Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item
1A. Risk Factors
You
should carefully consider the risks described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report, which could materially and adversely
affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Our business faces significant risks and the risks described
below may not be the only risks we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial
may materially affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition. If any of these risks occur, the trading price
of our common stock could be decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.
COVID-19
Pandemic
COVID-19
pandemic has had, and may continue to have, an adverse effect on our business and our financial results.
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was discovered in China, which has and is continuing to spread throughout
the world. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease a “Public Health
Emergency of International Concern.” On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a “pandemic.”
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in, and a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases could result in, a widespread health
crisis that could materially and adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the operations and financial
position of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel, limit
the ability to have meetings with potential investors, if the target company’s personnel, vendors and service providers
are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner, or if COVID-19 causes a prolonged economic downturn.
The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for business combinations will depend on future developments, which are
highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the
actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global
concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target
business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
In
addition, our ability to consummate a business combination may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing
which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity
and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.
COVID-19
could negatively affect our internal controls over financial reporting as a portion of our workforce is required to work from
home and therefore new processes, procedures, and controls could be required to respond to changes in our business environment.
Further, should any key employees become ill from COVID-19 and unable to work, the attention of the management team and resources
could be diverted.
The
potential effects of COVID-19 could also heighten the risks we face related to each of the risk factors disclosed below. As COVID-19
and its impacts are unprecedented and continuously evolving, the potential impacts to these risk factors remain uncertain. As
a result, COVID-19 may also materially adversely affect our operating and financial results in a manner that is not currently
known to us or that we do not currently consider may present significant risks to our operations.
12
Risk
related to our business
We
have a limited operating history that you can use to evaluate us, and the likelihood of our success must be considered in light
of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered by a small developing company.
We
were incorporated in Nevada in March 2014. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we have generated $5,005,694
and $275,219, respectively, in revenues and incurred net losses of $3,647,353 and $377,756, respectively. The likelihood
of our success must be considered in the light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered
by a small company starting a new business enterprise and the highly competitive environment in which we are operating. We have
a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of our future success or failure can be made. Our ability to achieve and
maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon:
●
Our
ability to market our products;
●
Our
ability to generate revenue;
●
Our
ability to obtain higher gross profit products;
●
Our
ability to obtain healthier and economical products; and
●
Our
ability to raise the capital necessary to continue marketing and developing our product and online platform.
If
we are unable to gain any significant market acceptance for our products and services or establish a significant market presence,
we may be unable to generate sufficient revenue to continue our business.
Our
growth strategy is substantially dependent upon our ability to successfully market our products and services to prospective clients.
However, our planned self-conduct or consignment products may not achieve significant acceptance. Such acceptance, if achieved,
may not be sustained for any significant period of time. Failure of our products to achieve or sustain market acceptance could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and the results of our operations.
Management’s
ability to implement our business strategy may be slower than expected and we may be unable to generate or sustain profits.
Our
business plans, including developing and optimizing our online platform, may not generate profit in the near
term or may not become profitable at all, which will result in losses.
We
may be unable to enter into our intended markets successfully. The factors that could affect our growth strategy include our success
in (a) developing our business plan, (b) obtaining new clients, (c) obtaining adequate financing on acceptable terms, and
(d) adapting our internal controls and operating procedures to accommodate our future growth.
Our
systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support the expansion of our business operations. Significant growth will
place managerial demands on all aspects of our operations. Our future operating results will depend substantially upon our ability
to manage changing business conditions and to implement and improve our technical, administrative and financial controls and reporting
systems.
Competitors
may enter our business sector with superior products which could affect our business adversely.
We
believe that barriers to entry are low because of economies of scale, cost advantage and brand identity. Potential competitors
may enter this sector with superior products. This would have an adverse effect upon our business and our results of operations.
In addition, a high level of support is critical for the successful marketing and recurring sales of our products. Despite having
accumulated customers from the past seven years, we may still need to continue to improve our marketing strategic, products
and platform in order to assist potential customers in using our platform, and we also need to provide effective support to future
clients. If we are unable to increase customer support and improve our platform in the face of i ncreasing
competition, with the increase in competition, our ability to sell our products to potential customers could adversely affect
our brand, which would harm our reputation.
We
operate in a highly competitive industry, and our failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our market share, revenues
and growth prospects.
The
food and beverage industry in China is highly fragmented and intensely competitive. Industry participants include large scale
and well-funded manufacturers and distributors, as well as smaller counterparts. We believe that the market is also highly sensitive
to the introduction of new products, including the ever-growing list of new alcohol and non-alcohol beverages, water and edible
oil products, which may rapidly capture a significant share of the market. Presently most of our business operations and product
distribution are concentrated in Guangdong province, China, and we expect to expand our product sales into broader markets and
more geographic areas in China. We compete for sales with heavily advertised national and international brands sponsored by large
food companies or distribution networks. Our competitors include China home-grown manufacturers and distributors, foreign companies
with China operations, as well as product importers and distributors that carry the same categories of products as ours. We may
not be able to compete effectively and our attempt to do so may require us to reduce our prices and result in lower margins. Failure
to effectively compete could adversely affect our market share, revenues, and growth prospects.
Our
failure to appropriately respond to changing consumer preferences and demand for new products could significantly harm our customer
relationships and product sales.
Our
business is particularly subject to changing consumer trends and preferences. Our continued success depends in part on our ability
to anticipate and respond to these changes, and we may not be able to respond in a timely or commercially appropriate manner to
these changes. If we are unable to do so, our customer relationships and product sales could be harmed significantly.
Furthermore,
the food and beverage industry in particular is characterized by rapid and frequent changes in demand for products and new product
introductions. Our failure to accurately predict these trends could negatively impact consumer opinion with respect to the products
we distribute. This could harm our customer relationships and cause losses to our market share. The success of our new product
offerings depends upon a number of factors, including our ability to accurately anticipate customer needs, identify the right
suppliers, successfully commercialize new products in a timely manner, price our products competitively, deliver our products
in sufficient volumes and in a timely manner, and differentiate our product offerings from those of our competitors.
If
we do not introduce new products or make sufficient adjustments to meet the changing needs of our customers in a timely manner,
some of our products could become obsolete in the view of consumers, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues
and operating results.
13
We
do not have long term contractual commitments with our retail or distributor customers, and our business may be negatively affected
if we are unable to maintain those important relationships and distribute our products.
Our
marketing and sales strategy depends in large part on orders, availability and performance of our retailers and distributor customers,
supplemented by the sales at our own store and online sales. We will continue our efforts to reinforce and expand our distribution
network by partnering with new retailers and distributors. While we have entered written agreements with most of our customers,
we currently do not have, nor do we anticipate in the future that we will be able to establish, long-term contractual commitments
from most major customers. In addition, we may not be able to maintain our current distribution relationships or establish and
maintain successful relationships with distributors in new geographic distribution areas. Moreover, there is a possibility that
we may have to incur additional costs to attract and maintain new customers. Our inability to maintain our sales network or attract
additional customers would adversely affect our revenues and financial results.
