction regarding our overseas listing from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) or any other PRC governmental authorities. However, since these statements and regulatory actions are newly published, official guidance and related implementation rules have not been issued. It is highly uncertain what the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on the daily business operations of our subsidiaries, our ability to accept foreign investments, and our listing on an U.S. exchange. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (the “SCNPC”) or PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations, or implementing rules that require us or our subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities for listing in the U.S.

 

In addition, our ordinary shares may be prohibited from trading on a national exchange or over-the-counter under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditor for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. Our auditor is headquartered in California and has not been inspected by the PCAOB, but according to our auditor, it will be inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, and our auditor is not subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. If trading in our ordinary shares is prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our ordinary shares and trading in our ordinary shares could be prohibited. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law, would reduce the period of time for foreign companies to comply with PCAOB audits to two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading. On August 26, 2022, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance of the PRC (the “MOF”), and the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Protocol”), governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong. The Protocol remains unpublished and is subject to further explanation and implementation. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC. However, when the PCAOB reassesses its determinations by the end of 2022, it could determine that it still unable to inspect and investigate completely audit firms based in China and Hong Kong. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Our ordinary shares may be delisted or prohibited from being traded over-the-counter under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, if the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is unable to inspect our auditors. The delisting or the cessation of trading of our ordinary shares, or the threat of their being delisted or prohibited from being traded, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections would deprive our investors with the benefits of such inspections. Our auditor has not been inspected by the PCAOB, but according to our auditor, it will be inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis” in the 2021 Annual Report.

 

 

We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in China for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us, and as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Hong Kong subsidiary, Universe Pharmaceuticals Group (International) Limited (“Universe HK”).

 

Current PRC regulations permit our indirect PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to Universe HK only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our subsidiaries in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.

 

The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in complying with the administrative requirements necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries and affiliates in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenue from our operations, we may be unable to pay dividends on our ordinary shares.

 

Cash dividends, if any, on our ordinary shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. Universe HK may be considered a non-resident enterprise for tax purposes, so that any dividends our PRC subsidiaries pay to Universe HK may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—People’s Republic of China Taxation.” in the 2021 Annual Report.

 

In order for us to pay dividends to our shareholders, we will rely on payments made from Universe Technology’s subsidiary, Jiangxi Universe, to Universe Technology and from Universe Technology to Universe HK and then to our Company. According to the EIT Law, such payments from subsidiaries to parent companies in China are subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. In addition, if Jiangxi Universe or its subsidiary or branches incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.

 

Pursuant to the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC project. The 5% withholding tax rate, however, does not automatically apply and certain requirements must be satisfied, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong project must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong project must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC project during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong project must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to its immediate holding company, Universe HK. As of the date of this annual report, we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. Universe HK intends to apply for the tax resident certificate if and when Universe Technology plan to declare and pay dividends to Universe HK. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors— There are significant uncertainties under the Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, relating to the withholding tax liabilities of our PRC subsidiaries, and dividends payable by our PRC subsidiaries to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits” in the 2021 Annual Report.

 

 

To the extent cash is located in the PRC or within a PRC domiciled entity and may need to be used to fund operations outside of the PRC, the funds may not be available due to limitations placed on us and our subsidiaries by the PRC government. To the extent cash in and assets of the business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, the funds and assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash and assets. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — To the extent cash and assets of in the business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, the funds may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of our Company or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash and assets.”

 

As of the date of this prospectus, none of our subsidiaries have made any dividends or distributions to our Company and our Company has not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders. We intend to keep any future earnings to finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our ordinary shares in the future, as a holding company, we will rely on payments from subsidiaries of Jiangxi Universe to Jiangxi Universe, and from Jiangxi Universe to Universe Pharmaceuticals Technology Co., Ltd., our indirect wholly owned subsidiary in China (“Universe Technology”), and the distribution of such payments to Universe HK, and then to our Company. Our finance department is supervising cash management, following the instructions of our management. Our finance department is responsible for establishing our cash operation plan and coordinating cash management matters among our subsidiaries and departments. Each subsidiary and department initiates a cash request by putting forward a cash demand plan, which explains the specific amount and timing of cash requested, and submitting it to our finance department. The finance department reviews the cash demand plan and prepares a summary for the management of our Company. Management examines and approves the allocation of cash based on the sources of cash and the priorities of the needs. Other than the above, we currently do not have other cash management policies or procedures that dictate how funds are transferred. Cash flows have occurred between our Cayman Islands holding company and our subsidiaries. The Cayman Islands holding company has not received cash transfer from its subsidiaries for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and from October 1, 2021 to the date of this prospectus. There was no distribution of earnings by our PRC subsidiaries to the Cayman Islands holding company during the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and from October 1, 2021 to the date of this prospectus. From October 1, 2021 to the date of this prospectus, Universe Technology transferred cash in the amount of RMB67,277,244 (approximately $10,460) to Jiangxi Universe. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, Universe Pharmaceuticals INC transferred the net proceeds from its initial public offering, through Universe HK and Universe Technology, to Jiangxi Universe and its subsidiaries, in the amount of RMB 43,976,156 (approximately $6,807,507), to be used for general corporate purposes. In the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, there was no cash transferred from the Cayman Islands holding company to its PRC subsidiaries. See “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy” in the 2021 Annual Report and our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is , 2022.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page
About this Prospectus	ii
Commonly Used Defined Terms	iii
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	iii
Prospectus Summary	1
Risk Factors	13
Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable	16
Capitalization and Indebtedness	16
Dilution	16
Use of Proceeds	16
Description of Share Capital	17
Description of Debt Securities	33
Description of Warrants	35
Description of Rights	37
Description of Units	38
Plan of Distribution	39
Taxation	41
Expenses	41
Material Contracts	41
Material Changes	41
Legal Matters	41
Experts	41
Incorporation of Documents by Reference	42
Where You Can Find Additional Information	43
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities	44

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to a total offering amount of $200,000,000.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this shelf registration, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including a description of any risks related to the offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all the information included in the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other documents are not necessarily complete. If the SEC rules and regulations require that an agreement or other document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of the matters. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” before investing in any of the securities offered.

