Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item
1A. Risk Factors
Investing
in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making any investment decision, you should consider carefully the following
risks and other information in this report, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes. The risks and uncertainties
we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of or that we believe are not material
at the time could also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In any case, the value
of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Please also see the section entitled “Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks
Related to Our Business and Industry
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, 2023 and 2022, we generated $4,236,565 and $9,234,079, respectively,
in revenues, and had net loss of $3,637,351 and $2,156,679, 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.
We have a history of operating losses, and continued
future operating losses would have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern.
We had net operating losses of approximately $4.3
million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There can be no assurance that we will have net
income in future periods. Our history of operating losses and our projections of the level of capital that will be required for our future
expanded operations may impair our ability to grow our business at the level we desire. If in the future we continue to incur operating
losses or are unable to obtain the requisite amount of capital needed to fund our planned operations, it could have a material adverse
effect on our business and ability to continue as a going concern.
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
Our
food and beverage supply chain business continue 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 transaction volume,
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.
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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 first emerged 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.
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 are 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.
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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.
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 increasing 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.
Supply
chain issues that increase our costs or cause a delay in our ability to fulfill orders, could have an adverse impact on our business
and operating results, and our failure to estimate customer demand properly may result in excess or obsolete product supply, which could
adversely affect our gross margins.
With
the exception of some of the bottled water products, we do not own or operate production facilities but instead rely on third party vendors
to manufacture our products, and we expect that we will continue to rely on existing and new suppliers and manufacturers for the foreseeable
future. The following reliance issues could have an adverse impact on the supply of our products and on our business and operating results:
●
Any financial or other
supply problems of our contract suppliers or manufacturers could limit supply or increase costs; and
●
Reservation of production
capacity at our suppliers or contract manufacturers by other companies could limit supply or increase costs.
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In
addition, the following supply chain-related issues could adversely affect our customer relationships, operating results and financial
condition:
●
a reduction or interruption
in supply of one or more products;
●
a significant increase
in the price of one or more products;
●
a failure to adequately
procure inventory by our suppliers or manufacturers; and
●
a failure to appropriately
cancel, reschedule or adjust our requirements based on our business needs.
We
do not have long term contractual commitments with our retail customers and some distributors, 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.
If
any customer accounts for a significant portion of our revenue in our operation, the loss of any such customers or a material decline
in the transaction would have an adverse effect on our operating results
Our
customers can be categorized into retailer customers and wholesale distributors. Management’s strategies to avoid customer concentration
is expanding the customers base by launching wider range of products while developing new customers with existing products. For the years
ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no customer who accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue. Avoiding
customers concentration issues is always one of our marketing strategies. However, no guarantee could be made that such wide range of
client base can always be maintained. If the concentration on customers occurs in our future operations, any decline in such customers’
transaction volume would lower our revenues, which would adversely affect our operating results, of course, avoiding customer concentration
is one of our core marketing strategy, we will strife to maintain the wide range of customers base.
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-alcohol and alcohol 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.
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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 34 independent suppliers.
Our ability to attract and maintain effective relationships with our suppliers, and other third parties for the production and delivery
of our food and beverage products in a geographic distribution area is important to the success of our operations within each distribution
area. Our suppliers 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 suppliers or establish satisfactory
relationships with new or replacement suppliers, whether in existing or new geographic distribution areas. The failure to establish and
maintain effective relationships with suppliers or product manufacturers for a distribution area could increase our product supply costs
and thereby materially reduce profits realized from the sale of our products in that area. In addition, poor relations with any of our
suppliers or product manufacturers could adversely affect the amount and timing of product delivered to our distributors and consumers,
which would in turn adversely affect our revenues and financial condition.
As
is customary in the food and beverage supply chain industry, we are expected to arrange for our product procurement needs sufficiently
in advance of anticipated requirements. We continually evaluate which of our suppliers to utilize based on the cost structure and forecasted
demand for the geographic area where our suppliers or product manufacturers are located. To the extent demand for our products exceeds
available inventory, or orders are not submitted on a timely basis, we will be unable to fulfill distributor orders on demand. Conversely,
we may order more products 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 supply requirements may impair relationships with our 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.
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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.
If
we are unable to manage our inventory effectively, our operating results could be adversely affected.
Our
business requires us to manage inventory effectively. For many products, we depend on our forecasts of demand for and popularity of various
products to make purchase decisions and to manage our inventory. Demand for products, however, can change between the time inventory
is ordered and the date of sale. Demand may be affected by, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in product pricing, promotions,
changes in consumer spending patterns, changes in consumer tastes with respect to our products and other factors, and our consumers may
not purchase products in the quantities that we expect.
It
may be difficult to accurately forecast demand and determine appropriate levels of product supply. We generally do not have the right
to return unsold products to our suppliers. If we fail to manage our inventory effectively, we may be subject to a heightened risk of
inventory obsolescence, a decline in inventory values, and inventory write-downs or write-offs. In addition, if we may be required to
lower sale prices in order to reduce inventory levels, our profit margins might be negatively affected. In addition, our ability to meet
customer demand may be negatively impacted by a shortage in inventory due to reduced inventory purchases or disruptions in the supply
chain due to a number of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Any failure to manage or accurately forecast demand for our products
could adversely affect inventory levels, growth and operating results.
If
we fail to effectively manage our product storage or turnovers, the quality and freshness of our products could suffer and our operating
results could be adversely affected.
We
are subject to risks affecting the food industry generally, including food spoilage, contamination or expiration. In managing our product
storage and inventory turnovers, we seek to improve supply chain efficiency, while closely monitor the quality and freshness of food
products and effectively reduce inventory losses. While we believe food spoilage or contamination currently does not have a significant
impact on our operations, there is no guarantee that our inventory management will always be able to effectively control or reduce contamination
or inventory losses of certain products which may be unsuitable for human consumption after a certain period of time, such as seasonings
or edible oil products. Our temperature-controlled storage and transportation systems could fail to function properly and product contamination
could occur. Failures to maintain freshness and safety of our products could negatively impact sales and accordingly have an adverse
impact on our business and results of operations.
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 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. 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 E-Commerce growth strategy.
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We
are exposed to risks associated with the distribution of products manufactured by third parties.
We
purchase almost all of our products from third-party suppliers, such as wineries, wine and drinking water 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.
Climate change, or legal, regulatory or market
responses to climate change may adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition
There has been an increased focus by governments,
non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders on environmental sustainability matters including climate change. There is an emerging
scientific consensus on climate change with respect to the frequency and severity of storms, floods and other weather events. Our product
suppliers and their raw material providers could be adversely affected by extreme weather events, which in turn could negatively affect
the supply of the products our subsidiaries sell.
Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to various PRC national and local environmental
regulations and requirements. Compliance with existing and new environmental regulations requires substantial resources. Changes in environmental
and climate related laws or regulations could lead to additional operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon our subsidiaries,
their products or services, or otherwise could negatively impact our business. We may experience future increases in the costs associated
with environmental regulatory compliance to meet environmental regulatory and other compliance requirements, all of which could adversely
affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
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.
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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 eleven major suppliers and food and non-alcohol beverage products from twenty-three 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.
We
may be unable to obtain or renew required permits, licenses or approvals necessary for our business operations, and could be imposed
with fines and penalties for any violations of the license requirements.
We
are required to maintain certain permits, licenses and approvals issued by relevant government agencies to operate business in the PRC.
Our inability to secure any permits, licenses and approvals in the PRC in a timely manner or at all could result in operational delays,
suspensions and/or administrative fines and penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, results of operations
and financial condition.
The
Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC issued by the State Council of the PRC, as amended, provide the general framework for the provision
of telecommunication services by PRC companies and require a telecommunication service provider in China to obtain an operating license
from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, or its provincial counterparts, prior to commencement of operations.