Because
we rely on our retailer customers and wholesale distributors for the majority of our sales that distribute our competitors’
products along with our products, we have little control in ensuring those retailers and distributors will not prefer our competitors’
products over ours, which could cause our sales to suffer.
Our
ability to establish a market for our products in new geographic areas, as well as maintain and expand our existing markets, is
dependent on our ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with reliable distributors and retailers positioned
to serve those areas. Most of our distributors and retailers sell and distribute competing products, including non-alcoholic and
alcoholic beverages, and our products may represent a small portion of their business. To the extent that our distributors and
retailers prefer to sell our competitors’ products over our products or do not employ sufficient efforts in managing and
selling our products, including re-stocking retail shelves with our products, our sales and results of operations could be adversely
affected. Our ability to maintain our distribution network and attract additional distributors and retailers will depend on several
factors, some of which are outside our control. Some of these factors include: the level of demand for our brands and products
in a distribution area; our ability to price our products at levels competitive with those of competing products; and our
ability to deliver products in the quantity and at the time ordered by distributors or retailers. If any of the above factors
work negatively against us, our sales will likely decline and our results of operations will be adversely affected.
Because
our retail customers and distributors are not required to place minimum orders with us, we need to manage our inventory levels,
and it is difficult to predict the timing and amount of our sales.
Our
customers are not required to place minimum monthly or annual orders for our products. There is no assurance as to the timing
or quantity of purchases by any of our customers or that any of our distributors will continue to purchase products from us in
the same frequencies and volumes as they may have in the past. To be able to sell our products on a timely basis, we need to maintain
adequate inventory levels of the desired products, but we cannot predict the frequency or size of orders by a substantial portion
of our customers. If we fail to meet our shipping schedules, we could damage our relationships with distributors or retailers,
increase our shipping costs or cause sales opportunities to be delayed or lost, which would unfavorably impact our future sales
and adversely affect our operating results. In addition, if the inventory of our products held by our distributors or retailers
is too high, they will not place orders for additional products, which would also unfavorably impact our future sales and adversely
affect our operating results.
Our
business plan and future growth is dependent in part on our distribution arrangements with retailers and wholesale distributors.
If we are unable to effectively implement our business plan and distribution strategy, our results of operations and financial
condition could be adversely affected.
We
currently have sales arrangements with most of wholesale distributors and retail accounts to distribute our products directly
through their venues. However, there are several risks associated with this distribution strategy. We do not have long-term agreements
in place with any of these customers and thus, the arrangements are terminable at any time by these retailers or us. Accordingly,
we may not be able to maintain continuing relationships with any of these accounts. A decision by any of these retailers to decrease
the amount purchased from us or to cease carrying our products could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial
condition or results of operations. In addition, our dependence on existing major retail accounts may result in pressure on us
to reduce our pricing to them or allow significant product discounts. Any increase in our costs for these retailers to carry our
product, reduction in price, or demand for product discounts could have a material adverse effect on our profit margin.
We
rely on independent suppliers and manufacturers of our products, and such dependence could make management of our marketing and
distribution efforts inefficient or unprofitable.
We
do not own the plants or the equipment required to make and package the products we sell, and do not directly manufacture our
products but instead purchase our products from our independent suppliers who source the products from independent manufacturers.
We do not anticipate bringing the manufacturing process in-house in the future. Currently, our products are sourced from approximately
twenty-one independent suppliers. Our ability to attract and maintain effective relationships with our suppliers, and other third
parties for the production and delivery of our beverage products in a geographic distribution area is important to the success
of our operations within each distribution area. Competition for contract manufacturers’ business is intense, especially
in the western U.S., and this could make it more difficult for us to obtain new or replacement manufacturers, or to locate back-up
manufacturers, in our various distribution areas, and could also affect the economic terms of our agreements with our manufacturers.
Our contract manufacturers may terminate their arrangements with us at any time, in which case we could experience disruptions
in our ability to deliver products to our customers. We may not be able to maintain our relationships with current contract manufacturers
or establish satisfactory relationships with new or replacement contract manufacturers, whether in existing or new geographic
distribution areas. The failure to establish and maintain effective relationships with contract manufacturers for a distribution
area could increase our manufacturing costs and thereby materially reduce profits realized from the sale of our products in that
area. In addition, poor relations with any of our contract manufacturers could adversely affect the amount and timing of product
delivered to our distributors for resale, which would in turn adversely affect our revenues and financial condition.
As
is customary in the contract manufacturing industry for comparably sized companies, we are expected to arrange for our contract
manufacturing needs sufficiently in advance of anticipated requirements. We continually evaluate which of our contract manufacturers
to utilize based on the cost structure and forecasted demand for the geographic area where our contract manufacturers are located.
To the extent demand for our products exceeds available inventory or the production capacity of our contract manufacturing arrangements,
or orders are not submitted on a timely basis, we will be unable to fulfill distributor orders on demand. Conversely, we may produce
more product than warranted by actual demand, resulting in higher storage costs and the potential risk of inventory spoilage.
Our failure to accurately predict and manage our contract manufacturing requirements may impair relationships with our independent
distributors and key accounts, which, in turn, would likely have a material adverse effect on our ability to maintain effective
relationships with those distributors and key accounts.
14
We
are exposed to risks associated with the distribution of products manufactured by third parties.
We
acquire and import most of our alcohol beverage products from France and Spain and contract with third-parties, such as wineries
or wine distributors to supply our products. We do not have full control over the product making activities of the wine and
other product producers. Significant delays and defects in our products resulting from the activities of our product makers may
have a material adverse effect on our Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Under
the PRC law, for the third party products that we distribute, the third party manufacturers are responsible for the quality of
the products. We, however, may still be liable under certain circumstances. For example, product sellers bear tort liabilities
for product defects as a result of the seller’s negligence which has caused the consumers’ damages or if the sellers
are unable to specify the manufacturer of a defective product. In the event consumers suffer from damages caused by product defects,
consumers may seek compensation either from the product manufacturer or from the seller of the products. If a product defect occurs
during the manufacturing period and the compensation is paid by a seller, then the seller is entitled to recover losses from the
manufacturer. However, if a defect occurs during the selling period and the compensation is paid by the manufacturer, then the
manufacturer is entitled to recover losses from the seller. In the event that product defects are caused by the manufacturers,
while we have the right to seek recourse against the manufacturers after we pay damages to the consumers, there can be no assurance
that we could recover any of our compensation payments we will have made.
We
may be subject to product liability claims.
We
are a food and beverage product distributor, and the products we sell are not made by us which may contain defects or have quality
issues. As a result, sales of such products could expose us to product liability claims relating to personal injury or property
damage and may require product recalls or other actions. Third parties subject to such injury or damage may bring claims or legal
proceedings against us as the distributor or retailer of the product. Although we would have legal recourse against the manufacturer
of such products under applicable law, attempting to enforce our rights against the manufacturer may be expensive, time-consuming
and ultimately futile. In addition, we do not currently maintain any third-party liability insurance or product liability insurance
in relation to products we sell. As a result, any material product liability claim or litigation could have a material and adverse
effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even unsuccessful claims could result in the expenditure
of funds and managerial efforts in defending them and could have a negative impact on our reputation.