 

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover. The information incorporated by reference into this prospectus is accurate as of the date of the document from which the information is incorporated. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any other date.

 

You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities.

 

As permitted by SEC rules and regulations, the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at its website or at its offices described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

 

COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS

 

Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus or in a prospectus supplement to:

 

	●	“China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding Taiwan for the purposes of this prospectus only;
	●	“Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
	●	“fiscal year” are to the period from October 1 to September 30 of the next calendar year;
	●	“Jiangxi Universe” are to Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., a company with limited liability organized under the laws of the PRC, which is jointly owned by Universe Technology (as defined below);
	●	“operating entities” are to Jiangxi Universe and its subsidiaries;
	●	“ordinary shares” are to the ordinary shares of Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, par value US$0.003125 per share;
	●	“RMB” or “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China;
	●	“SEC” are to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission;
	●	“Securities Act” are to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
	●	“Universe Hanhe” are to Guangzhou Universe Hanhe Medical Research Co., Ltd., a PRC formed on May 12, 2021, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Universe;
	●	“Universe HK” are to Universe Pharmaceuticals INC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Universe Pharmaceuticals Group (International) Limited, a Hong Kong corporation;
	●	“Universe Technology” are to Universe Pharmaceuticals Technology Co., Ltd., a company with limited liability organized under the laws of the PRC, which is wholly owned by Universe HK;
	●	“Universe Trade” are to Jiangxi Universe Pharmaceuticals Trade Co., Ltd., a PRC company formed in 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Universe;
	●	“US$,” “$,” and “U.S. dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States;
	●	“U.S. GAAP” are to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; and
	●	“We,” “us,” “our Company,” or the “Company” are to Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, a company limited by shares organized under the laws of Cayman Islands.

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, an applicable prospectus supplement, and our SEC filings that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements,” including any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items, any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations, any statements concerning proposed new projects or other developments, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, any statements of management’s beliefs, goals, strategies, intentions, and objectives, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “potential,” “likely,” “projects,” “continue,” “will,” and “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements. These important factors include those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering. These factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and under the heading “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in the 2021 Annual Report, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference, together with any other information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that our management is not aware of or deems immaterial. Our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

 

The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings were released by the CSRC for public consultation. While such rules have not yet come into effect, the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over overseas public offerings conducted by China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

 

On December 24, 2021, the CSRC and relevant departments of the State Council issued the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, which aim to regulate overseas securities offerings and listings by China-based companies, for public consultation. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listing aim to lay out the filing regulation arrangement for both direct and indirect overseas listing and clarify the determination criteria for indirect overseas listing in overseas markers. Where an enterprise whose principal business activities are conducted in mainland China seeks to issue and list its shares in the name of an overseas enterprise based on equity, assets, income, or other similar rights and interests of the relevant domestic enterprise in mainland China, such activities are deemed an indirect overseas issuance and listing. According to the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, among other things, after making initial applications with overseas stock markets for initial public offerings or listings, or after the completion of issuance of overseas listed securities by the overseas listed issuer, all China-based companies shall file the required filing materials with the CSRC within three working days. In addition, overseas offerings and listings may be prohibited for such China-based companies when any of the following applies: (i) if the intended securities offerings and listings are specifically prohibited by the PRC laws and regulations; (ii) if the intended securities offerings and listings may constitute a threat to, or endanger national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with laws; (iii) if there are material ownership disputes over applicants’ equity interests, major assets, core technologies, or the others; (iv) if, in the past three years, applicants’ domestic enterprises, controlling shareholders, or de facto controllers have committed corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or other criminal offenses disruptive to the order of the socialist market economy, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (v) if, in the past three years, any directors, supervisors, or senior executives of applicants have been subject to administrative punishments for severe violations, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; or (vi) other circumstances as prescribed by the State Council. The Draft Administrative Provisions further stipulate that a fine between RMB1 million (approximately $157,255) and RMB10 million (approximately $1,572,550) may be imposed if an applicant fails to fulfill the filing requirements with the CSRC or conducts an overseas offering or listing in violation of the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, and in cases of severe violations, a parallel order to suspend relevant businesses or halt operations for rectification may be issued, and relevant business permits or operational license revoked.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings have been released for public comment only and have not been formally promulgated, and neither we, our subsidiaries, nor any of the PRC operating entities have been required to complete the filing procedures. However, uncertainties remain as to its enactment or future interpretations and implementations. Our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, has advised us that, even if the final rules are promulgated as proposed in the current Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, none of the situations that would clearly prohibit overseas offering and listings would apply to us. In addition, we would only need to submit the filing materials and no CSRC approval would be required under such rules. Notwithstanding the above, our PRC counsel has further advised us that uncertainties still exist as to whether we, our subsidiaries, or the PRC operating entities are required to obtain permissions from the Chinese government that is required to approve of our operations and/or offering. In the event that we, our subsidiaries, or the PRC operating entities are subject to the compliance requirements, we cannot assure you that any of these entities will be able to receive clearance of such compliance requirements in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure of our Company, our subsidiaries, or the PRC operating entities to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may subject us to regulatory actions, such as fines, relevant businesses or operations suspension for rectification, revocation of relevant business permits or operational license, or other sanctions, which may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities cause significant disruption to our business operations, severely damage our reputation, materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.

 

 

Recent greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our business and our offering.

 

On December 28, 2021, the CAC and other relevant PRC governmental authorities jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures provide that, in addition to CIIOs that intend to purchase Internet products and services, net platform operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to cybersecurity review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The Cybersecurity Review Measures require that an online platform operator which possesses the personal information of at least one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review by the CAC if it intends to be listed in foreign countries.

