Alset Inc. 10-K

Item 1. Business. Our Company We are a diversified holding company principally engaged through our subsidiaries in the development of EHome communities and other real estate, financial services, digital transformation technologies, biohealth activities and consumer products with operations in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea. We manage our three principal businesses primarily through our 85.5% owned subsidiary, Alset International Limited (“Alset International”), a public company traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Through this subsidiary (and indirectly, through other public and private U.S. and Asian subsidiaries), we are actively developing real estate projects near Houston, Texas, in our real estate segment. Recently, the Company expanded its real estate portfolio to single family rental homes, and we currently own 132 homes that are rented or are available for rent. In our digital transformation technology segment we focus on serving business-to-business (B2B) needs in e-commerce, collaboration and social networking functions. Our biohealth segment includes sale of consumer products. We identify global businesses for acquisition, incubation and corporate advisory services, primarily related to our operating business segments. We also have ownership interests outside of Alset International, including a 36.9% equity interest in American Pacific Bancorp Inc., an indirect 13% equity interest in Holista CollTech Limited, a 44.4% equity interest in DSS Inc. (“DSS”), an indirect 48.7% equity interest in Value Exchange International, Inc. and a 33.4% equity interest in Sharing Services Global Corporation. American Pacific Bancorp Inc. is a financial network holding company. Holista CollTech Limited is a public Australian company that produces natural food ingredients (ASX: HCT). DSS is a multinational company operating businesses within nine divisions: product packaging, biotechnology, direct marketing, commercial lending, securities and investment management, alternative trading, digital transformation, secure living, and alternative energy. DSS Inc. is listed on the NYSE American (NYSE: DSS). Value Exchange International, Inc. is a provider of information technology services for businesses, and is traded on the OTCQB (OTCQB: VEII). Sharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG), is a publicly traded company dedicated to building shareholder value by developing or acquiring businesses, products and technologies in the direct selling industry and other industries that augment the Company’s product and services portfolio, business competencies, and geographic reach. Under the guidance of Chan Heng Fai, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who is also our largest stockholder, we have positioned ourselves as a participant in these key markets through a series of strategic transactions. Our growth strategy is both to pursue acquisition opportunities that we can leverage on our global network using our capital and management resources and to accelerate the expansion of our organic businesses. We generally acquire majority and/or control stakes in innovative and promising businesses that are expected to appreciate in value over time. Our emphasis is on building businesses in industries where our management team has in-depth knowledge and experience, or where our management can provide value by advising on new markets and expansion. We have at times provided a range of global capital and management services to these companies in order to gain access to Asian markets. We have historically favored businesses that improve an individual’s quality of life or that improve the efficiency of businesses through technology in various industries. We believe our capital and management services provide us with a competitive advantage in the selection of strategic acquisitions, which creates and adds value for our company and our stockholders. We intend at all times to operate our business in a manner as to not become inadvertently subject to the regulatory requirements under the Investment Company Act by, among other things, (i) in the event of acquisitions, purchasing all or substantially all of an acquisition target’s voting stock, and only in limited cases purchase less than 51% of the voting stock; (ii) monitoring our operations and our assets on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that we own no less than a majority, or other control, of Alset International and that Alset International, in turn, owns no less than a majority, or other control, of LiquidValue Development Inc. and other such subsidiaries with significant assets and operations; and (iii) limiting additional equity investments into affiliated companies including our majority-owned and/or controlled operating subsidiaries, except in special limited circumstances. Additionally, we will continue to hire in-house management personnel and employees with industry background and experience, rather than retaining traditional investment portfolio managers to oversee our group of companies. 3 The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 7, 2018, as HF Enterprises Inc. Effective as of February 5, 2021, the Company changed its name from “HF Enterprises Inc.” to “Alset EHome International Inc.” The Company effected such name change pursuant to a merger entered into with a wholly owned subsidiary, Alset EHome International Inc. The Company was the surviving entity following this merger and had adopted the name of its former subsidiary. In connection with this name change, our trading symbol on the Nasdaq Stock Market was changed from “HFEN” to “AEI.” On October 4, 2022, through a merger transaction, the Company was reincorporated in Texas and changed its name to Alset Inc. The Company effected such name change pursuant to a merger entered into with a wholly owned subsidiary, Alset Inc. The Company is the surviving entity following this merger and has adopted the name of its former subsidiary. Our trading symbol on Nasdaq Stock Market did not change due to the name change. The following chart illustrates the current corporate structure of our key operating entities: 4 Our Current Operations Real Estate Property Development Business Our real estate business is primarily conducted through