Our
business and financial results depend on the continuous supply and availability of raw materials, and rising raw material, fuel
and freight costs as well as freight capacity issues may have an adverse impact on our sales and earnings.
The
principal raw materials for the wine products we sell include glass bottles, labels, closures, flavorings, stevia, pure cane sugar
and other natural ingredients. The costs of the product ingredients are subject to fluctuation. If any supply of these raw materials
is impaired or if prices increase significantly, our business would be adversely affected. Prices of any raw materials or ingredients
may continue to rise in the future and we would incur higher supply costs which we may not be able to pass any cost increases
on to our customers.
Moreover,
industry-wide shortages of certain concentrates, supplements and sweeteners have been experienced could, from time to time in
the future, be experienced, which could interfere with and/or delay production and supply of certain of our products we source
and could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
In
addition, any supply shortage or volatility in the global oil markets would result in unstable fuel and freight prices. Due to
the price sensitivity of our products, we may not be able to pass any increased costs on to our customers. At the same time, the
economy appears to be returning to pre-pandemic levels resulting in the rise of freight volumes which is exacerbated by carrier
failures to meet demands and fleet reductions due to higher transportation demand in China and global logistics service industry.
We may be unable to secure available transportation carrier capacity at reasonable rates, which could have a material adverse
effect on our operations.
We
rely upon our ongoing relationships with our key suppliers. If we are unable to source our products on acceptable terms from our
key suppliers, we could suffer disruptions in our business.
Currently
we purchase our alcohol products from seven major suppliers and food and non-alcohol beverage products from fourteen major suppliers,
and we anticipate that we will purchase our products from others with the intention of developing other sources of supply for
our products. The prices of our products are determined by our suppliers and manufacturers and may be subject to change. Consequently,
we do not have control over any price increases of the products we sell and may be unable to obtain those products from alternative
suppliers on short notice.
In
addition, we may not correctly estimate demand for our products. Our ability to estimate demand for our products is imprecise,
particularly with new products, and may be less precise during periods of rapid growth, particularly in new markets. If we materially
underestimate demand for our products or are unable to secure sufficient product supplies, we might not be able to satisfy demand
on a short-term basis. If we must replace a product supplier, we could experience disruptions in our ability to deliver products
to our customers or experience a change in the quality or customer appeal of our products, all of which could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.
Failure
to manage our growth could strain our operational and other resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business
and prospects.
Since
2018, our business has experienced significant growths through acquisitions and product diversification. Our growth strategy includes
increasing market penetration of our existing products and services, identifying and developing new products, and increasing distribution
channels and customers we serve. Pursuing these strategies has resulted in, and will continue to result in substantial demands
on our capital and operating resources. In particular, the management of our growth will require, among other things:
●
successful
integration of our existing operations and acquired businesses;
●
stringent
cost controls and adequate liquidity;
●
strengthening
of financial and risk controls;
●
increased
marketing, sales and support activities; and
●
retaining,
training and hiring qualified employees and professionals.
If
we are not able to manage our growth successfully, our business, financial condition and operating results would be materially
and adversely affected.
If
we are unable to maintain brand image and product quality, or if we encounter other product issues such as product recalls, our
business may suffer.
Our
success depends on our ability to maintain brand reputation for our existing products and effectively build up brand image for
new products and brand extensions. There can be no assurance, however, that additional expenditures on advertising and marketing
will have the desired impact on our products’ brand image and on consumer preferences. Product quality issues or allegations
of product contamination, even when false or unfounded, could tarnish the image of the affected brands and may cause consumers
to choose other products. In addition, because of changing government regulations or their implementation, we may be required
from time to time to recall products entirely or from specific markets. Product recalls could affect our profitability and could
negatively affect brand image.
15
The
inability to attract and retain key personnel would directly affect our efficiency and results of operations.
Our
success depends on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees in such areas as distribution, sales, marketing
and finance. We compete to hire new employees, and, in some cases, must train them and develop their skills and competencies.
Our operating results could be adversely affected by increased costs due to increased competition for employees, higher employee
turnover or increased employee benefit costs. Any unplanned turnover, particularly involving our key personnel, could negatively
impact our operations, financial condition and employee morale.
Our
inability to protect our trademarks and trade secrets may prevent us from successfully marketing our products and competing effectively.
Failure
to protect our intellectual property could harm our brand and our reputation, and adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.
Further, enforcing or defending our intellectual property rights, including our trademarks, copyrights, licenses and trade secrets,
could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We regard our intellectual property, particularly
our trademarks and trade secrets to be of considerable value and importance to our business and our success. We rely on a combination
of trademark and trade secrecy laws, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property
rights. In addition, there can be no assurance that other parties will not assert infringement claims against us, and we may have
to pursue litigation against other parties to assert our rights. Any such claim or litigation could be costly. In addition, any
event that would jeopardize our proprietary rights or any claims of infringement by third parties could have a material adverse
effect on our ability to market or sell our brands or profitably exploit our products.
If
we are unable to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, our stock
price and investor confidence in us could be materially and adversely affected.
We
are required to maintain both disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting that are effective.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting, however well designed and operated, can only provide
reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the controls will prevent or detect misstatements. Because of these and other inherent
limitations of control systems, there is only the reasonable assurance that our controls will succeed in achieving their goals
under all potential conditions. The failure of controls by design deficiencies or absence of adequate controls could result in
a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
While
we are not aware of any data breach in the past, cyber-attacks, computer viruses or any future failure to adequately maintain
security and prevent unauthorized access to electronic and other confidential information could result in a data breach which
could materially adversely affect our reputation, financial condition and operating results.
The
protection of our customers’, business partners’, our Company’s and employees’ data is critically important
to us. Our customers, business partners, and employees expect we will adequately safeguard and protect their sensitive personal
and business information. We have become increasingly dependent upon automated information technology processes. Improper activities
by third parties, exploitation of encryption technology, data-hacking tools and discoveries and other events or developments may
result in a future compromise or breach of our networks, payment terminals or other settlement systems. In particular, the techniques
used by criminals to obtain unauthorized access to sensitive data change frequently and often are not recognized until launched
against a target; accordingly, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures. There
can be no assurance that we will not suffer a criminal cyber-attack in the future, that unauthorized parties will not gain access
to personal or business information or sensitive data, or that any such incident will be discovered in a timely manner.
We
also face indirect technology, cybersecurity and operational risks relating to the third parties whom we work with to facilitate
our business activities, including, among others, third-party online service providers who manage accounts for our customers and
external cloud service provider. As a result of increasing consolidation and interdependence of technology systems, a technology
failure, cyber-attack or other information or security breach that significantly compromises the systems of one entity could have
a material impact on its counterparties. Any cyber-attack, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar disruptions
of such third-party service providers could adversely affect our operations and could result in misappropriation of funds of our
customers.