 

On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Security Administration Draft, which provides that data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to network data security review by the relevant Cyberspace Administration of the PRC. According to the Security Administration Draft, data processing operators who possess personal data of at least one million users or collect data that affects or may affect national security must be subject to network data security review by the relevant Cyberspace Administration of the PRC. The deadline for public comments on the Security Administration Draft was December 13, 2021.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying our PRC subsidiaries or the PRC operating entities as CIIOs or requiring us to go through cybersecurity review or network data security review by the CAC. As confirmed by our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, neither the operations of our PRC subsidiaries, nor of the PRC operating entities, nor this offering are expected to be affected, and that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC under the Cybersecurity Review Measures, nor will any such entity be subject to the Security Administration Draft, if it is enacted as proposed, given that our PRC subsidiaries and the PRC operating entities possess personal data of fewer than one million individual clients and do not collect data that affects or may affect national security in their business operations as of the date of this prospectus and do not anticipate that they will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affects or may affect national security in the near future. In general, we believe we are compliant with the regulations or policies that have been issued by the CAC to date. There remains uncertainty, however, as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures and the Security Administration Draft 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 and the Security Administration Draft. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply and to minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us. We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do. 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. If we inadvertently conclude that such approval is not required, fail to obtain and maintain such approvals, licenses, or permits required for our business or respond to changes in the regulatory environment, we could be subject to liabilities, penalties and operational disruption, which may materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and the value of our securities, 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.

 

To the extent cash in and assets of the business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, the funds and assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of our Company or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash and assets.

 

Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the companies in mainland China to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, each of the companies in mainland China are required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. The companies in mainland China are also required to further set aside a portion of their after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at their discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Furthermore, if we determine to pay dividends on any of our ordinary shares in the future, as a holding company, we will rely on payments from subsidiaries of Jiangxi Universe to Jiangxi Universe, and from Jiangxi Universe to Universe Technology, and the distribution of such payments to Universe HK, and then to our Company. If our PRC subsidiaries and the PRC operating entities incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.

 

 

Our cash dividends, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a tax resident enterprise of mainland China for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—under the EIT Law, we may be classified as a ‘Resident Enterprise’ of China. Such classification will likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.” of the 2021 Annual Report.

 

The PRC government also imposes controls on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of mainland China. The majority of our and the PRC operating entities’ income is received in Renminbi and shortages in foreign currencies may restrict our ability to pay dividends or other payments, or otherwise satisfy our foreign currency denominated obligations, if any. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange as long as certain procedural requirements are met. Approval from appropriate government authorities is required if Renminbi is converted into foreign currency and remitted out of mainland China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may, at its discretion, impose restrictions on access to foreign currencies for current account transactions and if this occurs in the future, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.

 

Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries and the PRC operating entities to distribute dividends or other payments to their respective shareholders could materially and adversely limit our ability to conduct operations, make investments, engage in acquisitions, or undertake other activities requiring working capital. However, our operations and business, including investment and/or acquisitions by our PRC subsidiaries and the PRC operating entities within mainland China, will not be affected as long as the capital is not transferred in or out of mainland China.

 

Risks Relating to Our Ordinary Shares and the Trading Market

 

Our share price has recently declined substantially, and our ordinary shares could be delisted from the Nasdaq or trading could be suspended.

 

The listing of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market is contingent on our compliance with the Nasdaq Global Market’s conditions for continued listing. On July 15, 2022, we received written notification (the “Notification Letter”) from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that we were not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of US$1.00 per share under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rules, we must regain compliance within 180 calendar days, or until January 11, 2023. To regain compliance, our ordinary shares must have a closing bid price of at least US$1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. In the event we do not regain compliance by January 11 , 2023, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar days to regain compliance or face delisting. On September 23, 2022, we held our 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders, during which our shareholders approved the proposal to authorize our board of directors to effect a share consolidation at a ratio of no less than 2-for-1, and no greater than 10-for-1 (the “Share Consolidation”). As of the date of this prospectus, our board of directors has not adopted resolutions to effect the Share Consolidation.

 

Even if the Share Consolidation is effected, we cannot assure you that we will be able to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Even if we are able to regain compliance, we cannot assure you that we will not receive other deficiency notifications from Nasdaq in the future. A decline in the closing price of our ordinary shares could result in a breach of the requirements for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. If we do not maintain compliance, Nasdaq could commence suspension or delisting procedures in respect of our ordinary shares. The commencement of suspension or delisting procedures by an exchange remains at the discretion of such exchange and would be publicly announced by the exchange. If a suspension or delisting were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted securities. In addition, our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired. Furthermore, with respect to any suspended or delisted ordinary shares, we would expect decreases in institutional and other investor demand, analyst coverage, market making activity and information available concerning trading prices and volume, and fewer broker-dealers would be willing to execute trades with respect to such ordinary shares. A suspension or delisting would likely decrease the attractiveness of our ordinary shares to investors and cause the trading volume of our ordinary shares to decline, which could result in a further decline in the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

 

OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

 

We may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus up to a total dollar amount of $200,000,000 in one or more offerings. The securities offered under this prospectus may be offered separately, together, or in separate series, and in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be determined at the time of sale. We will keep the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part effective until such time as all of the securities covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to such registration statement.

 

CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

 

Our capitalization will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a report on Form 6-K subsequently furnished to the SEC and specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

DILUTION

 

If required, we will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities in an offering under this prospectus:

 

	●	the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering;
	●	the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and
	●	the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities we offer as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

 

The following description of our share capital and provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association are summaries and do not purport to be complete. References are made to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, forms of which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (and which is referred to in this section as, respectively, the “memorandum” and the “articles”).