Our subsidiary, FVT Supply Chain, engages in food, beverage and related product purchases and sales via its online platform. As a provider
of online data processing and transaction processing services, FVT Supply Chain is required to obtain a license issued by the relevant
telecommunications administrative authorities and has applied for an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) certificate. The online platform
run by FVT Supply Chain was registered and established on August 14, 2019 and put into operations in April 2021. FVT Supply Chain obtained
the EDI License on September 30, 2021. Prior to receiving the License, the company was not qualified to operate value-added telecommunication
services for several months. Under the Telecommunication Regulation of the People’s Republic of China (2016 Revision), we could
be subject to fines and penalties and the income generated before receiving the EDI License could be confiscated. Since our online platform
was in the test phase before we obtained the EDI License and income from the platform operations was very small, and we have not received
any notice of warning or penalty from the administration agency, we believe that such fines and penalties, if imposed, would not have
a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
Pursuant
to the Measures for the Administration of Food Business Licenses, businesses engaged in food operations activities without a food business
license are subject to penalties imposed under the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China. The Food Safety Law provides,
among other things, that any person engages in food production and business activities without a food production and business license
shall be subject to confiscation of illegal income and tools, equipment, and other items used in illegal production and operation, and
be subject to fines and penalties as set forth in the applicable provisions. Therefore, companies that carry out food related operations
before obtaining food business licenses are at risk of being subject to administrative penalties. Our subsidiary, Xixingdao and some
of its subsidiaries, had engaged in certain food purchase and sale activities before obtaining their food business licenses. We cannot
assure you that the relevant administrative agencies will not impose fines and penalties for our prior sale should they decide to enforce
the above PRC license requirements for prior violations. Should our subsidiaries be required to pay fines or penalties, our results of
operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
In
addition, there is no assurance that we will be able to renew any existing permits, licenses and approvals when they expire or that we
will be able to obtain or renew future permits, licenses and approvals in a timely manner, or at all. Further, there can be no assurance
that such permits, licenses or approvals will not be revoked for whatever reason by the relevant authorities in the future. Failure to
obtain or renew such permits, licenses and approvals as planned could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
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We
may be subject to penalties under relevant PRC laws and regulations due to failure to make full social security and housing fund contributions
for our employees.
Our
PRC subsidiaries have not made full contribution to the social security and housing funds for some or all of their employees as required
by the relevant social security and housing fund regulations. Pursuant to the Regulation on the Administration of Housing Accumulation
Funds, as amended in 2019, the relevant housing fund authority may order an enterprise to pay outstanding contributions within a prescribed
time limit. Pursuant to the PRC Social Insurance Law promulgated in 2010 and amended in 2018, the social security authority may order
an enterprise to pay the outstanding contributions within a prescribed time limit and may impose penalties if there is a failure to do
so. To the extent the relevant authorities determine we have not paid or underpaid, our PRC subsidiaries may be required to pay outstanding
contributions and penalties to the extent they did not make full contributions to the social security and housing funds.
In
addition, in July 2018, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State
Council jointly issued the Reform Plan of the Taxation and Collection Systems of National Taxes and Local Taxes, which states that, effective
January 1, 2019, basic pension insurance premiums, basic medical insurance premiums, unemployment insurance premiums, injury insurance
premiums and maternity insurance premiums shall be levied by the tax authorities. Under the new system, tax collection is likely to be
stringently administrated and enforced.
As
of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of unpaid social security and housing fund contributions is approximately RMB 899,940 (approximately
$135,985) and the amount of potential penalties, if levied, is estimated to be RMB 133,460 (approximately $20,187). Due to the fact that
the payment of social security and housing accumulation funds will reduce the net amounts of the employees’ wages, after consulting
with and receiving voluntary waivers from those employees, our PRC subsidiaries decided not to pay social security and housing accumulation
funds for those employees in full. As of the date of this report, we have not had any complaints, investigations, lawsuits and arbitration
proceedings brought against us by our employees or PRC authorities. In addition, according to the Enterprise Credit Report issued by
the government, our subsidiaries are in good standing and have not been warned or administratively penalized for failing to pay social
security and housing accumulation funds. Our PRC subsidiaries intend to pay the full social security and housing accumulation funds for
employees according to the laws and regulations. With respect to the previously unpaid social security and housing funds of our PRC subsidiaries,
one of our major shareholders, Yumin Lin, has provided a personal guarantee that, if the subsidiaries incur any losses due to our subsidiaries’
failure to pay full contributions, he would be jointly liable for the payment to compensate any losses the Company may incur. For the
reasons stated above, we don’t believe that our subsidiaries’ business and operations would be materially adversely affected
by previous nonpayment of full social security and housing accumulation fund contributions. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that
our subsidiaries will not be required to pay all of the previously delinquent social insurance and housing fund contribution amounts
and associated administrative penalties or that any financial losses our subsidiaries may suffer will actually be borne by Mr. Lin through
his personal guarantee.
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.
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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.
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, future cyberattacks, computer viruses or any failure to adequately maintain
security and prevent unauthorized access to our information technology system or data could result in a disruption of our business operations
and 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.
61
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 food supply chain companies. 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.
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If
we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, it could harm our business and competitive position.
We
rely on a combination of trademark, trade secret laws, non-disclosure agreements and other methods to protect our intellectual property
rights. We own a number of trademarks, copyrights and Internet domain names in China, most of which have been properly registered with
regulatory agencies such as the State Intellectual Property Office and Trademark Office. Some of the trademarks that are being used by
our subsidiary, Xixingdao, are owned by Mr. Yuwen Li, one of our shareholders, who has authorized us to use these trademarks. Based on
our agreement with Mr. Li, the ownership to those trademarks is in the process of being transferred to us from Mr. Li at no cost to us,
and we expect to own those trademarks upon completion of the registration process at the regulatory agencies. Our intellectual property
has allowed our products to earn market share in the food supply chain industry.
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.
63
We
may not maintain sufficient insurance coverage for the risks associated with our business operations. As a result, we may incur uninsured
losses.
We
do not have any 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.
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.
64
Risks
Related to Doing Business in China
China’s
political climate and economic conditions, as well as changes in government policies, laws and regulations which may be quick with little
advance notice, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal
developments in China. For example, as a result of recent proposed changes in the cybersecurity regulations in China that would require
certain Chinese technology firms to undergo a cybersecurity review before being allowed to list on foreign exchanges, this may have the
effect of further narrowing the list of potential businesses in China’s consumer, technology and mobility sectors that we intend
to focus on for our business combination or the ability of the combined entity to list in the United States.
China’s
economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level
of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant
growth in the past two to three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Demand
for target services and products depends, in large part, on economic conditions in China. Any slowdown in China’s economic growth
may cause our potential customers to delay or cancel their plans to purchase our services and products, which in turn could reduce our
net revenues.
Although
China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy since the late 1970s, the PRC government
continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises
significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling the incurrence and payment of foreign
currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations may be quick with little advance notice and could adversely affect the economy
in China and could have a material adverse effect on our business and the value of our common stock.
The
PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage foreign investment and sustainable economic growth and to guide the allocation
of financial and other resources. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not repeal or alter these measures or introduce
new measures that will have a negative effect on us, or more specifically, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not initiate
possible governmental actions or scrutiny to us, which could substantially affect our operation and the value of our common stock may
depreciate quickly. China’s social and political conditions may change and become unstable. Any sudden changes to China’s
political system or the occurrence of widespread social unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Uncertainties
in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available
to us and our investors, and rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice. Such uncertainties could cause
our shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
We
conduct substantially 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 of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding
nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities
have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate
the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment
on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, these regulatory
uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from
us.
65
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 change quickly with little advance notice or 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. On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party
of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued a document to enhance its enforcement against illegal
activities in the securities markets and promote the high-quality development of capital markets, which, among other things, requires
the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision
over Chinese companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the Chinese securities
laws. Since this document is relatively new, uncertainties exist as to how soon legislative or administrative regulation-making bodies
will respond and what existing or new laws, regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated
or mo and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on companies like us. It is especially difficult for
us to accurately predict the potential impact on us of new legal requirements in mainland China because the Chinese legal system is a
civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited
for reference but have limited precedential value.
Such
uncertainties, including any inability to enforce our contracts, together with any development or interpretation of PRC law that is adverse
to us, could materially and adversely affect our business and operations. Furthermore, intellectual property rights and confidentiality
protections in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other more developed countries. We cannot predict the effect
of future developments in the PRC legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation
or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections
available to us and our investors, including you. Such uncertainties could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline
or be worthless.
The
Chinese government may intervene or influence the operation of our PRC subsidiaries and exercise significant oversight and discretion
over the conduct of their business and may intervene in or influence their operations at any time, or may exert more control over securities
offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in operations
of our PRC subsidiaries and/or the value of our common stock.
The
Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through
regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those
relating to securities regulation, data protection, cybersecurity and mergers and acquisitions and other matters. The central or local
governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require
additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations.
Government
actions in the future could significantly affect economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to
materially change our operating activities or divest ourselves of any interests we hold in Chinese assets. Our business may be subject
to various government and regulatory interference in the areas in which we operate. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply
with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. Our operations could be adversely affected,
directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.
Given
recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted
overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability
to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
66
Recently,
the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued
the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions, which was made available to
the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and
the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction
of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-based overseas listed companies. As of the
date of this report, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions from PRC government authorities in connection with
the Opinions.