our indirect subsidiary, LiquidValue Development Inc. (“LiquidValue Development”), a 99.9%-owned U.S. subsidiary of Alset International, which owns, operates and manages real estate development projects with a focus on land subdivision developments. We generally contract out all real estate development activities, working with engineers, surveyors, architects and general contractors through each phase, including planning, design and construction. Once the contractors complete the land development, we then sell the developed lots to builders for the construction of new homes. Where possible, we have attempted to pre-sell these lots before they are fully developed. LiquidValue Development’s main assets are two such subdivision development projects, one near Houston, Texas (known as Lakes at Black Oak), and one in Frederick, Maryland (known as Ballenger Run). Our property development business is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our property development business accounted for 82% and 29% of our total revenues, respectively. Frederick, Maryland Property. In November 2015, we completed the $15.65 million acquisition of Ballenger Run, a 197-acre land sub-division development located in Frederick County, Maryland. Previously, on May 28, 2014, the RBG Family, LLC entered into the Assignable Real Estate Sales Contract with NVR, Inc. (“NVR”) by which RBG Family, LLC would sell the 197 acres for $15 million to NVR. On December 10, 2014, NVR assigned this contract to SeD Maryland Development, LLC in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement and entered into a series of Lot Purchase Agreements by which NVR would purchase subdivided lots from SeD Maryland Development, LLC. SeD Maryland Development’s acquisition of the 197 acres was funded in part from a $5.6 million deposit from NVR Inc. (“NVR”). The balance of $10.05 million was derived from a total equity contribution of $15.2 million by SeD Ballenger LLC (“SeD Ballenger”) and CNQC Maryland Development LLC (a unit of Qingjian International Group Co, Ltd, China, “CNQC”). The project is owned by SeD Maryland Development, LLC (“SeD Maryland”). SeD Maryland is 83.55% owned by SeD Ballenger and 16.45% by CNQC. On April 17, 2019, SeD Maryland Development LLC entered into a Development Loan Agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T Bank”) which is comprised of: (1) a Note in the principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the sum of $8,000,000, with a cumulative loan advance amount of $18,500,000, and (2) a letter of credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $900,000 (the “L/C Facility”). The Note bore an interest rate of the one-month LIBOR plus 375 basis points. Commissions on each letter of credit (“L/C”) are 1.5% per annum on the face amount of the L/C. Other standard lender fees apply in the event L/C is drawn down. The Note is a revolving line of credit. The L/C Facility is not a revolving loan, and amounts advanced and repaid may not be re-borrowed. Repayment of the Development Loan Agreement was secured by $2,600,000 collateral fund and a Deed of Trust issued to M&T Bank on the property owned by SeD Maryland. The outstanding balance of the revolving loan is now $0. Approximately $100,000 is collateral for outstanding letters of credit. The Company’s Ballenger Run project is nearly complete, as all lots have been sold and the Company is completing its final tasks related to the project. Lakes at Black Oak Property, Texas. Our Lakes at Black Oak project is a land infrastructure development and sub-division project situated in Magnolia, Texas north of Houston. On July 3, 2018, our subsidiary 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Houston LD, LLC for the sale of 124 lots within the Lakes at Black Oak project (the “Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement, it was agreed that 124 lots would be sold for a range of prices based on the lot type. In addition, Houston LD, LLC agreed to contribute a “community enhancement fee” for each lot, collectively totaling $310,000 which was held in escrow. 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. agreed to apply these funds exclusively towards an amenity package on the property. 5 On October 12, 2018, 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. entered into an Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement”) for these 124 lots. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement, the purchase price remained at $6,175,000. 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. was required to meet certain closing conditions and the timing for the closing was extended. On January 18, 2019, the sale of 124 lots at Lakes at Black Oak was completed for $6,175,000 and the community enhancement fee equal to $310,000 was delivered to the escrow account, which was later drawn and closed. An impairment of real estate of approximately $2.4 million related to this sale was recorded on December 31, 2018. The revenue was recognized in January, 2019, when the sale was closed, and no gain or loss was recognized in January, 2019. On July 20, 2018, Lakes at Black Oak received $4,592,079 of district reimbursement for previous construction costs incurred in the land development. Of this amount, $1,650,000 remained on deposit in the District’s Capital Projects Fund for the benefit of Lakes at Black Oak and to be released upon receipt of the evidence of the: (a) execution of a purchase agreement between Lakes at Black Oak and a home builder with respect to the Lakes at Black Oak development and (b) of the completion, finishing and making ready for home construction of at least 105 unfinished lots in the Lakes at Black Oak development. After entering the purchase agreement with Houston LD, LLC, the above requirements were met. The amount of the deposit was released to the Company. On November 4, 2021, Lakes at Black Oak received $750,000 reimbursement from Aqua Texas pursuant to a contractual agreement whereby Aqua is obligated to pay 150 CCM Black Oak $6,000 for each connection made to an individual single-family home upon sale to the end customer. On January 13, 2021, 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. purchased an approximately 6.3 acre tract of land in Montgomery County, Texas. O n October 28, 