Security
breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information could also expose us to liability related to the loss of the information,
time-consuming and expensive litigation and negative publicity. If security measures are breached because of third-party action,
employee error, malfeasance or otherwise, or if design flaws in our technology infrastructure are exposed and exploited, our relationships
with customers and cooperation partners could be severely damaged, we could incur significant liability and our business and operations
could be adversely affected.
We
are substantially dependent upon our senior management and key information technology and development personnel.
We
are highly dependent on our senior management to manage our business and operations and our marketing and distribution personnel
for the sale of products. In particular, we rely substantially on members of our senior management, including Chief Executive
Officer, Yumin Lin, and Chief Financial Officer, Kaihong Lin, and executives at our key subsidiaries to manage our operations.
While
we provide the legally required personal insurance for the benefit of our employees, we do not maintain key man life insurance
on any of our senior management or key personnel. The loss of any one of them would have a material adverse effect on our business
and operations. Competition for senior management and our other key personnel is intense and the pool of suitable candidates is
limited. We may be unable to locate a suitable replacement for any senior management or key personnel that we lose. In addition,
if any member of our senior management or key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, they may compete with
us for customers, business partners and other key professionals and staff members of our Company. Although each of our senior
management and key personnel has signed a confidentiality agreement in connection with their employment with us, we cannot assure
you that we will be able to successfully enforce these provisions in the event of a dispute between us and any member of our senior
management or key personnel.
We
compete for qualified personnel with other technology companies and research institutions. Intense competition for these personnel
could cause our compensation costs to increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Our future
success and ability to grow our business will depend in part on the continued service of these individuals and our ability to
identify, hire and retain additional qualified personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified employees, we may be
unable to meet our business and financial goals.
We
are dependent upon the services of experienced personnel who possess skills that are valuable in our industry, and we may have
to actively compete for their services.
We
are heavily dependent upon our ability to attract, retain and motivate skilled personnel to serve our customers. Many of our personnel
possess skills that would be valuable to all companies engaged in our industry. Consequently, we expect that we will have to actively
compete for these employees. Some of our competitors may be able to pay our employees more than we are able to pay to retain them.
Our ability to profitably operate is substantially dependent upon our ability to locate, hire, train and retain our personnel.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain our current personnel, or that we will be able to attract and assimilate
other personnel in the future. If we are unable to effectively obtain and maintain skilled personnel, the development and quality
of our services could be materially impaired. See “Our Employees.”
16
If
we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, it could harm our business and competitive position.
We
rely on a combination of trademark and trade secret laws and non-disclosure agreements and other methods to protect our intellectual
property rights. We own a number of trademarks in China, all of which have been properly registered with regulatory agencies such
as the State Intellectual Property Office and Trademark Office. This intellectual property has allowed our products to earn market
share in the financial services and supply chain solutions industries.
We
also rely on trade secret rights to protect our business through non-disclosure agreements with certain employees. If any of our
employees breach their non-disclosure obligations, we may not have adequate remedies in China, and our trade secrets may become
known to our competitors. In accordance with Chinese intellectual property laws and regulations, we will have to renew our trademarks
once the terms expire.
Implementation
of PRC intellectual property-related laws has historically been lacking, primarily because of ambiguities in the PRC laws and
enforcement difficulties. Accordingly, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective
as in the United States or other western countries. Furthermore, policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult
and expensive, and we may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights, or to determine
the enforceability, scope and validity of our proprietary rights or those of others. Such litigation and an adverse determination
in any such litigation, if any, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention, which could
harm our business and competitive position.
We
may be exposed to intellectual property infringement and other claims by third parties which, if successful, could disrupt our
business and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our
success depends, in large part, on our ability to use and develop our intellectual property without infringing third party intellectual
property rights. If we sell our branded products internationally, and as litigation becomes more common in China, we face a higher
risk of being the subject of claims for intellectual property infringement, invalidity or indemnification relating to other parties’
proprietary rights. Our current or potential competitors, many of which have substantial resources and have made substantial investments
in competing technologies, may have or may obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use
or sell our branded products in either China or other countries, including the United States and other countries in Asia. In addition,
the defense of intellectual property suits, including patent infringement suits, and related legal and administrative proceedings
can be both costly and time consuming and may significantly divert the efforts and resources of our technical and management personnel.
Furthermore, an adverse determination in any such litigation or proceedings to which we may become a party could cause us to:
●
pay
damage awards;
●
seek
licenses from third parties;
●
pay
ongoing royalties; or
●
be
restricted by injunctions.
Each
of which could effectively prevent us from pursuing some or all of our business and result in our customers or potential customers
deferring or limiting their purchase or use of our branded products, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations.
We
may not maintain sufficient insurance coverage for the risks associated with our business operations. As a result, we may incur
uninsured losses.
Except
for property, accident and automobile insurance, we do not have other insurance of such as business liability or disruption insurance
coverage for our operations in the PRC. As a result, we may incur uninsured liabilities and losses as a result of the conduct
of our business. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to obtain additional insurance coverage in the future, and even
if we are able to obtain additional coverage, we may not carry sufficient insurance coverage to satisfy potential claims. Should
uninsured losses occur, it could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Operational
risks
If
the products we sell are not safe or otherwise fail to meet our customers’ expectations, we could lose customers, incur
liability for any injuries suffered by customers using or consuming our products or otherwise experience a material impact
to our brand, reputation and financial performance. We are also subject to reputational and other risks related to third-party
sales on our online platforms.
Our
customers count on us to provide them with safe food products. Concerns regarding the safety of food that we source from our suppliers
or that we prepare and then sell could cause customers to avoid purchasing certain food products from us, or to seek alternative
sources of supply for all of their food needs, even if the basis for the concern is outside of our control. Any lost confidence
on the part of our customers would be difficult and costly to reestablish and such products also expose us to product liability
or food safety claims. As such, any issue regarding the safety of any food items we sell, regardless of the cause, could adversely
affect our brand, reputation and financial performance. In addition, third-parties sell goods on some of our online platforms.
Whether laws related to such sales apply to us is currently unsettled and any unfavorable changes could expose us to loss
of sales, reduction in transactions and deterioration of our competitive position. In addition, we may face reputational, financial
and other risks, including liability, for third-party sales of goods that are controversial, counterfeit or otherwise fail to
comply with applicable law. Although we impose contractual terms on sellers that are intended to prohibit sales of certain type
of products, we may not be able to detect, enforce, or collect sufficient damages for breaches of such terms. Any of these
events could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations and impede the execution of our eCommerce
growth strategy.
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Strategic
risks
Failure
to successfully execute our online and offline-channel strategy and the cost of our investments in our online platform
and technology may materially adversely affect our gross profit, net sales and financial performance
The
food trade business continues to rapidly evolve and consumers increasingly embrace digital shopping. As a result, the portion
of total consumer expenditures with retailers and wholesale stores occurring through digital platforms is increasing and the pace
of this increase could continue to accelerate . Our
strategy, which includes investments in our online platform, technology, acquisitions and store remodels, may not adequately
or effectively allow us to continue to grow our online platform business, increase comparable store sales, maintain or grow our
overall market position or otherwise offset the impact on the growth of our business of a moderated pace of new store openings.