On
June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, or the SCNPC, promulgated the Data Security Law,
which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals
carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data
in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights
and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC
Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes
export restrictions on certain data an information. The law provides for privacy obligations of entities and individuals carrying out
data activities, prohibits entities and individuals in China from providing any foreign judicial or law enforcement authority with any
data stored in China without approval from the competent PRC authority, and sets forth the legal liabilities of entities and individuals
found to be in violation of their data protection obligations, including rectification order, warning, fines of up to RMB10 million,
suspension of relevant business, and revocation of business permits or licenses.
In
early July 2021, regulatory authorities in China launched cybersecurity investigations with regard to several China-based companies that
are listed in the United States. The Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2 that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global
Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. On July 5, 2021, the
Chinese cybersecurity regulator launched the same investigation on two other Internet platforms, China’s Full Truck Alliance of
Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) and Boss of KANZHUN LIMITED (Nasdaq: BZ). On July 24, 2021, the General Office of the Communist
Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the Guidelines for Further Easing the Burden
of Excessive Homework and Off-campus Tutoring for Students at the Stage of Compulsory Education, pursuant to which foreign investment
in such firms via mergers and acquisitions, franchise development, and variable interest entities are banned from that sector.
On
July 10, 2021, the CAC released the Cybersecurity Review Measures (Revised Draft for Solicitation of Comments), or the Revised Cybersecurity
Measures, pursuant to which operator holding more than one million users/users’ (which is to be further specified) individual information
shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. The cybersecurity review will evaluate, among others, the risk of critical
information infrastructure, core data, important data, or a large amount of personal information being influenced, controlled or maliciously
used by foreign governments after going public overseas. The procurement of network products and services, data processing activities
and overseas listing should also be subject to cybersecurity review if they concern or potentially pose risks to national security. According
to the effective Cybersecurity Review Measures, online platform/website operators of certain industries may be identified as critical
information infrastructure operators by the CAC, once they meet standard as stated in the National Cybersecurity Inspection Operation
Guide, and such operators may be subject to cybersecurity review. The scope of business operations and financing activities that are
subject to the Revised Cybersecurity Measures and the implementation thereof is not yet clear. As of the date of this report, we have
not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we file for approval in connection with an offering of our
common stock.
On
August 17, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure,
or the Regulations, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Regulations supplement and specify the provisions on the security of
critical information infrastructure as stated in the Cybersecurity Review Measures. The Regulations provide, among others, that protection
department of certain industry or sector shall notify the operator of the critical information infrastructure in time after the identification
of certain critical information infrastructure.
67
On
August 20, 2021, the SCNPC adopted the Personal Information Security Law, which took effect on November 1, 2021. The Personal Information
Protection Law includes the basic rules for personal information processing, the rules for cross-border provision of personal information,
the rights of individuals in personal information processing activities, the obligations of personal information processors, and the
legal responsibilities for illegal collection, processing, and use of personal information. As the first systematic and comprehensive
law specifically for the protection of personal information in the PRC, the Personal Information Protection Law provides, among others,
that (i) an individual’s consent shall be obtained to use sensitive personal information, such as biometric characteristics and
individual location tracking, (ii) personal information operators using sensitive personal information shall notify individuals of the
necessity of such use and impact on the individual’s rights, and (iii) where personal information operators reject an individual’s
request to exercise his or her rights, the individual may file a lawsuit with a People’s Court.
On
December 28, 2021, the CAC, NDRC, and other government agencies jointly issued the Revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review Measures,
or the Revised Cybersecurity Measures, which will take effect and replace the previously issued Revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review
on February 15, 2022. Under the Revised Cybersecurity Measures, an “online platform operator” in possession of personal data
of more than one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review if it intends to list its securities on a foreign stock exchange.
The operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and the online platform operators (together
with the operators of critical information infrastructure, the “Operators”) carrying out data processing activities that
affect or may affect national security, shall conduct a cybersecurity review, and any online platform operator who controls more than
one million users’ personal information must go through a cybersecurity review by the cybersecurity review office if it seeks to
be listed in a foreign country.
With
regard to the current effective data security management regulations, we don’t believe that we are required to conduct data security
review for listing overseas. However, according to the Regulations on Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comment), as an overseas
listed company, we will be required to conduct an annual data security review and to comply with the relevant reporting obligations.
We have been closely monitoring the development in the regulatory landscape in China, particularly regarding the requirement of approvals,
including on a retrospective basis, from the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC authorities with respect to this offering, as well as regarding
any annual data security review or other procedures that may be imposed on us. If any approval, review or other procedure is in fact
required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such review or other procedure timely or at all.
For any approval that we may be able to obtain, it could nevertheless be revoked and the terms of its issuance may impose restrictions
on our operations and offerings relating to our securities. The regulatory requirements with respect to cybersecurity and data privacy
are constantly evolving and can be subject to varying interpretations, and significant changes, resulting in uncertainties about the
scope of our responsibilities in that regard. Failure to comply with the cybersecurity and data privacy requirements in a timely manner,
or at all, may subject us to government enforcement actions and investigations, fines, penalties, suspension or disruption of our operations,
among other things.
Given
that the above referenced laws, regulations and policies were recently promulgated or publicly released, their interpretation, application
and enforcement are subject to substantial uncertainties.
Recent
regulatory developments in China, including greater oversight and control by the CAC over data security, may subject us to additional
regulatory review, and any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over foreign investment in China-based
issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the
value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Recent
statements by the Chinese government have indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas
and/or foreign investments in China based issuers. The PRC government recently initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements
to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, among other things, including adopting new measures to extend the
scope of cybersecurity reviews, cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly
enforcement. The PRC government is increasingly focused on data security, recently launching cybersecurity review against a number of
mobile apps operated by several U.S.-listed Chinese companies and prohibiting these apps from registering new users during the review
period. We are subject to various risks and costs related to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential
and private information, such as personal information and other data. Such covered data is wide ranging and relates to our investors,
employees, contractors and other third parties. The relevant PRC laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers
of information between FVTI Nevada, offshore subsidiaries, our PRC subsidiaries, and other parties with which we have commercial relations.
68
The
PRC regulatory and enforcement regime with regard to privacy and data security is evolving. The PRC Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated
on November 7, 2016 and became effective on June 1, 2017, provides that personal information and important data collected and generated
by operators of critical information infrastructure in the course of their operations in the PRC should be stored in the PRC, and the
law imposes heightened regulation and additional security obligations on operators of critical information infrastructure.
On
July 10, 2021, the CAC issued the Revised Cybersecurity Measures for public comments. According to the Revised Cybersecurity Measures,
the scope of cybersecurity reviews is extended to data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may
affect national security. The Revised Cybersecurity Measures further require that any operator applying for listing on a foreign exchange
must go through cybersecurity review if it possesses personal information of more than one million users. A cybersecurity review assesses
potential national security risk that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The review focuses
on several factors, including, among others, (i) the risk of theft, leakage, corruption, illegal use or export of any core or important
data, or a large amount of personal information, and (ii) the risk of any critical information infrastructure, core or important data,
or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled or maliciously exploited by a foreign government after a company
is listed overseas.
On
November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Regulations of Internet Data Security Management (Draft for Comments), which further regulate
the internet data processing activities and emphasize the supervision and management of network data security, and further stipulate
the obligations of internet platform operators, such as to establish a system for disclosure of platform rules, privacy policies and
algorithmic strategies related to data. Specifically, the draft regulations require data processors to, among others, (i) adopt immediate
remediation measures when finding that network products and services they use or provide have security defects and vulnerabilities, or
threaten national security or endanger public interest, and (ii) follow a series of detailed requirements with respect to processing
of personal information, management of important data and proposed overseas transfer of data. In addition, the draft regulations require
data processors handling important data or the data processors to be listed overseas to complete an annual data security assessment and
file a data security assessment report to applicable regulators. Such annual assessment, as required by the draft regulations, would
encompass areas including, but not limited to, the status of important data processing, data security risks identified and the measures
adopted, the effectiveness of data protection measures, the implementation of national data security laws and regulations, data security
incidents that occurred and their handling, and a security assessment with respect to sharing and provision of important data overseas.
As of the date of this report, the draft regulations have been released for public comment only and have not been formally adopted. The
final provisions and the timeline for its adoption are subject to changes and uncertainties.
We
currently operate an online trading platform, primarily engaged in sales of products to our customers in China, where our customers can
register as members first, and then search for, purchase or sell any desired food and beverage products. Our online platform collects
and transmits product, supplier and customer information and data. Since our online trading platform has only been in operation for about
a year, we are in the process of studying the newly issued rules and regulations governing cybersecurity and data protection and the
industry best practice, as well as assessing the extent to which our information and data system is not in full compliance with the various
requirements under the newly proposed regulations. Based on the preliminary assessment, our management has determined that we are not
in full compliance with those new proposed rules. For example, we have not consistently informed users of the purpose, method and scope
of personal information and data collections and uses. We also have not fully implemented the measures designed by us to provide additional
security to personal information obtained and stored by us through our online platform. As of the date of this report, the proposed rules
have not been adopted and thus we are not subject to those requirements in the proposed rules. However, if the final rules are adopted
as proposed, we intend to fully comply with the requirements of the regulations.
