Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item
9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In
connection with the preparation of our Report on Form 10-K, an evaluation was carried out by management, with the participation of our
Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) as of November 30, 2022. Disclosure controls and
procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management,
including the Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
During
evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures as of November 30, 2022 conducted as part of our annual audit and preparation of our
annual financial statements, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls
and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that during the period covered by this report,
our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level, and accordingly, provided reasonable assurance
that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported
within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
31
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
This
annual report filed on Form 10-K does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over
financial reporting or an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by the rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal year covered by this
report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item
9B. Other Information.
None
Item
9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not
Applicable.
PART
III
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Identification
of directors and executive officers
The
name, age and position of our officers and directors are set forth below:
Name
Age
Position(s)
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan
78
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei
51
Chief
Financial Officer
William
Wu
56
Director
Wong
Shui Yeung
52
Director
Wong
Tat Keung
52
Director
The
mailing address for each of the officers and directors named above is c/o of the Company at: 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda,
MD, 20814.
32
Business
Experience
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan has served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since October of 2021. Mr. Chan has over forty-five years of
experience in the financial and equity investment industry. Mr. Chan is the founder of Alset Inc. and has served as its Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer since that company’s inception in March 2018. Mr. Chan is an expert in banking and
finance. He has restructured numerous companies in various industries and countries during the past 40 years. Mr. Chan has served as
the Chief Executive Officer of Alset International Limited since April 2014. Mr. Chan joined the Board of Directors of Alset
International Limited in May 2013. From 1995 to 2015, Mr. Chan served as Managing Chairman of Hong Kong-listed Zensun Enterprises
Limited (formerly Heng Fai Enterprises Limited), an investment holding company. Mr. Chan had previously served as a member of the
Board of Zensun Enterprises Limited since September 1992. Mr. Chan was formerly the Managing Director of SingHaiyi Group Ltd., a
public Singapore property development, investment and management company (“SingHaiyi”), from March 2003 to September
2013, and the Executive Chairman of China Gas Holdings Limited, an investor and operator of the city gas pipeline infrastructure in
China from 1997 to 2002. Mr. Chan has served as a non-executive director of DSS, Inc. (formerly known as Document Security Systems,
Inc.) since January 2017 and as Chairman of the Board since March 2019. Mr. Chan has served as a member of the Board of Directors of
OptimumBank Holdings, Inc. since June 2018. He has also served as a non-executive director of our indirect subsidiary LiquidValue
Development Inc. since January 2017. Mr. Chan has also served as a non-executive director of Holista CollTech Ltd., since July 2013.
Mr. Chan has served as a director of Alset International’s 99.98%-owned subsidiary GigWorld Inc. since October 2014. Mr. Chan
has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Sharing Services Global Corporation since April of 2020.
Mr.
Chan was formerly a director of Global Medical REIT Inc., a healthcare facility real estate company, from December 2013 to July 2015.
He also served as a director of Skywest Ltd., a public Australian airline company from 2005 to 2006. Additionally, from November 2003
to September 2013, he was a Director of SingHaiyi. Mr. Chan served as a member of the Board of Directors of RSI International Systems,
Inc., the developer of RoomKeyPMS, a web-based property management system, from June 2014 to February 2019.
Mr.
Chan has committed that the majority of his time will be devoted to managing the affairs of our company; however, Mr. Chan may engage
in other business ventures, including other technology-related businesses. Mr. Chan is a citizen of Singapore and has no business in
China. Mr. Chan and is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alset Inc., the majority owner of HWH’s parent company, Alset
International Limited, and Alset Investment Pte Ltd.; the owners of our sponsor. Mr. Chan also serves as the Executive Chairman, Director,
and Hapi Wealth Builder Division Head of HWH, and the Executive Chairman of Sharing Services Global Corporation, a company partly owned
by DSS, Inc., an entity in which Alset Inc. has a 25.33% ownership stake.
Director
Qualifications of Heng Fai Ambrose Chan:
The
board of directors appointed Mr. Chan in recognition of his abilities to assist the Company in expanding its business and the contributions
he can make to the Company’s strategic direction.