Failure
to successfully execute this strategy may adversely affect our market position, gross profit, net sales and financial performance
which could also result in impairment charges to intangible assets or other long-lived assets. In addition, a greater concentration
of online platform sales, including increasing online food sales, could result in a reduction in the amount of traffic in our
stores, which would, in turn, reduce the opportunities for cross-store sales of food merchandise that such traffic creates and
could reduce our sales within our stores and materially adversely affect our financial performance .
Risks
Related to Doing Business in the PRC
We
face the risk that changes in the policies of the PRC government could have a significant impact upon the business we may be able
to conduct in the PRC and the profitability of such business.
The
PRC’s economy is in a transition from a planned economy to a market-oriented economy subject to five-year and annual plans
adopted by the central government that set national economic development goals. Policies of the PRC government can have significant
effects on the economic conditions of the PRC. The PRC government has confirmed that economic development will follow the model
of a market economy. Under this direction, we believe that the PRC will continue to strengthen its economic and trading relationships
with foreign countries and business development in the PRC will follow market forces. While we believe that this trend will continue,
we cannot assure you that this will be the case. A change in policies by the PRC government could adversely affect our interests
by, among other factors: changes in laws, regulations or the interpretation thereof, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency
conversion, imports or sources of supplies, or the expropriation or nationalization of private enterprises. Although the PRC government
has been pursuing economic reform policies for more than two decades, we cannot assure you that the government will continue to
pursue such policies or that such policies may not be significantly altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership,
social or political disruption, or other circumstances affecting the PRC’s political, economic and social environment.
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Uncertainties
with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
We
conduct all of our business through our subsidiaries in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations.
Our PRC subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular,
laws and regulations applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions
may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.
Since
1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments
in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently
cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because
of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and
regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules
(some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware
of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted
and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
Introduction
of new laws or changes to existing laws by the PRC government may adversely affect our business.
The
PRC legal system is a codified legal system made up of written laws, regulations, circulars, administrative directives and internal
guidelines. Unlike common law jurisdictions like the U.S., decided cases (which may be taken as reference) do not form part of
the legal structure of the PRC and thus have no binding effect on subsequent cases with similar issues and fact patterns. Furthermore,
in line with its transformation from a centrally planned economy to a relatively free market economy, the PRC government is still
in the process of developing a comprehensive set of laws and regulations. As the legal system in the PRC is still evolving, laws
and regulations or the interpretation of the same may be subject to further changes. For example, the PRC government may impose
restrictions on the amount of service fees that may be payable by municipal governments to wastewater and sludge treatment service
providers. Also, the PRC central and municipal governments may impose more stringent environmental regulations which would affect
our ability to comply with, or our costs to comply with, such regulations. Such changes, if implemented, may adversely affect
our business operations and may reduce our profitability
We
may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and any determination that we violated the foreign corrupt
practices act could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We
are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, or FCPA, and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments
to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute for the
purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We will have operations, agreements with third parties and make sales in the PRC,
which may experience corruption. Our proposed activities in the PRC create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments
by one of the employees, consultants, or sales agents of our Company, because these parties are not always subject to our control.
It is our policy to implement safeguards to discourage these practices by our employees. Also, our existing safeguards
and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the employees, consultants, or sales agents of our Company
may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions,
and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
In addition, the government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies
in which we invest or that we acquire.
You
may have difficulty enforcing judgments against us.
We
are a Nevada corporation but most of our assets are and will be located outside of the United States. Almost all our operations
are conducted in the PRC. In addition, most of our officers and directors are the nationals and residents of a country other than
the United States. Most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect
service of process within the United States upon them. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts judgments on
the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors, since he or she
is not a resident in the United States. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC or other jurisdictions
would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts.
Chinese
economic growth slowdown may have a negative effect on our business.
Since
2014, Chinese economic growth has been slowing down from double-digit GDP speed. The annual rate of growth declined from 7.3%
in 2014 to 6.9% in 2015, to 6.7% in 2016, to 6.9% in 2017, to 6.6% in 2018, and to 6.1% in 2019. Due to the impact of COVID-19,
China’s economic growth rate in 2020 has slowed to 2.3%, its lowest level in years. While technology-based financial services
companies have not been affected by the pandemic on the same level as companies in certain other industries, nevertheless a slow
economic growth could adversely affect many of our customers and partners, which in turn may materially adversely affect our financial
condition and results of operations.
Under
the Enterprise Income Tax 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 stockholders.
China
passed an Enterprise Income Tax Law (the “EIT Law”) and implementing rules, both of which became effective on January
1, 2008. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with “de facto management bodies” within China
is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise
for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and
overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise.
On
April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation of China issued the Notice Concerning Relevant Issues Regarding Cognizance
of Chinese Investment Controlled Enterprises Incorporated Offshore as Resident Enterprises pursuant to Criteria of de facto Management
Bodies, or the Notice, further interpreting the application of the EIT Law and its implementation to offshore entities controlled
by a Chinese enterprise or group. Pursuant to the Notice, an enterprise incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction and controlled
by a Chinese enterprise or group will be classified as a “non-domestically incorporated resident enterprise” if (i)
its senior management in charge of daily operations reside or perform their duties mainly in China; (ii) its financial or personnel
decisions are made or approved by bodies or persons in China; (iii) its substantial assets and properties, accounting books, corporate
stamps, board and stockholder minutes are kept in China; and (iv) at least half of its directors with voting rights or senior
management are often resident in China. A resident enterprise would be subject to an enterprise income tax rate of 25% on its
worldwide income and must pay a withholding tax at a rate of 10% when paying dividends to its non-PRC stockholders.
19
FVTI
does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled
offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of the Notice, so we believe the Notice is not applicable to us. However,
in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in the Notice to evaluate the
tax residence status of FVTI.
We
do not believe that we meet some of the conditions outlined. As a holding company, the key assets and records of FVTI including
the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are
located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure
similar to ours that have been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe
that FVTI should not be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for “de facto
management body” as set forth in the Notice were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise
is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term
“de facto management body” as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status.
If
the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number
of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our
worldwide taxable income as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In our case, this would mean that income
such as non-China source income would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Currently, we do not have any
non-China source income, so this would have minimal effect on us; however, if we develop non-China source income in the future,
we could be adversely affected. Second, under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries
would qualify as “tax-exempt income.” Finally, it is possible that future guidance issued with respect to the new
“resident enterprise” classification could result in a situation in which a 10% withholding tax is imposed on dividends
we pay to our non-PRC stockholders and with respect to gains derived by our non-PRC stockholders from transferring our shares.
If we were treated as a “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities, we would be subject to taxation in both
the U.S. and China, but our PRC source income will not be taxed in the U.S. again because the U.S.-China tax treaty will avoid
double taxation between these two nations.