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We
are committed to taking the necessary actions to satisfy the effective personal information protection and internet data security regulatory
requirements. We have designed a user information protection mechanism, which includes seven detailed personal information and data security
protection measures. We have implemented some of those measures while are in the process of completing the execution of others. We intend
to fully comply with the following requirements should the final rules are issued as proposed: (a) enter into user information collection,
storage and use rules and privacy agreements with all users, (b) fully inform users of the purpose, method and scope of personal information
and data collection, (c) provide channels for inquiring stored personal information and correcting inaccuracies in information and data,
and (d) remediate for violations of personal information and data security protection policies and guidelines, among other things.
On
December 28, 2021, the CAC, NDRC, and several other agencies jointly issued the final version of the Revised Measures for Cybersecurity
Review, or the Revised Cybersecurity Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022 and replaced the previously issued Revised Measures
for Cybersecurity Review. Under the Revised Cybersecurity Measures, an “online platform operator” in possession of personal
data of more than one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review if it intends to list its securities on a foreign stock exchange.
The operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and the online platform operators (together
with the operators of critical information infrastructure, the “Operators”) carrying out data processing activities that
affect or may affect national security, shall conduct a cybersecurity review, and any online platform operator who controls more than
one million users’ personal information must go through a cybersecurity review by the cybersecurity review office if it seeks to
be listed in a foreign country. Pursuant to the Revised Cybersecurity Measures, we don’t believe we will be subject to the cybersecurity
review by the CAC, given that (i) we possess personal information of a relatively small number of users (less than 12,000 users) in our
business operations as of the date of this report, significantly less than the one million user threshold set for a data processing operator
applying for listing on a foreign exchange that is required to pass such cybersecurity review; and (ii) data processed in our business
does not have a bearing on national security and thus shall not be classified as core or important data by the authorities. We don’t
believe that we are an Operator within the meaning of the Revised Cybersecurity Measures, nor do we control more than one million users’
personal information, and as such, we should not be required to apply for a cybersecurity review under the Revised Cybersecurity Measures.
However,
there remains uncertainty as to how the Revised Cybersecurity Measures may be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory
agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new rules and regulations related to the Revised Cybersecurity Measures. For example, there is
still no clear definition of “online platform operator”. Whether the data processing activities carried out by traditional
enterprises (such as food, medicine, manufacturing and merchandise sales enterprises) are subject to such review and the scope of the
review remain to be further clarified by the regulatory authorities in the subsequent implementation process. If any new laws, regulations,
implementation measures or interpretation are adopted, we may need to take further actions and invest resources to comply with such new
rules and to minimize any potential negative effects on us. In addition, if the number of our online platform users increases to a level
close to one million, we would expect to prepare for the required cybersecurity review procedure and approval from the PRC government.
Furthermore,
the CAC released the draft of the Regulations on Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comment) in November 2021 for public consultation,
which among other things, stipulates that a data processor listed overseas must conduct an annual data security review by itself or by
engaging a data security service provider and submit the annual data security review report for a given year to the municipal cybersecurity
department before January 31 of the following year. If the draft Regulations on Network Data Security Management are enacted in the current
form, we, as an overseas listed company, will be required to carry out an annual data security review and comply with the relevant reporting
obligations.
In
summary, with regard to the current effective data security management regulations, we don’t believe that we are required to conduct
data security review for listing overseas. However, according to the Regulations on Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comment),
as an overseas listed company, we will be required to conduct an annual data security review and to comply with the relevant reporting
obligations. We have been closely monitoring the development in the regulatory landscape in China, particularly regarding the requirement
of approvals, including on a retrospective basis, from the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC authorities with respect to this offering, as well
as regarding any annual data security review or other procedures that may be imposed on us. If any approval, review or other procedure
is in fact required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such review or other procedure timely
or at all. For any approval that we may be able to obtain, it could nevertheless be revoked and the terms of its issuance may impose
restrictions on our operations and offerings relating to our securities. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight
and control over foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue
to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
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The
regulatory requirements with respect to cybersecurity and data privacy are constantly evolving and can be subject to varying interpretations,
and significant changes, resulting in uncertainties about the scope of our responsibilities in that regard. Failure to comply with the
cybersecurity and data privacy requirements in a timely manner, or at all, may subject us to government enforcement actions and investigations,
fines, penalties, suspension or disruption of our operations, among other things.
Compliance
with the PRC Cybersecurity Law, the PRC National Security Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law, the Cybersecurity
Review Measures, as well as additional laws and regulations that PRC regulatory bodies may enact in the future, may result in additional
expenses to us and subject us to negative publicity, which could harm our reputation among users and negatively affect the trading price
of our shares in the future. There are also uncertainties with respect to how the PRC Cybersecurity Law, the PRC National Security Law
and the Data Security Law will be implemented and interpreted in practice. PRC regulators, including the Ministry of Public Security,
the MIIT, the SAMR and the CAC, have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection, including
for mobile apps, and are enhancing the protection of privacy and data security by rule-making and enforcement actions at national and
local levels. We expect that these areas will receive greater and continued attention and scrutiny from regulators and the public going
forward, which could increase our compliance costs and subject us to heightened risks and challenges associated with data security and
protection. If we are unable to manage these risks, we could become subject to penalties, including fines, suspension of business, prohibition
against new user registration (even for a short period of time) and revocation of required licenses, and our reputation and results of
operations could be materially and adversely affected.
If
the Chinese government determines that our corporate structure does not comply with Chinese regulations, or if Chinese regulations change
or are interpreted differently in the future, Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our current operating structure, which would
likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale,
including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
Our
business in China, through the operations of our PRC subsidiaries, are governed by PRC law, including PRC foreign investment laws and
regulations, among others. On January 1, 2020, the PRC Foreign Investment Law, or the Foreign Investment Law, and the Regulations for
Implementation of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the Implementation Regulations, came into effect
and replaced the trio of prior laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise
Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation
rules and ancillary regulations. The relevant PRC Telecommunications Regulations require a telecommunication service provider in China
to obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, or its provincial counterparts, prior
to commencement of operations. Foreign direct investment in telecommunications companies in China is governed by the Administrative Rules
on Foreign-invested Telecommunications Enterprises, or the FITE Regulations, which was issued by the State Council on December 11, 2001
and amended on February 6, 2016. On March 29, 2022, the State Council issued the Decision on Revising or Abolishing Some Administrative
Regulations which will take effective May 1, 2022, made certain significant changes to the 2016 FITE Regulations. Under the 2016 FITE
Regulations, a foreign investor who invests in a value-added telecommunications business in the PRC must possess prior experience in
and a proven track record of operating value-added telecommunications businesses overseas (the “Qualification Requirements”),
while the 2022 Decision repeals the Qualification Requirements. Therefore, the restrictions of Qualification Requirements no longer apply
to foreign investors. Investments in the PRC by foreign investors and foreign-invested enterprises are also regulated by the Catalogue
of Industries in which Foreign Investment is Encouraged (2020 Edition), or the 2020 Catalogue, and the Special Administrative Measures
for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List 2021), or the 2021 Negative List. Under the Circular on Loosening the Restriction on Foreign
Shareholdings in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (for E-commerce), or Circular 196, issued by MIIT on June
19, 2015, foreign investors may hold up to 100% of all equity interest in an online data processing and transaction processing business
operating e-commerce in China. Apart from e-commerce, the 2021 Negative List also provides that foreign investors may hold 100% equity
interest in domestic multi-party communications, data collection and transmission services and call centers. Pursuant to these laws and
regulations, we are permitted, through our subsidiaries, to engage
in food and related product purchases and sales via online platforms as a provider of online data processing and transaction processing
services. However, the relevant PRC foreign investment regulations are still evolving, and there have been limited guidance and interpretation
with respect to these new rules and regulations.
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In
July 2021, the Chinese government provided new guidance on Chinese companies raising capital outside of mainland China, including through
arrangements called variable interest entities, or VIEs. Currently, our corporate structure contains no variable interest entities and
we are not in an industry that is subject to foreign ownership limitations in mainland China. However, there are uncertainties with respect
to the Chinese legal system and there may be changes in laws, regulations and policies, including how those laws, regulations and policies
will be interpreted or implemented. If in the future the Chinese government determines that our corporate structure does not comply with
Chinese regulations, or if Chinese regulations change or are interpreted differently, the value of our securities may decline or become
worthless.