2022, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”), a Texas Limited Partnership and subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Contract for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions (the “Agreement”) with Century Land Holdings of Texas, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “Buyer”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Seller agreed to sell approximately 242 single-family detached residential lots comprising a residential community in the city of Magnolia, Texas known as the “Lakes at Black Oak.” On November 28, 2022, the parties to the Agreement entered into an amendment to the Agreement (the “Amendment”). Pursuant to the Amendment, the parties agreed that the Buyer would purchase approximately 131 single-family detached residential lots, instead of 242 lots. This transaction closed on April 13, 2023. On March 16, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with Rausch Coleman Homes Houston, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Rausch Coleman”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Seller has agreed to sell approximately 110 single-family detached residential lots which comprise a section of the Lakes at Black Oak. The transaction closed on May 15, 2023. On March 17, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with Davidson Homes, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“Davidson”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Seller had agreed to sell approximately 189 single-family detached residential lots developed within section 2 of Lakes at Black Oak project. The sale of the first 94 lots closed on May 30, 2023. The sale of remaining lots closed on January 4, 2024. Recent Agreements to Sell 142 Lots at Lakes at Black Oak and 63 Lots at Alset Villas On November 13, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”), a Texas Limited Partnership and an indirect, majority owned subsidiary of Alset Inc., entered into two Contracts for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions (each an “Agreement,” collectively, the “Agreements”) with Century Land Holdings of Texas, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “Buyer”). Pursuant to the terms of one of the aforementioned Agreements, the Seller has agreed to sell approximately 142 single-family detached residential lots (the “Section 4 Agreement”) comprising a section of a residential community in the city of Magnolia, Texas known as the “Lakes at Black Oak.” Pursuant to the other Agreement, the Seller has agreed to sell 63 single-family detached residential lots (the “Alset Villas Agreement”) in the city of Magnolia, Texas. In 2021, our subsidiary Alset EHome Inc. acquired approximately 19.5 acres of partially developed land near Houston, Texas which was used to develop a community named Alset Villas (“Alset Villas”). Alset EHome was in the process of developing the 63 lots at Alset Villas in 2023. 6 Pursuant to the terms of each of the agreements, the lots will be sold at a fixed per-lot price, and the Seller will also be entitled to receive a community enhancement fee for each lot sold. The aggregate purchase price and community enhancement fees are anticipated to equal to combined total of approximately $11 million for the two Agreements together; however, the purchase prices for each of the Agreements will be adjusted accordingly, if the total number of lots increases or decreases prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreements. The closing of the transactions described above depends on the satisfaction of certain conditions and is expected to take place during the second quarter of 2024. Home Rental Business Houston, Texas Rental Homes. In recent years, the Company expanded its real estate portfolio to single family rental houses. During 2022 and 2021 the Company signed multiple purchase agreements to acquire 20 and 112 homes, respectively, in Montgomery and Harris Counties, Texas. By December 31, 2022, the acquisition of all 132 homes was completed with an aggregate purchase cost of $30,998,258. All of these purchased homes are properties of our rental business. On December 9, 2022, Alset Inc. entered into an agreement with Alset EHome Inc. and Alset International Limited pursuant to which Alset Inc. agreed to reorganize the ownership of its home rental business. Previously, Alset Inc. and certain majority-owned subsidiaries collectively owned 132 single-family rental homes in Texas. 112 of these rental homes are owned by subsidiaries of American Home REIT Inc. (“AHR”). Alset Inc. owns 85.5% of Alset International Limited, and Alset International Limited indirectly owns approximately 99.9% of Alset EHome Inc. The closing of the transaction contemplated by this agreement was completed on January 13, 2023. Pursuant to this agreement, Alset Inc. has become the direct owner of AHR and its subsidiaries that collectively own these 112 homes, instead of such homes being owned indirectly through Alset International Limited’s subsidiaries. Alset EHome Inc. sold AHR to Alset Inc. for a total consideration of $26,250,933, including the forgiveness of debt in the amount of $13,900,000, a promissory note in the amount of $11,350,933 and a cash payment of $1,000,000. This purchase price represents the book value of AHR as of November 30, 2022. The closing of this transaction was approved by the shareholders of Alset International Limited. Certain members of Alset Inc.’s Board of Directors and management are also members of the Board of Directors and management of each of Alset International Limited and Alset EHome Inc. In approximately 96 of the 132 single-family rental homes that were acquired by our subsidiary in 2022 and 2021as a part of our commitment to advancing smart and healthy sustainable living, we installed Tesla PV solar panels and Powerwalls. In addition, we added technologies at many of the single-family rental homes such as (i) smart solar, thermostat, and energy usage controls; (ii) smart lighting controls; (iii) smart locks and security; and (iv) smart home automation devices. We believe these and other technologies will be attractive to renters. The Company has entered into a property management agreement with the property managers under which the property managers generally oversee and direct the leasing, management and