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October of 2021. Mr. Wei is a finance professional with more than 15
years of experience working in public and private corporations in the United States. As the Co-Chief Financial Officer of Alset
Inc., the majority shareholder of Alset International Limited, HWH’s owner, and Chief Financial Officer of SeD Development
Management LLC, Mr. Wei is responsible for oversight of all finance, accounting, reporting and taxation activities for those
companies. Prior to joining SeD Development Management LLC in August 2016, Mr. Wei worked for several different U.S. multinational
and private companies including serving as Controller at American Silk Mill, LLC, a textile manufacturing and distribution company,
from August 2014 to July 2016, serving as a Senior Financial Analyst at Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., a manufacturing company,
from January 2013 to June 2014, and serving as a Financial/Accounting Analyst at First Quality Enterprise, Inc., a personal products
company, from 2011 to 2012. Mr. Wei served as a member of the Board Directors of Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc., a biotech
company, from February to May 2017, and has served as Chief Financial Officer of that company from February 2017 until November
2017. Before Mr. Wei came to the United States, he worked as an equity analyst at Hong Yuan Securities, an investment bank in
Beijing, China, concentrating on industrial and public company research and analysis. Mr. Wei is a certified public accountant and
received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Taxation from the University
of Minnesota. Mr. Wei also holds a Master in Business degree from Tsinghua University and a Bachelor’s degree from Beihang
University.
We
have also assembled a group of independent directors who will provide public company governance, executive leadership, operational
oversight, private equity investment management and capital markets experience. Included in this group is Mr. William Wu, Mr. Wong Shui
Yeung (Frankie) and Mr. Wong Tat Keung (Aston).
33
Mr.
William Wu has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January of 2022. Mr. Wu has served as the Managing Director of Investment Banking at Glory Sun Securities Limited since January 2019. Mr. Wu previously served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Power Financial Group
Limited from November 2017 to January 2019. Mr. Wu has served on the Board of Directors of Alset Inc. since November of 2020. Mr. Wu
has served as an independent non-executive director of JY Grandmark Holdings Limited since November 2019. Mr. Wu has served as a member
of the Board of Directors of DSS, Inc. since October of 2019. Mr. Wu has served as a Director of Asia Allied Infrastructure Holdings
Limited since February 2015. Mr. Wu previously served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of RHB Hong Kong Limited from April 2011
to October 2017. Mr. Wu served as the Chief Executive Officer of SW Kingsway Capital Holdings Limited (now known as Sunwah Kingsway Capital
Holdings Limited) from April 2006 to September 2010. Mr. Wu holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Business
Administration degree of Simon Fraser University in Canada. He was qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst of The Institute of Chartered
Financial Analysts in 1996.
Mr.
Wu previously worked for a number of international investment banks and possesses over 27 years of experience in the investment banking,
capital markets, institutional broking and direct investment businesses. He is a registered license holder to carry out Type 6 (advising
on corporate finance) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the
Laws of Hong Kong). We believe that Mr. Wu’s knowledge of complex, cross-border financial matters is highly relevant to our business
and qualifies him to serve as an independent member of the board.
Director
Qualifications of Mr. Wu:
Mr.
Wu demonstrates extensive knowledge of complex, cross-border financial matters highly relevant to our business, making him well-qualified
to serve as an independent member of the board. Mr. Wu serves on our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee .
Mr.
Wong Shui Yeung (Frankie) has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January of 2022. Mr. Wong is a practicing member and fellow of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member
of Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has over 20 years’
experience in accounting, auditing, corporate finance, corporate investment and development, and company secretarial practice. Mr. Wong
was an Independent Non-Executive Director of SMI Holdings Group Limited from April 2017 to December 2020, the shares of which were listed
on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and was an independent non-executive director of SMI Culture & Travel
Group Holdings Limited from December 2019 to November 2020, the shares of which are listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of
Hong Kong Limited. Mr. Wong has served as a director of Alset Inc. and DSS Inc. since November 2021 and July 2022 respectively, the shares
of which are listed on NASDAQ. He has served as an independent non-executive director, and as chairman of the audit & risk management
committee and the remuneration committee of Alset International Limited since June 2017, the shares of which are listed on the Catalist
Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange. Mr. Wong has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Value Exchange International, Inc.
since April 2022, the shares of which are listed on the OTCQB.