 

Our authorized share capital is $312,500 divided into 90,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.003125 per share and 10,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.003125 per share.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

As of the date of this prospectus, an aggregate of 21,750,000 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding. All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Ordinary shares have the following characteristics:

 

Voting. Subject to any rights or restrictions as to voting attached to any shares, unless any share carries special voting rights, on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person and every person representing a shareholder by proxy shall have one vote per ordinary share. On a poll, every shareholder who is present in person and every person representing a shareholder by proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he or the person represented by proxy is the holder. In addition, all shareholders holding shares of a particular class are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of shares. Votes may be given either personally or by proxy.

 

Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Companies Act”) and any rights attaching to any class or classes of shares under and in accordance with the articles:

 

(a)

the directors may declare dividends or distributions out of our funds which are lawfully available for that purpose; and

 

(b)

the Company’s shareholders may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.

 

Subject to the requirements of the Cayman Companies Act regarding the application of a company’s share premium account and with the sanction of an ordinary resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account. The directors when paying dividends to shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.

 

Unless provided by the rights attached to a share, no dividend shall bear interest.

 

Cumulative Voting Rights

 

There is nothing under Cayman Islands law which specifically prohibits or restrict the creation of cumulative voting rights for the election of our directors. Our articles do not provide for cumulative voting for elections of directors.

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

Whenever our capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class of share (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the holders of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.

  

Unless the terms on which a class of shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the shareholder holding shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with the existing shares of that class.

 

 

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders

 

There are no limitations imposed by our memorandum and articles on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our memorandum and articles governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

 

Redemption and Purchase of Shares

 

Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may by action of our directors:

 

	(a)	issue shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at our option or the shareholder holding those redeemable shares, on the terms and in the manner our directors determine before the issue of those shares;
	(b)	with the consent by special resolution of the shareholders holding shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of shares so as to provide that those shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at our option on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and
	(c)	purchase all or any of our own shares of any class including any redeemable shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase.

 

We may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares in any manner authorized by the Companies Act, including out of any combination of capital, our profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares.

 

When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorized by the terms of the allotment of those shares or by the terms applying to those shares, or otherwise by agreement with the shareholder holding those shares.

 

Alteration of Share Capital

 

Subject to the Cayman Companies Act, our shareholders may, by ordinary resolution:

 

(a)

increase our share capital by new shares of the amount fixed by that ordinary resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that ordinary resolution;

 

(b)

consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares;

 

(c)

convert all or any of our paid up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;

 

 

 

(d)

sub-divide our shares or any of them into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and

 

(e)

cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of that ordinary resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled or, in the case of shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of shares into which our capital is divided.

 

Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, our shareholders may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.

 

Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares

 

Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares including any premium and each shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made), pay to us the amount called on his shares. Shareholders registered as the joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or if no rate is fixed, at the rate of ten percent per annum. The directors may, at their discretion, waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.

  

We have a first and paramount lien on all shares (whether fully paid up or not) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to us by the shareholder or the shareholder’s estate:

 

(a)

either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a shareholder; and

 

(b)

whether or not those monies are presently payable.

 

At any time the directors may declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from the lien on shares provisions of the articles.

 

We may sell, in such manner as the directors may determine, any share on which the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, if due notice that such sum is payable has been given (as prescribed by the articles) and, within 14 days of the date on which the notice is deemed to be given under the articles, such notice has not been complied with.

 

Listing

 

On March 23, 2021, our ordinary shares commenced trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “UPC.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is Transhare Corporation.

 

 

Transfer of Shares

 

Provided that a transfer of ordinary shares complies with applicable rules of Nasdaq, a shareholder may transfer ordinary shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by Nasdaq or in any other form approved by the directors, executed:

 

(a)

where the ordinary shares are fully paid, by or on behalf of that shareholder; and

 

(b)

where the ordinary shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that shareholder and the transferee.

 

The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of an ordinary share until the name of the transferee is entered into the register of members of the Company.

  

Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share that has not been fully paid up or is subject to a company lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of such ordinary share unless:

 

(a)

the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

	(b)	the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares;
	(c)	the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;

 

	(d)	the ordinary shares transferred is fully paid and free of any lien in favor of us;
	(e)	any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; and
	(f)	the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.

 

If our directors refuse to register a transfer, they are required, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.

 

This, however, is unlikely to affect market transactions of the ordinary shares purchased by investors in the public offering. The legal title to such ordinary shares and the registration details of those ordinary shares in the Company’s register of members will remain with Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). All market transactions with respect to those ordinary shares will then be carried out without the need for any kind of registration by the directors, as the market transactions will all be conducted through the DTC systems.

 

The registration of transfers may, on 14 calendar days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and our register of members closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine. The registration of transfers, however, may not be suspended, and the register may not be closed, for more than 30 days in any year.

 

 

Meetings of Shareholders

 

As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Cayman Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Accordingly, we may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting. Any annual general meeting held shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our board of directors. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.

 

The directors may convene general meetings whenever they think fit. General meetings shall also be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than ten percent of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting for a date not later than 21 clear days’ after the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us.

 

At least 14 days’ notice of an extraordinary general meeting and 21 days’ notice of an annual general meeting shall be given to shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of that business. In addition, if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution shall be given to all shareholders. Notice of every general meeting shall also be given to the directors and our auditors.

 

Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and with the consent of the shareholders who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90 percent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened on shorter notice.

 

A quorum shall consist of the presence (whether in person or represented by proxy) of one or more shareholders holding shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting.

 

If, within 15 minutes from the time appointed for the general meeting, or at any time during the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be cancelled. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors.

 

The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, adjourn the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned for seven days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with the articles.

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by at least two shareholders having the right to vote on the resolutions or one or more shareholders present who together hold not less than ten percent of the voting rights of all those who are entitled to vote on the resolution. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of, or against, that resolution.

 

If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.

 

In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote. 

 

 

Powers and Duties of Directors

 

Subject to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and our memorandum and articles, our business shall be managed by the directors, who may exercise all our powers. No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of our memorandum or articles of association. To the extent allowed by the Companies Act, however, shareholders may by special resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.