advertising of the properties in our portfolio, including collecting rents and acting as liaison with the tenants. The Company pays its property managers a monthly property management fee per property unit and a leasing fee. 7 Potential Future Projects In addition to our main projects, we are embarking on residential construction activities in partnership with U.S. homebuilders, and have commenced discussions to acquire smaller U.S. residential construction projects. These projects may be within both the for-sale and for-rent markets. We consider projects in diverse regions across the United States, and maintain longstanding relationships with local owners, brokers, attorneys and lenders to source projects. We will continue to focus on off-market deals and raise appropriate financing for attractive development opportunities. We believe these initiatives will provide a set of solutions to stabilize the long-term revenue associated with property development in the United States and create new ancillary service opportunities and revenue from this business. Through our subsidiaries, we will explore the potential to pursue other business opportunities related to real estate. The Company is evaluating the potential to enter into additional activities related to solar energy and energy efficient products as well as smart home technologies. Through the Company’s eco-systems of businesses based around sustainable, healthy living communities, our Alset EHome Inc. subsidiary intends to develop single family homes which are eco-friendly. They will be fitted out with solar energy products such as photovoltaic systems, battery systems, and car charging ports for sustainable transport as well as other energy efficient systems. The Company also envisions acquiring land surrounding its communities for solar farm projects to power these communities. The company intends to continue to explore other projects in and around Houston, Texas and bring this concept to other strategic parts of the US. Digital Transformation Technology Our digital transformation technology business unit is committed to enabling enterprises to engage in a digital transformation by providing support, implementation and development services with various technologies including blockchain, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligent customer service application and metaverse services. We commenced our technology business in 2015 through Hapi Metaverse Inc. (“Hapi Metaverse”) (formerly known as GigWorld Inc.), our 99.6% owned subsidiary. Its technology platform focuses on business-to-business, or B2B, solutions, such as communications and workflow, through instant messaging, international calling, social media, e-commerce. Hapi Metaverse’s latest investment into Value Exchange International Inc. (“VEII”) expanded our offering to retail business digital transformation such as supermarket and chain stores. Hapi Metaverse is now the largest stockholder of VEII. Through Hapi Metaverse, we have successfully implemented several strategic platform developments for clients, including a mobile front-end solution for network marketing, a hotel e-commerce platform for a company in Asia, and a real estate agent management platform in China. We have also enhanced our technological integration capability to include artificial intelligence in the area of customer service, augmented reality, and the metaverse. While focusing on development and integration services by building white label mobile applications for eCommerce and community engagement such as direct marketing and affiliate marketing, VEII has been working on I.T. Services for major retailers in Asia for retail solutions integration. We believe that the increasing deployment of the technology both in membership engagement as well as in the retail industry will allow for feedback from customers, and help us build a robust and scalable software. Adding latest technological framework such as A.I. and Metaverse allows the company to enhance our clients’ digital transformation journey with better consumer engagement and analytics. Biohealth Business With populations aging and a growing focus on healthcare issues, biohealth science has become increasingly vital. We entered the biomedical and healthcare market by forming our biohealth division, which is engaged in developing, researching, testing, manufacturing, licensing and distributing (through retail, direct selling, network marketing and e-commerce) biohealth products and services. We strive to leverage our scientific know-how and intellectual property rights to provide solutions to pending healthcare issues. 8 HWH World. In October 2019, the Company expanded its biohealth segment into the Korean market through one of the subsidiaries of HWH International Inc., HWH World Inc (“HWH World”). HWH World is in the business of sourcing and distributing dietary supplements and other health products through its network of members in the Republic of Korea (“South Korea”). HWH World generates product sales via its direct sale model as products are sold to its members. Through the use of a Hapi Gig platform that combines e-commerce, social media and a customized rewards system, HWH Korea equips, trains and empowers its members. We compete with numerous direct sales companies in South Korea. Other Business Activities In addition to our three principal business activities, we oversee several smaller other business activities at the present time, which we believe complement our three principal businesses. BMI Capital Partners. Alset International’s wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, BMI Capital Partners International Limited provides consultancy services on corporate restructuring efforts, debt restructuring efforts and capital markets related corporate actions, including potential stock exchange listings. Alset F&B. The Company, through Alset F&B One Pte. Ltd. (“Alset F&B One”) and Alset F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. (“Alset F&B PLQ”) each acquired a restaurant franchise licenses at the end of 2021 and 2022 respectively, both of which have since commenced operations. These licenses will allow Alset F&B One and Alset F&B PLQ each to operate a Killiney Kopitiam restaurant in Singapore. Killiney Kopitiam, founded in 1919, is a Singapore-based