Director
Qualifications of Mr. Wong:
Mr.
Wong’s knowledge of complex, cross-border financial, accounting and tax matters highly relevant to our business, as well as working
experience in internal corporate controls, qualify him to serve as an independent member of the board. Mr. Wong serves on our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee .
34
Mr.
Wong Tat Keung (Aston) has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January of 2022. Mr. Wong has over 20 years’ experience in audit, accounting, taxation and business advisory. Mr. Wong has
served as a director of Alset Inc. since November 2020. Since 2010, Mr. Wong has served as the director of Aston Wong CPA Limited. He
has been an independent non-executive director of Alset International since January 2017, and a director of Alset Inc. since November
2020. Mr. Wong has been an independent non-executive director of Roma Group Limited,
a valuation and technical advisory firm, since March 2016, and has served as an independent non-executive director of Lerthai Group Limited,
a property, investment, management and development company, since December 2018. Previously, he served as the director and sole proprietor
of Aston Wong & Co., a registered certified public accounting firm, from January 2006 to February 2010. From January 2005 to December
2005, he was a Partner at Aston Wong, Chan & Co., Certified Public Accountants. From April 2003 to December 2004, he served at Gary
Cheng & Co., Certified Public Accountants as Audit Senior. He served as an Audit Junior to Supervisor of Hui Sik Wing & Co.,
certified public accountants from April 1993 to December 1999. He served as an independent non-executive director of SingHaiyi from July
2009 to July 2013 and ZH Holdings from December 2009 to July 2015. Mr. Wong is a Certified Public Accountant admitted to practice in
Hong Kong. He is a Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and an Associate Member of the Hong Kong Institute
of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Master in Business Administration degree (financial services) from the University of Greenwich,
London, England.
Director
Qualifications of Mr. Wong:
Mr.
Wong demonstrates extensive knowledge of complex, cross-border financial, accounting and tax matters highly relevant to our business,
as well as working experience in internal corporate controls, making him well-qualified to serve as an independent member of the board.
Mr. Wong serves on our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee .
Family
Relationships
There are no family
relationships among the officers and directors, nor are there any arrangements or understanding between any of the directors or officers
of the Company.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
To
our knowledge, no director, officer or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of any class of our equity securities, failed to file
on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022.
Code
of Ethics
We
adopted a code of ethics on January 31, 2022, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions.
Corporate
Governance
There
have been no changes in any state law or other procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.
We do not have a standing nominating committee though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee.
Board
Committees
Our
Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. Each of these committees is currently composed
of Wong Tat Keung, William Wu and Wong Shui Yeung.
Our
Audit Committee and Compensation Committee will each comply with the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. At least one
member of the Audit Committee will be an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii)
of Regulation S-K, and each member will be “independent” as that term is defined in Rule 5605(a) of the Nasdaq Marketplace
Rules. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Wong Tat Keung, William Wu and Wong Shui Yeung is independent.
35
Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings
None
of our directors, executive officers and control persons/promoters has been involved in any of the following events during the past ten years:
●
Any
bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the
time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time,
●
Any
conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to any pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor
offenses);
●
Being
subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction,
permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his or her involvement in any type of business, securities
or banking activities; or
●
Being
found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have
violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated.
Conflicts
of Interest
In
general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business
opportunities to a corporation if:
●
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
●
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
●
it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the
corporation.
Upon
the closing of the initial business combination, the Company’s Code of Ethics will be amended to require it to avoid, wherever
possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved
by the Board (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved
will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a participant, and (3)
any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 4% beneficial owner of the Company Common
Stock, or (c) immediate family member of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material
interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest
situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and
effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits
as a result of his or her position. As a result of the close relationship between HWH and the Company, in the event that the initial
business combination with HWH is consummated, it will not be possible to avoid such related party conflicts.