PRC
regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies in PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the
proceeds of our securities offerings to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries, which
could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
In
the normal course of our business or in utilizing proceeds of any future securities offerings, we may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries
or may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries. Any loans to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to PRC regulations.
For example, loans by us to our subsidiaries in China, which are FIEs, to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits
and must be registered with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. Currently, China is holding more open and tolerant
attitude toward FIEs. More open rules and regulations are published in recent years to replace previous ones which are more restrictive.
On March 30 th , 2015, SAFE promulgated Circular 19 which is about Reforming the Management Approach regarding the
Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises) and effective since June 1, 2015. Circular 19
has made some important changes in rules regarding the conversion of foreign exchanges to RMB, which are as follows in particular:
(1)
Instead
of the payment-based exchange settlement system under previous Circular 142 and Circular 88, new rules of discretional foreign
exchange settlement have been established, which means the foreign exchange capital in the capital account of foreign-invested
enterprises for which the confirmation of rights and interests of monetary contribution by the local foreign exchange bureau
(or the book-entry registration of monetary contribution by the banks in accordance with Circular 13 as we mentioned in the
comment below) has been handled can be settled at the banks based on the actual operational needs of the enterprises, and
the proportion of foreign exchange which can be discretionally converted by each FIE is temporarily determined as 100% (SAFE
may adjust such scale as necessary). So regulation wise FIEs no longer needs to report the use of its RMB before or after
a conversion which are required by previous Circular 142 and Circular 88. However, actually SAFE and the banks are experiencing
a transitional period in this regard, so for the time being, most banks still need the FIEs to report their proposed use of
the RMB to be converted from foreign exchanges, as well as the actual use of the RMB obtained in the last conversion. Certainly,
the transitional period will not be too long and therefore optimistically from the year of 2016, the report obligation will
no longer be required.
(2)
Foreign
currency-denominated capital no longer needs to be verified by an accounting firm before converting into RMB.
(3)
As
stipulated in Circular 19, the use of capital by FIEs shall follow the principles of authenticity and self-use within the
business scope of enterprises, shall not be used for the following purposes:
a)
it
shall not be directly or indirectly used for the payment beyond the business scope of the enterprises or the payment prohibited
by national laws and regulations;
b)
it
shall not be directly or indirectly used for investment in securities unless otherwise provided by laws and regulations;
c)
it
shall not be directly or indirectly used for granting the entrust loans in RMB (unless permitted by the scope of business),
repaying the inter-enterprise borrowings (including advances by the third party) or repaying the bank loans in Renminbi that
have been sub-lent to the third party; and
d)
it
shall not be used for paying the expenses related to the purchase of real estate not for self-use, except for the foreign-invested
real estate enterprises.
On
May 10, 2013, SAFE released Circular 21, which came into effect on May 13, 2013; also, on February 13, 2015 SAFE published Circular
13 (Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Simplifying and Improving the Direct Investment-related
Foreign Exchange Administration Policies ) to update some measures stipulated in Circular 21. According to Circular 21, SAFE
has significantly simplified the foreign exchange administration procedures with respect to the registration, account openings
and conversions, settlements of FDI-related foreign exchange, as well as fund remittances. Meanwhile, Circular 13 has further
simplified foreign exchange administration procedures, most important among which is that SAFE delegated foreign exchange registration
to the banks, meanwhile the related registration approval by SAFE has been annulled.
20
Even
with more and more open policy toward FDI and FIEs, the Circulars mentioned above may still have some limit our ability to convert,
transfer and use the net proceeds from our securities offerings and any offering of additional equity securities in China, which
may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC.
We
may also decide to finance our subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be approved by
the Ministry of Commerce of China, or MOFCOM, or its local counterpart. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals
on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to receive
such approvals, we will not be able to use the proceeds of our offerings and capitalize our PRC operations, which could adversely
affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Governmental
control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.
The
PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance
of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, our income
will currently only be derived from dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency
may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us,
or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated obligations. 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 SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval
from appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China
to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion
restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents
us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign
currencies to our security-holders.
Fluctuations
in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities.
Changes
in the value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, Euro and other foreign currencies are affected by, among other things, changes
in China’s political and economic conditions. Any significant revaluation of the RMB may have a material adverse effect
on our revenues and financial condition, and the value of, and any dividends payable on our shares in U.S. dollar terms. For example,
to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from our securities offerings into RMB for our operations, appreciation
of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely,
if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of paying dividends on our common stock or for other business
purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to
us. In addition, fluctuations of the RMB against other currencies may increase or decrease the cost of imports and exports, and
thus affect the price-competitiveness of our products against products of foreign manufacturers or products relying on foreign
inputs.
Since
July 2005, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the
foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate
significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future PRC authorities
may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.
We
reflect the impact of currency translation adjustments in our financial statements under the heading “accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss).” For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had foreign currency translation gain of
$321,337 and $4,480, respectively. Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange
rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions. While we may enter into hedging transactions in
the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge
our exposure at all. In addition, our foreign currency exchange gains and losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations
that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currencies.
PRC
regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident
shareholders to penalties and limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’
ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise adversely affect us.
The
SAFE promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment
through Special Purpose Vehicles, or Notice 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or
its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas
investment or financing. In addition, such PRC residents or entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special
purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to material change of capitalization or structure of the PRC resident itself
(such as capital increase, capital reduction, share transfer or exchange, merger or spin off). On October 16, 2015, nine of our
shareholders who are Chinese residents completed the registration with SAFE under this Notice.
Failure
to comply with the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules relating to the overseas direct investment or the engagement in the issuance
or trading of securities overseas by our PRC resident stockholders may subject such stockholders to fines or other liabilities.
Other
than Notice 37, our ability to conduct foreign exchange activities in the PRC may be subject to the interpretation and enforcement
of the Implementation Rules of the Administrative Measures for Individual Foreign Exchange promulgated by SAFE in January 2007
(as amended and supplemented, the “Individual Foreign Exchange Rules”). Under the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules,
any PRC individual seeking to make a direct investment overseas or engage in the issuance or trading of negotiable securities
or derivatives overseas must make the appropriate registrations in accordance with SAFE provisions. PRC individuals who fail to
make such registrations may be subject to warnings, fines or other liabilities.
We
may not be fully informed of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. For example, because the investment
in or trading of our shares will happen in an overseas public or secondary market where shares are often held with brokers in
brokerage accounts, it is unlikely that we will know the identity of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. Furthermore,
we have no control over any of our future beneficial owners and we cannot assure you that such PRC residents will be able to complete
the necessary approval and registration procedures required by the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules.
21
It
is uncertain how the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules will be interpreted or enforced and whether such interpretation or enforcement
will affect our ability to conduct foreign exchange transactions. Because of this uncertainty, we cannot be sure whether the failure
by any of our PRC resident stockholders to make the required registration will subject our PRC subsidiaries to fines or legal
sanctions on their operations, delay or restriction on repatriation of proceeds of our securities offerings into the PRC, restriction
on remittance of dividends or other punitive actions that would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
There
are uncertainties under the PRC laws relating to the procedures for U.S. regulators to investigate and collect evidence from companies
located in the PRC.