chain of mass-market, traditional kopitiam style service cafes selling traditional coffee and tea, along with a range of local delicacies such as Curry Chicken, Laksa, Mee Siam, and Mee Rebus. Hapi Cafes. The Company, through Hapi Cafe Inc. (“HCI-T”), an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, commenced operation of two cafés during 2022 and 2021, which are located in Singapore and South Korea. The cafes are operated by subsidiaries of HCI-T, namely Hapi Cafe SG Pte. Ltd. (“HCSG”) in Singapore and Hapi Cafe Korea Inc. (“HCKI”) in Seoul, South Korea. Hapi Cafes are distinctive lifestyle café outlets that strive to revolutionize the way individuals dine, work, and live, by providing a conducive environment for everyone to relish the four facets – health and wellness, fitness, productivity, and recreation all under one roof. In February of 2024, HCI-T acquired an additional café in South Korea which has not yet commenced operations. In recent months the Company incorporated three new subsidiaries Shenzhen Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd., Dongguan Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd. and GuangZhou Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd in the People’s Republic of China. The three companies will be principally engaged in the food and beverage business in Mainland China. Additionally, through its subsidiary MOC HK Limited, the Company is focusing on operating café business in Hong Kong. During the years ended on December 31, 2023 and 2022, the revenue from the other business activities described above was approximately 5% and 13% of the total revenue, respectively. True Partner Capital Holding Limited. On January 18, 2022, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with DSS, Inc., pursuant to which the Company has agreed to sell, through the transfer of subsidiary and otherwise, 62,122,908 shares of stock of True Partner Capital Holding Limited in exchange for 11,397,080 shares of the common stock of DSS. On February 28, 2022 the Company entered into a revised Stock Purchase Agreement with DSS, Inc., pursuant to which the Company has agreed to replace the January 18, 2022 agreement with a new agreement to sell a subsidiary holding 44,808,908 shares of stock of True Partner Capital Holding Limited, together with an additional 17,314,000 shares of True Partner Capital Holding Limited (for a total of 62,122,908 shares) in exchange for 17,570,948 shares of common stock of DSS (the “DSS Shares”). The issuance of the DSS Shares was be subject to the approval of the NYSE American (on which the common stock of DSS is listed) and DSS’s shareholders. The transaction closed on May 17, 2022. 9 American Pacific Bancorp Inc. APB is a financial network holding company focused on acquiring equity positions in (i) undervalued commercial bank(s), bank holding companies and nonbanking licensed financial companies operating in the United States, South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and (ii) companies engaged in—nonbanking activities closely related to banking, including loan syndication services, mortgage banking, trust and escrow services, banking technology, loan servicing, equipment leasing, problem asset management, SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) consulting services, and advisory capital raising services. The Company acquired 4,775,523 shares of the Class B common stock of APB, representing approximately 86.4% of the total common stock of APB. On September 8, 2021 APB sold 6,666,700 shares Series A Common Stock to DSS, Inc. for $40,000,200 cash. As a result of such share issuance, the Company’s ownership percentage of APB fell to 41.3% and subsequently to 36.9% at the end of 2022 due to APB’s share issuances. Planned Acquisition of New Energy Asia Pacific Inc. On December 13, 2023, the Company entered into a term sheet (the “Term Sheet”), with Chan Heng Fai (the “Seller”), the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and largest stockholder of the Company. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, the Company will purchase from the Seller all of the issued and outstanding shares of New Energy Asia Pacific Inc. (“NEAPI”), a corporation incorporated in the State of Nevada. NEAPI owns 41.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of New Energy Asia Pacific Limited (“New Energy”), a Hong Kong corporation. Under the terms of the Term Sheet, the consideration for the acquisition of NEAPI will be $103,750,000.00, to be paid in the form of a convertible promissory note (the “Note”) to be issued to the Seller. The Note shall have a term of five years and shall pay interest at a rate of 3% per annum. Either the Company or the Seller may convert all or any portion of the outstanding debt contemplated by the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock during the term of the Note. The conversion price for the Note has been set at $12.00 per share (based on a calculation of the approximate adjusted NAV of the Company per share as at September 30, 2023) which is equivalent to approximately 16 times the last market trading price of AEI of $0.75 as of December 12, 2023. The closing of this acquisition will be subject to certain standard closing conditions, including stockholder approval and no objection from Nasdaq. New Energy focuses on distributing all-electric versions of special-purpose and transportation vehicles, charging stations and batteries. The Company intends for this to be a strategic move, in line with the Company’s commitment to advancing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for the future. Currently, New Energy has a strong pipeline of demand, with signed collective sales secured via Memorandums of Understanding totaling up to $42 million in value and continues to garner strong interest from local government departments and market demand. New Energy will seek to significantly increase revenues in the coming months relating to both electric chargers and electric vehicles. New Energy’s expertise extends across Asia, with established service and training centers in China and Hong Kong, and ongoing development planned in various parts of the world. The Seller is a member of the Board of Directors of New Energy. The Term Sheet was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company’s