The
Company’s audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions
to the extent the Company enters into such transactions. The audit committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether
to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to the Company
than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related
party’s interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he is a related party,
but that director is required to provide the audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. The Company also
requires each of its directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information
about related party transactions.
These
procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a
conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
As
a result of the relationship between HWH and the Company, the Company obtained a fairness opinion in connection with the board’s
approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger with HWH.
Item
11. Executive Compensation.
Unless
otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our,” “us”
and other similar terms refer to Alset before the Business Combination.
None
of our executive officers has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We have agreed to pay to our Sponsor a total
of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business
combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. No compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee,
reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our Sponsor, officers or directors
or any affiliate of our Sponsor, officers or directors, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate,
the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will
be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target
businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee reviews on a quarterly basis all payments
that were made to our Sponsor, officers or directors or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination
will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such payments, we do not expect
to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination.
After
the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us or the Combined Company
may be paid consulting or management fees, or other fees, from the Combined Company. We have not established any limit on the amount
of such fees that may be paid by the Combined Company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation
will be known at the time of the proposed initial business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be
responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended
to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority
of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We
do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation
of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment
or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or
consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting
a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business
combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any
agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
There
were no grants of stock options through the date of this report.
We
do not have any long-term incentive plans that provide compensation intended to serve as incentive for performance.
The
board of directors of the Company has not adopted a stock option plan. The Company has no plans to adopt it but may choose to do so in
the future. If such a plan is adopted, this may be administered by the board or a committee appointed by the board (the “Committee”).
The Committee would have the power to modify, extend or renew outstanding options and to authorize the grant of new options in substitution
therefore, provided that any such action may not impair any rights under any option previously granted. The Company may develop an incentive-based
stock option plan for its officers and directors.
36
Stock
Awards Plan
The
company has not adopted a Stock Awards Plan but may do so in the future. The terms of any such plan have not been determined.
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Security
Ownership
The
following table and accompanying footnotes set forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock
as of February 24, 2023, referred to in the table below as the “Beneficial Ownership Date,” by:
●
each
person who is known to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock;
●
each
member of our board of directors, director nominees and each of our named executive officers individually; and
●
all
of our directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group.
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and
the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to stock options or warrants held by that person that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Beneficial Ownership Date and shares of restricted stock subject to vesting until the
occurrence of certain events, are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other
person (however, neither the stockholder nor the directors and officers listed below own any stock options or warrants to purchase shares
of our common stock at the present time). The percentages of beneficial ownership are based on 9,098,750 of Class A Common Shares and
2,156,250 Class B Common Shares outstanding as of the Beneficial Ownership Date.
To
our knowledge, except as set forth in the footnotes to this table and subject to applicable community property laws, each person named
in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person’s name.
Name and Address
Number
of Common Shares Beneficially Owned
Percentage of Outstanding Common Shares (1)
Directors and Executive Officers (2):
Heng Fai Ambrose Chan (3)(4)
2,630,000
23.37 %
Rongguo (Ronald) Wei
0
0.00 %
William Wu
0
0.00 %
Wong Shui Yeung
0
0.00 %
Wong Tat Keung
0
0.00 %
All Directors and Officers (5 individuals)
2,630,000
23.37 %
Alset Acquisition Sponsor, LLC (3)(4)
2,630,000
23.37 %
Other Stockholders:
Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (5)
735,000
8.1 %
Shaolin Capital Management LLC (6)
697,500
7.67 %
AQR Capital Management LLC (7)
612,189
6.73 %
ATW SPAC Management LLC (8)
725,000
7.97 %
Lighthouse Investment Partners, LLC (9)
500,935
5.91 %
Hudson Bay Capital Management, LP (10)
922,596
10.14 %
Saba Capital Management, LP (11)
521,716
5.7 %
Boothbay Fund Management, LLC (12)
725,000
7.97 %
(1)
Based
upon 9,098,750 of Class A Common Shares and 2,156,250 Class B Common Shares (which are automatically convertible into the Company’s
Class A common shares at the time of the Company’s initial business combination) outstanding as of November 30, 2022
(2)
The
mailing address for each individual and entity set forth above is c/o Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite
210, MD 20814.