In
addition, pursuant to the PRC M&A Rules, an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes and controlled directly
or indirectly by Chinese companies or individuals is required to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of
such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. However, the provisions of the M&A Rules remains unclear regarding the
scope and applicability of the CSRC approval requirement. The CSRC has not issued any definitive rule or interpretations. Based on the
current laws and regulations, our Chinese legal counsel has advised us that the M&A Rules and related regulations do not require
the Company or its PRC subsidiaries to obtain prior approval from CSRC for the listing and trading of the Company’s shares on an
overseas securities market, given that our wholly foreign-owned enterprise subsidiaries were established by direct investment, rather
than by a merger with or an acquisition of any PRC domestic companies as defined under the M&A Rules. However, there are substantial
uncertainties as to how the M&A Rules are interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and our PRC counsel’s
opinions stated above are subject to further changes in PRC laws or implementations and interpretations of the M&A Rules, and there
can be no assurance that the PRC governmental agencies will ultimately take a view that is consistent with our PRC counsel’s opinion
stated above.
If
the PRC regulatory authorities were to find our legal structure and operations in the PRC to be in violation of any PRC laws, administrative
regulations or provisions, we are uncertain what impact of PRC regulatory authorities’ actions would have on us and our subsidiaries
and we may lose our right to operate in China through our investment and ownership in our PRC subsidiaries. If the Chinese government
determines that our corporate structure does not comply with Chinese regulations, or if Chinese regulations change or are interpreted
differently in the future, Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our current operating structure, which would likely result in
a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale, including that
it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
The
Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas
and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of the securities
we are registering for sale.
The
Chinese government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene or influence our operations
as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. The Chinese government has recently published
new policies that significantly affected certain industries such as the education and internet industries, and we cannot rule out the
possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding the food and beverage industry or the supply chain industry
that could require us to seek permission from Chinese authorities to continue to operate our business, which may adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, recent statements made by the Chinese government have indicated
an intent to increase the government’s oversight and control over offerings of companies with significant operations in mainland
China that are to be conducted in foreign markets, as well as foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Any future action by
the Chinese government expanding the categories of industries and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to government
review could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors or could disallow
our current operating structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value
of our securities, including causing the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
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On
July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly
issued a document to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital
market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law enforcement
and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system
of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. Since this document is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation
to how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed
implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations
will have on our future business combination with a company with major operation in China.
Further,
Chinese government continues to exert more oversight and control over Chinese technology firms. On July 2, 2021, Chinese cybersecurity
regulator announced, that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s
application be removed from smartphone application stores. On July 5, 2021, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator launched the same investigation
on two other Internet platforms, China’s Full Truck Alliance of Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) and Boss of KANZHUN LIMITED
(Nasdaq: BZ).
On
December 24, 2021, the CSRC issued the Administrative Provisions of the State Council Regarding the Overseas Issuance and Listing of
Securities by Domestic Enterprises (the “Draft Administrative Provisions”) and the Measures for the Overseas Issuance of
Securities and Listing Record-Filings by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comments) (the “Draft Filing Measures”), collectively,
the Draft Overseas Listing Rules. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the Trial Measures and five application guidelines, or the Overseas
Listing Rules, which became effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Overseas Listing Rules, among other things, all China-based
companies applying for overseas securities issuance, listing and post-listing capital operations shall be subject to statutory procedures,
such as filing and information reporting requirement. After making initial applications with overseas stock markets for offerings or
listings, all China-based companies shall file with the CSRC within three business days. In addition, overseas offerings and listings
are prohibited for such China-based companies when any of the following applies: (a) where such securities offering and listing is explicitly
prohibited by applicable PRC laws, administrative regulations and rules; (b) where a intended securities offering and listing may endanger
national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with law; (c) where a domestic
company intending to make a securities offering and listing, or its controlling shareholder(s) or actual controlling person(s), have
committed crimes, such as corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property or undermining the order of the socialist market
economy, during the past three years; (d) where a domestic company intending to make a securities offering and listing is suspected of
committing crimes or major violations of laws and regulations, and is under investigation according to law, and no conclusion has yet
been made thereof; (e) where there are material ownership disputes over equity held by the domestic company’s controlling shareholder
or by other shareholders that are controlled by the controlling shareholder and/or actual controller. The Overseas Listing Rules further
provide that a fine between RMB 1 million and RMB 10 million may be imposed if a company fails to fulfill the filing requirements with
the CSRC or conducts an overseas offering or listing in violation of the Overseas Listing Rules. Overseas issuance and listings subject
to the Overseas Listing Rules include direct and indirect issuance and listings. According to the Notice on the Administrative Procedures
for the Filing of Overseas Offerings and Listings by Domestic Companies published by the CSRC on February 17, 2023, existing listed companies
are not required to make any filings until they conduct a new offering or financing transaction in the future. A company is regarded
as an existing listed company if it (a) has already completed overseas listing or offering, or (b) has already obtained the approval
for the offering or listing from overseas securities regulatory authorities or stock exchanges but has not completed such offering or
listing before effective date of the Overseas Listing Rules and also completes the offering or listing before September 30, 2023. On
the effective date of the Overseas Listing Rules, PRC companies that have already submitted offering and listing applications but have
not yet obtained the approvals from overseas securities regulators or exchanges shall make filings with the CSRC at a reasonable time
before the completion of the offerings or listings. We believe that our offering and the listing of our shares on Nasdaq Capital Market
would be deemed an indirect overseas offering and listing under the Overseas Listing Rules and will be required to complete the filing
procedures and submit the relevant information to CSRC if we cannot obtain the approvals for this offering and listing from the U.S.
securities regulators or the Nasdaq before the Overseas Listing Rules become effective. As of the date of this report, the Overseas Listing
Rules have not become effective and we are not required to complete the filing procedures if we obtain the approvals for this offering
and listing from the U.S. securities regulators and the Nasdaq before the Overseas Listing Rules take effect and complete this offering
and begin the trading of our securities on the Nasdaq before September 30, 2023. In addition, after the Overseas Listing Rules take effect,
even if we are required to complete the filing procedures, we would only need to submit the filing materials and no CSRC approval would
be required under the rules. Because we are relying on an opinion of counsel, there is uncertainty inherent in relying on an opinion
of counsel in connection with whether we are required to obtain permissions from a governmental agency that is required to approve of
our operations and/or listings. In the event that an government approval is required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to receive
clearance in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure of us to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or
completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our common stock, cause significant disruption to our business operations,
severely damage our reputation, materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our shares
to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
73
China
Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted
overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, especially those in the technology filed. Additional compliance procedures may
be required in connection with this offering and our business operations, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able
to obtain such approval. As a result, we face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect
our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our shares to significantly decline or be worthless.
We
may be subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information,
such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions
in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.
Any
failure or perceived failure by our PRC subsidiaries to comply with the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for Internet Platforms Economy Sector
and other PRC anti-monopoly laws and regulations may result in governmental investigations or enforcement actions, litigation or claims
against us and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
PRC anti-monopoly enforcement agencies have strengthened enforcement under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law in the recent years. On December
28, 2018, the SAMR issued the Notice on Anti-monopoly Enforcement Authorization, pursuant to which its province-level branches are authorized
to conduct anti-monopoly enforcement within their respective jurisdictions. On September 11, 2020, the Anti-Monopoly Commission of the
State Council issued Anti-monopoly Compliance Guideline for Operators, which requires operators to establish anti-monopoly compliance
management systems under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law to manage anti-monopoly compliance risks. On February 7, 2021, the Anti-Monopoly Commission
of the State Council published Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for the Internet Platform Economy Sector that specified circumstances under which
an activity of an internet platform will be identified as monopolistic act as well as concentration filing procedures for business operators.
According to the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law, if a business operator carries out a concentration in violation of the law, the relevant authority
shall order the business operator to terminate the concentration, dispose of the shares or assets or transfer the business within a specified
time limit, or take other measures to restore the pre-concentration status, and impose a fine of up to RMB500,000. On March 12, 2021,
the SAMR published several administrative penalty cases in connection with concentration of business operators that violated PRC Anti-Monopoly
Law in the internet sector.
On
October 23, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress issued a discussion draft of the amended Anti-Monopoly
Law, which proposes to increase the fines for illegal concentration of business operators to “no more than ten percent of its last
year’s sales revenue if the concentration of business operator has or may have an effect of excluding or limiting competition;
or a fine of up to RMB5 million if the concentration of business operator does not have an effect of excluding or limiting competition.”