Board of Directors has received a fairness opinion reflecting that the transaction is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view. The Seller and his son, who is also a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, recused themselves from all deliberation and voting regarding this acquisition and the Term Sheet. The Company and the Seller anticipate entering into definitive documents for this acquisition in the immediate future. Agreements to Sell Stock of HWH International Inc. On November 21, 2023, Alset International Limited, an 85.5%-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into two Stock Purchase Agreements (each, a “Stock Purchase Agreement,” collectively the “Stock Purchase Agreements”), with each of Teh Wing Kwan, a citizen of Singapore, and Massive Brilliant Limited, a Hong Kong limited company (each an “Investor,” collectively, the “Investors”), the terms of each Stock Purchase Agreement being substantially the same. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreements, Alset International Limited agreed to sell 640 shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock of HWH International Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alset International Limited (“HWH International”), to each Investor. The consideration for each of the two purchases of stock was Eight Million U.S. Dollars ($8,000,000.00) paid through the issuance of a promissory note made to Alset International Limited by each Investor. This transaction has not closed as of December 31, 2023. 10 Each Investor also entered into a Security Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2023. Security interest in the brokerage account into which each investor deposited the Shares (the “Collateral”) shall in each case serve as security for the Investor’s repayment of their respective promissory note, and repossession of such Collateral by Alset International Limited shall be the sole recourse for non-payment. Certain members of the Company’s Board of Directors and management are also members of the Board of Directors and management of each of Alset International Limited and HWH International. On January 9, 2024, HWH International and Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Alset Capital”) closed their merger as contemplated by an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”). The closing of the Merger Agreement resulted in HWH International surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Alset Capital (the “Merger”), and Alset Capital changing its name to HWH International Inc. (“New HWH”). The total consideration paid at the closing of the merger by New HWH to HWH International shareholders was 12,500,000 shares of New HWH common stock. Alset International Limited owned the majority of the outstanding shares of HWH International at the time of the business combination, and received 10,900,000 shares of New HWH as consideration for its shares of HWH International. Upon the closing of the sale of HWH International to Alset Capital, each of the Investors received 6.4% of the consideration for such sale, in the form of 800,000 shares of New HWH apiece. Sales and Marketing We focus our corporate marketing efforts on increasing brand awareness, communicating the advantages of our various platforms and generating qualified leads for our sales team. Our corporate marketing plan is designed to continually elevate awareness of our brand and generate demand for our offerings. We rely on a number of channels in this area, including digital advertising, email marketing, social media, affiliate marketing and broad-based media, as well as through various strategic partnerships. We maintain our website at https://www.alsetinc.com, and our various operating subsidiaries maintain individual websites, many of which are accessible through our main website. Each of our businesses has developed a field sales force in their geographic markets. These sales force teams are responsible for identifying and managing individual sales opportunities in their respective regions. Competition The businesses in which we participate, real estate, digital transformation technology and biohealth, are each highly competitive. Existing and future competitors may introduce products and services in the same markets we serve, and competing products or services may have better performance, lower prices, better functionality and broader acceptance than our products. Our competitors may also add features to their products or services similar to features that presently differentiate our product and service offerings from theirs. This competition could result in increased sales and marketing expenses, thereby materially reducing our operating margins, and could harm our ability to increase, or cause us to lose, market share. Some of our competitors and potential competitors supply a wide variety of products and services, and have well-established relationships with our current and prospective customers. Most, if not all, of our current and potential competitors may have significantly greater resources or better competitive positions in certain product segments, geographic regions or user demographics than we do. These factors may allow our competitors to respond more effectively than us to new or emerging technologies and changes in market conditions. By way of example, in our real estate business, some of our competitors already have the advantage of having created vertically integrated businesses, while other competitors have broader and deeper relationships with sources of financing. Other competitors in our real estate business may have more substantial ties and experience in geographical areas in which we operate. 