 

The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be shareholders and may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the directors. Our board of directors have established an audit committee, compensation committee, and nomination and corporate governance committee.

 

The board of directors may establish any local or divisional board of directors or agency and delegate to it its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) for managing any of our affairs whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional board of directors, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration.

 

The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be our agent with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers.

 

The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be our attorney or our authorized signatory and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under the articles.

 

The board of directors may remove any person so appointed and may revoke or vary the delegation.

 

The directors may exercise all of our powers to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of ours or our parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of us or of any third party.

 

A director shall not, as a director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interests, direct or indirect, in shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, us) and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall he be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to:

 

(a)

the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of:

 

(i)

money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person for our benefit or any of our subsidiaries; or

 

(ii)

a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which the director himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

(b)

where we or any of our subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the director is to or may participate;

 

 

(c)

any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him) does not to his knowledge hold an interest representing one percent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to shareholders of the relevant body corporate;

 

(d)

any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of us or any of our subsidiaries under which he is not accorded as a director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or

 

(e)

any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Companies Act) indemnities in favor of directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of anything to enable such director or directors to avoid incurring such expenditure.

 

A director may, as a director, vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which is not a material interest or as described above. 

 

Inspection of Books and Records

 

Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under the Cayman Companies Act to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records (other than the register of mortgages or charges).

 

Liquidation

 

If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Cayman Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:

 

(a)

to divide in specie among the shareholders the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and

 

(b)

to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of shareholders and those liable to contribute to the winding up.

  

The directors have the authority to present a petition for our winding up to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on our behalf without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.

 

Preferred Shares

 

The directors are empowered to designate and issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preference shares and to fix and determine the relative rights, preferences, designations, qualifications, privileges, options, conversion rights, limitations and other special or relative rights of each such class or series so authorized. Such action could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares or could have the effect of discouraging any attempt by a person or group to obtain control of us.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, no preferred shares are issued and outstanding.

 

 

Differences in Corporate Law

 

The Cayman Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England and Wales but does not follow recent United Kingdom statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the Cayman Companies Act and the current Companies Act of the UK. In addition, the Cayman Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain significant differences between the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act applicable to us and the comparable laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States.

 

		Delaware		Cayman Islands
Title of Organizational Documents		Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws		Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles of Association
Duties of Directors		Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a fiduciary duty of care to protect the interests of the corporation and a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of its shareholders. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberative manner and inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of the corporation’s employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the shareholders.		As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director owes three types of duties to the company: (i) statutory duties, (ii) fiduciary duties, and (iii) common law duties. The Cayman Companies Act imposes a number of statutory duties on a director. A Cayman Islands director’s fiduciary duties are not codified, however the courts of the Cayman Islands have held that a director owes the following fiduciary duties (a) a duty to act in what the director bona fide considers to be in the best interests of the company, (b) a duty to exercise their powers for the purposes they were conferred, (c) a duty to avoid fettering his or her discretion in the future and (d) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest and of duty. The common law duties owed by a director are those to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director without those skills. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our amended articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.

 

Limitations on Personal Liability of Directors

Subject to the limitations described below, a certificate of incorporation may provide for the elimination or limitation of the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Such provision cannot limit liability for breach of loyalty, bad faith, intentional misconduct, unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful share purchase or redemption. In addition, the certificate of incorporation cannot limit liability for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective.

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.

 

 

Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Agents, and Others		A corporation has the power to indemnify any director, officer, employee, or agent of corporation who was, is, or is threatened to be made a party who acted in good faith and in a manner he believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and if with respect to a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct would be unlawful, against amounts actually and reasonably incurred.		Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of directors and officers, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against the consequences of committing a crime, or against the indemnified person’s own fraud or dishonesty.   Our articles provide to the extent permitted by law, we shall indemnify each existing or former secretary, director (including alternate director), and any of our other officers (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: (a) all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer in or about the conduct of our business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary’s or officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and (b) without limitation to paragraph (a) above, all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning us or our affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
				No such existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.   To the extent permitted by law, we may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or any of our officers in respect of any matter identified in above on condition that the director (including alternate director), secretary or officer must repay the amount paid by us to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the director (including alternate director), the secretary or that officer for those legal costs.

 

 

Interested Directors

Under Delaware law, a transaction in which a director who has an interest in such transaction would not be voidable if (i) the material facts as to such interested director’s relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the board in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors are less than a quorum, (ii) such material facts are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote on such transaction and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the shareholders, or (iii) the transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified. Under Delaware law, a director could be held liable for any transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit.

Interested director transactions are governed by the terms of a company’s memorandum and articles of association.

 

Voting Requirements		The certificate of incorporation may include a provision requiring supermajority approval by the directors or shareholders for any corporate action.   In addition, under Delaware law, certain business combinations involving interested shareholders require approval by a supermajority of the non-interested shareholders.		For the protection of shareholders, certain matters must be approved by special resolution of the shareholders as a matter of Cayman Islands law, including alteration of the memorandum or articles of association, appointment of inspectors to examine company affairs, reduction of share capital (subject, in relevant circumstances, to court approval), change of name, authorization of a plan of merger or transfer by way of continuation to another jurisdiction or consolidation or voluntary winding up of the company.   The Cayman Companies Act requires that a special resolution be passed by a majority of at least two-thirds or such higher percentage as set forth in the memorandum and articles of association, of shareholders being entitled to vote and do vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting, or by unanimous written consent of shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting.
Voting for Directors		Under Delaware law, unless otherwise specified in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.		The Cayman Companies Act defines “special resolutions” only. A company’s memorandum and articles of association can therefore tailor the definition of “ordinary resolutions” as a whole, or with respect to specific provisions.
Cumulative Voting		No cumulative voting for the election of directors unless so provided in the certificate of incorporation.		No cumulative voting for the election of directors unless so provided in the memorandum and articles of association.