The draft also proposes for the relevant authority to investigate transaction where there is evidence that the concentration has or may
have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition, even if such concentration does not reach the filing threshold. On December
24, 2021, nine government agencies, including the NDRC, jointly issued the Opinions on Promoting the Healthy and Sustainable Development
of Platform Economy, which provides that, among others, monopolistic agreements, abuse of dominant market position and illegal concentration
of business operators in the field of platform economy will be strictly investigated and punished in accordance with the relevant laws.
74
At
the present time, we have a relatively small scale supply chain platform operations based on our market share in our product markets
and other factors. We are not an operator with a dominant market position, and our operating activity cannot constitute an anti-monopoly
behavior that abuses our dominant market position. We have not entered into monopoly agreements prohibited by the Anti-Monopoly Law with
competing business operators. As of the date of the report, we have not received a notification from the anti-monopoly regulatory authority
requiring us to file the concentration of undertakings or received any related administrative penalties. We believe that we are in compliance
with the currently effective PRC anti-monopoly laws in all material aspects. Nevertheless, if the PRC regulatory authorities identify
any of our activities as monopolistic under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law or the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for the Internet Platform Economy
Sector, we may be subject to investigations and administrative penalties, and therefore materially
and adversely affect our financial conditions, operations and business prospects. If we are required to take any rectifying or remedial
measures or are subject to any penalties, our reputation and business operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Trading
in our securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect
or investigate completely our auditors for two consecutive years .
In
recent years, U.S. regulatory authorities have continued to express their concerns about challenges in their oversight of financial statement
audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on
access to audit and other information, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, was enacted on December 18, 2020.
The HFCAA includes requirements for the SEC to identify issuers whose audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to
inspect or investigate completely because of a restriction imposed by a non-U.S. authority in the auditor’s local jurisdiction.
The HFCAA also requires that, to the extent that the PCAOB has been unable to inspect an issuer’s auditor for three consecutive
years since 2021, the SEC shall prohibit its securities registered in the United States from being traded on any national securities
exchange or over-the-counter markets in the United States.
On
March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements
of the HFCAA. The interim final rule applies to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report
issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate
completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. Consistent with the HFCAA, the interim final rule requires
the submission of documentation to the SEC establishing that such a registrant is not owned or controlled by a government entity in that
foreign jurisdiction and also requires disclosure in a foreign issuer’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and
government influence on, such registrants. On May 13, 2021, the PCAOB issued proposed PCAOB Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for public comment. The proposed rule provides a framework for making determinations as to
whether PCAOB is unable to inspect an audit firm in a foreign jurisdiction, including the timing, factors, bases, publication and revocation
or modification of such determinations, and such determinations will be made on a jurisdiction-wide basis in a consistent manner applicable
to all firms headquartered in the jurisdiction. In November 2021, the SEC approved PCAOB Rule 6100.
On
December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The
rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public
accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a
position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On
December 16, 2021, the PCAOB announced the PCAOB Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act determinations (the “PCAOB determinations”)
relating to the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland
China of the PRC or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more
authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong.
75
On
August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a SOP with the CSRC and the MOF of the PRC regarding cooperation in the oversight of PCAOB-registered
public accounting firms in the PRC and Hong Kong which establishes a method for the PCAOB to conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered
public accounting firms in the PRC and Hong Kong, as contemplated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Under the agreement, (a) the PCAOB has sole
discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates without consultation with, or
input from, PRC authorities; (b) procedures are in place for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with
all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed; (c) the PCAOB has direct access to interview and take testimony
from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates; and (d) the PCAOB shall have the unfettered ability
to transfer information to the SEC in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the SEC can use the information for all regulatory
purposes, including administrative or civil enforcement actions. The PCAOB was required to reassess its determinations as to whether
it is able to carry out inspections and investigations completely and without obstruction by the end of 2022. On December 15, 2022, the
PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered
in mainland China and Hong Kong and vacated its previous determinations. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to
facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
Congress
passed fiscal year 2023 Omnibus spending legislation in December 2022, which contained provisions to accelerate the HFCAA timeline for
implementation of trading prohibitions from three years to two years. As a result, the SEC is required to prohibit an issuer’s
securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections or complete investigations for
two consecutive years.
Our
current auditor, YCM CPA, an independent registered public accounting firm that is headquartered in the Irvine, California,
with offices in China, is a firm registered with the PCAOB and is required by the laws of the U.S. to undergo regular inspections by
the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the U.S. and professional standards. YCM CPA has been subject to PCAOB
inspections on a regular basis and is not among the PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in the PRC or Hong Kong
that are subject to PCAOB’s determination.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate our auditor completely, or if there is any
regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit YCM CPA to provide audit documentations located in China
or Hong Kong to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, or the PCAOB expands the scope of the Determination so that we are subject
to the HFCAA, as the same may be amended, we would fail to meet the PCAOB’s requirements. Any audit reports not issued by auditors
that are completely inspected or investigated by the PCAOB, or a lack of PCAOB inspections or investigations of audit work undertaken
in China that prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditors’ audits and their quality control procedures, could result
in a lack of assurance that our financial statements and disclosures are adequate and accurate.
All
of these developments have brought additional uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities
would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures
and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it
relates to the audit of our financial statements. It remains unclear what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address
these issues and what impact those actions will have on U.S. companies that have significant operations in the PRC and have securities
listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national security exchange or over-the-counter stock market). In addition, any additional
actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create
some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our shares could be adversely affected, and we could be delisted if we and our auditor
are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense
and management time.
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.
76
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, all our officers and directors are the nationals and residents of a country other than the United States. Almost
all 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”), as most recently amended and effective on December 29, 2018, and the
related Implementation Regulations, as amended and effective on April 23 2019. 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.
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.
77
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.
In
addition, pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double
Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be reduced to 5% if a Hong
Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC entity. However, the 5% withholding tax rate does not automatically apply and
certain requirements must be satisfied, including, without limitation, that (a) the Hong Kong entity must be the beneficial owner of
the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong entity must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC entity during the
12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In practice, a Hong Kong entity must obtain a tax resident certificate
from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a
tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from
the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with
respect to any dividends to be paid by our WFOE, QHDX, to our Hong Kong subsidiary, DILHK. QHDX currently does not have any plan to declare
and pay dividends, and we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. DILHK will apply
for the tax resident certificate when QHDX plans to declare and pay dividends.
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, we may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or may make additional capital contributions to our PRC
subsidiaries. Any loans to our wholly foreign-owned or holding subsidiaries in China, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises
(“FIEs”) under PRC law, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations. For example, loans by us
to our FIE subsidiaries in China to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE or its local
counterparts, or filed with SAFE in its information system. In addition, a foreign invested enterprise shall use its capital pursuant
to the principle of authenticity and self-use within its business scope. The capital of a foreign invested enterprise shall not be used
for the following purposes: (i) directly or indirectly used for payment beyond the business scope of the enterprises or the payment prohibited
by relevant laws and regulations; (ii) directly or indirectly used for investment in securities or investments other than banks’
principal-secured products unless otherwise provided by relevant laws and regulations; (iii) granting of loans to non-affiliated enterprises,
except where it is expressly permitted in the business license; and (iv) paying the expenses related to the purchase of real estate that
is not for self-use (except for the foreign-invested real estate enterprises).
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SAFE
promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement
of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant
Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested
Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration
of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration
of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to SAFE Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted
from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used
for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred
to a third party. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested
enterprise to be used for equity investments within China, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated
capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. SAFE promulgated
the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management
Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in SAFE Circular
19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested
company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations
of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly
limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from this offering, to our PRC subsidiaries, which
may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE promulgated
the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Promoting the Convenience of Cross-border Trade and Investment,
or the SAFE Circular 28, which, among other things, allows all foreign-invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated
capital for equity investments in China, as long as the equity investment is genuine, does not violate applicable laws, and complies
with the negative list on foreign investment. However, since the SAFE Circular 28 is newly promulgated, it is unclear how SAFE and competent
banks will implement the relevant rules in practice.
In
light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies,
we cannot be certain that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals
on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiaries or future capital contributions by us to our subsidiaries
in China. As a result, uncertainties exist as to our ability to provide prompt funding to our PRC subsidiaries when needed. If we fail
to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we expect to receive from this offering and
to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our financial
condition and operating results.
We
may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may
have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our
ability to conduct our business.
We
rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including for services
of any debt we may incur. Our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current
PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits,
if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC subsidiaries, as a Foreign
Invested Enterprise, or FIE, are required to draw 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve, which
may stop drawing its after-tax profits if the aggregate balance of the statutory reserve has already accounted for over 50 percent of
its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf
in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation
on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to their respective shareholders could materially and
adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends or otherwise
fund and conduct our business.
In
addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable
to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties
or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises
are incorporated.