11 Our competitors may develop products, features or services that are similar to ours or that achieve greater acceptance, may undertake more far-reaching and successful product development efforts or marketing campaigns, or may adopt more aggressive pricing policies. This is particularly relevant for our digital transformation technology business. Certain competitors could use strong or dominant positions in one or more markets to gain competitive advantage against us in our target market or markets. As a result, our competitors may acquire and engage customers or generate revenue at the expense of our own efforts. Protection of Proprietary Technology We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions, to protect our proprietary information, technology and brands. We protect our proprietary information and technology, in part, by generally requiring our employees to enter into agreements providing for the maintenance of confidentiality and the assignment of rights to inventions made by them while employed by us. We also may enter into non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements with certain of our technical consultants to protect our confidential and proprietary information and technology. We cannot assure you that our confidentiality agreements with our employees and consultants will not be breached, that we will be able to effectively enforce these agreements, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach of these agreements, or that our trade secrets and other proprietary information and technology will not be disclosed or will otherwise be protected. We also rely on contractual and license agreements with third parties in connection with their use of our technology and services. There is no guarantee that such parties will abide by the terms of such agreements or that we will be able to adequately enforce our rights. Protection of confidential information, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights in the markets in which we operate and compete is highly uncertain and may involve complex legal questions. We cannot completely prevent the unauthorized use or infringement of our confidential information or intellectual property rights as such prevention is inherently difficult. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our confidential information and intellectual property protection. Government Regulation Like many similarly diversified companies, our operations are subject to routine regulation by governmental agencies. Much of this regulation will affect us indirectly, inasmuch as, and to the extent that, it affects our customers more directly. A summary of the laws and regulations that might affect our customers is set forth below. Real Estate Business. The development of our real estate projects will require us to comply with federal, state and local environmental regulations. In connection with this compliance, our real estate acquisition and development projects will require environmental studies. To date, we have spent approximately $71,431 on environmental studies and compliance. Such costs are reflected in capitalized construction costs in our financial statements. The cost of complying with governmental regulations is significant and will increase if we add additional real estate projects, become involved in homebuilding in the future and are required to comply with certain due diligence procedures related to third party lenders. At the present time, we believe that we have all of the material government approvals that we need to conduct our business as currently conducted. We are subject to periodic local permitting that must be addressed, but we do not anticipate that such requirements for government approval will have a material impact on our business as presently conducted. We are required to comply with government regulations and to make filings from time to time with various government entities. Such work is typically handled by outside contractors we retain. 12 Digital Transformation Technology Business. Companies conducting business on the Internet are subject to a number of foreign and domestic laws and regulations. In addition, laws and regulations relating to user privacy, freedom of expression, content, advertising, information security and intellectual property rights are being debated and considered for adoption by many countries throughout the world. Online businesses face risks from some of the proposed legislation that could be passed in the future. The adoption of any laws or regulations that adversely affect the growth, popularity or use of the Internet, including laws impacting Internet neutrality, could decrease the demand for our services and increase our cost of doing business. As we expand internationally, government regulation concerning the Internet, and in particular, network neutrality, may be nascent or non-existent. Within such a regulatory environment, coupled with potentially significant political and economic power of local network operators, we could experience discriminatory or anti-competitive practices that could impede our growth, cause us to incur additional expense or otherwise negatively affect our business. In the United States, laws relating to the liability of providers of online services for activities of their users and other third parties are currently being tested by a number of claims, which include actions for libel, slander, invasion of privacy and other tort claims, unlawful activity, copyright and trademark infringement, and other theories based on the nature and content of the materials searched, the ads posted, or the content generated by users. Certain foreign jurisdictions are also testing the liability of providers of online services for activities of their users and other third parties. Any court ruling that imposes liability on providers of online services for activities of their users and other third parties could harm our licensees’ businesses, and thus, indirectly, our business. Biohealth Business. Our businesses are subject to varying degrees of governmental regulation in the countries in which our operations are conducted, and the general trend is toward increasingly stringent regulation. In the United States, the drug, device and cosmetic industries have long been subject to regulation by various federal and state agencies, primarily as to product safety, efficacy, manufacturing, advertising, labeling and safety reporting. The exercise of broad regulatory powers by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, continues to result in increases in the amounts of testing and documentation required for FDA approval of new drugs and devices and a corresponding increase in the expense of product introduction. Similar trends are also evident in major markets outside of the United States. The new medical device regulatory framework and the new privacy regulations in Europe are