 

 

Directors’ Powers Regarding Bylaws		The certificate of incorporation may grant the directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.		The memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution of the shareholders.
Nomination and Removal of Directors and Filling Vacancies on Board		Shareholders may generally nominate directors if they comply with advance notice provisions and other procedural requirements in company bylaws. Holders of a majority of the shares may remove a director with or without cause, except in certain cases involving a classified board or if the company uses cumulative voting. Unless otherwise provided for in the certificate of incorporation, directorship vacancies are filled by a majority of the directors elected or then in office.		Nomination and removal of directors and filling of board vacancies are governed by the terms of the memorandum and articles of association.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation, exchange or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Under Delaware law, a shareholder of a corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which such shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by such shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration such shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction.   Delaware law also provides that a parent corporation, by resolution of its board of directors, may merge with any subsidiary, of which it owns at least 90% of each class of capital stock without a vote by shareholders of such subsidiary. Upon any such merger, dissenting shareholders of the subsidiary would have appraisal rights.

The Cayman Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the shareholders and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.   A merger between a Cayman Islands parent company and its Cayman Islands subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders. For this purpose a subsidiary is a company of which at least 90% of the issued shares entitled to vote are owned by the parent company.   The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company is required unless this requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands.   Except in certain limited circumstances, a dissenting shareholder of a Cayman Islands constituent company is entitled to payment of the fair value of his or her shares upon dissenting from a merger or consolidation. The exercise of such dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of holding shares, except for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.

 

 

				In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must, in addition, represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that: (a) the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met; (b) the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; (c) the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and (d) the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Cayman Companies Act.   When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares affected within four months the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.   If an arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, or if a takeover offer is made and accepted, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholder Suits		Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to shareholders under Delaware law for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court generally has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action.		In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge: (a) an act which is illegal or ultra vires with respect to the company and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders; (b) an act which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and (c) an act which constitutes a “fraud on the minority” where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company.

 

 

Inspection of Corporate Records		Under Delaware law, shareholders of a Delaware corporation have the right during normal business hours to inspect for any proper purpose, and to obtain copies of list(s) of shareholders and other books and records of the corporation and its subsidiaries, if any, to the extent the books and records of such subsidiaries are available to the corporation.		Shareholders of a Cayman Islands exempted company have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of a list of shareholders or other corporate records (other than the register of mortgages or charges) of the company. However, these rights may be provided in the company’s memorandum and articles of association.
Shareholder Proposals		Unless provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, Delaware law does not include a provision restricting the manner in which shareholders may bring business before a meeting.		The Cayman Companies Act provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our articles provide that general meetings shall be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than 10 percent of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting for a date not later than twenty-one clear days’ after the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of twenty-one clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us. Our articles provide no other right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. However, our corporate governance guidelines require us to call such meetings every year.

 

Approval of Corporate Matters by Written Consent

Delaware law permits shareholders to take action by written consent signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting of shareholders.

The Cayman Companies Act allows a special resolution to be passed in writing if signed by all the voting shareholders (if authorized by the memorandum and articles of association).

 

 

Calling of Special Shareholders Meetings		Delaware law permits the board of directors or any person who is authorized under a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws to call a special meeting of shareholders.		The Cayman Companies Act does not have provisions governing the proceedings of shareholders meetings which are usually provided in the memorandum and articles of association. Please see above.
Dissolution; Winding Up		Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board of directors.		Under the Cayman Companies Act and our articles, the Company may be wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders, or if the winding up is initiated by our board of directors, by either a special resolution of our members or, if our company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of our members. In addition, a company may be wound up by an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.

 

Anti-money Laundering—Cayman Islands

 

In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.

 

We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In some cases the directors may be satisfied that no further information is required since an exemption applies under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended and revised from time to time (the “Regulations”). Depending on the circumstances of each application, a detailed verification of identity might not be required where:

 

(a)

the subscriber makes the payment for their investment from an account held in the subscriber’s name at a recognized financial institution; or

 

(b)

the subscriber is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based or incorporated in, or formed under the law of, a recognized jurisdiction; or

 

(c)

the application is made through an intermediary which is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based in or incorporated in, or formed under the law of a recognized jurisdiction and an assurance is provided in relation to the procedures undertaken on the underlying investors.

 

For the purposes of these exceptions, recognition of a financial institution, regulatory authority, or jurisdiction will be determined in accordance with the Regulations by reference to those jurisdictions recognized by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as having equivalent anti-money laundering regulations.

 

In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.

 

We also reserve the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment of redemption proceeds to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.

 

 

If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reason for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or is involved with terrorism or terrorist property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of their business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) a nominated officer (appointed in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised), if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering or (ii) to a police constable or a nominated officer (pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised), if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and terrorist property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.

 

Data Protection in the Cayman Islands – Privacy Notice

 

This privacy notice explains the manner in which we collect, process, and maintain personal data about our investors pursuant to the Data Protection Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice, or orders promulgated pursuant thereto (the “DPA”).

 

We are committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In our use of personal data, we will be characterized under the DPA as a “data controller,” whilst certain of our service providers, affiliates, and delegates may act as “data processors” under the DPA. These service providers may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us.

 

By virtue of your investment in our Company, we and certain of our service providers may collect, record, store, transfer, and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified.

 

Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for us to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request, (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax, or regulatory obligation to which we are subject, or (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by us or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.

 

We anticipate that we will share your personal data with our service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory, prosecuting, and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g. to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion, and financial crime or compliance with a court order).

 

Your personal data shall not be held by our Company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.

 

We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.

 

We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction, or damage to the personal data.

 

If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into our Company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should inform such individuals of the content.

 

 

You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils our obligation in this respect), (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data, (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing, (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected, (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data, (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial), (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer, or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data, and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data, (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands, and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.