79
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 or to fund our business activities outside
of the PRC. In addition, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not intervene or impose restrictions on our ability to
transfer cash or assets within our organization or to foreign investors, which could result in an inability or prohibition on making
transfers or distributions outside of PRC and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
To
the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, such cash or assets may not be available
to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations
on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets.
The
transfer of cash and assets among us, our Hong Kong and PRC subsidiaries is subject to restrictions. The PRC government imposes controls
on the conversion of the RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. In addition, the PRC Enterprise
Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax at a rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by
Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises, unless reduced under treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and
the governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are tax resident.
As
of the date of this report, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within,
into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for the transfer of funds involving money laundering and
criminal activities. However, there is no guarantee that the Hong Kong government will not promulgate new laws or regulations that may
impose such restrictions in the future.
As
a result of the foregoing PRC laws and regulations, to the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC
or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due
to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government
to transfer cash or assets.
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.
80
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, 2023 and 2022, we had foreign currency translation loss of $240,510 and foreign
currency translation loss of $807,766, 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
To
our knowledge, our beneficial owners, who are PRC residents, have not completed the Notice 37 registration. And we cannot guarantee that
all or any of the shareholders will complete the Notice 37 registration prior to the closing of this Offering. Failure by any such shareholders
or beneficial owners to comply with Notice 37 could restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our PRC subsidiaries’
ability to make distributions or pay dividends or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
In addition, the PRC resident shareholders who fail to complete Notice 37 registration may subject to fines less than RMB50,000.
As
these foreign exchange and outbound investment related regulations are relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has
been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border investments
and transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities.
81
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.
Failure
to comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business in China could subject us to fines and penalties and could also cause
us to lose customers or otherwise harm our business .
Our
business is subject to regulation by various governmental agencies in China, including agencies responsible for monitoring and enforcing
compliance with various legal obligations, such as privacy and data protection-related laws and regulations, intellectual property laws,
employment and labor laws, workplace safety, environmental laws, consumer protection laws, governmental trade laws, import and export
controls, anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and tax laws and regulations. These laws and regulations impose added costs on our business.
Noncompliance with applicable regulations or requirements could subject us to:
●
investigations, enforcement
actions, and sanctions;
●
mandatory changes to our
supply chain system and products;
●
disgorgement of profits,
fines, and damages;
●
civil and criminal penalties
or injunctions;
●
claims for damages by our
customers or partners;
●
termination of contracts;
●
loss of intellectual property
rights;
82
●
failure to obtain, maintain
or renew certain licenses, approvals, permits, registrations or filings
●
necessary to conduct our
operations; and
●
temporary or permanent
debarment from sales to public service organizations.
If
any governmental sanctions are imposed, or if we do not prevail in any possible civil or criminal litigation, our business, results of
operations, and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, responding to any action will likely result in a significant
diversion of our management’s attention and resources and an increase in professional fees. Enforcement actions and sanctions could
materially harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We
are exposed to the risk of misconduct, errors and failure to functions by our management, employees and parties that we collaborate with,
who may from time to time be subject to litigation and regulatory investigations and proceedings or otherwise face potential liability
and penalties in relation to noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations, which could harm our reputation and business.
Newly
enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, recent regulatory actions taken by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board, 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.
U.S.
public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative
publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative
publicity has centered on financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a lack of effective internal controls over financial
accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud.
On
December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their
oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. On April 21, 2020, the SEC Chairman
and PCAOB Chairman, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in
companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China, reiterating past SEC and PCAOB statements on matters
including the difficulty associated with inspecting accounting firms and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging
markets and the difficulty of bringing and enforcing SEC, Department of Justice and other U.S. regulatory actions, including in instances
of fraud, in emerging markets generally.
On
May 18, 2020, NASDAQ filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating
in a “Restrictive Market”, (ii) prohibit Restrictive Market companies from directly listing on NASDAQ Capital Market, and
only permit them to list on NASDAQ Global Select or NASDAQ Global Market in connection with a direct listing, and (iii) apply additional
and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
On
May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable 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. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Holding
Foreign Companies Accountable Act. On December 18, 2020, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act was signed into law.
On
March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements
of the Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms
10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR 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 the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence
on, such a registrant.
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On
December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the Holding
Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit
report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or
investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On
December 16, 2021, PCAOB announced the PCAOB Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act determinations (the “PCAOB determinations”)
relating to the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland
China of the PRC or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more
authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong.
On
August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a SOP with the CSRC and the MOF of the PRC regarding cooperation in the oversight of PCAOB-registered
public accounting firms in the PRC and Hong Kong. The SOP seeks to establish a method for the PCAOB to conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered
public accounting firms in the PRC and Hong Kong. Under the agreement, (a) the PCAOB has sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements
and potential violations it inspects and investigates without consultation with, or input from, PRC authorities; (b) procedures are in
place for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain
information as needed; (c) the PCAOB has direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits
the PCAOB inspects or investigates; and (d) the PCAOB shall have the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC in accordance
with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the SEC can use the information for all regulatory purposes, including administrative or civil enforcement
actions. The PCAOB is required to reassess its determinations as to whether it is able to carry out inspections and investigations completely
and without obstruction by the end of 2022.
On
December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public
accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations. However, should PRC authorities
obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
In
December 2022, Congress passed fiscal year 2023 Omnibus spending legislation, which contained provisions to accelerate the HFCAA timeline
for implementation of trading prohibitions from three years to two years. As a result of the legislation, the SEC is required to prohibit
an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections or complete
investigations for two consecutive years.
The
recent regulatory developments would add uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities
would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures
and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it
relates to the audit of our financial statements. It remains unclear what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address
these issues and what impact those actions will have on U.S. companies that have significant operations in the PRC and have securities
listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national security exchange or over-the-counter stock market). In addition, any additional
actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create
some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our shares could be adversely affected, and we could be delisted if we and our auditor
are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense
and management time.
As
a result of these scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies sharply
decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits
and SEC enforcement actions, and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect
this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on us, our future securities offerings, business and our share
price. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have
to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and defend our Company. Our management would have to divert valuable
resources and attention away from our operations and may negatively impact our operations. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless,
we and our business operations will be severely affected and you could sustain a significant decline in the value of our shares.
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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.
As
a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries and WFOEs for cash requirements. If a WFOE
incurs any debts, the instruments governing such debts may restrict its ability to pay dividends to us. To the extent cash or assets
in the business is in the PRC or a PRC subsidiary, the cash or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside
of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on our or our subsidiaries’ ability by the
PRC government to transfer cash or assets.
Current
PRC regulations permit Chinese operating subsidiaries to pay dividends to foreign parent companies only out of their accumulated profits,
if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our subsidiaries in China is
required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches
50% of its registered capital. Each of our subsidiaries in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits
to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors.
While the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess
of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.
Cash
dividends, if any, on our common stock will be paid in U.S. dollars. The PRC government also imposes restrictions on the conversion of
RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. As such, we may experience difficulties in completing the
administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore,
if our subsidiaries in the PRC incur any debts, the existence of debts evidenced by the debt instruments may significantly limit their
ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we are unable to receive earnings distributions from our operating subsidiaries in
China, we would be unable to pay dividends on our shares.
If
we are deemed by the PRC tax authorities as a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our non-PRC resident
shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result, may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10.0%.
Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation
and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be reduced to 5% if a Hong Kong
resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC entity. However, the 5% withholding tax rate does not automatically apply and certain
requirements must be satisfied, including, without limitation, that (a) the Hong Kong entity must be the beneficial owner of the relevant
dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong entity must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC entity during the 12 consecutive
months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In practice, a Hong Kong entity must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong
tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate
on a case-by-case basis, we cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong
tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends
to be paid by our WFOE, QHDX, to our Hong Kong subsidiary, DILHK. QHDX currently does not have any plan to declare and pay dividends,
and we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. DILHK will apply for the tax resident
certificate when QHDX plans to declare and pay dividends.
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As
of the date of this report, we have not paid, and do not anticipate paying in the foreseeable future, dividends or other distributions
to our shareholders. There have not been any dividends or other distributions from QHDX to DILHK. None of our PRC subsidiaries have ever
paid any dividends or distributions outside of China. We presently intend to retain all earnings to fund our operations and business
expansions.
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.
You
may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China
against us or Hong Kong or other foreign laws.