Shareholder
claims that are common in the U.S., including securities law class actions and fraud claims, among other matters, generally are
difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other
obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect
to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities
regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such regulatory
cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States have not been efficient in the absence of mutual
and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, which became effective in March 2020,
or Article 177, the securities regulatory authority of the State Council may collaborate with securities regulatory authorities
of other countries or regions in order to monitor and oversee cross border securities activities. Article 177 further provides
that overseas securities regulatory authorities are not permitted to carry out investigation and evidence collection directly
within the territory of the PRC, and that any Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials
related to securities business activities to overseas agencies without prior consent of the securities regulatory authority of
the State Council and the competent departments of the State Council.
Our
principal business operations are conducted in the PRC. In the event that the U.S. regulators carry out investigations with respect
to our business and need to conduct investigation or collect evidence within the territory of the PRC, the U.S. regulators may
not be able to carry out such investigation or evidence collection directly in the PRC under the PRC laws. The U.S. regulators
may consider cross-border cooperation with securities regulatory authority of the PRC by way of judicial assistance, diplomatic
channels or regulatory cooperation mechanism established with the securities regulatory authority of the PRC. However, there can
be no assurance that the U.S. regulators could succeed in establishing such cross-border cooperation in a specific case or could
establish the cooperation in a timely manner. If U.S. regulators are unable to conduct such investigations, such U.S. regulators
may determine to suspend and ultimately delist our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market or choose to suspend or de-register
our SEC registration.
Newly
enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, recent regulatory actions taken by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, and proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq calling for additional and more stringent criteria
to be applied to China-based public companies could add uncertainties to our capital raising activities and compliance costs.
In
April 2020, the SEC then-Chairman, Jay Clayton, and PCAOB Chairman, William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff,
released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations
in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to
inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
In
May 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating
in a “Restrictive Market”, such as China, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management
or board of director for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant
or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
In
May 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA” or the “Act”)
requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified
reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s
auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national exchange.
In
August 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets (“PWG”) issued a Report on Protecting United
States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies. The Report made five recommendations designed to address risks
to investors in U.S. financial markets posed by the Chinese government’s failure to allow audit firms that are registered
with the PCAOB to comply with U.S. securities laws and investor protection requirements. Among the recommendations was advice
to enhance the listing standards of U.S. exchanges to require, as a condition of initial and continued exchange listing, PCAOB
access to main auditor work papers either directly or through co-audits.
22
On
December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HFCAA. On December 18, the HFCAA was signed into law. Among other
things, the HFCAA amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to require the SEC to prohibit the securities of foreign companies from
being traded on U.S. securities markets, if the company retains a foreign accounting firm that cannot be inspected or investigated
completely by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, beginning in 2021. The Act also requires foreign companies to make certain
disclosures about their ownership by governmental entities. The HFCAA requires the SEC to issue new rules within 90 days of the
enactment to implement the Act.
In
a statement issued on December 18, 2020, the SEC then-Chairman Clayton observed that the SEC staff’s proposal in response
to the PWG’s recommendations would substantially overlap with the Act. As a result, Clayton indicated that he had directed
the SEC staff to consider providing a single consolidated proposal for the SEC’s consideration on issues related to the
PCAOB’s access to audit work papers, exchange listing standards, and trading prohibitions.
On
March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements
of the HFCA Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual
report on Forms 10-K and other forms with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign
jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by
an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified
registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental
entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in a company’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements
of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.
The
lack of access to the audit work paper or other inspections prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control
procedures of the auditors based in China. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The
inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of those
accounting firms’ audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject
to the PCAOB inspections.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm that issued the audit reports on our financial statements, as an auditor of companies
that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant
to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess our auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards.
Our auditor is based on the U.S. and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis. However, the recent U.S. legislative
and regulatory developments as related to PRC companies listing or seeking to list stock on U.S. exchanges would add uncertainties
to the trading and price volatility of our stock. We cannot be certain whether SEC, FINRA or other U.S. regulatory authorities
would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures
and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, geographic reach, or sufficiency of resources as it relates
to the audit of our financial statements.
Additional
factors outside of our control related to doing business in China could negatively affect our business.
Additional
factors that could negatively affect our business include a potential significant revaluation of the Renminbi, which may result
in an increase in the cost of commodity or products in the PRC supply chain industry, labor shortages and increases in labor costs
in China as well as difficulties in moving products manufactured in China out of the country, whether due to infrastructure inadequacy,
labor disputes, slowdowns, PRC regulations and/or other factors. Prolonged disputes or slowdowns can negatively impact both the
time and cost of goods. Natural disasters or health pandemics impacting China can also have a significant negative impact on our
business. Further, the imposition of trade sanctions or other regulations against products supplied or sold in the supply chain
industry transactions for which we provide solutions or the loss of “normal trade relations” status with China could
significantly affect our operating results and harm our business.
Payment
of dividends is subject to restrictions under Nevada and the PRC laws.
Under
Nevada law, we may only pay dividends subject to our ability to service our debts as they become due and provided that our assets
will exceed our liabilities after the payment of such dividends. Our ability to pay dividends will therefore depend on our ability
to generate adequate profits. In addition, because of a variety of rules applicable to our operations in the PRC and the regulations
on foreign investments as well as the applicable tax law, we may be subject to further limitations on our ability to declare and
pay dividends to our shareholders.
We
can give no assurance that we will declare dividends of any amounts, at any rate or at all in the future. The declaration of future
dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our future operations and earnings,
capital requirements, general financial conditions, legal and contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors
may deem relevant.
23
Risks
Related to our Common Stock
Our
shares may not develop an active trading market and the price and trading volume of our shares may fluctuate significantly.
Our
shares of common stock are listed for quotation on the OTC Pink Marketplace. Previously our common stock traded on the OTCQB marketplace
but were removed because it failed to maintain a freely traded public float of at least 10% of the total shares issued and outstanding
of the class of security that traded on the OTCQB. We cannot predict whether we will be able to address this requirement to return
to the OTCQB or whether investor interest in us will lead to the development of an active and liquid trading market. In addition,
no assurances can be given regarding when, and if, we will eventually be able to list on a national exchange, including whether
or not we will be able to meet applicable listing standards for any such exchange. If an active trading market does not develop,
holders of our shares of common stock may have difficulty selling our shares that may now be owned or may be purchased later.
In addition, until we are able to be listed on a national exchange, the number of investors willing to hold or acquire our shares
may be reduced, we may receive decreased news and analyst coverage and we may be limited in our ability to issue additional securities
or obtain additional financing in the future on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Even if an active trading market develops for
our shares, the market price of our shares may be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations. In addition, the
trading volume of our shares may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur.