 

If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with our responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by email at info@ombudsman.ky.

 

History of Share Capital

 

We were incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability on December 11, 2019. We issued the following ordinary shares to certain founding shareholders.

 

Purchaser		Date of Issuance		Number of Ordinary Shares (Note)
Sununion Holding Group Limited		December 11, 2019			12,480,000
Greatest Group (China) Financial Management Limited		December 11, 2019			1,392,000
True Ample Holdings Limited		December 11, 2019			768,000
Xingrui Investment Company Limited		December 11, 2019			800,000
Bliss International Investment Company Limited		December 11, 2019			560,000

 

Note: Represents the number of shares after share split, as discussed below.

 

On August 7, 2020, our shareholders approved (i) a forward split of our outstanding ordinary shares at a ratio of 320-for-1 share, and (ii) an increase in our authorized shares to 100 million ordinary shares. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to ordinary shares, options to purchase ordinary shares, share data, per share data, and related information have been retroactively adjusted, where applicable, in this prospectus to reflect the forward split of our ordinary shares as if it had occurred at the beginning of the earlier period presented.

 

On March 25, 2021, we closed our initial public offering of 5,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.003125 per share, at a public offering price of $5.00 per share. On March 29, 2021, the underwriter exercised in full its over-allotment option to purchase an additional 750,000 ordinary shares. The closing for the sale of the over-allotment shares took place on March 31, 2021. Gross proceeds of our initial public offering, including the proceeds from the sale of the over-allotment shares, totaled $28.75 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses. Net proceeds of our initial public offering, including over-allotment shares, were approximately $25.6 million. In connection with the initial public offering, our ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “UPC” on March 23, 2021.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital consists of $312,500 divided into 90,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.003125 per share and 10,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.003125 per share. Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, none of our outstanding ordinary shares are held by record holders in the United States.

 

We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of the Company. 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

General

 

As used in this prospectus, the term “debt securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be named therein. We have filed the forms of indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We may issue debt securities which may or may not be converted into our ordinary shares or preferred shares. It is likely that convertible debt securities will not be issued under an indenture. We may issue the debt securities independently or together with any underlying securities, and debt securities may be attached or separate from the underlying securities.

 

The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the debt securities that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When debt securities are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the debt securities as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.

 

This summary and any description of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific debt securities document or agreement. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of debt securities. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copy of a debt securities document when it is filed.

 

When we refer to a series of debt securities, we mean all debt securities issued as part of the same series under the applicable indenture.

 

Terms

 

The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, may describe the terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

	●	the title of the debt securities;
	●	the total amount of the debt securities;
	●	the amount or amounts of the debt securities will be issued and interest rate;
	●	the conversion price at which the debt securities may be converted;

 

 

	●	the date on which the right to convert the debt securities will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
	●	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of debt securities that may be converted at any one time;
	●	if applicable, a discussion of material federal income tax consideration;
	●	if applicable, the terms of the payoff of the debt securities;
	●	the identity of the indenture agent, if any;
	●	the procedures and conditions relating to the conversion of the debt securities; and
	●	any other terms of the debt securities, including terms, procedure and limitation relating to the exchange or conversion of the debt securities.

 

Form, Exchange, and Transfer

 

We may issue the debt securities in registered form or bearer form. Debt securities issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will be the holder of all the debt securities represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in global debt securities will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue debt securities in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any debt securities are issued in non-global form, debt securities certificates may be exchanged for new debt securities certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or convert their debt securities at the debt securities agent’s office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus.

 

Prior to the conversion of their debt securities, holders of debt securities convertible for ordinary shares or preferred shares will not have any rights of holders of ordinary shares or preferred shares, and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the ordinary shares or preferred shares.

 

Conversion of Debt Securities

 

A debt security may entitle the holder to purchase, in exchange for the extinguishment of debt, an amount of securities at a conversion price that will be stated in the debt security. Debt securities may be converted at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the terms of such debt security. After the close of business on the expiration date, debt securities not exercised will be paid in accordance with their terms.

 

Debt securities may be converted as set forth in the applicable offering material. Upon receipt of a notice of conversion properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the indenture agent, if any, or to us, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the debt security represented by such security is converted, a new debt security will be issued for the remaining debt security.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

General

 

We may issue warrants to purchase our securities. We may issue the warrants independently or together with any underlying securities, and the warrants may be attached or separate from the underlying securities. We may also issue a series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

 

The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the warrants that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When warrants are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the warrants as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.

 

This summary and any description of warrants in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific warrant document or agreement, if applicable. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of warrants. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copy of a warrant document when it is filed.

 

When we refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part of the same series under the applicable warrant agreement.

 

Terms

 

The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, may describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

	●	the title of the warrants;
	●	the total number of warrants;
	●	the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
	●	the price or prices at which the warrants may be exercised;
	●	the currency or currencies that investors may use to pay for the warrants;
	●	the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
	●	whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;
	●	information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
	●	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

 

	●	if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security;
	●	if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable;
	●	if applicable, a discussion of material federal income tax considerations;
	●	if applicable, the terms of redemption of the warrants;
	●	the identity of the warrant agent, if any;
	●	the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants; and
	●	any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

Warrant Agreement

 

We may issue the warrants in one or more series under one or more warrant agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may add, replace, or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of our subsidiaries to do so.

 

The warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement. Any holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms.

 

Form, Exchange, and Transfer

 

We may issue the warrants in registered form or bearer form. Warrants issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will be the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue warrants in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any warrants are issued in non-global form, warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or exercise their warrants at the warrant agent’s office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus.

 

Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for ordinary shares or preferred shares will not have any rights of holders of ordinary shares or preferred shares and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the ordinary shares or preferred shares.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable offering material. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be redeemed as set forth in the applicable offering material.