On
July 14, 2006, Hong Kong and the PRC entered into the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and
Commercial Matters by the Courts of the PRC and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Pursuant to Choice of Court Agreements
Between Parties Concerned, or the 2006 Arrangement, pursuant to which a party with a final court judgment rendered by a Hong Kong court
requiring payment of money in a civil and commercial case pursuant to a choice of court agreement in writing may apply for recognition
and enforcement of the judgment in the PRC. Similarly, a party with a final judgment rendered by a PRC court requiring payment of money
in a civil and commercial case pursuant to a choice of court agreement in writing may apply for recognition and enforcement of the judgment
in Hong Kong. A choice of court agreement in writing is defined as any agreement in writing entered into between parties after the effective
date of the 2006 Arrangement in which a Hong Kong court or a PRC court is expressly designated as the court having sole jurisdiction
for the dispute. Therefore, it is not possible to enforce a judgment rendered by a Hong Kong court in the PRC if the parties in dispute
have not agreed to enter into a choice of court agreement in writing. The 2006 Arrangement became effective on August 1, 2008.
Subsequently
on January 18, 2019, Hong Kong and the PRC entered into the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil
and Commercial Matters between the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or the Arrangement, pursuant
to which, among other things, the scope of application was widened to cover both monetary and non-monetary judgments in most civil and
commercial matters, including effective judgments on civil compensation in criminal cases. In addition, the requirement of a choice of
court agreement in writing has been removed. It is no longer necessary for parties to agree to enter into a choice of court agreement
in writing, as long as it can be shown that there is a connection between the dispute and the requesting place, such as place of the
defendant’s residence, place of the defendant’s business or place of performance of the contract or tort. The 2019 Arrangement
shall apply to judgments in civil and commercial matters made on or after its effective date by the courts of both sides. The 2006 Arrangement
shall be terminated on the same day when the 2019 Arrangement comes into effect. If a “written choice of court agreement”
has been signed by parties according to the 2006 Arrangement prior to the effective date of the 2019 Arrangement, the 2006 Arrangement
shall still apply.
The
2019 Arrangement will be implemented by local legislation in Hong Kong. The Legislative Council in Hong Kong has passed the Mainland
Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance on 26 October 2022. The Chief Judge of the Hong Kong High
Court will make rules to provide for the relevant practice and procedures. In the PRC, the Supreme People’s Court will promulgate
a judicial interpretation to implement the 2019 Arrangement. When the rules and the judicial interpretation have been prepared, the Department
of Justice in Hong Kong will liaise with the PRC as to the date on which the 2019 Arrangement will take effect in both places simultaneously.
The 2019 Arrangement will apply to judgments made on or after the commencement date of the 2019 Arrangement. Therefore, there are still
uncertainties about the outcomes and effectiveness of enforcement or recognition of judgments under the 2019 Arrangement.
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Risks
Related to Business Operations in Hong Kong
Political
risks associated with conducting business in Hong Kong.
We
have two holding subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong, including DILHK and JJHK. Neither DILHK nor JJHK is currently engaged in any
business operations in Hong Kong, and their only activities are limited to certain administrative functions and holding the equity interests
in their respective PRC subsidiaries. Additionally, none of our customers purchasing our products via our Fugu Online platform or through
our online stores at third party e-commerce websites is a Hong Kong resident individual or enterprise, nor have we generated revenue
from the Hong Kong source. If however in the future our Hong Kong subsidiaries conduct business operations or our customer base expands
into Hong Kong, our business operations and financial condition could be affected by the political and legal developments in Hong Kong.
Any changes in the economic, social and/or political conditions, material social unrest, strike, riot, civil disturbance or disobedience,
as well as significant natural disasters, may affect the market and the business operations of our Hong Kong subsidiaries if in the future
our Hong Kong subsidiaries conduct operations. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the PRC and the basic policies of the
PRC regarding Hong Kong are reflected in the Basic Law, namely, Hong Kong’s constitutional document, which provides Hong Kong with
a high degree of autonomy and executive, legislative and independent judicial powers, including that of final adjudication under the
principle of “one country, two systems.” Nevertheless, we cannot ensure that there will not be any changes in the economic,
political and legal environment in Hong Kong in the future.
Under
the Basic Law, Hong Kong is exclusively in charge of its internal affairs and external relations, while the government of the PRC is
responsible for its foreign affairs and defense. As a separate customs territory, Hong Kong maintains and develops relations with foreign
states and regions. Based on certain recent development including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National
Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the
PRC (“NPC”) in June 2020, the U.S. State Department has indicated that the United States no longer considers Hong Kong to
have significant autonomy from China and President Trump signed an executive order and Hong Kong Autonomy Act, or HKAA, to remove Hong
Kong’s preferential trade status and to authorize the U.S. administration to impose sanctions against foreign individuals and entities
who are determined by the U.S. administration to have materially contributed to the failure to preserve Hong Kong’s autonomy. The
United States may impose the same tariffs and other trade restrictions on exports from Hong Kong that it places on goods from mainland
China. These and other recent actions may represent an escalation in political and trade tensions involving the U.S., China and Hong
Kong, which could potentially harm our business if our operations expand into Hong Kong in the future. Given the relatively small geographical
size of Hong Kong, any of such incidents could have a material effect on the future operations if we expand our business operations into
Hong Kong, which could in turn materially affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. It is difficult to predict
the full impact of the HKAA on Hong Kong and companies with operations in Hong Kong. Furthermore, legislative or administrative actions
in respect of China-U.S. relations could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, if in the future we conduct our
business in Hong Kong and the market price of our common stock could be affected.
You
may incur additional costs and procedural obstacles in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions
in Hong Kong against us or our directors or officers based on Hong Kong laws.
If
you want to enforce a judgment of the United States in Hong Kong, it must be a final judgment conclusive upon the merits of the claim,
for a definite sum of money in a civil matter and not in respect of taxes, fines, penalties, or similar charges, the proceedings in which
the judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice, and the enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy
of Hong Kong. Such a judgment must be for a fixed sum and must also come from a competent court.
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The
effect of HKAA and other U.S. government policies in response to the enactment of Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the “Hong Kong National Security Law”) could impact our Hong Kong holding subsidiaries.
On
June 30, 2020, the Standing Committee of the PRC NPC adopted the Hong Kong National Security Law. This law defines the duties and government
bodies of the Hong Kong National Security Law for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences — secession, subversion,
terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security — and their corresponding
penalties. On July 14, 2020, the former U.S. President Donald Trump signed the HKAA into law, authorizing the U.S. administration to
impose sanctions against foreign individuals and entities who are determined by the U.S. administration to have materially contributed
to the failure to preserve Hong Kong’s autonomy. On August 7, 2020 the U.S. government imposed HKAA-authorized sanctions on eleven
individuals, including Hong Kong’s then chief executive, Carrie Lam. On October 14, 2020, the U.S. State Department submitted to
relevant committees of Congress the report required under HKAA, identifying persons materially contributing to “the failure of
the Government of China to meet its obligations under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law.” The HKAA further authorizes secondary
sanctions, including the imposition of blocking sanctions, against foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct a significant
transaction with foreign persons sanctioned under this authority. The imposition of sanctions may directly affect the foreign financial
institutions as well as any third parties or customers dealing with any foreign financial institution that is targeted. It is difficult
to predict the full impact of the HKAA on Hong Kong and companies located in Hong Kong. If our Hong Kong subsidiaries conduct business
operations in the future and were determined to be in violation of the Hong Kong National Security Law or the HKAA for some reasons,
however unlikely, our business operations, financial position and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
The
Hong Kong legal system embodies uncertainties which could limit the availability of legal protections.
Hong
Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the PRC. Following British colonial rule from 1842 to 1997, China assumed sovereignty under
the “one country, two systems” principle. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s constitutional document, the
Basic Law, ensures that the current political situation will remain in effect for 50 years. Hong Kong has enjoyed the freedom to function
with a high degree of autonomy for its affairs, including currencies, immigration and customs operations, and its independent judiciary
system and parliamentary system. On July 14, 2020, the United States signed an executive order to end the special status enjoyed by Hong
Kong post-1997. Any compromise on the autonomy of Hong Kong could have an adverse effect in our business and operations in Hong Kong
if and when we expand our business or customer base in Hong Kong in the future. We cannot predict the effect of future developments in
the Hong Kong legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof.
Risks
Related to our Common Stock
Our
common stock may not develop an active trading market and the price and trading volume of our shares may fluctuate significantly.
Shares
of common stock are currently quoted on the OTC marketplace and, following this offering, will be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
We cannot predict 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 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.
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 common stock.
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.
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Our
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yumin Lin, and our former Director, Mr. Minghua Cheng, collectively own a majority of our outstanding shares
of common stock and could significantly influence the outcome of our corporate matters.
Mr.
Yumin Lin, our CEO, beneficially owns 41.53% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, and Mr. Minghua Cheng, our former Director, beneficially
owns 44.4% 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.
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 the OTC marketplace. 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.
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.
89