Future
sales of substantial amounts of the shares of our Common Stock by existing shareholders could adversely affect the price
of our Common Stock.
If
our existing shareholders sell substantial amounts of the shares, then the market price of our Common Stock could fall. Such sales
by our existing shareholders might make it more difficult for us to issue new equity or equity-related securities in the future
at a time and place we deem appropriate. If any existing shareholders sell substantial amounts of shares, the prevailing market
price for our shares could be adversely affected.
The
market price of our shares is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors such as:
●
variations
in our actual and perceived operating results;
●
news
regarding gains or losses of customers or partners by us or our competitors;
●
news
regarding gains or losses of key personnel by us or our competitors;
●
announcements
of competitive developments, acquisitions or strategic alliances in our industry by us or our competitors;
●
changes
in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by financial analysts;
●
potential
litigation;
●
general
market conditions or other developments affecting us or our industry; and
●
the
operating and stock price performance of other companies, other industries and other events or factors beyond our control.
In
addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related
to the operating performance of certain companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market
price of the shares.
In
case that our shares trade under $5.00 per share they will be considered penny stock. Trading in penny stocks has many restrictions
and these restrictions could severely affect the price and liquidity of our shares.
If
our stock trades below $5.00 per share, our stock would be known as a “penny stock”, which is subject to various regulations
involving disclosures to be given to you prior to the purchase of any penny stock. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) has adopted regulations which generally define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that
has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Depending on market fluctuations, our Common Stock
would be considered as a “penny stock”. A penny stock is subject to rules that impose additional sales practice requirements
on broker/dealers who sell these securities to persons other than established Members and accredited investors. For transactions
covered by these rules, the broker/dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchase of these securities.
In addition, he must receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the purchase. He must also provide
certain written disclosures to the purchaser. Consequently, the “penny stock” rules may restrict the ability of broker/dealers
to sell our securities and may negatively affect the ability of holders of shares of our Common Stock to resell them. These disclosures
require you to acknowledge that you understand the risks associated with buying penny stocks and that you can absorb the loss
of your entire investment. Penny stocks are low priced securities that do not have a very high trading volume. Consequently, the
price of the stocks is often volatile, and you may not be able to buy or sell the stock when you want to.
We
do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
We
do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Presently, we intend to retain all our earnings, if any, to
finance development and expansion of our business. Consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a positive return on your investment
in us will be if the market price of our Common Stock appreciates.
Together,
our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yumin Lin, and our Director, Mr. Minghua Cheng, own a large percentage of our outstanding stock
and could significantly influence the outcome of our corporate matters.
Mr.
Yumin Lin, our CEO, beneficially owns 37.28% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, and Mr. Minghua Cheng, our Director, beneficially
owns 48.65% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock. As a result, Messrs. Yumin Lin and Minghua Cheng are collectively
able to exercise significant influence over all matters that require us to obtain shareholder approval, including the election
of directors to our board and approval of significant corporate transactions that we may consider, such as a merger or other sale
of our company or its assets. This concentration of ownership in our shares by executive officers will limit other shareholders’
ability to influence corporate matters and may have the effect of delaying or preventing a third party from acquiring control
over us.
24
The
price of our common stock may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and stockholders may not be
able to resell their shares.
The
trading price for our common stock has fluctuated since our common stock was first quoted on OTCQB. After our common stock became
quoted on OTCQB, the trading price of our stock has ranged from under $1.0 to $2.05 per share on December 31, 2020, and the last
reported on the OTC Pink Marketplace on April 13, 2021 was $5.13 per share. The market price of our stock may fluctuate significantly
in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
●
actual
or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue and other operating results;
●
the
financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections;
●
actions
of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts
who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;
●
announcements
by us or our competitors of significant products, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments;
●
price
and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole;
●
lawsuits
threatened or filed against us; and
●
other
events or factors, including those resulting from health pandemics, war or incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events.
In
addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the
market prices of securities of many companies. Stock prices of many companies have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate
to the operating performance of those companies.
Provisions
in the Nevada Revised Statutes and our Bylaws could make it very difficult for an investor to bring any legal actions against
our directors or officers for violations of their fiduciary duties or could require us to pay any amounts incurred by our directors
or officers in any such actions.
Members
of our board of directors and our officers will have no liability for breaches of their fiduciary duty of care as a director or
officer, except in limited circumstances, pursuant to provisions in the Nevada Revised Statutes and our Bylaws as authorized by
the Nevada Revised Statutes. Specifically, Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a director or officer is
not individually liable to the company or its shareholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act
in his or her capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that (1) the director’s or officer’s act or failure
to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer and (2) his or her breach of those duties
involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. This provision is intended to afford directors and officers
protection against and to limit their potential liability for monetary damages resulting from suits alleging a breach of the duty
of care by a director or officer. Accordingly, you may be unable to prevail in a legal action against our directors or officers
even if they have breached their fiduciary duty of care. In addition, we are allowed to indemnify our directors and officers from
and against any and all costs, charges and expenses resulting from their acting in such capacities with us. If you were able to
enforce an action against our directors or officers, in all likelihood, we would be required to pay any expenses they incurred
in defending the lawsuit and any judgment or settlement they otherwise would be required to pay. Accordingly, our indemnification
obligations could divert needed financial resources and may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows, and adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock.
If
we continue to be unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, investors
may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and investors may lose the value of their investment.
As
a public company, we are required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses
in such internal control. In addition, we have been required to furnish a report by management on the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If we continue to identify material weaknesses
in our internal control over financial reporting, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely
manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting
firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting when required, investors
may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the price of our stock could be negatively affected,
and we could become subject to investigations by the SEC, FINRA or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional
financial and management resources.
25
The
requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and divert management’s attention.
As
a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange
Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the listing requirements of the securities exchange on which we list, and other
applicable securities rules and regulations. Despite recent reforms made possible by the JOBS Act, compliance with these rules
and regulations will nonetheless increase our management, legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult,
time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging
growth company.” The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, semiannual, and current reports with
respect to our business and operating results.
As
a result of disclosure of information in this annual report, periodic reports, current reports and in other filings required of
a public company, our business and financial condition are more visible, which we believe may result in threatened or actual litigation,
including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and operating results could be harmed,
and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary
to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and adversely affect our business, brand and reputation and results
of operations.
We
also expect that being a public company and these new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director
and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain
coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors,
particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.
We
incur increased costs as a result of being a public company.
As
a public company, we incur legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we must
now engage U.S. securities law counsel and U.S. GAAP auditors that we did not require as a private company, and we will have annual
payments for listing on a stock exchange if we are so listed. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as new rules subsequently
implemented by the SEC and NASDAQ, has required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. We expect these
new rules and regulations to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and to make certain corporate activities
more time-consuming and costly. In addition, we incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements.
While it is impossible to determine the amounts of such expenses in advance, we expect that we will incur additional expenses
of between $500,000 and $1 million per year that we did not experience as a private company.
Item
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not
applicable.