(3)
Alset
Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, our sponsor, is the record holder of the securities reported herein. Alset Inc. and Alset International
Limited are the owners of 55% and 45% respectively of Alset Acquisition Sponsor, LLC. Alset Inc. owns 85.4% of Alset International
Limited. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Majority Stockholder of Alset Inc. Mr. Chan may be deemed
to share beneficial ownership of the securities held of record by our sponsor. Mr. Chan disclaims any such beneficial ownership except
to the extent of his pecuniary interest.
(4)
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan. Alset Inc., and Alset International Limited do not directly own any shares of Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.
(5)
The business address for this stockholder is 333 S. Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The ownership
information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023 by Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.
(6)
The business address for this stockholder is 230 NW 24th Street, Suite 603, Miami, FL 33127. The ownership information
is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023 by Shaolin Capital Management LLC.
37
(7)
The business address for this stockholder is One Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830. The ownership information
is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023 by AQR Capital Management LLC.
(8)
The business address for this stockholder is 17 State Street, Suite 2100, New York, New York 10004. The ownership
information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023 by ATW SPAC Management LLC.
(9)
The business address for this stockholder is 3801 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. The ownership
information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023 by Lighthouse Investment Partners, LLC.
(10)
The business address for this stockholder is 28 Havemeyer Place, 2nd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830. The ownership information
is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on December 9, 2022 by Hudson Bay Capital Management, LP.
(11)
The business address for this stockholder is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174. The ownership
information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on April 12, 2022 by Saba Capital Management, LP.
(12)
The business address for this stockholder is 140 East 45th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The ownership
information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2022 by Boothbay Fund Management, LLC.
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Family
Relationships
Not
applicable.
Policies
and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons
Following
the initial business combination, the Company’s Code of Ethics will be amended to require it to avoid, wherever possible, all related
party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the Board (or
the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be
expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive
officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 4% beneficial owner of the Company Common Stock, or (c) immediate
family member of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than
solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise
when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts
of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her
position. As a result of the relationship between HWH and the Company, in the event that the initial business combination with HWH is
consummated, it will not be possible to avoid such related party conflicts.
The
Company’s audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions
to the extent the Company enters into such transactions. The audit committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether
to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to the Company
than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related
party’s interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he is a related party,
but that director is required to provide the audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. The Company also
requires each of its directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information
about related party transactions.
These
procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a
conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
As
a result of the relationship between the Company and HWH, the Company obtained a fairness opinion in connection with the board’s
approval of the Agreement and plan of Merger with HWH.
Transactions
with Related Persons, Promoters, and Certain Control Persons
Founder
Shares
On
November 8, 2021, the Sponsor received 2,156,250 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”)
for $25,000. The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to 281,250 shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’
over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the number of Founder Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, to approximately
20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock after the Initial Public Offering (excluding the placement units
and underlying securities). In connection with the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option, these shares are no longer
subject to forfeiture.
The
holder of the Founder Shares have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until
the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x)
if the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations,
reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days
after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar
transaction that results in all of the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities
or other property.
38
Promissory
Note — Related Party
On
November 8, 2021, the Sponsor issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which
the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the
earlier of (i) May 8, 2022, or (ii) the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. As of November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021, there
was no amount outstanding under the Promissory Note.
Advances
from Related Party
The
Sponsor paid certain offering costs on behalf of the Company and advanced working capital to the Company. These advances are due on demand
and are non-interest bearing. During the year ended November 30, 2022, the Sponsor paid a total of $75,000 of offering and operating
costs on behalf of the Company. During the year ended November 30, 2022, the Company repaid the outstanding balance of $211,153. As of
November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021, $0 and $75,000 was due to the related party, respectively.
General
and Administrative Services
The
Company agreed to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support
for up to 24 months commencing on the date the Units were first listed on the Nasdaq. Upon completion of the Initial Business Combination
or the Company’s liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees. During the year ended November 30, 2022, the Company
recorded a charge of $100,000 to the statement of operations pursuant to the agreement.