 

Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable offering material. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable offering material, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to purchase our securities. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

 

	●	the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
	●	the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
	●	the exercise price;
	●	the conditions to completion of the rights offering;
	●	the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and
	●	any applicable federal income tax considerations.

 

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.

 

If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than our security holders, to or through agents, underwriters, or dealers, or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may issue units composed of any combination of our securities. We will issue each unit so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. As a result, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

 

The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to units that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When units are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the units as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.

 

This summary and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement, collateral arrangements, and depositary arrangements, if applicable. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of units. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus may describe:

 

	●	The designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
	●	Any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities composing the units;
	●	Whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; and
	●	Any other terms of the units.

 

The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Share Capital,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Rights” above, will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including, without limitation:

 

	●	through agents;
	●	to or through underwriters;
	●	through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal);
	●	directly by us to purchasers (including our affiliates and shareholders), through a specific bidding or auction process, a rights offering, or other method;
	●	through a combination of any such methods of sale; or
	●	through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.

 

The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:

 

●

block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on Nasdaq or any other organized market where the securities may be traded;

 

	●	purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement;
	●	ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
	●	sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; and
	●	sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.

 

The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash, extinguishment of debt, or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters, or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing shareholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers, or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.

 

 

Some or all of the securities that we offer through this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.

 

Agents may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, as applicable, any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter of the securities.

 

If underwriters are used in an offering, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any applicable free writing prospectus will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

 

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we, or an underwriter, will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, as applicable, the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.

 

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.

 

Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters, or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

 

Any person participating in the distribution of securities registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our securities by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.

 

These restrictions may affect the marketability of our securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.

 

Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions, and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

 

 

TAXATION

 

Material income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the securities offered by this prospectus are set forth in “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation” in the 2021 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference and, if applicable, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or relevant free writing prospectus.

 

EXPENSES

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate expenses in connection with this offering, all of which will be paid by us. All amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee		$	22,040
FINRA fees		$	30,500
Legal fees and expenses		$	*
Accounting fees and expenses		$	*
Printing and postage expenses		$	*
Miscellaneous expenses		$	*
Total		$	*

 

*	To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a report of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. Estimated solely for this item. Actual expenses may vary.

 

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

 

Our material contracts are described in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” below.

 

MATERIAL CHANGES

 

Except as otherwise described in the 2021 Annual Report, in our reports of foreign issuer on Form 6-K filed or submitted under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference herein, and as disclosed in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, no reportable material changes have occurred since September 30, 2021.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

We are being represented by Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the securities offered in this offering and certain other legal matters as to Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for us by Ogier, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law. Legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by AllBright Law Offices. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers, or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2021 and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of YCM CPA INC., an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The office of YCM CPA INC. is located at 2400 Barranca Pkwy, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92606.

 

The consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2020, and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of Friedman LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The office of Friedman LLP is located at One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway Floor 21, New York, NY 10006.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document, which is incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We hereby incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents:

 

	1.	our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on January 31, 2022;
	2.	our reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on January 31, 2022, July 19, 2022, August 16, 2022, August 29, 2022 and September 28, 2022;
	3.	the description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
	4.	any future annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus; and
	5.	any future reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on January 31, 2022 contains a description of our business and audited consolidated financial statements with a report by our independent auditors. These financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those document unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:

 

Universe Pharmaceuticals INC

265 Jingjiu Avenue, Jinggangshan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Ji’an, Jiangxi Province

People’s Republic of China

+86-0796-8403309

 

You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus omits certain information and exhibits that are included in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Since this prospectus may not contain all of the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents. If we have filed a contract, agreement, or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement in this prospectus, including statements incorporated by reference as discussed above, regarding a contract, agreement, or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

 

We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All information electronically filed with the SEC can be inspected over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

  

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors, and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic or current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

 

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We were incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands because there are certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands company, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of foreign exchange control or currency restrictions, and the availability of professional and support services. The Cayman Islands, however, has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides significantly less protection for investors than the United States.

 

All of the operating entities’ operations are conducted in China and substantially all of our assets are located in the PRC. In addition, almost all of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of the PRC, including our chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors, Mr. Gang Lai, our chief financial officer, Ms. Lin Yang, and our directors, Mr. Jiawen Pang and Mr. Ding Zheng, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons who are residents of a foreign country, such as our directors and officers, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

 

We have appointed Cogency Global Inc. as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal securities laws of the United States or of any state in the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York under the securities laws of the State of New York.

 

Our counsel with respect to the laws of the Cayman Islands, Ogier, and our counsel with respect to PRC law, AllBright Law Offices, have advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States or (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or the PRC, to impose liabilities against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature..

 

Our Cayman Islands counsel, Ogier, has further advised us that in those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive, given by a court of competent jurisdiction (the courts of the Cayman Islands will apply the rules of Cayman Islands private international law to determine whether the foreign court is a court of competent jurisdiction), and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. Ogier has informed us that there is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law relating to whether a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature.

 

Our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, has advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. However, there are no treaties or other forms of reciprocity between China and the United States for the mutual recognition and enforcement of court judgments. Further, pursuant to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.

 

Our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, has further advised us that, under the PRC Civil Procedures Law, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC laws against us in the PRC, if they can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case, and there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis, and a cause for the suit. However, it would be difficult for foreign shareholders to establish sufficient nexus to the PRC by virtue only of holding our ordinary shares.

 

 

 

 

 

388,000 Ordinary Shares

18,362,000 Pre-funded Warrants to Purchase 18,362,000 Ordinary Shares (and up to 18,362,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Pre-funded Warrants)

and

18,750,000 Common Warrants to Purchase 18,750,000 Ordinary Shares (and up to 18,750,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Common Warrants)

 

 

Universe Pharmaceuticals INC

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

 

Sole Placement Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Univest Securities, LLC

 

 

 

 

December 6, 2024 

 

 

 

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