examples of such increased regulation. The costs of human health care have been and continue to be a subject of study, investigation and regulation by governmental agencies and legislative bodies around the world. In the United States, attention has been focused on drug prices and profits and programs that encourage doctors to write prescriptions for particular drugs, or to recommend, use or purchase particular medical devices. Payers have become a more potent force in the market place and increased attention is being paid to drug and medical device pricing, appropriate drug and medical device utilization and the quality and costs of health care generally. The regulatory agencies under whose purview we operate have administrative powers that may subject it to actions such as product withdrawals, recalls, seizure of products and other civil and criminal sanctions. In some cases, our subsidiaries may deem it advisable to initiate product recalls. In addition, business practices in the health care industry have come under increased scrutiny, particularly in the United States, by government agencies and state attorneys general, and resulting investigations and prosecutions carry the risk of significant civil and criminal penalties. Further, we rely on global supply chains, and production and distribution processes, that are complex, are subject to increasing regulatory requirements, and may be faced with unexpected changes that may affect sourcing, supply and pricing of materials used in our products. These processes also are subject to lengthy regulatory approvals. As described above, certain of our businesses are subject to compliance with laws and regulations of U.S. federal and state governments, non-U.S. governments, their respective agencies and/or various self-regulatory organizations or exchanges relating to, among other things, disclosure and the privacy of client information, and any failure to comply with these regulations could expose us to liability and/or damage our reputation. Our businesses have operated for many years within a legal framework that requires us to monitor and comply with a broad range of legal and regulatory developments that affect our activities. However, additional legislation, changes in rules promulgated by self-regulatory organizations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules, either in the United States or elsewhere, may directly affect our mode of operation and profitability. 13 Rigorous legal and compliance analysis of our businesses is endemic to our culture and risk management. Management of each of our businesses supervise our compliance personnel, who are responsible for addressing all regulatory and compliance matters that affect our activities. We strive to maintain a culture of compliance through the use of policies and procedures, including a code of ethics, electronic compliance systems, testing and monitoring, communication of compliance guidance and employee education and training. Our compliance policies and procedures address a variety of regulatory and compliance matters such as the handling of material non-public information, personal securities trading, marketing practices, gifts and entertainment, valuation of investments, recordkeeping, potential conflicts of interest, the allocation of corporate opportunities, collection of fees and expense allocation. We also monitor the information barriers that we maintain between the public and private sides of our businesses. We believe that our various businesses’ access to the intellectual knowledge and contacts and relationships that reside throughout our firm benefits all of our businesses. To maximize that access without compromising compliance with our legal and contractual obligations, our compliance group oversees and monitors the communications between groups that are on the private side of our information barrier and groups that are on the public side, as well as between different public side groups. Our compliance group also monitors contractual obligations that may be impacted and potential conflicts that may arise in connection with these inter-group discussions. Facilities We manage our worldwide business from our principal executive offices located in Bethesda, Maryland, in a leased space of approximately 2,059 square feet, under a lease that expires in 2024. We also maintain offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea through leased spaces aggregating approximately 15,811 square feet, under leases expiring on various dates from June 2024 to February 2027. The leases have rental rates ranging from $1,401 to $23,020 per month. Our total rent expense under these office leases was 1,087,585 and $767,306 in 2023 and 2022, respectively. We expect total rent expense to be approximately $911,209 under office leases in 2024. We believe our present office space and locations are adequate for our current operations and for near-term planned expansion. Employees As of April 1, 2024, we had a total of 60 full-time employees. In addition to our full-time employees, we occasionally hire part-time employees and independent contractors to assist us in various operations, including real estate, research and product development and production. Our future success will depend in part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified technical and sales personnel for whom competition is intense. Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining unit. We believe our relations with employees and contractors are good. Additional Information The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, files annual, quarterly, and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission maintains an internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission. The periodic reports, proxy statements and other information that the Company files with the Commission are available for inspection on the Commission’s website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Commission. The Company maintains a website at https://www.alsetinc.com where you may also access these materials free of charge. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only and the information contained in, and that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into and is not part of this report on Form 10-K. 14