Related
Party Loans
In
order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain
of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working
Capital Loans”). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes may be repaid upon completion of
a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted upon completion
of a Business Combination into units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Such units would be identical to the Private Placement Units. In
the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay
the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. As of November
30, 2022 and November 30, 2021, there were no amounts outstanding under the Working Capital Loans.
Due
from Sponsor
Due
from sponsor was $13,000 and $0 at November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021, respectively, and represents expenses paid by the Company
on behalf of the Sponsor.
39
Item
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The
following table indicates the fees paid by us for services performed for the years ended November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021:
Year
Ended
November
30, 2022
Year
Ended
November
30, 2021
Audit Fees
$ 47,443
$ 61,500
Audit-Related Fees
$ 0
$ 0
Tax Fees
$ 27,400
$ 25,000
All Other Fees
$ 0
$ 0
Total
$ 74,843
$ 86,500
Audit
Fees . This category includes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the independent auditors
during the years ended November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021 for the audit of our financial statements and review of previous years’
Form 10-Qs.
Tax
Fees . This category includes the aggregate fees billed for tax services rendered in the preparation of our federal and
state income tax returns.
All
Other Fees . This category includes the aggregate fees billed for all other services, exclusive of the fees disclosed above,
rendered during the years ended November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021.
40
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1)
List of Financial statements included in Part II hereof:
Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021
Statements of Operations for the twelve months ended November 30, 2022 and from inception to November 30, 2021
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the period October 20, 2021 through November 30, 2022
Statements of Cash Flows for the twelve months ended November 30, 2022 and from inception to November 30, 2021
(a)(2)
List of Financial Statement schedules included in Part IV hereof:
None.
(a)(3)
Exhibits
The
following exhibits are filed with this report or incorporated by reference:
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Underwriting Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
2.1
Merger Agreement dated September 9, 2022 by and among Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., HWH Merger Sub, Inc. and HWH International Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022.
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated February 2, 2022, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
3.2
By Laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
4.1
Specimen Unit Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.2
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.3
Specimen Warrant Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.4
Specimen Right Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.5
Warrant Agreement between Vstock Transfer LLC and the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
4.6
Rights Agreement between Vstock Transfer LLC and the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
4.7*
Description of the Registrant’s Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
10.1
Letter Agreement among the Registrant and our officers, directors and Alset Management Group, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.2
Promissory Note, dated November 8, 2021, issued to Alset Acquisition Sponsor LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
10.3
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Wilmington Trust Company and the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.4
Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain security holders, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.5
Securities Subscription Agreement, dated November 8, 2021, between the Registrant and Alset Acquisition Sponsor LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
10.6
Placement Unit Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Alset Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.7
Form of Indemnity Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
10.8
Administrative Support Agreement by and between the Registrant and Alset Management Group, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
10.9
Sponsor Support Agreement dated as of September 9, 2022, by and among Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule I attached thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022.
10.10
Shareholder Support Agreement dated as of September 9, 2022, by and among Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., HWH International Inc. and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule I attached thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022.
14
Code of Ethics, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
21*
Subsidiaries of the Company
31.1*
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.1
Audit Committee Charter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
99.2
Compensation Committee Charter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
101.INS
XBRL
Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.
Item
16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
41
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Alset
Capital Acquisition Corp.
Dated:
February 24, 2023
By:
/s/
Rongguo (Ronald) Wei
Name:
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
Heng Fai Ambrose Chan
Chief
Executive Officer, Director
February
24, 2023
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan
(Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/
Rongguo (Ronald) Wei
Chief
Financial Officer
February
24, 2023
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei
(Principal
Financial Officer and
Principal
Accounting Officer)
/s/
Wong Shui Yeung (Frankie)
Director
February
24, 2023
Wong
Shui Yeung (Frankie)
/s/
William Wu
Director
February
24, 2023
William
Wu
/s/
Wong Tat Keung (Aston)
Director
February
24, 2023
Wong
Tat Keung (Aston)
42
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.